For more information contact:
Corie Costello
Michigan Association of REALTORS®
720 North Washington Avenue
Lansing, MI 48901
800.451.7842
ccostello@mirealtors.com

MAR 2006 President Cathy Sherman Bittrick to be installed at annual gala

Cathy Sherman Bittrick will be sworn in for her term as The Michigan Association of REALTORS’® 2006 President during the most celebrated and ceremonial event of the year, The Grand Inaugural Gala.

The Gala, which will take place in Grand Rapids at The Amway Grand Plaza Hotel on January 19th, is an annual installation ceremony for the MAR president and board of directors, and is one of the year’s most prestigious events. It will begin at 7:30pm.

Bittrick, who will be installed as the 2006 President, is a member of the Grand Rapids Association of REALTORS® and has been the owner/broker of Re/Max SunQuest in Grand Rapids for the last 22 years. She is a member of the society of Distinguished Real Estate Professionals and has obtained both the CRB (Certified Real Estate Brokerage) and CRS (Certified Residential Specialist) designations.

Bittrick has served MAR in the capacities of district director, treasurer, and president-elect. She has also served as co-chair and vice-chair of the MAR Convention Task Force and chair of the MAR Finance Committee, is involved in the REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC) and is a RPAC Golden R donor.

At the national level, Bittrick is a director for the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and has served as a committee member of the NAR Research Economics Issues Forum. She is currently the vice-chair of the NAR State Leadership Forum, will chair the Forum in 2006, and serves on the NAR Convention Committee.

Locally, Bittrick has been a member of the Grand Rapids Association of REALTORS® (GRAR) for 31 years. She has served on many committees, including the association’s Legal Action Committee and director, vice-president and president of the MLS Exchange. She has also served two terms on the GRAR Board of Directors and was president-elect and president. Local committees that Bittrick has chaired include the GRAR Finance Committee and Candidate Review & Development Committee. Bittrick was named the GRAR REALTOR® of the Year in 2004.

Bittrick has also served her community for the past 12 years as RE/MAX SunQuest’s office chair for Children’s Miracle Network. Last year, her office raised over $40,000 for the children of West Michigan & DeVos Children’s Hospital. Since 1992, RE/MAX SunQuest has raised over 300,000 for CMN.

Finally, Bittrick is the author of the memoir Something Beautiful Remains. A portion of the proceeds from book sales are donated to Crossroads for Youth programs for at risk children, in which she was elected to the advisory board. She is also active in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, a breast cancer awareness fundraiser.

For more information on Bittrick or to request a ticket to Grand Inaugural Gala, please contact Corie Costello at ccostello@mirealtors.com or visit MAR’s web site, www.mirealtors.com.

The Michigan Association of REALTORS® (MAR) is a 34,000 member trade association which protects the rights of private property owners while serving as the primary source for Michigan housing and real estate data. MAR is comprised of 44 Local REALTOR® Associations, which adhere to a strict Code of Ethics, established by the National Association of REALTORS®.

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