[caption id="attachment_30637" align="aligncenter" width="800"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/hhi.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-30637"><img class="size-full wp-image-30637" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/hhi.jpg" alt="Hilton Head MLS Chief Executive Officer Yvette Acuff, former NFL payer J.J. Birden and Hilton Head COO Colette Stevenson attend the Real Estate Tech Talks in November." width="800" height="450" /></a> Hilton Head MLS Chief Executive Officer Yvette Acuff, former NFL payer J.J. Birden and Hilton Head COO Colette Stevenson attend the Real Estate Tech Talks in November.[/caption]

<b>Multiple listing service </b><b>hosts tech talks</b>

The Multiple Listing Service of Hilton Head Island (HHIMLS) hosted hundreds of Realtors, brokers, agents and others related to the real estate industry at the Hilton Head Marriott Resort &amp; Spa for the 2016 Real Estate Tech Talks on Nov. 16-17.

"What an honor it was to have these nationally-known experts here in Hilton Head to help our industry grow and succeed," said Colette Stevenson, chief operating officer of Multiple Listing Service of Hilton Head Island. "It was an exciting couple of days to learn from the best in the industry about the way our profession is changing."

Former NFL wide receiver J.J. Birden addressed seizing opportunities in a sea of change. Don Hutson, author of the “One Minute Negotiator,” explained you have to sell value, not just real estate to win in today's market. Darity Wesley, with the Lotus Law Center, had tips on how to protect transactions from cyber threats.

Curt Beardsley, with Zillow.com - the online real estate transaction tool - told agents how they can use the website instead of thinking of it as competition. Terri Murphy, featured on ABC, NBC and CNBC as a sales industry expert, shared her secrets to engaging prospects. Dr. Frank Nothaft, chief economist at CoreLogic, America's largest provider of advanced property and ownership information, analytics and data-enabled services, explained how the real estate market may look in the future.

Many other main speakers, as well as break-out sessions, filled the two days that culminated with a 40-year anniversary celebration gala honoring Chief Executive Officer Yvette Acuff.

<b>Weichert, Realtors adds </b><b>two new team members</b>

Connie Rigdon has joined the Weichert, Realtors-Coastal Properties sales team, while Pat Griffith has been promoted.

Rigdon has been practicing real estate since 2011.

She was born in Taipei, Taiwan, spent her formative years there, but moved to Hawaii and then to Southern California and consequently spent her years between all three places.

She had a private design practice for 10 years and is extremely involved in the community.

Rigdon can be reached in the Beaufort office at 808-345-4252.

In other news, Griffith has been promoted to senior vice president of the company. In her new role she will be responsible for providing direction and guidance to the management team and for the overall growth and operation of the sales team.

She has over 30 years of sales experience in the real estate field.

After moving to the Lowcountry, Griffith joined Weichert, Realtors-Coastal Properties as the sales manager for the Bluffton office and is currently the sales manager for the Sun City office.