Full Circle in Erfurt: Returning to Where It All Began at IVD's Deutscher Immobilientag 2026

In June 2026, I’ll be returning to Erfurt, Thüringen for the Immobilien Verband Deutschland (IVD) Annual Convention — the Deutche Immobilientag 2026 (DIT26) — and I can’t help but feel a deep sense of nostalgia.

Erfurt isn’t just another stop on my global real estate journey. It’s where my story took a defining turn — where I learned about community, leadership, and resilience long before I ever knew how those lessons would shape my future.

A City on the Brink of Change

When I arrived in Erfurt in October 1989, the Berlin Wall was still standing — but not for long. The city was humming with quiet anticipation, caught between two worlds that were about to collide. In the midst of that uncertainty, I completed my German business education as a Groß- und Außenhandelskaufmann (Wholesale and International Trade Professional) and soon became the first person in Thüringen to receive a Green Card (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) — a small but symbolic step into a new era of opportunity.

Building Bridges in a New Germany

I later served as Vice Chair of Erfurt’s first Foreigners Committee under Oberbürgermeister Ruge, where we worked with local nonprofits and immigrant communities — Cubans, Vietnamese, Nigerians — many left in limbo after the socialist era. Together, we created programs that promoted inclusion and built genuine human connection.

Global Connections Before “Global” Was a Buzzword

We also launched student exchanges with Erfurt’s Sister City, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina, forging friendships that spanned continents. And one unforgettable evening, we hosted the Black Watch Scottish Band, whose bagpipes echoed across the Domplatz before they went on to drink the pubs dry!

Somewhere in between, I even tried to introduce Thüringer Bratwurst to the United States — my first real taste of international trade (a story for another blog!).

Coming Home — Professionally and Personally

So when I return to Erfurt next June for DIT26, it won’t just be for another conference. It will be a homecoming — a celebration of where my global path truly began.

Today, I’m honored to serve as Global Chair-Elect for Texas REALTORS® (2026) and to have been named the 2025 CIPS Excellence Award recipient by the National Association of REALTORS® — an honor shared by only two other people worldwide. These recognitions remind me how deeply those early Erfurt experiences shaped my lifelong commitment to connecting cultures through real estate.

If you’re an international REALTOR®, investor, or partner planning to attend the IVD Convention in Erfurt, please reach out — I’d love to coordinate and connect our global network for this extraordinary event. Let’s build bridges once again, where mine were first formed.

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