Member News

Chip Bruss, Real Living HER, has earned the Accredited Buyer Representative® (ABR) designation. This designation is earned upon completion of a two-day ABR designation course, an ABR elective course and upon verification of five completed transactions in which the agent acted solely as a buyer representative. Also, the agent must be a member in good standing of the Real Estate Buyer's Agent Council (REBAC) and National Association of REALTORS®.

Daphne Hawk, Keller Williams Greater Ohio Realty, has been awarded the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) Designation by the Council of Residential Specialists, the largest not-for-profit affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS®. Recipients of the CRS Designation have completed advanced courses and have demonstrated professional expertise in the field of residential real estate. Daphne also holds the designations of ABR and GRI, is a sales associate and trainer with her firm and is an adjunct faculty member of Hondros College, where she teaches real estate designation courses and continuing education.

Joyce Logan has been hired as vice president of business development for Real Living HER. In her new position, Joyce will develop and manage sales and marketing functions for builder/developer clients, provide new home sales training and certification for Real Living HER associates, and enhance the Real Living HER new construction portal on the Web site that offers overviews, photos, specifications, active models and agent representatives for builder communities and models.

Gretchen McKay, Coldwell Banker King Thompson, has been awarded the Ohio Association of REALTORS® 2007 Excellence in Community Service Award for spearheading the Board's Equal Opportunity Committee CBR/African Community Outreach program.

Sandy Phillips is now a sales associate with Central State Realty. She brings to the Central State Realty sales team 8 years real estate experience.

Harley E. Rouda, Sr., CRB, GRI, has been selected as this year's inductee in to the Hall of Leaders. The award, which is given by The Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers (CRB), will be presented at a special reception and dinner during the REALTORS® Conference & Expo on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino. The Hall of Leaders Award was established to honor CRB Designees whose significant contributions continue to shape and influence the real estate industry locally and nationally.

Brian Murtha and Vanessa Simmons, agents with Real Living HER Pickerington office, have been named as two of RISMedia's REALTORS® on the Rise for 2007. The competition is presented by RISMedia's Real Estate magazine and showcases 50 of today's most inventive, successful agents. This year's winners?chosen by Real Estate magazine's editors?were selected from hundreds of submissions.

The following members have joined the Real Living HER sales team: James Antal, Hilliard; Ashley Belcher, Northeast Regional; Joseph Benedict, Gahanna; Ethan Blair, Northeast Regional; James Brooks, Granville; Jason Cameron, Hillard/West Regional; Tiffany Caputo, Northeast Regional; Stephanie Cooper, New Albany; Deborah Cromp, Gahanna; Sandra Frey, Powell North; Eric Gledhill, German Village; Kathleen Hanna, Hilliard/West Regional; Joan Hubbell, Powell; Anna Johnson, Worthington; Lisa Kelley, Gahanna; Sharon Love, Metro; Jackie McComas, Granville; Rachel Min, Worthington; Carrie Mimnaugh, Arlington; Holly Morgan, Northeast Regional; Antonio Ramirez, Northeast Regional; Angella Smith, Granville; Kristina Smith, Gahanna; and Peggy Smith, Powell.

RE/MAX Tri-County has changed its name to Tri-County 1st Choice Realty. Rosetta Hayes is still at the helm as broker/owner and the office location (1418 Brice Road, Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068) remains the same.

Jeremy and Amy Pape will open Real Living HER's newest satellite office in Olde Gahanna at 116 Granville St., Gahanna, Ohio 43230. Real Living HER currently has 15 satellite offices that are located in Canal Winchester, Delaware (two), Dublin (two), Gahanna, German Village, Granville, Grove City, Grove Port, Hilliard, Pickerington (two), Plain City and the Short North. The satellite office will operate under the management of Dixie Staley and a team of six agents that includes Jeremy and Amy, Matt Nicol, Rachel Min, Carrie Franks and Brian Bainbridge.

CBR Director Gloria Cannon, ABR, REBAC has transferred to Keller Williams Capital Partners sales team bringing with her 7.5 years of sales experience.

Donald R. Kenney, Sr., long-time central Ohio developer and CEO of Village Communities, Inc., recently announced that Tre Giller, president of Village Communities, will now serve as CEO and president. Kenney will remain active as chairman. As CEO and president, Giller's responsibilities will include the day-to-day operation of Village Communities, which is the company's residential housing division, as well as Donald R. Kenney & Co. (DRK & Co.) commercial brokerage, which handles the leasing activity of the company's nearly two million square feet of Class A office and warehouse space throughout the city. He will also manage the new franchising division within Village Communities and the various support service companies that are associated with Village Communities and DRK & Co., which Kenney owns. As chairman, Kenney will focus on long-range strategic planning and continue to pursue new business opportunities and public-private partnerships.

Columbus Chapter No. 42 of the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM®), one of 81 IREM chapters nationwide, has received top honors in IREM's annual "Chapter Star Recognition Program." The chapter was recognized for a variety of initiatives the chapter undertook during 2006.

In Memoriam

Bob Durban (RE/MAX Reflections) passed away Wednesday, July 18, 2007, at his home surrounded by family and friends after a courageous battle with cancer. He was a life-long resident of Hilliard and a graduate of Hilliard High School. He served his country proudly in Vietnam. As broker/owner of RE/MAX Reflections, Bob had many productive salespersons who were more like friends to him than business associates. Heloved drag racing and drove the winning Class A Funny Car in the 1972 Gatornationals. Bob is survived by his mother, Frieda; brothers, John, George, Lee and Phillip; sisters, Kathleen and Deanna; a host of other relatives and friends; and his dog, Schrader. Memorial contributions may be made to the Mt. Carmel Hospice, 1144 Dublin Road, Columbus, Ohio 43215, (614) 234-0200.

Other Association News

CCIIR Matt Habash, Executive Director of the Mid-Ohio FoodBank, will be the featured speaker at CCIIR's meeting set for Friday, September 7, 2007, 8:00 a.m., at the featured property located at 2064 & 2066 Integrity Drive North, Columbus, Ohio 43209. Matt leads the eleventh largest charitable food distributor in the United States that coordinates the distribution of $34 million worth of food to over 540 charities in 20 Ohio Counties. He served 14 years on Columbus City Council championing such causes as the 315 Research and Technology Corridor, Big Darby Accord, a 10 year bike trail expansion plan, Community Policing, a citywide Emergency Medical Services Plan and Rebuilding Lives. Matt holds a B.A. in Philosophy and an MBA from Xavier University and a M.A. in Public Administration from Ohio State University.

Mathew R. Vekasy with Metropolitan Holdings is the contact for the featured property on Integrity Drive and can be reached at 614-554-2297.

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