From floridarealtors.org
Florida Realtors honored Andrew Barbar of Boca Raton as its 2016 Realtor of the Year.
The award — one of several — was presented last month at the association’s annual Convention & Trade Expo at Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando.
“Wow. You don’t get here alone,” Barbar said when accepting the award. “For many, this represents 30 years of service to the Realtor organization. For me, it represents 30 years of being with a family that has supported me, encouraged me and challenged me — but also, in the darkest of times, has prayed for me — and I will never forget that. Thank you.”
With more than three decades of experience in South Florida real estate, Barbar has served on countless committees, task forces and projects for his local association, the Realtors Association of the Palm Beaches.
At the state level, Barbar has a long list of accomplishments working with Florida Realtors. He has served in every leadership position, from board of directors to District 3 vice president, secretary, treasurer and as president in 2015.
Associate Realtor of the Year
Stephen Lingley of the Venice Area Board of Realtors was selected as Associate Realtor of the Year.
He has been active with his local board since he joined in 2001 and served on numerous committees, including as chair of the Professional Standards and Data Services, Political Affairs, RPAC (Realtors Political Action Committee) and Grievance committees.
Florida Realtors named Lingley as the winner of its Newcomer of the Year Award in 2003, the first time the award was given out.
A longtime member of the Florida Realtors Honor Society, he has served on numerous state association committees over the years, including as chair of the MLS Practices Forum.
In 2013, he was Florida Realtors District 13 vice president. Demonstrating his commitment to professionalism, he earned the Graduate, Realtor Institute (GRI) designation.
Realtor achievement
Judy Ramella, a member of the Realtors Association of the Palm Beaches, received the 2016 Realtor Achievement Award, which recognizes a Realtor who serves as manager, broker of record or officer in his or her company.
The award acknowledges the winner’s previous three years’ contributions to the community, local, state and national Realtor associations.
Ramella has served her local association in every officer position as well as chairing numerous committees. Currently, she is the president for the local group. She was instrumental in developing a successful Leadership Academy for the association and served as its first chairman — continuing in that post for three years, even during her term as president.
Commercial Realtor achievement
The Commercial Realtor Achievement Award honors a Realtor’s lifetime of contributions to commercial activities at the local, state, national and community levels.
William “Bill” Poteet, a member of the Naples Area Board of Realtors, received the 2016 Commercial Realtor Achievement Award.
Poteet has served on numerous committees and in every leadership position for the Naples association, including as its 2012 president. Currently, he is the 2016 chair of the local RPAC Committee.
Humanitarian of the Year
Proving that Realtors make a difference, Jose Fernandez, a member of the Miami Association of Realtors, was named the 2016 Humanitarian of the Year for his efforts in helping children in his community and internationally.
Fernandez has been involved in humanitarian efforts since he was a child living in Puerto Rico.
He began sponsoring several children through Children International in 2001, when he was attending Florida International University. Over the years, he has traveled on missionary trips to Uganda, Mexico, Honduras and the Dominican Republic.
While helping children across the globe, Fernandez was introduced to an orphanage in Honduras for 33 children who are not only orphans but also living with HIV or AIDs.
The cause captured his heart. Fernandez has been actively involved with the orphanage since 2008, has volunteered more than 1,000 hours in the past 16 months and raised close to $200,000 to benefit the children. In November, he brought all 33 kids to Walt Disney World for a five-day, all expenses paid, dream trip of a lifetime.
Newcomer of the Year
Winning Florida Realtors’ Newcomer of the Year Award for 2016 was Blaine Elmer, a member of the Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association.
The award recognizes someone who entered the profession within the past three years, and during that time, made notable contributions to the local and state associations, as well as to his or her community.
Eager to make a difference in his chosen profession, Elmer signed on to the Knowledge Service Committee and the local Leadership Academy after joining his local association in 2015.
This year, he serves on his local association’s Grievance and Public Policy committees, and as local chair of RPAC. Elmer is a major investor in RPAC and remains highly engaged in legislative issues and concerns of interest to the real estate industry. He attended and participated in Florida Realtors and NAR activities.
Retired from military service, Elmer’s goal is to use the leadership and organizational skills he learned over the course of 24 years in the military to work for his association, continue his professional development and serve as an advocate for Realtors and the real estate profession. He is active with the local chapter of the Women’s Council of Real Estate.