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Trailblazer Award Presentation – Lou Jewell, ALC 10 17 2025

First-time Award presented by Christina Asbury, ALC, President of the RLI Carolinas Chapter

Tonight, we honor a man whose name has become woven into the very history of land brokerage in North Carolina — and across the country.
A teacher, a leader, a soldier, a scout, and always — a land professional.

Lou Jewell, ALC, has spent decades blazing trails for those of us who followed.
Before “land education” was even a recognized concept in North Carolina, Lou was out there pushing for it — writing it, teaching it, and shaping how our industry understands land.

He helped create and advance Form 502, the Land Information Worksheet, long before most states had any land disclosure framework. His advocacy led directly to the adoption of North Carolina’s new Form 142 Land Disclosure, ensuring buyers and sellers finally have transparency on the issues that really matter — soil conditions, easements, contamination, wetlands, timber rights, and so much more.

Lou didn’t just identify problems — he built solutions. His insight guided the NC REALTORS® Commercial Forms Committee, where he served for years, and his written work, including “An Insider’s Guide to Land Investment” and his many published articles in Insight and Terra Firma, has educated thousands.

He was instrumental in connecting the dots between education, ethics, and expertise — advocating for the word “Land” to be added to Article 11 of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics, making clear that land brokerage is its own discipline, deserving of its own standards and competence requirements. That single change has shaped how REALTORS® nationwide are trained and held accountable in land transactions.

Lou’s impact extends beyond forms and classrooms.
He’s taught RLI’s Land 101 course since 2003, influencing a generation of brokers and developers. In 2009, he was named National Instructor of the Year by the REALTORS® Land Institute. And if you’ve ever taken one of his classes, you know the man doesn’t just lecture — he mentors.

He’s also a two-time RLI Chapter President, serving as President of both the NC Chapter (2003) and the Carolinas Chapter (2014–2015), and a Board member continuously since 1998.
He’s been named RLI Land REALTOR® of the Year twice — for North Carolina in 2010 and for the Carolinas Chapter in 2018.

Beyond the classroom and boardroom, Lou lives his commitment to service — as a former 2nd Lieutenant in the NC Army National Guard, an Eagle Scout, and a member of the Pilot Mountain Rescue Squad.

And for those who know him best — he’s also the steady voice behind “Let’s Talk Land,” his weekly podcast where he keeps doing what he’s always done: teaching, sharing, and challenging us all to raise the bar.

Lou, through your persistence, our profession is better.
You’ve taken “Under All is the Land” from a motto to a mission — and you’ve given this industry tools, structure, and integrity that will outlast all of us.

On behalf of the Carolinas Chapter of the REALTORS® Land Institute, it is my honor to present the Trailblazer Award to Lou Jewell, ALC — a true pioneer, teacher, and tireless advocate for the land and those who make their living on it.

Thank you, Lou, for blazing the trail that we’re all still walking.

Christina Asbury, ALC, President of our RLI-Carolinas Chapter, awarded this new Chapter award, and I am genuinely appreciative of this honor and hope I continue to live up to it. Check out my radio/podcast www.letstalkland.net.

Lou Jewell ALC 

Broker/Owner Land Pro Real Estate, Inc.

Accredited Land Consultant

Realtors Land Institute Land 101 Instructor 2 Day Course

2003 to 2026

NC Continuing Education 4 Hour Class author and instructor

“Introduction to Land Brokerage” NC Course 3314

NC Appraiser Board 4 Hour Class author and Instructor

“Rural Land Valuation Art or Science”

Member of Winston-Salem Regional MLS, Surry Regional

Southwest Regional MLS

Became a North Carolina Realtor Salesperson on July 7, 1994 

Received North Carolina Brokers License January 5, 1998

Received Virginia Brokers License March 25, 2008

In May 1998, I joined the Realtors Land Institute

2003 President of the North Carolina Chapter of 33 Realtors Land Institute

Chapter Board Member 1998-2026

2014-2016 Vice President Carolinas Chapter RLI (NC & SC Merged)

2016-2017 President Carolinas Chapter (NC & SC) 

2004 Received ALC Designation, Orlando, Fla. Certificate # 1,079

Recipient of the North Carolina Realtors Land Institute’s “Realtor of the Year” award 2010 and RLI Carolinas Chapter (NC & SC) “Realtor of the Year” award 2018

2008-2017 North Carolina Board of Governors Realtors Commercial Alliance

2016-2017 State President, NC Realtors Commercial Alliance

2008-2026 North Carolina RCA Forms Committee

2009 Recipient of RLI’s “Excellence in Education” Instructor Award in San Diego

2009 Published Article “Do you Know All 93?” TerraFirma Vol.62 No.3 Fall 2009

Author of numerous Land Articles

Attended and completed the original Land 101 Instructors class, May 12, 2003, Washington, DC, Mid-Year NAR Convention

Instructed over sixty Land 101 classes, graduating over 3,000 Realtors from over twenty-seven states. Taught in North Carolina, Tennessee, Oklahoma, South Carolina, California, and Nebraska. Taught at the 2009 National Realtors Convention in San Diego. Recruited over 300 new RLI members and numerous RLI sponsors. 

Attended NAR 2004 Orlando National, 2005 San Francisco National, 2006 New Orleans National, 2007 Las Vegas National, 2008 Orlando National, 2009 San Diego National.

Attended RLI Land Conferences Nashville 2009, Fort Worth 2010, Nashville 2011, Charleston 2014, Tucson 2015, Dallas 2016, Charlotte 2017, Nashville 2018, Albuquerque 2019, San Antonia 2022

Developed the first and only four-hour continuing education course on the subject of Land, “Introduction to Land Brokerage” Course 3314, approved by the NC Real Estate Commission, December 28th, 2014. Only Land Continuing Education Instructor in NC and the US

Developed the first 4 Hour Land class for the North Carolina Appraisal Board. “Rural Land Values Art or Science"

2007 was initialized and promoted through Glory Bowman, RLI Ex VP, adding the Specialty “Land” to our Realtors Code of Ethics Article 11. Adopted and included January 2009

In 2008, the NC RCA Commercial Forms Committee instigated and organized a “Land Information Worksheet”. This approved NC Real Estate Form 502, approved Jan 2010, has over 78 Land Issues and Observations. It was submitted to the NC Legislature in 2017 as a request to be included as the required Land Disclosure Form for all Land transactions in the State of North Carolina. The Virginia Association of Realtors has also adopted this form. 

In January 2006, I was appointed by Randy Hearst, the 2006 President of the National Realtors Land Institute, to the Professional Standards Committee and attended the session in Washington, D.C., in May 2006.

2009 RLI National President Candidate

December 2, 2017, Hosted the first “Let’s Talk Land” radio/podcast show

Wrote and taught a one-hour Land class for Elon University 

Committee member for the North Carolina Wildlife Commission promoting Wildlife Preservation programs for subdivision development in our State.

Host and owner of "Let's Talk Land" International Radio Show

Eagle Scout

2nd  Lieutenant NC Army National Guard

Member of New Hope Baptist Church

B.S. Business Administration, Johnson C Smith University, 1972

Board of Directors Pilot Mountain Rescue & EMS