New leadership for 2018

With the beginning of the new year, the Santa Fe Association of Realtors (SFAR) welcomed a new team of leaders. Realtor Kurt Hill, CRS, ABR, with Adobes & Dirt, LLC, is SFAR’s new president. Kurt has served in many capacities at the association and offered his leadership by chairing the Real EstateWeekly, Commercial Council, MLS, Grievance, Government Affairs and Realtor of the Year committees. He was honored with the 2013 Realtor of the Year Award by his peers, one of the highest honors given to a Realtor. Kurt hasworked for large, medium, and small real-estate firms presently in his own firm as well as having managed residential homes, homeowner/ condominium associations, and downtown commercial buildings. Kurt has announced that efforts to support and encourage “housing for all” will be a key focus of his presidency.

Beth Stephens, GREEN, with Sotheby’s International Realty will serves as president-elect. Beth has served as a member of the Board of Directors, the Grievance Committee, and as a planning member of the Santa Fe Specialist Designation group. Beth will chair the Government Affairs Committee in 2018 where she has indicated a desire to find ways to improve water quality in the region. Beth has been an associate broker at Sotheby’s International Realty (formerly French & French Fine Properties) since 2002 and has been a Realtor in the Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico areas for 14 years.

Serving as first vice president, Christopher Harris is co-owner and designated qualifying broker for RealtyOne of New Mexico in Santa Fe, Raton and Taos (Enchanted Circle). He is a real-estate coach and mentor accredited as a certified co-active coach (CPCC) sensitive to the importance of effective communication, and serves on the association’sGovernment Affairs Committee. He is a retired U.S. Navy commander with 24 years of active service as a surface warfare officer. He holds a B.S. in environmental design fromthe University of Colorado at Boulder, a master’s of public administration from Old Dominion University, and coaching certification from the Coaches Training Institute (CTI), and is also a certified mediator and negotiator.

The Santa Fe Association of Realtors welcomes four new board members for 2018. Lisa Bybee is owner of Meridian Property Management, serving as a manager of long-term rentals for her clients. Lisa has participated in several committees including MLS, Membership (former chair), Community Services and Property Management Council (former chair). Lisa’s educational background includes a B.A. in English, a business degree in hotel and and M.S. in administration as well as teaching English in Santa Fe at St. Michael’s High School and ESL abroad in Germany and the Czech Republic.’

Andrea Dobyns is an associate broker with EXP Realty and currently serves as chair of the association’s Education Committee and as a member on several other committees. During her time as a Realtor, she has created physical safety, situational awareness, and cyber safety courses for Realtors as well as being honored with the 2017 “Rookie of the Year” award. Andrea is a graduate ofThe University of Arizona and served as a police officer for nearly 13 years with the City of Santa Fe.

Gavin Sayers, affiliated with Santa Fe Properties, has been a Realtor since 2000 and has served as chair of the association’s MLS Committee and on the state Realtor association’s Forms Committee. Before his Realtor career, Gavin was active in the U.K. and U.S. corporate worlds, growing various businesses from brewing to laser tag.

Evelyn Spiker, CRS RSPS GREEN, with Berkshire Hathaway Home Service, started her real-estate career in 2005. Evelyn’s experience includes technical and marketing positions at IBM, management consulting at Andersen Consulting, and project management for large government programs with The Devon Group. She also ran a high end special events company in Santa Fe before becoming a Realtor.

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