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Members make the difference
in the real estate profession
MAR wants to know more about its members. If you know of a
REALTOR® who’s done something special, has a great idea
or insight about the Michigan real estate industry, or is just perfect
for some publicity, we want to hear about him or her. Call Tim Kissman,
director of communications and marketing, at 517.334.5568 or e-mail
him at mar@mirealtors.com.
Since he was 21, Chris Dishon has been involved in the real
estate industry. Thirteen years later and still one of the
youngest brokers in the business, Dishon was awarded Broker Owner
of the Year for the State of Michigan. Dealing with transactions
up to as much as $15 million in a year, Dishon owns two top-growth
offices in the state with his wife, Madeline, and was recently
awarded the Golden Eagle Recruiting Trophy in 2003 for producing
top agents. “As a broker, if you take care of enough people,
you’ll be taken care of,” said Dishon. “My
favorite word is ‘next.’ After helping someone, I
always look to see who is next.”
David Lutton, CRB, Ann Arbor Area Board of REALTORS® has
been named The Ann Arbor News’ Citizen of the Year for
2004. “A well-respected friend recruited me to a board
meeting for a children’s nonprofit organization 15 years
ago,” said Lutton. “Volunteering for nonprofit organizations
gives a unique perspective of philanthropy and a reasonable level
of knowledge that I really enjoy,” said Lutton. As an effective
member of several boards and a powerful fund-raiser, Lutton has
dedicated his talents to serving a number of non-profit causes
in the Ann Arbor area for more than two decades. Owner and broker
of Charles Reinhart Co. Realtors for 15 years, Lutton handled
about $650 million in transactions this past year. As the 1993-95
president of the board of Huron Services for Youth, Lutton chaired
the organization’s endowment committee, which went on to
raise $1.33 million. He also serves as chairman of the Ann Arbor
Community Foundation, is a real estate expert on the county Natural
Areas Technical Advisory Committee and also helps to raise money
for the University of Michigan Museum of Art.
REALTOR® Denise Felker has been
instrumental in improving the lives of children in her community.
For the sixth consecutive year, she has been the chairperson
of the Children’s Miracle Network Hot Air Balloon Rally
at Groveland Oaks County Parks, which benefits the nonprofit
premier children’s hospitals for care, research and community
outreach. Felker coordinated the event which raised more than
$15,000 during the course of the weekend this past year.
Sandy Jones, ABR, CRS, GRI, LTG,
e-PRO, was this year’s Women’s Council of REALTORS® (WCR)
Michigan State Member of the Year. Jones has been in real estate
since 1985 and involved with WCR since 1990. “All the while
I have enjoyed the people and getting to know affiliate members,” said
Jones. “Being involved creates wide opportunities for networking
to make your career work better for you.” Jones made her
career work better for her and has been named the FAAR 1999 REALTOR® of
the Year.
Garry Miller, 2003 Ionia County Board
of REALTORS® REALTOR® of the Year died of an apparent
heart attack in his home earlier this year. Miller was a REALTOR® for
three years, after retiring as vice president of sales and marketing
for Crystal Flash Petroleum, where he worked for 34 years. As
a man who was known for his contagious charisma, he had already
reached the $1 million in sales mark his first year and reached
$2 million in sales by 2003. Miller never failed to go out of
his way. He was a member of the Saranac Lions Club, American
Legion, FFA Alumni and the Ionia County Community Foundation
where he raised over $50,000 for the Foundation. “He touched
so many people that when some of his clients found out that he
passed away, they actually cried over the phone,” said
Cathy Hoppough at Coldwell Banker Hoppough & Associates. “Garry
was such a phenomenal person. I’ve never met anyone who’s
had such an impact on people before.” |
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