MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin REALTORS® Association (WRA) is proud to welcome Joe Horning as its new chairman of the board for 2023. As the chairman, Horning will lead one of Wisconsin’s largest trade associations, representing over 17,000 real estate brokers, salespeople and affiliates statewide. He succeeds the WRA’s 2022 chair, Brad Lois of Burlington.
Horning is the president of Shorewest REALTORS® based in Brookfield and is a third-generation family member to lead the company. This leadership role includes the Shorewest Family of Companies: Shorewest REALTORS®, Heritage Title Services, Wisconsin Mortgage Corporation, Shorewest Insurance and Shorewest Real Estate Institute.
Horning is a lifelong Wisconsin resident, having attended St. Joseph Grade School, Marquette High School and Marquette University, earning a degree in business administration from Marquette University. Horning spent summers during high school delivering files and providing maintenance for Wauwatosa Realty, which later became Shorewest REALTORS®.
After graduating from Marquette in 2001, Horning began working full-time for the company and soon founded and managed the firm’s IT department. After several years, he moved into the role of Vice President and was named President in 2002, succeeding his father in that position. Under Horning’s leadership, the company has grown to 1,000 sales professionals, 300 staff members and 26 locations throughout Wisconsin.
“Joe Horning has been an innovative and effective leader in real estate at the local, state and national levels for many years. He will focus on enhancing REALTOR® professionalism and protecting private property rights,” said Michael Theo, President and CEO of the WRA.
Throughout his career, Horning has been involved with various real estate organizations at the regional, state and national levels. In addition to his 2023 position as the chairman for the WRA, Horning is also serving as the 2023 chairman for Metro MLS and has previously served as the chairman for the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, the National Association of REALTORS®’ MLS Policy Forum and the Realty Alliance.
Furthermore, Horning has served on the board of directors for the Greater Milwaukee Association of REALTORS®, the Wisconsin Homeowners Alliance, the Wisconsin Real Estate Exchange and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Milwaukee.
