Meet our 3rd Quarter Spotlight Department - Accounting & Membership

Special thanks and credit to Joe Olivieri for writing this article.

If you have a question about Texas REALTORS® money or membership benefits, your first call should be to the Accounting and Membership Department.

“Externally, we’re often the local boards’ first point of contact if they have a question about member benefits and data. We support the boards in making sure our REALTOR® members have everything they need to be successful in their jobs,” Controller Susan Chichester says. “Internally, we are typically the go-to people for anything related to money: Who to pay, how to pay, and who paid the association.”

Much of what Accounting and Membership does is cyclical, she explains. Accounting tasks include monitoring the budget through financial statement reporting, processing payroll, administering benefits, and maintaining accounts payable and receivable. Membership tasks include member billing and record-keeping as well as administering the association’s MLS.

The department touts its close relationships with local associations. Accounting and Membership supplies them with what they need, including tools, data, and training support.

Customer service is an essential part of the team’s work. “Twenty years ago, we were at 48,000 members. In mid-August, we hit 151,231, an all-time high,” Chichester says.

Accounting and Membership collaborates with every Texas REALTORS® department, from implementing policy with Legal to messaging with Communications and Marketing and Professional Development.

“I’ve been doing this for almost 23 years, and there’s never a dull day,” Chichester says. “I’ve always thought of accounting as though every day is a treasure hunt. You get this puzzle and are asked: Can you solve this? What’s the strategy?”

Chichester calls the eight-member team focused and driven. “We’re problem-solvers. It’s a team effort. We see a challenge and try to come up with a solution.”

Melissa Vazquez, staff accountant, calls the department a busy environment that keeps things interesting. “We’re always working hard to meet deadlines and provide excellent customer service.”

She adds that the team is very interdependent and works closely every day, relying on everyone’s expertise to tackle whatever comes their way.

Chichester is proud of her team and their positive attitudes.

“Everyone is so engaged and passionate about what we get to do. We get to talk to members every day and solve problems for them. When we can help the members, that’s a good day. That reinforces why we’re here.”

Team members enjoy a variety of activities in their free time.

Susan Chichester, controller, loves traveling with her husband of 38 years, Rick, and children, Kayla and Bryan. She loves Aggie football and enjoys listening to Audible books during her commute.

Melissa Vazquez, staff accountant, has performed Thai dances at festivals, military bases, and the Institute of Texan Cultures. She enjoys spending time with her family and cat. Her husband proposed to her while ziplining in Costa Rica.

Danyale Richardson, accounts payable coordinator, loves travel and hanging out with her family. She lived in Germany for three years.

Kathy Bleeker, membership coordinator, enjoys reading historical romances and collecting artwork by David Winters. She lived in Puerto Rico for almost eight years and served in the Army during the Vietnam War.

Lillian Limuel, A/R Clerk, is from Austin and is a proud mother of a US Navy sailor and grandmother of four. She’s very involved with her church family and enjoys cooking for church events.

Becky Weirich, MBM membership coordinator/MLS administrator, loves riding horses and taking jumping lessons. She enjoys traveling and hiking.

Paige Rodriguez, membership coordinator, loves cooking from her large recipe library. She enjoys watching movies, going to concerts, and going boating with her husband, among many pastimes.

Debbie Adams, Sr. MBM bookkeeper, was born in Tripoli, Libya, and raised in the San Antonio/Castroville area. She fell into bookkeeping and loves it. She enjoys the fall and winter months and Marvel superheroes.