The Northwestern Vermont Board of Realtors presented the 2013 Realtors of Distinction Awards on May 21, 2013 at the DoubleTree Hotel in South Burlington, Vt.
Realtor of the Year
Kristine Stell, Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Destinations in St. Albans was named the 2013 Realtor of the Year.
Stell has been an active member of the Realtor organization for 10 years. Since that time she has become one of the leading real estate professionals in Franklin County. It’s her level of excellence, her willingness to share and to teach, her ethical standard, her involvement with her business and her community that is Stell’s spirit.
She currently serves as President-elect on the NVBR Board of Directors. She is on the Vermont Realtors Board of Directors as a Director representing NVBR. And, she serves on the Northern New England Real Estate Network, Concord, NH. The Board of Directors volunteer responsibilities require many hours each month traveling, meeting, and representing real estate professionals from northwestern Vermont. She accomplishes all of this while leading a productive team of agents in the St Albans area.
Stell serves as president of the Franklin County Chapter of NVBR. She has been a leader and advocate for the members in Franklin County ‘always being sure that classes, community service and social activities are provided by the Association. In 2010 she was named Realtor of the Year by the Franklin County Board of Realtors, prior to their merger with NVBR.
Stell values education, technology and designations as a way to provide the best service to her clients. She currently holds the ABR, CRS, SRES, and SRS designations. Stell is approved by the VT Real Estate Commission to teach the 40 pre-licensing Salesperson Course. Stell is now providing that education opportunity to future practitioners in northwestern Vermont.
Stell is a leader and true professional and we are lucky to have her as a leader in the Realtor organization.
Distinguished Service Award
David Raphael, Artisan Realty of Vermont, was honored with the 2013 Distinguished Service Award.
Raphael always dives right in to every project with an enthusiasm that is endless. He first became active in the Realtor organization in 2006 when he joined the Vermont Real Estate Network Advisory Council. During that time he served in the roles of Vice President and President. Raphael’s leadership focus was always what was in the best interest of the member.
Raphael served on the NVBR Board of Directors from 2009 to 2012, having served in every leadership position during that time. He represented NVBR on the Vermont Realtors Board of Directors from 2010 ‘2012. While a director, Raphael became the first Vermont Realtor to complete the National Association of Realtors Leadership Development Program. This national program identifies emerging leaders from the local and state level for the National Association of Realtors.
Raphael exemplifies the founding principles of what a Realtor is meant to represent. He holds himself to a high standard of excellence and is committed to the Realtor Code of Ethics. He holds his fiduciary obligations to clients as one of his guiding principles.
In 2011, Raphael was appointed by Governor James Douglas to serve as a member of the Vermont Real Estate Commission. He currently acts as the Chair of the Commission. He has a keen understanding of the Vermont Real Estate Commission Rules and Regulations and his leadership is paramount to the many reviews, revisions and changes occurring today.
Raphael’s energy and enthusiasm is endless and the Realtororganization is a beneficiary of that commitment.
Rookie of the Year
NVBR’s 2013 Rookie is Jay McCormack, RE/MAX North Professionals, Colchester.
McCormack is the true example of the Realtor young professional. He has stepped up to make real estate his career and has shown that he has the commitment and drive to be a successful Realtor.
McCormack was 19 when he purchased his first investment property. That ignited his interest in real estate, and in January 2012 he became a Realtor. Since that time he has completed 12 transactions. He brings a knowledge and appreciation of real estate ownership to each of his clients.
As a new agent McCormack is eager to learn every aspect of the business. He is committed to the Realtor Code of Ethics and doing business the right way. He understands the value of Realtor education and in December 2012 just one year into his real estate career he completed a program for the Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) Designation.
In addition to his business, McCormack understands the need to give back to the community. He has helped raise funds for Camp Tu-Kum-Ta and works with Above Reality Hot Air Balloons at charitable events.
Good Neighbor Award
Carol Hinson, Century 21 Jack Associates, South Burlington has been honored with the NVBR Good Neighbor Award.
Like so many Realtors, Hinson’s work in the community is done quietly and without the need for recognition. She does it to help those in need, to help people find a better way in life, and to give back to a community she cares deeply about. The list of organizations that Hinson has been involved with is endless. Among the many include:
Hinson helped to start and ran the first soup kitchen at the Sara Holbrook Center in Burlington. She and her husband Bill ran the kitchen for nearly four years before turning it over to the Burlington Food Shelf in 1987.
She is a supporter of the Flynn Center where she created a scholarship fund to allow children in the area to receive scholarships for dance programs. Today, more than 20 children are participating in the Flynn Dance program through her generous scholarship.
She has been volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House for 30 years where she served on the Board of Directors and currently serves on several committees.
Closest to Hinson’s heart is her role as a guardian in the Ad Litem program through Probate Court. Each year, thousands of Vermont children and youth are in Family Court. Hundreds suffer abuse, neglect, or abandonment by parents or caretakers. Others are exposed to domestic violence in their homes. These Vermont children and youth need an adult to advocate for their best interests during family court proceedings. For twelve years Hinson has been an advocate in the Ad Litem program so that no child needs to stand alone through such uncertainty and emotional upheaval and that no child must be alone in family court.
‘Realtors pride themselves in giving back to the community and in working to improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods. Carol is one of our shining stars’, said Kathleen Sweeten, NVBR executive vice president.
Affiliate Member of the Year
Nick Parent, Spruce Mortgage, Burlington, has been named the 2013 Affiliate Member of the Year by NVBR. This special award recognizes an outstanding NVBR Affiliate Member who made the greatest contribution to the Association in the past year.
Known as ‘the Mortgage Guy’Parent is a top performing loan officer at Spruce Mortgage where his passion for working with people stands out, making his clients feel confident about their lending decisions. He has established relationships with Realtors throughout the area. He is known for his integrity, successful customer service and his desire to put the customer above everything else.
‘Nick has been in the mortgage industry for over 10 years. He is a tremendous supporter of the association, and has demonstrated his commitment to the real estate industry in northwestern Vermont’, said Kathleen Sweeten, NVBR executive vice president.
His work with NVBR has focused on being a member of the NVBR Community Service Committee. Since day one he has been reaching out to others on behalf of the Committee’s work with charitable organizations.