Last Updated: May 26, 2026
A decade of showing up, digging in, and uplifting the CMLS community.
For many CMLS members, Monica Schneider is a familiar and trusted presence. You may have spoken with her on the phone, seen her welcoming attendees at the conference registration booth, coordinated sponsorship details with her, or worked with her behind the scenes on any number of CMLS programs and initiatives.
This year, CMLS is proud to recognize and celebrate Monica’s 10-year anniversary with the organization.
A decade is a meaningful milestone in any organization. It means being there through periods of growth, change, challenge, and reinvention. It means helping build the systems that make progress possible. It means keeping things steady when circumstances are anything but.
That is Monica.
In her roles through the years and now as Director of Operations, Monica has contributed to nearly every dimension of CMLS’ work. Over the past decade, CMLS has grown from 253 to 323 member organizations, and the annual conference has expanded to welcome more than 1,000 attendees. Monica has been part of making that growth possible, supporting the operational foundation that allows CMLS to serve its members and the broader MLS community.
“Monica’s growth over the last 10 years has been incredible to watch, and she has absolutely been a huge part of CMLS’ growth and success during that time,” shared Denee Evans, CEO of CMLS.
“What stands out most to me is her passion for serving our members. She is always asking, ‘How does this benefit the members?’ and making sure they are supported and cared for in everything we do.
Monica is truly an execution extraordinaire. She gets things done, gets them done well, and takes tremendous pride in delivering excellence. Her willingness to keep learning, take on new challenges, and grow professionally is reflected in her journey from originally coming on board to help clean up our database to now serving as Director of Operations and helping keep the entire organization moving forward.
She has helped shape CMLS into what it is today, and our members have benefited tremendously from her leadership, care, consistency, and behind-the-scenes excellence. CMLS is lucky to have Monica on the team, our members are lucky to work with her, and I’m personally incredibly grateful for her support, patience, passion, and partnership over the last decade.”
Denee Evans, CEO of CMLS
Her work has helped move CMLS from manual, ad hoc processes to more scalable systems, including the implementation of the association management system the team continues to rely on today. She has played a central role in expanding education and member engagement through multi-format programming and initiatives like MLS Matters. She has also contributed to industry-level efforts, including the Value of MLS initiative and the development of benchmarking tools and best practices used across the membership.
Monica’s impact is not limited to one area of the organization. She has grown into a cross-functional leader supporting events, membership, sponsorships, operations, and organizational development during a period of significant growth and industry complexity. When COVID disrupted the way organizations worked, gathered, and communicated, Monica helped keep the CMLS team connected and members informed during one of the most disorienting periods the industry has faced.
Through it all, Monica has brought consistency, care, and a willingness to dig in wherever needed.
When asked what inspires her, Monica shared:
“I’m inspired by the opportunity to bring clarity to complex work and to know that what happens behind the scenes truly makes a difference. Over the years, I’ve found a lot of purpose in supporting both our team and our members and helping things run smoothly, even when no one sees it.”
Her advice to others reflects the same steady, service-minded approach she brings to her work:
“Stay curious, take ownership, and don’t be afraid to step into challenges before you feel ready. Some of the most meaningful growth comes from figuring things out along the way. Over time, consistency, attention to detail, and a willingness to support others will set you apart.”
Ten years of showing up matters. Ten years of making things work, supporting colleagues and members, and caring about the outcome matters.
Monica, thank you for a decade of dedication to CMLS and the MLS community. We are grateful for your leadership, your behind-the-scenes excellence, and the many ways you have helped make CMLS better.