CMLS 2010 Conference Starts With a Surprise Guest

Sept. 30, 2010 - PRLog -- Chicago – With the excitement and anticipation surrounding the CMLS 2010 Conference, hosted by Midwest Real Estate Data LLC (MRED), no one anticipated the surprise guest who helped open the conference.

After welcoming speeches by Melanie Blakeney, 2010 President of the Council of Multiple Listing Services (CMLS), and Dean Rouso, 2010 President of MRED, Russ Bergeron, CEO of MRED and emcee for the event, made a few introductory remarks, followed by a seemingly innocent request for a volunteer to sing O Canada and the Star Spangled Banner.

Little did the audience realize that Mr. Bergeron had invited Jim Cornelison to perform, and had him seated in the first row as the “volunteer” he would choose.  Mr. Cornelison is a real estate agent working for Prudential Rubloff Properties in Chicago.  He is also a trained vocalist and professional opera singer.  

Real estate agent and opera singer?  Somewhat interesting but even more so when you learn about Jim’s side job – he sings the Star Spangled Banner at the home games for the National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks.  Ever attended a Blackhawks’ game?  

The trademark of Blackhawks’ home games at the United Center is the thunderous applause which accompanies the singing of the National Anthem.  It has been measured at 120 decibels; a person should wear hearing protection at anything over 90 decibels.  During last year’s playoffs, noise levels were measured, and the arena was at its loudest during the National Anthem.  It is one of the most intense auditory experiences one can have, and Mr. Cornelison, with the help of the CMLS 2010 audience, duplicated that at the Westin Chicago River North.  While not as loud as the United Center, spines were tingling around the room.

What a way to start the CMLS 2010 conference . . .

Those interested in more information about CMLS 2010 are directed to www.cmls2010.com.

Council of Multiple Listing Services (CMLS) is the premier forum and resource for Multiple Listing Service associations.

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MRED is a real estate data aggregator and distributor that provides the largest multiple listing service in the United States (by listing volume) to over 40,000 customers, with property information encompassing northern IL, southern WI and northwest IN