Meet IREM’s CEO

Early in 2025, Zack Wahlquist, FASAE, CAE, RCE, became the new CEO and Executive Vice President of IREM. He shares a bit about his career journey and his leadership philosophy.

Why IREM?

IREM has amazing members and an amazing HQ team. It feels great to come in and be able to join a team that’s already so effective and good at what they do and be able to contribute to a positive culture that moves us forward. It’s really exciting to me.

Describe your career journey.

I’ve been in associations for about 20 years. I started in higher education, an exciting field for me to get into out of graduate school. I spent about 15 years total in higher education associations. Five years ago, I left and moved into the real estate space and worked for the Chicago Association of REALTORS®. And now I’m here.

What is your leadership philosophy?

I would describe my leadership philosophy as highly collaborative and people-centric. I believe that the relationships that we have both inside and outside of work are the most valuable things in life. Letting voices be heard, getting people involved in decision-making, and investing time and energy in getting to know people are probably at the core of how I lead.

Where do you see IREM making the most significant impact in the next few years?

I’m really excited about the opportunities IREM has in terms of international membership growth. We’re seeing some exciting things in Japan, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, and other places around the world. It’s great to see how quickly IREM is growing as a worldwide leader in education and certification. Pushing the opportunities we have to create educated property managers and asset managers around the world is, I think, an incredible growth opportunity for IREM.

What is an important lesson you’ve learned during your career?

One important lesson I’ve learned in my career is that there are multiple sides to every story. So when somebody approaches you with a question or a concern, it’s important to listen to them, but it’s also important to listen to the perspectives of others around the issue. And then make a decision that’s based on facts and evidence, while also adding some “gut” into the mix. But really listening to all sides of the story before making a decision or moving forward.

What are you most excited about as IREM CEO?

I’m most excited to get to know IREM’s members—learn more about what they do, the portfolios they manage, the things they do day-to-day, and what really motivates them. I’m also looking forward to getting to know this high-performing HQ team and helping contribute to a great culture here in the office and within our membership. And then just watching IREM continue to soar.