Josh Sharfman has worked with the California Association of Realtors for the past 18 years, currently serving as the group’s chief technical officer.
He first began his work with CAR as a consultant and later worked as an outside board member of the association’s Real Estate Business Services subsidiary. In his current position, he also serves as the association’s CEO of its Real Estate Business Technologies subsidiary, charged with delivering CAR’s transaction management system.
Before joining CAR full-time, Sharfman led product development for Legal Research Network, a group that delivered legal compliance and education training to the Fortune 500 group of companies. His career history also includes operating his own software development consulting firm and working as CEO of Digital Lava, a provider of innovative solutions for synchronized multimedia for training and communication applications.
Since 1980, Sharfman also has served as an adjunct professor of engineering at the University of Southern California. He holds a bachelor’s of science degree in computer engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles, a master’s of science degree in engineering management from USC and a Ph.D. in business from Capella University.
Sharfman will speak at Real Estate Connect in New York City, Jan. 9-11, 2005.
Panel or session at Connect: The Paperless Transaction: Which Platform Will Win and Why?
Which daily newspaper do you read and which section of the newspaper do you read first?
Los Angeles Times; front section.
What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever packed in a suitcase?
Simulation tester for a line printer. A box with LEDs and switches with a cable running out the backend made for interesting conversation going through customs in 1980.
What kind of music do you listen to?
Classical.
What style of home do you live in and when did you buy it?
French country; 1994.
Where did you spend your last vacation?
Israel.
What professional accomplishment in your life are you most proud of?
IPO.
What personal accomplishment in your life are you most proud of?
Teaching.
How many e-mail addresses do you have?
Three.
What worries keep you awake at night?
Children!
What lesson did you learn in the last year?
Make the important decisions with your gut and not with your brain.
What is your favorite technology device or software application?
Currently, the Treo.
What was the best gift you ever received from or gave to someone else?
Bottle of a McCallen 25.
Are you a morning person or a night owl?
Morning.
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