The Atlanta REALTORS Association (ARA) held its Annual Business Meeting at Flourish Atlanta on Thursday, December 5th. Each year, this event is held to celebrate the past year and honor the many members who make the organization a success. In addition to Jennifer Pino, Managing Broker/Assistant Vice President with Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty being installed as the 95th President, and Cynthia Lippert, a Broker Associate with Engel & Völkers North Atlanta being named President-Elect, there were a plethora of individuals within the organization who were honored with various awards.

2019 Honorees recognized for their service to ARA included:

Michael Fischer, Managing Broker of Homestead Atlanta, REALTORS®, was named REALTOR® of the Year. A 9-year veteran of the industry, Fischer is currently serving as the Vice President of Professional Excellence for the Atlanta REALTORS® Association.  In addition to his four-year term on the Association’s Board of Directors, Michael has been Chair of both the Member Engagement and Governmental Affairs Committees, and has served as a vital member of the association as a whole. He was also installed as one of ARA’s 2020 Vice Presidents for next year.

Mike Wright, Branch Manager of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, was presented with the Sally Washburn Lifetime Achievement Award. Established in 2008 for the purpose of recognizing a REALTOR® member who has demonstrated excellence through a minimum of twenty years of active participation and service to the association, the Sally Washburn Lifetime Achievement award is only presented to those who not only meet but exceed the criteria required. Mike has served on or chaired nearly every committee within the Association, was Association President and REALTOR® of the Year in 2007, and has been an active member of the Board of Directors for nearly 18 years.

Ennis Antoine was awarded the E.A. Isakson Award, named for Past President Ed Isakson and created for the purpose of recognizing an industry leader who through their initiative and leadership actions, created a lasting benefit to the membership, the community, and our profession. Ennis has served in numerous leadership roles within the Atlanta REALTORS® Association, the Georgia Association of REALTORS, and the National Association of REALTORS®. He has received the Five Star Circle Award, Captain of Industry Award, REALTOR® of the Year Award, and served as President of the Atlanta REALTORS Association in 2015.  Ennis was recently inducted into the prestigious NAR Political Action Committee Hall of Fame, is a Deacon in his church and has helped build over 25 homes through Habitat for Humanity.

Sarah Chatel with Ansley Atlanta Real Estate was honored with the 2019 Good Neighbor Award for her outstanding contributions to her community. She and her team have helped build 14 homes in the past four years with Atlanta Habitat for Humanity and have donated over $80,000 from their commissions to this organization. She is active in a number of other community endeavors, including the Alliance Theatre Advisory Board and Midtown Atlanta Rotary Club, as well as serving as Membership Chair of Morningside/Lenox Park Association. She personally raised over $115,000 as a Star Dancer in the 2019 Dancing Stars of Atlanta for Alzheimer's through her community, personal contacts, and social media, and is the 2020 Gala Chair for the coming event.

Quinn Arnau of Engel & Völkers Intown Atlanta was awarded the Young Achievers Award, an honor established just last year to recognize a REALTOR® member under the age of 40 who has exhibited a strong commitment to our industry through involvement in the Association, professional excellence, political advocacy and community involvement throughout the year. Quinn has chaired the Atlanta REALTORS® Member Engagement Committee, has been an active member of the Governmental Affairs Committee over the past four years, where he served as chair this year. Quinn was a part of the 2019 Community Service Task Force, is an Board member, and will serve as an ARPAC Trustee and the Vice President of Professional Excellence in 2020.

Natalie Cooper with Summit Funding Advisors,  was named Affiliate of the Year in recognition of her extensive participation and support of ARA over the past year. Natalie joined the Association less than three years ago, but has since served as Vice-Chair of the Young Professionals Network, attended the National Conference for YPN leaders last year, and took the reigns as Chairman of the YPN Committee in 2019.

This year the association was pleased to recognize three individuals as recipients of the Five Star Circle of Service award: Blaine Palmer, Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby's International Realty; Vanessa Westfall, Keller Williams Realty First Atlanta; and Kate Wright, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers.

The Captain of the Industry Award, which was created to recognize members who have 10 years involvement with the Atlanta REALTORS® Association was presented to four members this year: Julie Allan, Bill Butler, Lisa Johnson, and Ro Preisinger.