Seattle King County REALTORS® Names Taylor Shanaman as New Chief Executive Officer
November 3, 2026
BELLEVUE, WA – Seattle King County REALTORS® (SKCR) is pleased to announce the appointment of Taylor Shanaman as the association's next Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2027. Shanaman will succeed longtime CEO Russell (Russ) Hokanson, who is retiring at the end of 2026 after 20 years leading the organization.
Shanaman currently serves as SKCR's Director of Government Affairs, a position she has held for the past five years. In this role, she oversees the association's advocacy efforts across more than 40 municipalities in King and Kittitas counties, working with elected officials, community leaders, and industry stakeholders on issues affecting real estate and homeownership. Her experience at the local, state, and national levels of the REALTOR® association, combined with her understanding of the real estate industry, its members, and the challenges and opportunities ahead, provides a strong foundation for her new role as CEO.
"Following a nationwide search that attracted an exceptional pool of candidates, Taylor distinguished herself as the right person to lead our association into the future," said SKCR President Cheyenne Gillooly. "I'm grateful to our CEO Search Task Force and its co-chair, President-Elect Scott Dickinson, for their time and dedication throughout this process. Over the past five years, Taylor has strengthened our government affairs program and become a respected voice for our industry. Her ability to build relationships, bring key stakeholders together, and advocate effectively for REALTORS® will serve our association well in her new role. I look forward to working with her as our next CEO."
“I’m excited for the opportunity to lead Seattle King County REALTORS® into its next chapter,” said Shanaman. “I look forward to strengthening our membership, expanding our impact, and ensuring SKCR remains a leading voice for the industry across our region. I’m grateful for Russ’s leadership over the past 20 years and look forward to building on that foundation.”