The California Association of Realtors (C.A.R.) is a trade association representing some 92,000 realtors statewide. As members of organized real estate, realtors subscribe to a strict code of ethics and have access to numerous services and programs to enhance their professionalism. Preventative legal programs provide members with the latest in legal information to give them the competitive edge. C.A.R.'s extensive legislative advocacy program means members are well-represented on local, state and federal issues. Educational programs and year-round seminars help members gain new skills and professional designations.

C.A.R. offers its members a variety of business tools, from research data and top-notch publications to cutting-edge technology. Nylia Burch buys print services for the association and holds the title of Director, Administrative Services. Her degree is education and has completed courses in facilities management, many software programs and others.




Nylia tell us a little more about the California Association of Realtors.

Our association was started in 1905 to serve its membership in developing and promoting programs and services that would enhance the members' freedom and ability to conduct their individual business successfully with integrity and competency, and through collective action, promote preservation of real property rights. We strive to be the preeminent source of essential business services and the association of choice for real estate professionals committed to excellence.

How has the economy changed the way the association does business this year?

In my opinion, the condition of the economy depends on who you talk to. I work for a real estate trade association and the C.A.R. housing market forecast for 2001 calls for continued price appreciation, more moderate sales pace. To quote our president, Gary Thomas, "The California housing market is having one of its best years on record and it looks like 2001 will continue the trend. Californians are optimistic about the future of the state, and their confidence is reflected in the ongoing health of the residential real estate market."

What other responsibilities do you have besides managing the associations documents?

Printing has never been a full-time job for me. I was hired to help develop the purchasing department. Through the years I've gained many hats. I manage this facility, the association assets, purchasing and our copy center. On the telecommunications side I am a certified programmer for our NEAX 2400 and our voice mail system.

We understand that C.A.R. is knee deep in e-print procurement. Why was that move important for your organization?

We have always been on the leading edge when it comes to technology in our organization. We strive to work with vendors that can provide a timely service. The ability to access and transfer files via the internet is critical. The vendor that prints our stationary items gained that business because of their internet connectivity. We were provided a user name and pass code which allowed us to enter our order and review the setup and approve the copy online. They provide onsite inventory which is a great help because we have so many projects in our area. My day is a moving target my vendor saved the day by alerting us to low inventory. I placed our order and they delivered our stock to the mailing house.

Has your print volume dropped since implementation of this service?

The internet has reduced our print demand. Many actually prefer downloading from our website. We have offered fax on demand capabilities to our members for several years which also reduces (volume.)

With a fairly solid and integrated way of doing business, do you still meet with new printers?

I haven't had a face to face meeting in years. I'm so busy that I have the printers send packets and I review them. If I see something of interest, I'll call them to setup an appointment.

How many vendors do you use?

We use a combination of vendors for different projects in our office. We have one source for printing multiple page ncr standard forms, another to print our magazine and yet another for other items. I have never worked with a printer that does everything. Those that have a special niche have always provided the quality jobs we prefer. I have been disappointed using a printer that really didn't have the expertise to complete our project .

Tell us about a recent major print project that you outsourced.

Our stationary was redesigned and that was a massive project. The redesign included business cards, letterhead, memo stock, note cards and envelopes. Everyone was impressed with the quality and their timeliness. We changed the paper type with the redesign and it made a world of difference. It doesn't matter how good the design is if it isn't printed on the right paper.