Memphian to lead state Realtor group

Memphis real estate agent Leon Dickson next year will be installed as president of the Tennessee Association of Realtors after being elected this month as the 2017 president-elect.

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Dickson will become the first African-American president of the state Realtors organization, which is 96 years old.

Dickson, owner and principal broker of BenchMark at Southwind Realtors, served as president of the Memphis Area Association of Realtors in 2011.

“It’s hard at this point to know exactly what the agenda will be,’’ Dickson said of his presidency. “The market changes, so at this time there’s no way to know what the needs of the members and association will be.’’

But Dickson said he will work to include a variety of people in leadership roles, not just minority members but younger Realtors, too.

Dickson has served the organization on national, state and local levels. He was named Realtor of the Year by Memphis Realtors in 2012 and BenchMark Realtors’ 2005 “Top Producer” for real estate and mortgages.