The REALTOR® of the Year award serves to recognize deserving REALTOR® members for efforts and work on behalf of their fellow REALTORS®, their profession, and their community. This individual’s actions communicate to the public, by their outstanding example, the professionalism of REALTORS® and the outstanding work we do for clients, customers, industry, and community.

Jill Russel made outstanding contributions to her REALTOR® organizations, the profession, and the

community in which she lives. Julia Rajnus of Century 21 Showcase says of Jill, “She is always a pleasure to work with and truly deserving of this honor for all the work she puts in at the state and local level.”

In addition to serving on the local level as a director, president-elect and president, Jill has also contributed as a committee chair and committee member on the RPAC, Strategic Planning, Government Affairs, Diversity, and Executive Committees, and the MLS advisory council.

But she’s not just active in REALTOR® causes. Jill also serves in her community with her involvement in the Soroptimists, the Oregon Employer Council, and even beautifying her community with highway clean-ups for the past three years.

Jill is the current holder of GRI, CRS, PSA, SFR, E-Pro, C2EX, and Principal Broker designations.

Congratulations to the Oregon REALTORS® 2020 REALTOR® of the Year, Jill Russel.

The Distinguished Service Award recognizes an Oregon REALTOR® who has demonstrated outstanding service and contribution, over a period of years, to the Oregon REALTORS®. This award is intended to recognize members for a lifetime of contributions and service to the association, and that’s exactly what this year’s recipient exemplifies.

Joann Hansen has been active in the Association since 1983, serving as a district vice president, state director, association president, a chairman of OREF, and president of the HOME Foundation. And she doesn’t just contribute to the REALTOR® community. Joann has more than a decade of service to her local community, including serving on the Coos County Planning Commission as well as the Chamber of Commerce.

“She’s an Oregon Original,” said Dannie Walker of Premiere Property Group. “She’s a small-town girl with a big-world heart who never backs down from doing what’s right. She has such a long history in Coos Bay, from her involvement with the Chamber of Commerce and the Planning Commission, all the way back to the creation of a section of Highway 42 down here on the coast. She’s caring, committed, compassionate, and devoted to her family. She’s my best friend and I love her. I’m so glad she’s getting this award. It’s about time!”

Joann has been recognized as REALTOR® of the Year twice, once by Oregon REALTORS®, and once by the Coos County Board of REALTORS®. She’s an NAR-certified mediator, a Leadership Institute Northwest graduate, and a GRI graduate.

Congratulations to the 2020 Distinguished Service Award recipient, Joann Hansen.

Members of the Oregon Association of REALTORS^®(OAR) have honored local REALTOR^®and community leader, Lester Friedman, with the 2019 Distinguished Service Award. The award, one of the highest granted by the Association, was bestowed in Salem at the Salem Convention Center on Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at the Distinguished Service Award Luncheon held during the 2019 OAR Fall Convention & Trade Show.

The OAR Distinguished Service Award was established in 1993 to recognize outstanding service and contributions to the Association over a period of at least 10 years. Criteria for the award includes service in areas such as committee membership, committee leadership, and service as a state director, officer or National Association of REALTORS^®director. Since the Award's inception, 30 Oregon REALTORS^® have been selected to receive this industry driven recognition.

Lester Friedman, Coldwell Banker Bain, is a member of the Central Oregon Association of REALTORS^®. In 2012, Lester was bestowed the Central Oregon Association of REALTORS^®REALTOR^®of the Year award.

Lester has also been active at the state and national levels for real estate. He has been a voice for real estate on the Political Affairs Committee, REALTOR^®of the Year Committee and Professional Development Committee. For more than a decade, he has served as a State Director.

Lester is very active in his community; from helping with the Central Oregon Community College to Bend Police Advisor to a Mt. Bachelor Mountain Ambassador as part of the National Ski Patrol. He is also a board member of the Jewish Community of Central Oregon.

Lester Friedman was selected as the recipient of the 2019 OAR Distinguished Service Award by a committee of his peers based on his outstanding legacy of work in his local, state, and national REALTOR^®communities. His service, at every level, is to be commended.

Members of the Oregon Association of REALTORS^® (OAR) have honored local REALTOR^® and community leader, Don Livingood on Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at the Distinguished Service Award Luncheon held during the 2019 OAR Fall Convention & Trade Show.

The OAR Distinguished Service Award was established in 1993 to recognize outstanding service and contributions to the Association over a period of at least 10 years. Criteria for the award includes service in areas such as committee membership, committee leadership, and service as a state director, officer or National Association of REALTORS^®director. Since the Award's inception, 30 Oregon REALTORS^®have been selected to receive this industry driven recognition.

Don Livingood, Windermere Van Vleet Jacksonville, is a member of the Rogue Valley Association of REALTORS^®. In 2012, Don was presented the Rogue Valley Association of REALTORS^®REALTOR^®of the Year award. The following year he was elected President of the local association.

Don has also been active at the state and national levels for real estate. He has been a voice for real estate on the Government Affairs Committee and has served as a State Director.

More than anything, Don is dedicated to his local community. He is active in Rotary, Medford Kiwanis Club and is on the board for the Children’s Advocacy Center. Before his life in real estate, Don spent 29 years with the Medford Police Department.

Don Livingood was selected as the recipient of the 2019 OAR Distinguished Service Award by a committee of his peers based on his outstanding legacy of work in his local, state, and national REALTOR^®communities. His service, at every level, is to be commended.

August 29, 2017 – Salem, OR

Members of the Oregon Association of REALTORS^® (OAR) have honored local REALTOR^® and community leader, Beth Caster, with the 2017 Distinguished Service Award. The award, one of the highest granted by the Association, will be bestowed in Portland on October 4 at the Distinguished Service Award Luncheon held during the 2017 OAR Fall Convention & Governance Meetings.

The OAR Distinguished Service Award was established in 1993 to recognize outstanding service and contributions to the Association over a period of at least 10 years. Criteria for the award includes service in areas such as committee membership, committee leadership, and service as a state director, officer or NAR director. Since the Award's inception, 28 Oregon REALTORS^® have been selected to receive this industry driven recognition.

Beth Caster, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services NW Properties, is a member of the Yamhill County Association of REALTORS^®. Caster has been in real estate since 2002, becoming a REALTOR^® in 2003 and gaining her Principal Broker License in 2016. An avid knitter, cook, and local wine/beer advocate, Caster maintains an incredible level of dedication and involvement in her industry. She is committed to bringing the highest caliber of service to the public and is a strong proponent of the Code of Ethics.

Caster believes in the benefits of continuing education and holds multiple REALTOR^® and real estate family designations – Graduate REALTORS^® Institute, Accredited Buyer Representative, Certified International Property Specialist, Certified Residential Specialist, and Master Certified Negotiation Expert.

Serving on innumerable committees, groups, and tasks forces for the Yamhill County Association of REALTORS^®, Oregon Association of REALTORS^®, and the National Association of REALTORS^® over the years, Caster was also awarded the Yamhill County Association of REALTORS^® REALTOR^® of the Year award in 2008. Caster has long been a REALTOR^® Political Action Committee (RPAC) investor and supporter and believes in the power of the REALTOR^® Party. Caster has been involved with the Oregon REALTOR^® charity, the HOME Foundation, since 2009 at both the local and state levels; she is chair of the 2017 HOME Foundation Board of Directors.

In addition to her monumental REALTOR^® volunteer service, Caster is also heavily active in her local community. Sher serves on several local boards, committees, and fundraisers. She is a sponsor of the McMinnville Farmer’s Market and serves on their Board of Directors.

Beth Caster was selected as the recipient of the 2017 OAR Distinguished Service Award by a committee of her peers based on her outstanding legacy of work in her local, state, and national REALTOR^® communities and civic engagement. Her service, at every level, is to be commended.

More than 850 Oregon REALTORS® came together for the annual Oregon Association of REALTORS® (OAR) REALTOR® Day at the Capital in support of legislative policies that protect homeownership and the American dream for all Oregonians. The organization's members are comprised of residential and commercial brokers, managing principal brokers, property managers, and industry affiliates.

During the daylong session REALTORS® heard presentations from the Association's leadership detailing the 2017 legislative agenda and met with Legislators during the luncheon hour to discuss hot topics impacting the real estate industry, including the importance of preserving the Mortgage Interest Deduction (MID) and deductibility of property taxes for Oregon homeowners.

"I am thrilled to see so many of our members in Salem advocating for policies that make homeownership affordable and achievable for more Oregonians," said George Grabenhorst, 2017 OAR President. "The value of homeownership is under attack and its critically important that Legislators hear from people in their local communities today and throughout the entire year."

At the top of OAR's 2017 legislative agenda are the following programs:
• First-time Homebuyers Saving Program: Multiple House and Senate Bills to help first-time homebuyers start saving for their first home.
• House joint memorial (HJM) to address the appraiser shortage: HJM 3 will support changes to minimum appraiser qualifications criteria proposed by the Appraiser Qualifications Board of the Appraisal Foundation.
• Wood Burning Stove Rebate Program & Funding: House Bills 2725 and 2748 will appropriate funds to support a grant program for wood burning stoves and authorize the Residential Solid Fuel Heating Air Quality Improvement Fund to replace solid fuel burning devices.
• Onsite Septic System Repair, Replacement or Upgrade Funding: Senate Bills 812 and 383 to address fixes to the program and appropriate $1.5 million to support low- interest loan programs for on-site septic systems.

This year, OAR is also focused on combating harmful legislation that attempts to balance the state budget on the backs of Oregon homeowners. At the forefront of this discussion are two bills drawing heightened attention across the state—HB 2006, legislation to eliminate the Mortgage Interest Deduction (MID) for many homeowners and HB 2004-A, legislation posing onerous restrictions on landlords. OAR is aggressively working with policy makers to educate them about the dangers of these bills and drive understanding about the impact they could have on homeowners and overall state economy.

The mission of the OAR is to stand up for private property rights and homeownership in Oregon. "We achieve our mission by advocating for legislation and candidates that align with our priorities," said George Grabenhorst. "This year, we are laser-focused on working together with our members and state officials to protect tax benefits for homeowners, fight new schemes to tax homes, and ensure our land use system works for all Oregonians."

April 14, 2017 - Salem, OR
Larry Wilson on behalf of the Owyhee Basin Stewardship Coalition, presented the Oregon Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors with an honorarium, thanking them for their early support in the campaign to protect the Owyhee basin from designation as a national monument without a vote of Congress.

In just 10-months, Our Land, Our Voice raised statewide awareness of the monument threat. Building a diverse coalition of business, agriculture, and political leaders, the coalition secured near universal editorial commentary against a presidential monument declaration without a vote of congress.
"Decisions with regard to the future of Eastern Oregon are best made by the generations of families living and making a living in the area along with their elected officials," said Oregon Association of REALTORS® Government Affairs Committee Chairwoman, Vikki Breese-Iverson. "We are delighted the efforts of a broad coalition were successful in preserving the rural way of life for generations to come."

Oregon Association of REALTORS® retuned the gratitude of the OBSC by presenting Mr. Wilson with the Healthy Communities Award "[for their work] in preserving the Owyhee Canyonlands, and protecting the community and economic values of the citizens who live there."

Video Campaigns:

The Real Story of the Owyhee Canyonlands

Say NO to Owyhee Canyonlands Monument

April 12, 2017 - Salem, OR
Colin Mullane has been named the 2017 Oregon REALTOR® of the Year. The award, bestowed in Salem on Thursday, April 13 at the REALTOR® of the Year Luncheon, is the highest award granted by the Oregon Association of REALTORS®.

Colin is a member of the Rogue Valley Association of REALTORS® and a Principal Broker at Full Circle Real Estate in Ashland. An Irish transplant, Colin has been a REALTOR® in Oregon since 2000, and has been heavily involved in all levels of the REALTOR® organization at local, state and national levels.

Serving as a member and chair of numerous committees, work groups, and task forces for the Southern Oregon MLS, Rogue Valley Association of REALTORS®, and Oregon Association of REALTORS® for years, Colin also served as the 2015 OAR President and has been on the OAR Board of Directors since 2016. In 2010, he received the Rogue Valley Association of REALTORS®' REALTOR® of the Year award and the local REALTOR® Image Award in 2009.

For the past few years, Colin has become highly involved at the national level and has served on several committees and will become the Region Vice President for the National Association of REALTORS®' (NAR) Region 12, comprising of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska.

Colin is committed to professional development and has received multiple designations and certifications – Accredited Buyer's Representative®, Certified International Property Specialist, NAR's Green Designation, EA Broker, and At Home With Diversity®. In addition to professional development, Colin has been a REALTORS® Political Action Committee Major Investor since 2013.

At every level, Colin Mullane is passionate about the real estate industry and is an exemplary model for Oregon REALTORS®. Colin Mullane is the Oregon REALTOR® of the Year for his outstanding service to all REALTOR® organizations, the real estate profession, and his community.

With the recent announcement of grants totaling $179,796 to be distributed in 2017, the Oregon Association of REALTORS® HOME Foundation has surpassed $1 million in financial assistance statewide to help Oregonians in need realize the American Dream of owning a home.

Portland REALTOR^® Pat Kaplan has received the National Association of REALTORS^® 2016 Distinguished Service Award. The honor is presented yearly to no more than two of NAR’s more than 1.2 million members. Kaplan, a REALTOR^® for 36 years and current broker-owner of Kaplan Real Estate Group, was recognized at the recent NAR National Conference & Expo in Orlando.

NAR established the DSA in 1979 to honor REALTORS^® who have made outstanding contributions to the real estate industry and who serve as leaders in their local communities. The award is considered the highest honor an NAR member can receive; recipients must be active at the local, state and national association levels but must not have served as NAR president. NAR President Tom Salomone presented the award to Kaplan.

"Pat Kaplan has been a leader in the REALTOR^® community for decades. On the local, state and national level, Pat’s commitment and professionalism make her an obvious selection for the Distinguished Service Award," said Salomone, broker-owner of Real Estate II Inc. in Coral Springs, Florida. "On behalf of the entire REALTOR^® family, I thank Pat for her inspiring dedication."

Kaplan, a REALTOR^® for 36 years, is broker-owner of Kaplan Real Estate Group, specializing in residential real estate and consulting. She holds the professional designations of Graduate, REALTOR^® Institute; GREEN; Certified International Property Specialist; Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager; as well as the e-PRO and At Home with Diversity certifications.

"I am very honored and thankful to NAR for being named a recipient of the Distinguished Service Award. I am proud of be a part of an organization that honors members for giving back to their communities and protecting the rights and privileges of real property ownership," said Kaplan.

An active NAR member, Kaplan has held many leadership positions throughout the REALTOR^® organization during her nearly four-decade tenure, including serving as the NAR treasurer from 2001 to 2003, a president’s liaison in 2000, vice president of committees in 2004, and regional vice president for Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington in 1999. She has served on NAR’s Board of Directors since 1993, and currently serves on an advisory group for the REALTORS^® Federal Credit Union (a division of Northwest Federal Credit Union since 2012), on the Second Century Initiatives board since 2010 and the Sentrilock LLC Board of Directors since 2014.

Kaplan chaired the Finance Committee and Smart Growth Program Advisory Group, as well as held leadership roles on a variety of committees, including Strategic Planning, Risk Management, State and Municipal Legislation, Communications and Political Affairs. She chaired presidential advisory groups on NAR Governance in 1997 and Global in 2014. Kaplan served as the first president of the REALTOR^® Relief Foundation from 2001 to 2006 and continued on its board until 2008. She is a member of the Realtors^® Political Action Committee Hall of Fame, President’s Circle and a Golden R.

At the state level, Kaplan was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the Oregon Association of REALTORS^® in 2012. She was president of OAR in 1996 and the first ever to be honored as REALTOR^® of the Year while serving as president. Known for her political activism, Kaplan chaired OAR’s Legislative Committee for four years, and chaired the Budget and Finance, Strategic Planning and Executive Committees. Kaplan was the first recipient of OAR’s REALTORS^® Active in Politics award. She continues to serve on the OAR Board of Directors.

At the local level, Kaplan served as the Washington County Association of REALTORS^® president in 1991, was named REALTOR^® of the Year in 1993, and served on its board for more than 10 years, including chairing the Budget and Finance, Strategic Planning, Nominating, REALTOR^® of the Year and RPAC committees. She was given the Distinguished Service Award in 1994. Today, Kaplan continues service on several key Portland Metropolitan Association of REALTORS^® committees, as well as serving as a mediator for Professional Standards. Kaplan has served as director of the REALTOR^® Multiple Listing Service since 2013.

Active in her community, Kaplan was involved in the Oregon Fair Housing Planning Conference from 1992 to 1994 and served on two state advisory committees: History of Housing Discrimination in Oregon and Oregon Comprehensive Housing Affordability Study Group. Kaplan has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, Boys and Girls Club, Catlin Gable School, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Portland Community College Foundation, Campfire Girls, World Affairs Council, and also served on the board of the Oregon Junior Miss Scholarship Program. She is currently on the board of the International Real Property Foundation and is a partner in the Social Venture Partners of Portland philanthropy.

Kaplan and her husband, Joel, reside in Portland. They have two children.

By any measure, the Nov. 8 General Election was wildly successful for the Oregon Association of REALTORS®. We were on the winning side of Oregon’s most expensive ballot initiative ever, and OAR-endorsed candidates won election at a 95 percent clip — including placing a second Oregon REALTOR® in the House.

“This election season included a lot of long meetings for our committees, but it paid off big time for our advocacy,” said OAR Government Affairs Director Shawn Cleave. “We rightly adjusted our strategy in September, and it was the right thing to do and paid off nicely! A big thank you to RPAC Chairperson George Perkins and the entire committee.”

Here are some election highlights:

• OAR was a large contributor to the No on 97 campaign, and the hotly contested Measure 97 — a business tax increase — ultimately failed by a 59 to 41 percent margin. That’s the good news. The flip side is that we can now expect a full scale assault on the home mortgage deduction during the 2017 Oregon Legislature; we will begin readying for that battle immediately.

• OAR-endorsed candidates for the Legislature won at a rate of 95 percent. Out of the 60 legislative races where OAR made an endorsement, our candidate won 57 of those contests. The most exciting: Oregon REALTOR® Mark Meek won election to House District 40, which includes Oregon City, Gladstone, Jennings Lodge and portions of unincorporated Clackamas County. Meek, a Democrat, joins veteran legislator and fellow REALTOR® Rep. Sal Esquivel (R-Medford), who easily won re-election to another term in Southern Oregon.

• One of the tightest races is Oregon Senate District 5, which stretches along the Oregon Coast from Coos Bay up past Lincoln City. The most recent numbers show incumbent Sen. Arnie Roblan, who drew OAR’s support, with 29,931 votes. Challenger Dick Anderson has 29,637, a difference of 294. The wild card in that race is Libertarian Dan Souza, who garnered 2,495 votes, way more than enough to significantly impact the Roblan-Anderson result.

• Our numbers will go up to 58 out of 60 (96.7 percent) if former Ashland mayor Alan DeBoer holds onto his slim lead in Senate District 3, which came open when Sen. Alan Bates (D-Ashland) unexpectedly passed away in August. DeBoer, a Republican, leads by 535 votes with about 1,000 yet to count at this writing. Assuming he holds on, his win will be significant in the overall picture (see below).

• Though some of the names have changed, when all the dust settled it is still a 35-25 majority for Democrats in the Oregon House, the same as the past two years. It takes 36 for a super-majority in the House. Should DeBoer gain election to the Senate, that seat-flip will narrow the Democrats’ majority in the upper chamber from 18-12 to 17-13, so the Oregon Senate will also be one vote short of a super-majority.

When the 2017 Oregon Legislature convenes in February, there will be another Oregon REALTOR® in the house — the House of Representatives. Democrat Mark Meek has handily won election to House District 40, which includes Oregon City, Gladstone, Jennings Lodge and portions of unincorporated Clackamas County. Meek will join veteran legislator Sal Esquivel (R-Medford) as the second REALTOR® in the state assembly.

“I’m very excited about this opportunity to serve, and excited to join Rep. Esquivel representing REALTOR® interests in the Legislature,” said Meek. “I think my record of local community outreach really paved the way to my election. From coaching youth sports, from my church, from my business and from my participation on a wide number of local boards and commissions, people knew me and felt they could trust me.”

Meek estimates he knocked on 8,000 doors himself, and volunteers pushed his overall number to 24,000. Meek says his doorstep pitch for election encompassed REALTOR® values.

“I talked about the need for education, including technical and skill training,” he says. “That translates to people having family wage jobs, which in turn leads to achieving the American Dream — owning a home and investing in your local community.

“I’m anxious to get started on this new venture, and I couldn’t have done it without the support of my ‘team’ — my many volunteers and great organizations such as the Oregon Association of REALTORS®.”

Esquivel easily won re-election to his seventh term in Medford-based House District 6.

Salem native and fourth generation Realtor^® George Grabenhorst has been installed as the President of the Oregon Association of REALTORS^® for 2017. His term of office officially commences on Nov. 8, the day after the annual National Association of Realtors^® convention adjourns.

Grabenhorst has been in the real estate business for 28 years. Most recently he is a Senior Advisor with SVN Commercial Advisors in Salem. Prior to that Grabenhorst owned and operated Grabenhorst & Associates (previously Grabenhorst Bros.) for many years. The family real estate business first opened in Salem in 1910.

Grabenhorst is a two-time Past President of the Salem Association of Realtors^® and a two-time Salem Realtor^® of the Year. He has been active with the statewide Oregon Association of REALTORS^® for many years, serving on numerous committees and boards.

“I like to be busy,” says Grabenhorst. “I feel I’m more productive the busier I am.

“My goal for my year as President of OAR is to simply help find ways for us to be better professionals at what we do,” Grabenhorst continued. “In that regard, I’d like to see us increase the educational requirements for both principal brokers and first-time agents. Those require legislative action, and we’ll work on that during the 2017 session.”

Grabenhorst’s installation, at the recent OAR Convention in Sunriver, was a family affair and continues a unique family tradition. He was formally installed by his daughter, Alisha Rae Grabenhorst. His uncle, Coburn Grabenhorst, was the OAR President in 1957. The two Grabenhorsts are believed to be the only two primarily commercial brokers to attain the OAR presidency.

Grabenhorst replaces Debra Gisriel of the Klamath County Association of Realtors^®, who remains on the OAR Executive Committee as Immediate Past President. Steve Strode of the Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors^® is the 2018 President-Elect and will succeed Grabenhorst in 12 months.

Grabenhorst lives on the 110-acre family farm in South Salem he grew up on with his wife, Sunny Lyons. He specializes in land, industrial, commercial and agricultural properties. Away from the office he works on the farm, raises horses, is an avid outdoorsman, model airplane builder, golfer and has a passion for U.S. history.

Eugene Realtor® Jeremy Starr has been named recipient of the 2016 Distinguished Service Award by the Oregon Association of REALTORS®. The award was announced at the recent OAR statewide convention in Sunriver.

Starr, a Realtor® for over 25 years, is the broker/owner of John L. Scott Real Estate in Eugene, specializing in residential property and building development. The OAR’s Distinguished Service Award recognizes Starr’s over 30 years of leadership and volunteerism in both the real estate industry and the community.

“This means a lot to me,” said Starr. “It’s a wonderful honor. I’ve always been surrounded by good people, and this is a reflection on them as well.”

Starr is a past president of OAR (2006) and was the Oregon Association’s REALTOR® of the Year in 2008. He has served on the National Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors numerous times. Locally, Starr has served as President of the Eugene Association of REALTORS® and was its Realtor® of the Year in 1995. He has also served on a variety of community groups, including the Eugene-Springfield Metro Partnership, Willamette Valley Services and the Marist School Board. Starr is also widely known as a devout Oregon Duck sports fan. He’s married with two adult children.

In receiving the award, Starr encouraged others to volunteer within their profession and in their communities.

“The opportunity to give back is a gift,” he said. “Embrace it.”

NAR will begin offering .REALTOR domains on Oct. 23 at 11 a.m. Eastern Time.

To proceed, agents will need their NRDS ID number, a credit card and ideas for the domain names they’d like to claim. Remember, multi-year and multi-domain discounts are available. More information.