Chad Curry is the managing director for the National Association of Realtors’ Center for Realtor Technology, where he investigates emerging technologies. His current focus is on researching renewable energy, smart home devices, iBeacons and wearables, and how these trends will impact the real estate industry. He uses the resources of the most powerful real estate trade group to sniff out opportunities that will improve the lives of agents and how they do business.

First job: Teen center