Todd_Carpenter Todd Carpenter is NAR’s new social media manager. NAR made the announcement yesterday.

You also might know that the announcement was supposed to have been made at our RE BarCamp Virginia — in fact, we were honored to have been tapped by NAR to be the venue for it.

Alas, it was not to be. On Tuesday, we got a message from NAR: The Powers That Be wanted to make the announcement immediately. We wouldn’t get to host it after all.

And so it was.

We’ve heard some rumbling in the real estate world — grumbling, really, about NAR’s decision and how the announcement was made. NAR should have waited. They stabbed VAR in the back. People are flying in to Virginia to be there when the announcement was made. There is evil afoot.

It’s deep-breath time.

Are we disappointed? Of course. We were looking forward to Todd’s debut on our turf. But these things happen, and we’re glad that RE BarCamp will still be Todd’s official “coming out” party.

We’re not privy to the decision process in Chicago, and while we’re not sure what was gained by making the announcement early, we know those folks and there must be a good reason for naming Todd a few days early. (And heck, many of you already knew who it was!)

We got a sweet audio interview with Todd and Hilary, and RE BarCamp will still be his first public appearance. (Monday, March 2 — the pre-RE BarCamp Virginia dinner and happy hour. Be there.)

We’re happy. RE BarCamp isn’t diminished — it’s still gonna be a hit. And we’re looking forward to working with Todd.