Today, the trade association that represents all 48,000 Realtors® in Illinois announced that Ware Realty Group’s principal and designated managing broker will be its 2027 president-elect. Sarah Ware will serve alongside president Debbie Prodehl, treasurer Brandon Shaffer and immediate past president Jeff Kolbus.
“I’m looking forward to advancing the many important priorities of Realtors® across Illinois as president-elect next year,” Ware said. “Anyone who knows me knows I don’t take the call to leadership lightly, and I pledge to continue working hard toward our many goals as an association.”
Sarah Ware has a long history of leadership with Realtor® associations, continually advancing their work supporting members and protecting the rights of private property owners. Between 2022 and 2023, she served as the president of the Chicago Association of Realtors®. At the state level, Ware has served on multiple committees and has chaired Illinois Realtors®’ Finance Committee, Business Issues Forum, Leadership Development Working Group and Housing Opportunity Working Group. She has served multiple terms on the Illinois Realtors® Board of Directors — last year as its treasurer — and in 2016 graduated from the Illinois Realtors® Leadership Development Program. She is also a past president of the Women’s Council of Realtors®.
This involvement hasn’t gone unnoticed. Ware was honored with the Chicago Association of Realtors® President’s Award in 2015, its Realtor® Achievement Award in 2016 and the coveted Realtor® of the Year Award in 2025. Also, she was honored as the 2026 Illinois REALTOR® of the Year earlier this year.
As the state legislative contact for 13th District Sen. Robert Peters of Chicago, Ware actively promotes legislation that safeguards and advances the interest of property ownership. She’s a longtime contributor to the Realtors® Political Action Committee and was inducted into its hall of fame in 2021. At the national level, Ware was the 2024 Housing Issues Liaison for the National Association of Realtors®. She has served multiple terms on its board of directors and has chaired the association’s Multicultural Partners Advisory Group, Housing Opportunity Committee and Smart Growth Advisory Board.
Outside of her association work, Ware also served multiple terms as a director on the Cook County Land Bank Authority. She currently serves on the boards of directors for Thresholds, the Period Collective and the Chicago Bungalow Association.
