Susan Orth is ‘Realtor of Year’

The Santa Fe Association of Realtors awarded Susan Orth CRS, ePRO, with the 2017 Realtor of the Year award. Susan is owner and qualifying broker of City Different Realty, a locally owned brokerage since 1984. Susan is known for her integrity, customer service, attention to detail and commitment to encouraging early adoption of effective and Realtor-focused technology tools. Susan currently serves as a director on the Santa Fe Association of Realtors and will chair the association’s Multiple Listing Service (MLS) Committee for 2018. Susan has served in a number of other capacities through the years as a Realtor, mostly in the area of technology and multiple listing services. She has also served as a member of SFAR’s education committee. Lastly, Susan has served at the state level on the Realtors Association of New Mexico (RANM) forms committee for several years and for a one-year term on a statewide forms presidential advisory group.

The Realtor of the Year award is one of the highest honors given to a Realtor and the Realtor is selected based on how he/ she upholds and exemplifies the Realtor Code of Ethics, industry professionalism, participation in local, state, and national Realtor associations, and community service.

Susan Orth has served for more than 35 years as a Realtor and is an active member on the Council of Residential Specialists. She holds a bachelor of science degree fromthe University of Utah and obtained her MBAafterworking a number of years in the industry. She began her career after taking an elective course in real estate, a requirement for licensing, then decided to take the state real-estate licensing test. She quickly signed up with a local brokerage and her career was born. Susan enjoys the outdoors here in Santa Fe, remarking on the number of amazing hikes and places to explore. She is an avid gardener and is always happy to share her produce with friends and neighbors.

Maren “Moo” Thorpe GRI, a Realtor with Sotheby’s International Real Estate, was honored with a lifetime achievement award honoring her commitment and dedicated service to the real-estate com- munity for 35 years. Moo’s past service has included times as a member and chair of the association’s grievance committee and as a longstanding member of the professional standards committee. These committees are responsible for ensuring due process and implementation of the National Association of Realtor’s Code of Ethics. Her colleagues share that Moo is extremely ethical and professional along with being a joy to work with as a Realtor. She is dedicated to her family, the real-estate community, and her clients and customers.

Andrea Dobyns, a Realtor affiliated with EXP Realty Santa Fe, was honored with the 2017 Rookie of the Year award. Her nominee shares that Andrea has been a Realtor for one year and has already shown herself to be a young leader always willing to volunteer to help and true professional in the real estate industry. Andrea serves on the association’s education, community services, government affairs and technology committees. She was recently elected to serve a three-year termas a director on SFAR’s board by her peers. In the community, Andrea is an instructor at ZIA Gymnastics, on the board of Desert Ice Skating and volunteers regularly at her daughter’s school. She assists with the care of her 94-year old grandmother while running one of the best food trucks in Santa Fe.

Lastly, Debra Hodge, a mortgage loan officer with Gateway Mortgage, received the Affiliate of the Year 2017 award for her service to the real-estate community over 27 years. Debra has been a reliable and enthusiastic volunteer on the association’s affiliates committee offering vital support to a number of key association golf and fundraising events. She is active in the local community providing volunteer help to theWomen’s Council of Realtors as well as a number of other local organizations including Catholic charities, Santo Niño Elementary, St. Michael’s High School, and Habitat for Humanity Women’s Build.

This year’s event featured a Caribbean island theme with a treasure hunt for Realtors and their guests offering some fun prizes. Music was provided by Vanilla Pop. A special round of applause goes to our Realtor of the Year Committee for hosting a successful award dinner this year.

Rubel “Paco” Arguello is chief executive of the Santa Fe Association of Realtors. Contact him at 982-8385 or paco@sfar. com.

Susan Orth