Suburban Realtor leader led organization into internet age

Margery Shinners came to the Mainstreet Organization of Realtors as a technology expert when real estate sellers first were learning about this thing called the internet.

Now she's being remembered as a talented and respected visionary who grew to lead the organization as CEO.

Shinners, of Oak Park, died unexpectedly Tuesday. She was 51.

She came to the organization in 1996 as technology director and helped teach members how to compete in an internet-savvy, data-driven world, said Pam Krieter, the organization's former CEO who is resuming the role temporarily after Shinners' passing.

"She had a natural vision for what was to come," Krieter said. "She had a very good heart and she was someone who the Realtors respected and admired."

Krieter said hiring Shinners was one of the best decisions she made as CEO, so she promoted her protégé to deputy CEO in 2005.

Throughout her career, Shinners helped Realtors realize their potential, said Catherine Terpstra, board president of Mainstreet Organization.

"She was such an encourager," Terpstra said. "She always saw the best in everyone and was able to bring that out."

When Krieter retired Dec. 31, Shinners moved into the top role and spent nearly four months leading the professional organization that provides education, networking and advocacy for roughly 16,000 members in the West, Northwest and South suburbs. Based in Downers Grove, the organization also has offices in Arlington Heights, Libertyville and Tinley Park.

Colleagues said she enjoyed the local networking of her job and built a wide circle of contacts. But Shinners, an avid traveler, also enjoyed business trips to lobby at the state and national capitols, or make international connections in China or Prague.

Shinners grew up in Sandwich and enjoyed traveling with her family as well on trips such as a recent vacation to Colorado, Krieter said. She and her husband, Brian, have two sons and a daughter.

The Mainstreet Organization of Realtors now will begin a nationwide search for Shinners' successor.

Visitation for Shinners is scheduled for 3 to 9 p.m. Friday at Salerno's Galewood Chapel, 1857 Harlem Ave., Chicago. Her funeral will begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday with a procession from Galewood Chapel to Ascension Catholic Church, 808 S. East Ave., Oak Park.