Josh Sharfman has worked with the California Association of Realtors for the past 19 years, and is currently CEO of its Business Technologies subsidiary.
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 is charged with delivering CAR’s transaction management system.
Before joining CAR full-time, Sharfman held positions that included leading product development for Legal Research Network, a group that delivered legal compliance and education training to Fortune 500 companies.
Since 1980, Sharfman has been an adjunct professor of engineering at the University of Southern California. He has a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles, a master’s degree in engineering management from USC and a Ph.D. in business from Capella University, and tells us he hopes eventually to end up as a professor.
Sharfman will speak during Real Estate Connect in New York City, Jan. 11-13, 2006.
Here are his answers to a set of questions posed by Inman News:
Panel or session at Connect: The Tipping Point: Achieving The Paperless Breakthrough.
What type of home did you grow up in and where?
One-story ranch house in Los Angeles with my parents, sister and grandmother.
What style of home do you live in today and when did you buy it?
Two-story traditional with a full finished basement (unusual for Southern California). I bought it 10 years ago, removed the roof and added the second story.
What worries keep you awake at night?
What, this is group therapy?
Describe your dream home.
I’m living in it!
What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever packed in a suitcase?
The strangest thing I packed in a suitcase was a printer interface exercise box. This story dates back about 28 years. It was a little black box about 6 by 10 by 2 inches with about a dozen switches and lights on the front panel. It was used to simulate input to a high-speed line printer. I had some very interesting issues going through customs overseas in Germany and Israel with this device.
What was your first job?
My first job was as a freelance photographer.
What would be your second career choice be after real estate?
Education. I look forward to return to teaching at the university level as my end-of-career vocation and avocation.
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