Rookie of Year, Industry Achievement, Distinguished Member for Community Service and Affiliate of the Year Awards also made.
Tonya Burris, President of the PAAR Board of Directors and a Realtor® with Traders Realty Corp was awarded the Realtor® of the year for 2014.
Peoria, Ill. – March 11, 2014 – The Peoria Area Association of Realtors® (PAAR) has named Traders Realty Corp Realtor® Tonya Burris as the 2014 Realtor® of the Year. Since 1970, this award has been given to a PAAR member that has made outstanding contributions to the real estate profession and to the local and state associations. Burris is currently President of the PAAR Board of Directors.
Since the becoming a Realtor® in January 2000, Burris has been an integral and involved member of the Association, serving on many Association committees including Contracts Committee, Grievance Committee, Public Awareness Committee, MLS Committee, RPAC Awareness, Electronic Lockbox Task Force, Homes Guide Board, Finance Committee, and the PAAR Board of Directors. Burris has also been involved at the state level, serving on IAR’s Public Policy And Governmental Affairs Committee, Professional Development Committee, Housing Opportunity Committee, Broker Attorney Committee, and the Young Professionals Network.
The Industry Achievement Award was awarded to all the members of the PAAR Realtor® family, in recognition of a year when all the Realtors® pulled together, mounting an unequalled effort to collectively help the hundreds of friends, family Realtors®, Affiliates, support staff and neighbors affected by the November 17 tornado that swept through Pekin, East Peoria and Washington communities. Realtors® donated their time and treasures to make a difference in these communities, all the while continuing to raise money, even resizing their holiday party, to enable them to meet their annual Turkey Drive goals for food pantries. In acknowledgement and appreciation of this, each member of the PAAR Realtor® family received a “Realtor STRONG” Lapel Pin.
The Affiliate of the Year Award was given to Harlan Pierson, Home Inspector of Dream Home Inspection Services. The award recognizes an individual that is actively involved in the real estate industry and who provides valuable services and support to members of the Peoria Area Association of Realtors®. Pierson was recognized for being enthusiastically involved in PAAR. A valued Associate Member since 2004, Pierson has given time to committees and task forces including the Affiliate Committee, Education and the Equal Housing/ Housing Opportunity Committees. In addition, he has also been very involved with homebuyer and seller seminars over the years. In his spare time, Pierson is Rollo the Clown, traveling the world delighting children.
The Distinguished Member for Community Service Award was given to Mari Halliday, Realtor® / Broker at RE/MAX Unlimited. The award recognizes an individual for exceptional volunteer contributions to the community. Halliday, in addition to being a very busy Realtor®, has served on PAAR Committees and Task Forces, including the Board of Directors, participated in the Leadership Academy and is a major RPAC Donor and a Top Producer. While doing all this she has also volunteered at The Children’s Miracle Network, as a member of the Development Committee, hourly chair for “Understanding Children’s Hearts,” co-chaired two Children’s Miracle Network Broadcasts and continues to step up as a VIP Fundraiser for the Annual Telethon. For three years, she has stepped up as a major contributor and fund-raiser for the PAAR Turkey Drive. She is currently a mentor for Dunlap and Peoria High high school students, is participating in an ad campaign for missing children and is a supporter of the Peoria Ballet Company “Friends of Clara” and The Bradley Braves. In 2011, She co-sponsored Street Survival, a program that gives teens hands-on safety driving experience. In 2007, she received the P.A.R.C. Partner of the Year Individual Award. In addition, she’s served on the Habitat for Humanity Board,
The Rookie of the Year Award was given to Heather Oyler of Kellar Williams Premier Realty for her achievement in high sales production and enthusiasm for the industry. To qualify for this award, a Realtor® must be a member for no more than two full calendar years prior to the award year, show a sincere interest and enthusiasm for the profession and have sales production of one million or more in a 12 month period. In 2012 — Oylar’s first year in the business — she closed over a million and a half in residential transactions. In 2013, she closed over 4 million. In addition, Oylar recently completed her master’s degree in Organizational Development from Benedictine University and was selected to participate in the Illinois Lincoln Excellence in Public Service Series – a leadership development program. She is also active in the Peoria Area Young Republicans, Easter Seals, Big Brother Big Sisters, and an instructor with Junior Achievement. Notably, Oyler’s first sale was featured on HGTV’s House Hunters.
ABOUT THE PEORIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (PAAR)
PAAR is the “Voice for Real Estate” in the Greater Peoria area, with over 700 members engaged in all facets of the real estate industry. PAAR advocates for property owners and on behalf of a healthy business community. PAAR publishes the Central Illinois HOMES Guide, a monthly guide of homes for sale in the Peoria area.
Links to open houses can be found at: www.peoriaopenhouse.com
More information on purchasing a home in the Peoria area can be found at http://www.yourhometools.com. PAAR videos and monthly updates on the central Illinois homes marketplace can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/user/peoriarealtors