Ohio REALTORS® and Paramount: A Steady Hand for High-Stakes Policy Leadership

The Organization

Ohio REALTORS® represents over 36,000 real estate professionals across the state. As a statewide membership organization, they play a vital role in representing the industry’s interests on property law, tax, licensing, and development.

When Scott Williams took on the CEO role, government affairs - overseeing advocacy, lobbying, and legislative strategy -was already a high-stakes, high-pressure area. Meanwhile, the broader political landscape was changing quickly, and internal teams were feeling stretched. The organization needed to show up with clarity and consistency and someone who could earn the trust of both members and lawmakers.

Context and Opportunity

The outgoing leader had been in post for decades. His relationships ran deep, and his institutional knowledge was unmatched. But with his retirement approaching, the organization faced two big questions:

1. How do you replace someone who’s been the face of policy for a generation?
2. How do you set the next person up to succeed, not just survive, in that spotlight?

Scott knew this role would shape how the association showed up at the statehouse, how legislators saw the organization, and how it handled policy issues that affected members’ livelihoods.

The hire needed to be trusted, well-versed in state politics, and able to lead, not just maintain, the advocacy agenda. And they had to win credibility quickly.

Key Challenges

• A long-standing leader retiring after decades in post
• A policy environment that was high-stakes and fast-changing
• Intense visibility among members and elected officials
• Success required trust, fluency in state politics, and real-time judgment
• The need to modernize strategy while preserving strong relationships

How We Approached the Search

1. Understanding the Landscape

We collaborated with Scott to identify pressure points and learn what had made advocacy work well in the past. Our goal was to improve the function while preserving the trust it had already earned.

2. A Profile Built Around Influence and Integrity

The ideal candidate needed steady influence, sound judgment, and the ability to lead complex policy discussions with clarity and confidence. Those criteria shaped the brief and our approach to assessing credibility.

3. Used Behavioral Insights to Assess Fit

This role came with visibility, pressure, and limited room for error. Our behavioral tools helped us go deeper than resumes and references, identifying which candidates had the mindset to stay grounded under pressure and make sound, accountable decisions.

4. Support Through Every Step

This wasn’t a quick search. It needed care, clarity, and discretion. We worked behind the scenes to protect relationships, build internal confidence, and guide Scott through the final decision with full transparency and support.

What Happened Next

Todd joined at a time when the spotlight was already bright. He had strong roots in state government, including a decade as a legislator, and came in with credibility that members and lawmakers could immediately recognize.

Rather than rushing to make big changes, he took time to listen. He mapped out priorities, met with stakeholders, and shaped a strategy that respected what had come before while preparing the team for what was ahead. His calm, consistent leadership helped the organization navigate legislative challenges and sharpen its advocacy voice in the process.

Results

• We designed a structured, discreet search process shaped by behavioral insight, helping Scott navigate a high-stakes hire with confidence.
• The search delivered a candidate whose judgment, leadership, and knowledge of state politics filled a critical gap.
• Onboarding support ensured Todd could transition smoothly and start influencing policy conversations from day one.
• Todd’s leadership strengthened the association’s visibility and influence at the statehouse.
• He built trust with legislators and members, positioning Ohio REALTORS® as a proactive voice on key policy issues.

Beyond the Hire

Since joining, Todd built on existing relationships at the statehouse and introduced new strategies to address member priorities like licensing and tax reform. Under his guidance, the advocacy team became more proactive, anticipating issues rather than reacting to them.

Paramount checked in during Todd’s early months to ensure the transition stayed on track, offering advice as needed and confirming that the process continued to deliver results. That ongoing partnership helped Todd solidify his leadership and gave the association confidence to tackle more ambitious policy goals.

“Todd hit the ground running. His knowledge of Ohio’s political landscape gave us instant credibility, and Paramount guided us through every step, from search to onboarding.”
— Scott Williams, CEO, Ohio REALTORS®

Why This One Stuck With Us

Replacing a decades-long leader was never going to be a simple handoff. That role carried institutional knowledge and trusted relationships that took years to build. Todd brought the right blend of legislative expertise and steady leadership to ensure Ohio REALTORS® remained a credible, proactive voice in state policymaking.

For Paramount, this search demonstrated how getting the brief right, and using behavioral insight to vet candidates, helps organizations navigate critical leadership transitions with confidence.