Council of Multiple Listing Services Inducts Merri Jo Cowen into CMLS Hall of Fame
September 25, 2025
September 25, 2025 —
The Council of Multiple Listing Services (CMLS), the professional trade organization dedicated to advancing the MLS industry, proudly announces the induction of Merri Jo Cowen, Chief Executive Officer of Stellar MLS, into the CMLS Hall of Fame.
Recognized as one of the most influential leaders in the history of the multiple listing service industry, Cowen’s career spans more than four decades of groundbreaking service, innovation, and mentorship.
“Merri Jo’s leadership has shaped both the MLS industry and CMLS as an organization,” said Denée Evans, CEO of CMLS. “She has always led by example — with vision, collaboration, and a steady commitment to progress. Her calm, reasoned approach has guided our industry through pivotal moments, and her ability to cultivate leaders and build collaboration has left a lasting mark. Personally, I am grateful for her mentorship and support over the past 11 years. CMLS and the MLS community are stronger today because of Merri Jo, and it is fitting to see her honored with this place in the Hall of Fame.”
Leadership, Mentorship, and Impact
Cowen’s legacy is not only one of organizational growth and technological progress but also of mentorship. She has guided countless industry leaders, including Shelley Specchio, Sean Murphy, Chris Carrillo, Melissa King, and Stellar MLS COO Shayne Fairley, who has been named her successor when she steps down from her current role in early 2026.
“In my time at Stellar, I have seen Merri Jo turn her vision into results with steady focus and a clear belief that we succeed when our brokers do,” said Fairley. “She is genuinely curious, follows through, and leads with kindness and determination. Merri Jo has a gift for making complex topics easy to understand, and she has nurtured and developed numerous leaders along the way. I feel honored to have had the opportunity to work alongside and learn from her leadership. The CMLS Hall of Fame recognizes both achievement and character. Merri Jo exemplifies both, and our industry is better because of her.”
Her leadership during pivotal industry moments—most recently navigating policy changes stemming from the 2024 NAR settlement—demonstrated her trademark transparency, collaboration, and steady hand. Her campaigns educating Stellar MLS subscribers were recognized nationally for innovation in marketing and consumer communication.
Cowen has also been consistently recognized among the Swanepoel Power 200, RISMedia Newsmakers, Inman Power Players, and was named to the RISMedia Hall of Fame. She was honored with the Inman MLS Reinvented Award, the CMLS Shuttleworth MLS Executive of the Year in 2018, and was named a 2025 HousingWire Woman of Influence.
Service to CMLS and the Profession
Cowen has long been a cornerstone of CMLS leadership, serving as a past president, board director, and, notably, Dean of the CMLX Certification Program. She holds CMLX1, CMLX2, and CMLX3 designations herself and has overseen the curriculum that defines MLS management excellence. Often referred to as the “Godmother of MLS,” she has elevated professional standards and helped cultivate a new generation of MLS leaders.
Her influence extends nationally and globally, serving on the MLS Grid Board of Managers, the National Association of REALTORS® MLS Executive Advisory Board, and the MLS Issues and Policy Committee, while also founding Universal Consulting Opportunities (UCO) to share MLS best practices worldwide.
A Trailblazing Career
Cowen began her MLS journey in the early 1980s at the Reno Sparks Board of REALTORS®, where she rose from data entry staff to MLS Director, and led the creation of a regional MLS for Reno and Carson City. In 2003, she became the first CEO of the Northern Nevada Regional MLS, and in 2008 was selected to lead the Mid Florida Regional MLS (MFRMLS). Under her leadership, MFRMLS rebranded to Stellar MLS in 2019, growing to represent more than 80,000 real estate professionals across Florida and Puerto Rico, making it the largest MLS in Florida and the third largest in the nation.
Throughout her tenure, Cowen has been a driving force behind modernization and innovation. She spearheaded the adoption of the RESO Data Dictionary in 2018, setting a national standard for MLS data interoperability. She also championed customer-focused tools such as Down Payment Resource, SkySlope Offers, and Finding Homes, a voice-activated property search for the visually impaired.
“Having had the privilege of working alongside Merri Jo through some of the most challenging times in our industry, I can say without hesitation, Merri Jo is one of the most powerful and intuitive leaders I have ever met,” said Jeff Fagan, Stellar MLS president. “Integrity, transparency, and professionalism are core foundation principles Merri Jo exemplifies daily. She will always be in my personal Hall of Fame!”
Cowen’s impact on the MLS profession—and the many leaders she has guided—will continue to resonate in an enduring legacy.
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ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. ( Aug. 11, 2026 ) – Stellar MLS, one of the largest multiple listing services in Florida and Puerto Rico and among the nation’s most influential MLSs, is expanding commercial listing visibility and streamlining distribution through a partnership with Crexi, a leading commercial real estate and data platform. Through the integration, listings entered once into Stellar MLS’s system can be automatically distributed to Crexi, expanding exposure for real estate professionals to buyers, tenants and investors nationwide. With Crexi’s marketplace serving more than 23 million users annually and over 500,000 active listings on its platform, Crexi provides Stellar MLS customers with greater visibility and access to a broad national audience—all at no additional cost. The move reflects Stellar MLS’s ongoing investment in its commercial real estate platform to provide subscribers with tools that expand market exposure while simplifying workflows. Effective July 1, 2026, Stellar MLS integrated its commercial listings into Matrix, where subscribers may enter and search for commercial sale, lease and business opportunities. “Our partnership with Crexi aligns with our commitment to invest in solutions that help real estate professionals succeed,” said Shayne Fairley, CEO of Stellar MLS. “Our subscribers need technology that works hard for them – and streamlines the process. By enabling subscribers to enter a listing once and extend its reach through Crexi, we are helping them save time, increase visibility and connect with more potential buyers and tenants.” "Crexi is making commercial real estate more connected, efficient, and accessible through AI-driven intelligence,” said Michael DeGiorgio, Founder and CEO of Crexi. “Our partnership with Stellar MLS puts members’ listings in front of the active buyers, tenants, and investors most likely to transact." Benefits for Stellar MLS Subscribers: Broader Market Exposure: Listings gain greater visibility among a nationwide commercial audience. Seamless Listing Distribution: Automatically publishes eligible listings to the commercial marketplace directly from the MLS. Streamlined User Experience: Integrates with existing MLS workflows, allowing subscribers to market listings more broadly without changing their day-to-day processes. More Member Value: Brokers who opt in gain expanded marketing opportunities and greater exposure as an included benefit of MLS membership. Stellar MLS also recently completed a comprehensive update of its commercial data fields to better align with the Real Estate Standards Organization (RESO) Data Dictionary, creating a more consistent and efficient experience for subscribers. Stellar MLS has more than 3,400 active commercial listings across its Florida and Puerto Rico coverage area. About Stellar MLS Stellar MLS is the multiple listing service for real estate professionals who value clarity, stability, and support in a real estate market and industry defined by change. As one of the largest and most influential multiple listing services in the nation, Stellar MLS serves nearly 80,000 customers and supports real estate agents and brokers across 20 REALTOR® associations in Central and Southwest Florida and Puerto Rico. Its extensive footprint allows Stellar MLS to deliver a broader suite of cutting-edge products and services, and more opportunities for customers to do business than almost any other MLS. Stellar MLS creates conditions within which real estate professionals can succeed, the housing market can thrive, and people who seek homeownership have every opportunity to achieve it. About Crexi Crexi is reimagining commercial real estate with an AI-powered platform built to deliver smarter, more efficient solutions at every stage of the deal lifecycle. From real-time data and market insights with Crexi Intelligence, to targeted property marketing and seamless deal management through Crexi PRO, and a transparent, time-bound bidding experience with Crexi Auction— Crexi enables users to evaluate opportunities, maximize exposure, and close with speed and confidence. To date, Crexi has subsidized over $2.74 trillion in property value, 26 billion square feet listed, and supports a growing community of more than 23 million yearly users.
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MIPIM 2026 – Collaborating in Cannes UCO enhanced its global presence at the recent MIPIM 2026 gathering in France, joining more than 15,000 industry leaders from some 90 countries at one of the world’s leading real estate events. UCO was an RE Key Sponsor through FIABCI, the International Real Estate Federation representing 1.5 million professionals across 83 countries. Joining Cowen at the event March 9-13 in Cannes, Marion Weiler, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Global Markets at UCO and Stellar MLS, and Beth Kinsella, UCO Relationship and Research Manager, strengthened relationships with investors, developers and public sector stakeholders while contributing to a featured panel, “From Data to Delivery: The New Industrial Real Estate Ecosystem.” The discussion highlighted challenges and opportunities within the global real estate market – noting as cross-border investment and PropTech innovation accelerate, markets remain constrained by fragmented, inconsistent data – and reinforced the critical role of the MLS as a centralized infrastructure. “Across markets, we see a growing need for transparency, standardized data and more efficient transactions,” said Weiler. “UCO’s mission aligns with a broader global imperative – to create more connected, trusted, and accessible real estate systems – and its progress reflects the increasing recognition of the MLS model as a proven framework to deliver on that need at scale.” Exploring Real Estate, the MLS and AI in Mumbai UCO continued its engagement in India at NARVIGATE 2026, a two-day real estate networking conference in Mumbai, for the second consecutive year. The flagship event, March 23-24, is organized by the National Association of REALTORS® India and brought together more than 2,500 professionals to share global perspectives on navigating a more regulated, technology-driven and collaborative future. Dr. Mathew Kallumadil, Senior Vice President of Technology, Innovation and Global Markets at UCO and Stellar MLS presented a strategic roadmap for MLS implementation in India to key decision-makers. UCO and NAR India are advancing plans to introduce a modern MLS to India, assessing the real estate market – projected to reach $1 trillion by 2030 – and preparing for an RFP. With a population of 1.46 billion and a highly advanced digital infrastructure, India is uniquely positioned to leapfrog into a more transparent, technology-driven future – beginning with the country’s first MLS. In addition, Dr. Kallumadil, took part in a presentation “AI in Real Estate,” exploring how artificial intelligence can enhance data accuracy, automate workflows, and deliver actionable insights. According to Kallumadil, “Nearly half of buyers and sellers are already using AI in their transactions - and most of them are using it to evaluate their agent before they even pick up the phone. The gap between what consumers expect and what most agents deliver is widening every month. That gap always gets filled. The only question is whether agents fill it themselves, or someone else does it for them.” The opportunity, he added, lies in embracing AI thoughtfully – experimenting with technology, understanding it and “applying it wisely with clients to avoid alienating trusted relationships while leaning into new consumer behavior.” With CEPI, Elevating Professional Standards Across Europe UCO is also deepening its collaboration with CEPI, the European Association of Real Estate Professions, through the planned development of the “MMCEPI MLS” educational module, designed to support awareness and adoption of MLS best practices and enhance professional standards across Europe. This effort aligns with the launch of the MMCEPI Real Estate Quality Label – Europe’s first real estate quality benchmark – introduced in February 2025 in Brussels as a mark of excellence focused on ethics, qualifications and professionalism for real estate practitioners in more than 20 countries. Created to distinguish qualified professionals and build greater consumer trust, the MMCEPI label reflects CEPI’s broader mission to modernize real estate systems across its network of more than 30 national associations in 25 countries. UCO’s involvement reinforces the growing role of the MLS in advancing transparency and collaboration across global markets, while signaling continued momentum in Europe – with increased interest in MLS frameworks among CEPI members. Through continued global engagement, UCO is at the forefront of advancing MLS adoption worldwide – supporting real estate professionals, organizations and governments in building more transparent and collaborative real estate systems. About UCO Global UCO Global exists to help real estate organizations worldwide build fair, efficient, and connected marketplaces. Whether exploring, launching, or scaling an MLS, we deliver tailored strategies grounded in deep MLS expertise, global insight, and local knowledge. Our multilingual, culturally fluent team brings over 100 years of combined MLS leadership and more than 40 years of international business experience to every engagement. Backed by Stellar MLS – one of the largest and most influential MLSs in the United States – we bring proven operational strength to global real estate transformation while building trust, transparency, and sustainable growth in every market we serve. Learn more at stellarmls.com/Global .
