MEET THE 2023 GCAR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Linda Yetto, NAI/Platform Realty Group
President
R. Linda Yetto has had her Real Estate License since 1976. She currently is head of acquisitions and leasing for the Atlantic Homes Group a division of NAI/Platform Realty Group. Before joining Platform, Linda was principal broker for RL Yetto Real Estate. Her 45 combined years of experience in Real Estate Management and Sales, Property Management, and Mortgage Consulting has allowed her to work with agents, clients, tenants, investors, vendors, receiverships, city officials, and government representatives. Some of Linda’s more rewarding clients have been the VA Hospital which enabled her to work with Veterans and her work on the Vista Program for Siena College.
Kathleen Sullivan, Keller Williams Capital District
President – Elect
With more than 39 years of experience in real estate, Kathleen is an associate broker with Keller Williams Capital District. Kathleen also serves as a director on the NYSAR Board of Directors. Kathleen has extensive sales and marketing experience and is a Certified Buyer Representative specializing in residential, new construction, and condo sales. A lifelong resident of Delmar, Kathleen has four grandchildren who all live in the area and enjoys spending her “spare” time with them. She is a past board member and president of Bethlehem Pop Warner and has coached soccer, football, cheerleading, and baseball.
Melissa Woodcock, Staged Nest Real Estate
Secretary – Treasurer
Melissa is the Broker/Owner of Staged Nest Real Estate. She began her real estate career in 2005 as an agent and worked for two national brokers for over ten years. Melissa received the Accredited Staging Professional (ASP Professional Home Stager) designation in 2008 and the Home Staging Expert (HSE) designation in 2013. By 2016 she was ready to venture out on her own and opened Staged Nest Real Estate in Latham, NY.
Melissa also holds the Certified Buyer Representative (CBR), Certified New Home Sales Professional, and Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) designations. Before her appointment to the GCAR Board of Directors, Melissa participated for several years on various GCAR committees including, Professional Standards, Trade Show, and Broker/Owner/Manager. In her spare time, Melissa enjoys spending time with her family and friends as well as practicing yoga, skiing, or hiking in the Adirondacks.
Kendal Baker, Marker’s Octagon Realty
Immediate Past President
As the principal broker of Octagon Realty, Kendal Baker has 15 years of experience in real estate. An active member of GCAR and CIREB, Kendal has served on the GCAR and Global MLS board of directors, the Professional Standards, Strategic Planning, and Finance Committees, and is currently a NYSAR Director. Before joining GCAR, Kendal served as a director and then President on the Washington County Board of REALTORS®. In 2022 Kendal served on the National Association of REALTORS® board of directors. Kendal holds an MBA from Columbia University and was a financial advisor with CommVerge Solutions, a telecom integration company based in Hong Kong, and a Senior Credit Officer with the Bayerische Vereinsbank, based in Munich.
Directors
Kirsten Nachbar Blanchard, Coldwell Banker Prime Properties
Kirsten Nachbar Blanchard has been a REALTOR® since 1988 and became an associate broker in 1997. She holds several professional designations including, Graduate REALTORS® Institute (GRI), Certified Buyer Representative (CBR). Kirsten’s participation in GCAR’s Community Relations, RPAC, Trade Show, Grievance, and Education committees throughout the years served her well to accept an appointment on the GCAR Board of Directors in 2019.
Felton McLaughlin, NAI Platform
Since joining NAI Platform in 2005, Felton McLaughlin has focused on office, investment, and re-development properties in the Capital Region. In addition, he has served on the Board of the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District and the Mayor’s Rezone Albany Commission, as well as chairman of the Colonie Business Council for two years. Before joining Platform, Felton was a partner in a Capital Region real estate investment group. Because of his background with technology start-ups, he has also been active in High Peaks Venture Partners and the Al-Tech Technology Acceleration Fund dedicated to funding start-up companies in the region.
A strong RPAC investor and always politically savvy, in 2009 Felton was appointed Federal Political Coordinator for Congressman Paul Tonko by the National Association of REALTORS® and has continued in that role since then. Prior to his appointment to the GCAR Board of Directors, Felton spent six years on the Board of Directors of the Commercial and Industrial Real Estate Brokers of the Capital Region (CIREB), his last in 2017 as President.
Jennifer Mentiply, RENOVO Real Estate
Jennifer Mentiply has been a REALTOR® since 2006. She has been a broker of her own company since 2012. Jennifer along with her business partner, Gia Smith, just opened RENOVO Real Estate. After detailed planning, they put together a business model that focuses on their agents and the community. She has served as a committee member of various GCAR and NYSAR committees throughout the years. She is a member of the Women’s Council of REALTORS® and was 2019 Capital Region’s president. She also served on the state board of WCR in 2020 and 2021. She has experience in both commercial and residential real estate and is looking forward to guiding the industry in a direction that is positive and healthy for both agents and clients. Jen enjoys line dancing, watching her two boys play sports, and living life to the fullest! She is a military spouse and very proud of her husband’s service of over 20 years in the United States Army.
Michelle Poccia, Keller Williams Capital District
In 1989 after being successful with a “For Sale by Owner”, the real estate bug bit Michelle. In 1990 Michelle obtained her license to help other buyers and sellers. In 1993 she became a licensed associate real estate broker. As a successful professional, Michelle was appointed to and served with distinction on a variety of GCAR committees and subsequently the GCAR and NYSAR Board of Directors.
Suzanne Prezio, Suzanne Prezio Properties, Inc
Suzanne is a lifelong resident of the Capital District. Raised in Colonie, she earned a BA from The College of St Rose in Albany. In the early 90’s, Suzanne was the office manager in a busy law office in Downtown Schenectady. Since 2007, Suzanne has been a full-time real estate agent, securing her Associate Broker License in 2020. Suzanne has been helping people buy and sell homes in Albany, Schenectady, Saratoga and Rensselaer counties since 2007.
Dan Shepard, All In 1 Realty Services LLC
With a passion for helping people buy and sell their homes, Dan has been a REALTOR® for 15 years. To hone his professional expertise, over time Dan has obtained the CBR, ABR, RENE, and SFR designations. As a broker, Dan has provided opportunities for new agents from many different backgrounds, particularly from the military, law enforcement, and first responder careers believing that it is his past military service that enables him to help them transition into the business world. Dan has served on several professional standards hearing panels. He has also served on the Education Committee and Broker-Owner-Managers Council.
Kathie Spangler, Julie & Co Realty
A REALTOR® since 2004, Kathie Spangler is an Associate Broker with Julie & Co. Realty, LLC in Saratoga Springs. Kathie holds the Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) designation and has earned the prestigious Graduate, REALTOR® Institute (GRI) designation. In 2014 Kathie served as President of the Southern Adirondack REALTORS® as well as the Adirondack Regional Vice-President from 2015 to 2017 for the New York State Association of REALTORS®. She has been a board member of the Glens Falls Collaborative since 2016 and a Women in Business Member of the Lake George Regional Chamber since 2017.
