REALTORS® recognize excellence
The Spokane Association of REALTORS® honored outstanding REALTORS® on Thursday, May 8, as well as industry affiliates and the media for innovative industry and community contributions.
James Young of Tomlinson North received the REALTOR® of the Year award, the top award presented annually to a member in recognition of outstanding long-term service to the Association of REALTORS®. Young is one of 25 nationwide REALTORS® selected to the first ever National Association of REALTORS® Leadership Academy. Earlier this month, he was one of its first graduates in Washington, D.C. At the state level, Young currently serves as the Washington REALTORS® vice president of information systems. He also is a graduate of the Washington REALTORS® Leadership Academy. A local REALTOR for 14 years, Young served as the 2007 president of the Spokane Association of REALTORS® and in numerous committee and leadership positions on its Board of Directors.
Sabrina Jones-Schroeder of Exit Real Estate-Jones & Associates received this year’s REALTOR® Achievement award, presented annually to the REALTOR® whose recent achievements and energy have contributed in an outstanding manner to the Association. Deeply involved in the Association for each of the past 14 years, this past spring Jones-Schroeder managed and delivered professional trainings to more than 1,600 Spokane REALTORS® in several large-scale classes. She also served as primary point of contact for the Association during a recent statewide REALTOR® forms upgrade. Educated locally with a law degree from Gonzaga University, this year’s REALTOR® Achievement award winner chose a real estate career over law, much to the benefit of the Association.
Also honored were Chuck Hormel, broker and owner of Country Homes Realty, and his son Tom Hormel of Tomlinson North, together receiving this year’s REALTOR® Community Service award. They have been the driving force behind a very special project. They made two working trips last year to Slidell, La., with Habitat for Humanity. For the second visit, they organized a 12-member Spokane REALTOR® delegation to rebuild homes devastated by Hurricane Katrina. They were instrumental in organizing “One Big Day in May” on May 22 when, as a community, Spokane REALTORS® spent the day building homes with Habitat for Humanity-Spokane.
Candi Todd of Pacific Northwest Title in Spokane was honored as Affiliate of the Year. This award is presented to an affiliate member who has contributed in a special way to the real estate industry. Todd has worked tirelessly on several Spokane REALTOR® committees over the past seven years. This year, she chairs the REALTOR® golf tournament and is a member of two other committees. She also serves in her profession as vice president of the local chapter of the National Association of Professional Mortgage Women (NAPMW) for the second year in a row.
The REALTOR® Media of the Year Award is given annually to a local media organization or individual for support of the REALTOR® profession. The 2008 Media of the Year award was presented to Diane Bobiak, classified advertising manager of The Spokesman-Review. This year’s recipient was recognized by her peers at a recent industry forum for the yearlong Spokesman-Review community awareness campaign called “Thank a REALTOR® ….”
To commemorate the newspaper’s 125th anniversary with a yearlong celebration, she said, “It is a perfect time to thank REALTORS® for their professionalism, dedication to industry, charitable contributions and support of the community.”
Bobiak felt it was important to create a new REALTOR® image ad campaign with a message that highlights the benefits of choosing the services of a professional REALTOR®.