Meet the new CRS leadership and 2015 award winners.
At the Council’s 2015 annual meetings in San Diego, the 2016 CRS officers were sworn in during an inauguration ceremony on Nov. 13, 2015. Janelle Pfleiger, CRS, Leigh Brown, CRS, and Gary Williams, CRS, were installed as president, president-elect and first vice president, respectively.
President Janelle Pfleiger began her career in real estate in 1980. She graduated Cum Laude with a B.A. in business administration and a minor in real estate. She is an associate broker with RE/MAX Dynamic Properties. Pfleiger obtained her CRS Designation in 1987 and also holds the GRI, CLHMS and CDPE designations. She has served on numerous CRS national committees and as a Regional Vice President in three different regions. She has been named Alaska CRS of the Year and the Anchorage and Alaska REALTOR® of the year, among other honors.
2016 CRS President-Elect, Leigh Brown, CRS, and 2016 CRS First-Vice President, Gary Williams, CRS, were sworn in by 2015 CRS President, Dale Carlton, CRS.
President-elect Leigh Brown of RE/MAX Executive Realty is a third-generation REALTOR® who earned her CRS Designation in 2003. A native of Cabarrus County, North Carolina, Brown joined her father, Darrell Thomas, in the business in 2000. She has attained several designations in addition to the CRS, including the ABR, CIPS, SFR and ePro, among others. She has been actively involved in her chapter and in CRS national leadership.
First Vice President Gary Williams of Coldwell Banker Burnet Realty, in Edina, Minnesota, has been a CRS since 1997, and he won CRS of the Year in 2007. His focus on customer service has translated into a long and successful career, and he has been in real estate in his native Twin Cities area for 28 years. Williams has attained several designations in addition to the CRS, including the ABR, GRI and SRES. He has been actively involved in both state and national CRS leadership.
Celebrating Achievement
At the Inaugural Ceremony during the annual meetings, CRS recognized several top-achieving individuals. The CRS Medallion Award honors people who have not only excelled throughout their careers in real estate, but who have served the Council at both the local and national levels for many years. In 2015, two well-known CRSs met the criteria and nabbed the award. They have served as Chapter Leaders, on multiple committees and on the Board of Directors. They each have also received the CRS of the Year award. They are:
- Mark Hess, CRS
- Jerry Rippeteau, CRS
2016 CRS President Janelle Pfleiger, CRS, enjoys the Inaugural presentation.
CRS presented its Distinguished Service Award to two CRS instructors who have introduced thousands of REALTORS® to the CRS Designation and given them the tools they need to succeed in this business. These honorees demonstrated the highest level of dedication to CRS and helped deliver the best education in the industry. They both have served in a leadership capacity within the Council and helped guide its direction. They are:
- Leroy Houser, CRS
- Frank Kowalski, CRS
Chapter/State CRS Recognition
The CRS Chapter of the Year Award is given to CRS chapters in three categories—small, medium and large—in recognition of their efforts to advance the Councils mission and help the organization achieve its goals. These chapters engaged their membership by promoting the designation within their community. They also held CRS courses and promoted Council education programs. The winners were:
- Small chapter: Central Virginia CRS Chapter
- Mid-size chapter: Kansas CRS Chapter
- Large chapter: Washington CRS Chapter
