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.
About CMLS
CMLS is the trade association for over 230 Multiple Listing Services, serving over 1.8 million subscribers, whose mission is to champion the value of the multiple listing service through advocacy, best practices, and education. CMLS is committed to championing an efficient, transparent, and competitive North American real estate marketplace that runs on a thriving Multiple Listing Service industry.
For more information, please visit CMLS.ORG.
Thank you to TRREB, Toronto Regional Real Estate Board for bringing the CMLS Conference to Toronto!
