History of PPIR

One afternoon in August 1998, Bill Mauffray, who was a Realtor with Re/Max Professionals at that time, telephoned Brenda Van Buren (a loan originator at Chase at that time) to do his weekly follow-up on a loan Brenda was working on. It was near five o'clock that day and Bill was thinking about what to do about eating that night. Just then Brenda told Bill that Sam Albekord, a local appraiser, was in her office and they were about to go out and have a bite to eat. She suggested that I meet them. I agreed so we all met at Don Pablo's here in Gainesville for margaritas and Mexican food. We all had a very busy and stressful day and were amazed at how relaxing it was for us to get together and simply talk about our experiences.

It was at this gathering that we decided that it would be a good thing if a networking group was organized so that Realtors, lenders, and others in the real estate industry could gather socially, if not for any other reason to meet others involved in real estate transactions who usually were just a voice on the other end of a telephone conversation. PPIR was created. The first one was held at Harry's. Twelve people showed up. The next month was at Applebee's with about 20, and so forth.

Prior to 2003, PPIR events were held in various restaurants around Gainesville. Early in 2003, after many PPIR gatherings with an averaged attendance of 40 people each, Denise Hutson approached Bill Mauffray about her law firm, Salter, Feiber, Yenzer, Murphy & Hutson PA sponsoring a PPIR to showcase their new office. The sponsored (and catered) PPIR evolved and attendance more than quadrupled. Now all PPIR events are sponsored and catered (see “Links” for list of previous sponsors). Business card drawings usually take place with an assortment of prizes provided by the various firms that donated gifts. In 2008 PPIR has expanded by merging with PPO which now includes people form a large number of occupations within North Central Florida.

Due to a decline in the Real Estate industry which began in early 2008, the number of the larger PPIR events had declined since host sponsorships where few a far between. Only two of the larger format PPIR/PPO events were held in the first half of 2010. In order to keep the PPIR concept alive, the original smaller version was re-established during the summer of 2010. These events were labeled “Classic.” Also the original version PPIR was established in Ocala and The Villages in late 2010.