Merrimack/Nashoba Valley Realtor Association Honors Outstanding Members;

Joseph Farragher of Methuen Named “Realtor of the Year”

            ANDOVER — Joseph Farragher, a Broker with JPF Real Estate in Methuen, has been named Realtor of the Year by the Northeast Association of Realtors (NEAR), which represents more than 1,300 Realtors and 200 Business Partner members in the Merrimack and Nashoba Valleys and southern New Hampshire.  The award is the highest honor that NEAR can bestow upon one of its members and recognizes service to the Realtor organization at the local, state, and national levels, as well as community activities and business accomplishments.  The award was presented at the NEAR Recognition Gala, held at the Andover Country Club April 8^th, and attended by 500 members and guests.

            A resident of Methuen, in 2014 Joseph was President of NEAR, chairman of its Board of Directors and Executive Committee, and in that capacity participated in a wide-range of community, business, and civic events.  Joseph led the organization in updating its bylaws and improving educational programs and political advocacy during his year as President.  This year, Joseph is NEAR Treasurer and Chairman of the Finance Committee, and he also serves on the NEAR Board of Directors and Executive Committee. 

            At the state level, Joseph served on the Massachusetts Association of Realtors (MAR) Board of Directors in 2013 and 2014.  Also in 2014, he attended numerous state and national industry conferences and gatherings and attended Realtor Day on Beacon Hill, Realtor Day on Capitol Hill, and the New England Realtors Conference. 

            Others honored at the event were:

• Distinguished Service: James Haley of Dick Lepine Real Estate in Dracut was honored with the NEAR Distinguished Service Award for many years of outstanding volunteer service to NEAR in a wide variety of leadership roles, including as President and a longtime member of the NEAR political involvement committee. 

• Good Neighbor:  Susan Callahan, Blaise Coco, and Linda Early were each awarded with NEAR Good Neighbor Awards.  Callahan, of ERA Key Realty Services in Billerica, has been a foster parent for over thirty years, and fostered over 110 children.  Coco and Early, of Coco Early and Associates in Methuen, held annual coat drives, raised food, clothing, and funds for Lazarus House Ministries, and collected food for families in need.  

• Educator of the Year:  In addition to being honored as Realtor of the Year, Joseph Farragher of JPF Real Estate in Methuen also won the NEAR Educator of the Year Award for outstanding real estate training.  Joseph volunteered many hours to educate new members and participated on various panels, bringing special expertise in the area of real estate appraisals.

• Business Partner of the Year:  Penny Hamel of Salem 5 Mortgage Services in North Chelmsford was honored with the NEAR Business Partner of the Year Award.  Penny served for ten years on the NEAR community service committee and also serves as Revenue Committee Chairperson for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell, and Chairperson of Committee to bring Up With People to the Merrimack Valley.  

• Unsung Hero:  Madelyn Mitton and Cathy Johnson of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Andover were presented with the Unsung Hero Award for raising $12,000 for a scholarship fund in honor of slain Danvers teacher Colleen Ritzer, the Colleen E. Ritzer Memorial/Scholarship Fund. 

           
           The Association also presented a number of “Top Producer” awards to approximately 25 percent of the Association’s Realtor members based on their property sales volume during 2014.  These included a “Rookie of the Year” award presented to Kelli Gilbride of Dick Lepine Real Estate in Lowell, in recognition of her high number of transactions closed and the level of dollar volume sold among first-year NEAR members. 

            The event emcee was Tom Courtney of Westford, a Northeast Association of Realtors Past President and Realtor with Laer Realty Partners in Westford.

            NEAR is one of 1,500 local chapters of the National Association of Realtors, whose members subscribe to a strict Code of Ethics.  NEAR officially covers 15 cities and towns from Boxford to Littleton including Lowell and Lawrence, and also has member offices in more than 50 cities and towns throughout the Merrimack and Nashoba Valleys as well as southern New Hampshire. The term, Realtor, is a trademark for use exclusively by members of the National Association of Realtors.