The Greater Kalamazoo Association of REALTORS® (GKAR) hosted their annual Installation & State of the Association holiday luncheon on Friday, December 1st, 2017, to honor and recognize their leaders in the greater Kalamazoo real estate community, and to thank their membership for their support and involvement throughout the year.
“We are proud of our 895 REALTOR® Members and 250+ Business Partner Members who are dedicated to serving not only the real estate industry, but also the greater Kalamazoo community,” said Robin Pompey, Chief Executive Officer of GKAR. “Installation provides the opportunity to recognize our leader Members and honor our REALTOR® Members who have achieved milestones in their career."
GKAR had record-breaking attendance at their Installation, over 375 Members helped welcome and install their 2018 President, Suzzette Deaux, Jaqua, REALTORS®, and Member since 2003. Ms. Deaux has served on the Board as Treasurer from 2015-2016 and currently serves on GKAR's Risk Management and Budget and Finance Committees. "Serving on GKAR's Board of Directors gives me the opportunity to offer my time and talents to the Members of our Association. My goal is to continue to improve the services the Association offers while being fiscally responsible to our Members, " said Ms. Deaux.
Suzzette Deaux, 2018 GKAR President
GKAR also welcomed and installed their 2018 Board of Directors (as pictured below from left to right), Jill Kingsbury, Director, Cheri Schulz, Director, Lisa Faber, Director, Shelly Pattison, Treasurer, Bill Evenboer, President-Elect, Suzzette Deaux, President, Dennis Bronson, Director, Paul Valentin, Director, Linda K. Hazelhoff, Director, and Robin Pompey, CEO. Not pictured are Jeff Lee, Director, Marty Wagar, Director, and Joy Watts, Director.
2018 GKAR Board of Directors
GKAR thanked their outgoing Board Directors, Rick Crepas, Dennis Field, and Ryan Rider, who each served from 2015-2017.
Natalie Rowe, Ryan Rider, Rick Crepas, and Dennis Field
GKAR recognized their Quarter Century Club Members who have held membership for a period of 25 years consecutively with the Association; Brad Boone, Carol Brock, Randy Burkett, Michael Fleckenstein, John Martinen, JoAnne Potts, Sue Shumaker, Barb Strong, Jim Zerbi, and Rick Zuiderveen.
Suzzette Deaux, 2018 President, Rick Zuiderveen, 2017 Quarter Century Club, Natalie Rowe, 2016 President
Then, GKAR awarded their REALTOR® Emeritus Members; a person is granted REALTOR® Emeritus status when they have held membership in the National Association of REALTORS® as a REALTOR®, REALTOR®-Associate, or a combination of both, for a cumulative period of 40 years, and has served one year of service at their local, state, or national association. This year's recipients are Jim Allen, Bill Reed, and Lyle Schenck (pictured below, respectively).
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Finally, the Greater Kalamazoo Association of REALTORS® added a new award this year, the Half Century Club; this award recognizes those who have held membership with the Association for a period of 50 consecutive years. Because this award is new, GKAR recognized those who had already achieved this status (as pictured below from left to right), Earnie Best, Earnie Best, REALTOR®, Member since June 9th, 1966; Rod O'Brien, O'Brien Real Estate, Member since January 1st, 1959; Jerry Carlson, Carlson, REALTORS® & Development, Member since October 26th, 1960.
Previous Half Century Club Recipients
Followed by those who achieved their Half Century Club status this year (as pictured below from left to right), Willie Mae Pierson, Pierson Real Estate, Member since March 15th, 1967; Ken Bertolissi, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices MI, Member since October 10th, 1967; Dick Boris, Boris, REALTORS®, Member since December 8th, 1967. Not picture is Joe Gesmundo, American Village Builders, Member since July 31st, 1967.
2017 Half Century Club Recipients
GKAR also awarded those who will be achieving their Half Century Club status within the next 6 months (as pictured below from left to right), J.R. Fulton, No-Frills Realty, Member since May 15th, 1968; Tim Shank, Michigan Real Estate Services, Member since January 18th, 1968.
2018 Half Century Club Recipients
Each year, GKAR's Members select an exemplary REALTOR® for their contributions to the real estate profession and the community. GKAR proudly announced Dan Jaqua, Jaqua, REALTORS®, as their 2018 REALTOR® of the Year.
2018 REALTOR® of the Year
In 2017, over 100 GKAR Members volunteered their time and expertise to serve on the Association's Committees and task forces. Their support made it possible for the GKAR REALTOR® Family to serve local veterans, Housing Resources, Habitat for Humanity, and the REALTOR® Political Action Committee, to name a few.
GKAR has always been dedicated to supporting the REALTOR® Political Action Committee (RPAC) and each year, recognizes those offices who go above and beyond to raise funds for RPAC. This year's RPAC Small Office Award winner is Network Team Homes Realty, Broker Gayle Zientek, with 100% participation and $536 raised.
Robin Pompey, GKAR CEO, Doug Merriam, MI REALTORS® West Michigan Director, and Gayle Zientek, Network Team Homes Realty Broker/Owner
This year's RPAC Medium Office Award winner is ERA Reardon Realty, Broker Rick Reardon, with 114% participation and $613 raised.
Robin Pompey, GKAR CEO, Rick Reardon, ERA Reardon Realty Broker/Owner, and Doug Merriam, MI REALTORS® West Michigan Director
This year's RPAC Large Office Award winner is RE/MAX Advantage, Broker Natalie Rowe, with 120% participation and $9,730 raised. RE/MAX Advantage also won this award in 2015 and 2016.
Robin Pompey, GKAR CEO, Natalie Rowe, RE/MAX Advantage Broker/Owner, and Doug Merriam, MI REALTORS® West Michigan Director
Congratulations to all the award recipients! GKAR truly is a REALTOR® Family dedicated to the advancement of the real estate community in the greater Kalamazoo area. Its Members care deeply about the communities they serve, and each year they devote their time to charitable projects they believe will make a positive impact in the community.