2026 Illinois REALTORS® President Jeff Kolbus

Congratulations to Peoria REALTOR® Jeff Kolbus, who was installed as the 2026 President of Illinois REALTORS® Wednesday night during the association's 108th Inaugural Gala in Lombard. Kolbus is the president and owner of RE/MAX Traders Unlimited in Peoria.

"I constantly remind agents that our clients deserve the best from us. They want a professional who is on their side. One educated on the current market, one who knows the market stats, one who knows what is happening in their community in case it might affect their clients' real estate needs," said Kolbus.

"That means we must be ready to step up and be the professional that they expect and honestly deserve. We must be ready for whatever lies ahead in our industry in the coming years and with Illinois REALTORS®, we can all say confidently: "We're Ready."

Other 2026 Illinois REALTORS® officers are: President-elect Debbie Prodehl, a broker-owner and the director of risk management for Coldwell Banker Real Estate Group in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin (office in Shorewood); Treasurer Sarah Ware, principal and designated managing broker of Ware Group Realty in Chicago ; and Immediate Past President Tommy Choi, co-founder and owner of Weinberg Choi at Keller Williams ONEChicago in Chicago.

Kolbus, AHWD, C2EX, ePro, GRI, SRS, began his real estate career in 1994. He is a member of the Peoria Area Association of REALTORS® (PAAR) and served as its president in 2002.

Kolbus has served on multiple Illinois REALTOR® committees and has chaired the Finance Committee, Public Policy Forum, REALTORS® Political Action Committee, RPAC Trustees, Business Issues-License Law Working Group and Technology Working Group. He's served multiple terms on the Illinois REALTORS® Board of Directors and in 2014 graduated from the Illinois REALTORS® Leadership Development Program.

Kolbus is a longtime contributor to the REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC) and was inducted into the RPAC Hall of Fame for 2023 with an aggregate lifetime investment of at least $25,000. He serves on the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) RPAC Participation Council and Board of Directors.

Kolbus has been active in his local community, serving in volunteer and leadership roles with the Home Builders Association of Greater Peoria, Downtown Development Corporation of Peoria, St. Francis Medical Center Foundation, Children's Hospital of Illinois Community Advisory Board and St. Vincent de Paul Parish. He is a past commissioner for the city of Peoria's Planning Commission, Zoning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals.

Kolbus earned a bachelor's degree from Indiana University. He lives in Edwards with his wife, Wendy, a third generation REALTOR® in the Peoria area. They are the parents of two adult sons, Michael and Nick.