Local boards, Realtors recognized at Association’s annual convention
The Arkansas Realtors Association held its 89th annual convention last month at Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale, Mo. The theme for this year’s convention was “Above & Beyond.” The three-day program included committee meetings and the ARA’s annual membership meeting, along with an awards luncheon, the Realtor of the Year celebration and the inaugural banquet.
Nationally recognized speakers discussed legal, technological, motivational, and operational subjects. Speakers included Meagan Johnson; Karel Murray; Trista Curzyldo; Walter Sanford; Verl Workman; Tim Grooms of Quattlebaum, Grooms, Tull & Burrow, PLLC; John Thurston, Arkansas Commissioner of Lands; and Gary Isom and Andrea Alford of the Arkansas Real Estate Commission.
In the opening session, Karen Crowson, Crye-Leike Realtors in Benton, praised the work of association members on the first statewide Habitat for Humanity Build. The home, which Realtors sponsored and helped build was dedicated to its owner, Navy veteran Susan Meyers, on Sept. 11. Also during the opening session, Felicia Johnson, Coldwell Banker Village Communities in Jonesboro, facilitated a skit on Fair Housing, and the 2013 members of the Graduate Realtor Leadership Academy Class debuted their “Credit Crunch” video.
As mentioned in last week’s column, Larry Kelly was named 2013 Arkansas Realtor of the Year at the Realtor of the Year banquet.
The Awards luncheon honored local boards and their members for outstanding accomplishments in 2013. Recognition was given to local boards that excelled in raising funds for the Arkansas Realtor Political Action Committee (ARPAC) and for Special Olympics Arkansas (SOAR).
ARPAC awards were presented to the Northwest Arkansas Board of Realtors for most dollars raised, the Pine Bluff Board of Realtors for highest percentage of participants, the Phillips County Board of Realtors for highest percent over goal and the Hot Springs Board of Realtors for most dollars raised over goal.
First-place SOAR awards went to the Texarkana Board of Realtors, Fort Smith Board of Realtors and Northwest Arkansas Board of Realtors for the small, medium and large board categories, respectively. The Texarkana Board of Realtors received an award for the most funds raised per member, while the Benton/Bryant Realtors Association received an award for the highest increase in fundraising over last year. Arkansas Realtors have raised funds for SOAR for almost 30 years, contributing more than $2 million for the organization to date.
In addition, the 2013 Graduate Realtor Leadership Academy ( GRLA) program members were honored and received their graduate plaques during the luncheon. This year’s GRLA includes Kristyn Cooley, Hot Springs; Mikki Dennis, Russellville; Cheryl Dunson, Conway; Ray Johnson, Little Rock; Stephanie McDaniel, Jonesboro; Dianne Mitchell, Harrison; Kayla Ross, Hot Springs; Patrick Sullenger, Little Rock; and Jennifer Welch, Siloam Springs;
The Shaddox Award, a new award honoring an ARA member who exceeds the normal definition of being kind, caring, compassionate, generous and committed to working with Hearts & Homes of Arkansas, was awarded to Bill Ladd, Russellville.
Carolyn Cobb and Dana Parent, both of Little Rock, received Omega Tau Rho medals of service during the luncheon.
The Inaugural Banquet celebrated the installation of the incoming ARA president Bill Ladd, Russellville, as well as all incoming 2014 officers and directors. Bill Olson, 2013 ARA president introduced Dorwin Shaddox, 2000 ARA president, to carry out the induction.
Incoming officers include president-elect Jonathan Moore, Rogers; secretary-treasurer Ronald B. Stinchcomb, Fayetteville; immediate past president Bill Olson, Batesville; District 2 vice president Deanna Dial, Rogers; and District 4 vice president Angie Johnson, Benton. Incoming directors include Amber Gill, Paragould; Larry Kelly, Bentonville; Edward Loveless, Little Rock; Paulette Richie, Bryant; Kelli Small, Conway; Jennifer Welch, Siloam Springs; Nanette Wemhaner, Van Buren; and Tom Wingard, Monticello.
Sharla Lau, Fort Smith, was inducted as 2014 National Association of Realtors director, and David Alphin, Fayetteville, as past president director.
House to House is distributed by the Arkansas Realtors Association. For more information about homeownership in Arkansas, visit www.ArkansasRealtors.com.