FMLS and MARIS link listing data; Bluegrass Realtors names new CEO

# What happened

In a separate move, Bluegrass Realtors and Imagine MLS in Kentucky named Brendan Bailey as their new CEO. He replaces Katrina Bowers, who had been serving as interim CEO after Richard Gibbens left the role after just over a year.

# Why the data share matters

• Agents in Georgia can see and act on listings in Missouri and Illinois via their FMLS interface.
• MARIS members gain direct access to a much larger Georgia inventory without a separate login or feed.
• The connection is two‑way, so referral and cross‑market collaboration can flow both directions.

FMLS CEO Jeremy Crawford framed the move as aligning MLS boundaries with how clients actually search for homes: clients don't limit decisions by MLS lines, and agents should have tools that match client behavior.

# Background and context FMLS has been pursuing similar data partnerships this year, adding connections with Greater Chattanooga Realtors and ValleyMLS and signing agreements with MLSs in Alabama and other regions. The FMLS–MARIS link continues that pattern of expanding access through bilateral data arrangements rather than mergers.

# Bluegrass Realtors and Imagine MLS leadership change Brendan Bailey now leads both Bluegrass Realtors and Imagine MLS, which serve the Lexington area and broader Kentucky market. Bailey's recent roles include CEO of the Denver Metro Association of Realtors, leadership of the Realtor Association of Pioneer Valley in Massachusetts, and chief operating officer at Raleigh Regional Association of Realtors in North Carolina. He also served as National Association of Realtors first vice president in 2023 and held prior advocacy and policy roles at state and federal levels.

Mike Inman, president of Bluegrass Realtors, said the organization expects new ideas and direction under Bailey's leadership as they build on recent growth.

# What members should watch now

• Operational changes: Members should look for announcements about how the FMLS–MARIS feed appears in their MLS tools and whether any search fields, branding, or commission rules differ across systems.
• Referral and cooperation: Agents who handle relocations or investor clients should assess referral workflows and broker cooperation practices across the now‑linked markets.

# Bottom line The FMLS–MARIS data share expands cross‑market listing visibility for about 72,000 professionals by routing listings into the MLS platforms members already use. In Kentucky, Bluegrass Realtors and Imagine MLS have a new CEO with association leadership experience as Imagine MLS integrates recent regional partners.