Welcome to the NEFAR Awards & Recognition page, where excellence meets acknowledgment. Our awards celebrate the outstanding achievements and dedication of our members, highlighting those who not only excel in their profession but also significantly contribute to the industry and community. These accolades represent the highest honors bestowed by NEFAR, underscoring the importance of recognizing peer excellence and inspiring all members to strive for greatness. We encourage you to explore the various award categories and consider nominating a deserving colleague. Recognizing excellence not only honors the individual but also elevates the standards and aspirations of our entire community. Take a moment to submit a nomination today and help us celebrate the exceptional talent within NEFAR.
The following awards are open to nominations from everyone. Click on an award below to read it’s description and view past winners.
Awarded to NEFAR members to commemorate many years of exceptional service and contributions to the community, state, and the real estate profession. Prior winners excluded.
1996 – Barnett Bank
1997 – Ryan & Marks
1998 – Les Loggin, Wally Conway
1999 – Lynn Klimp
2000 – Suzette Gray, Danny Parham
2001 – Dennis Rust, Chic Acosta
2002 – Curtis Ford, Gullett Title
2003 – BB&T
2004 – Sue Robinson
2005 – Sue Robinson
2006 – Roy Mahler
2007 – Andrew Bell
2008 – Carolyn McMoran
2009 – Andrew Bell
2010 – Franchesca Swierz
2011 – Don Mullinax
2012 – Mick Dolan
2013 – John David Adams, Jr.
2014 – Julie Koren
2015 – Janna Thomas
2016 – Lisa Andrews
2017 – Franchesca Swierz
2018 – Lisa Andrews
2019 – Melanie Coomer
2020 – Lee Osborne
2021 – Wallace “Wally” Conway
2022 – J. Riley Williams
2023 – Janice Valentine
Awarded to a NEFAR REALTOR® member who has actively worked to raise the consciousness of inclusiveness within NEFAR, the REALTOR® community or in their workplace. Nominees should be REALTOR® members who have earned the At Home with Diversity designation and have completed online fair-housing tools such as NAR’s Implicit Bias training, and the Fair Haven video simulation. They should also have tangibly demonstrated the promotion of fairness and diversity regarding age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability and so forth within NEFAR or their workplace, or the real estate industry.
1996 – N/A
1997 – Catherine Whatley
1998 – Russell Grooms
1999 – Dottie Hall, Dee Bumbarger
2000 – Sam Folds, Dan Jones
2001 – Wendell Davis, Selby Kaiser, Jim Morgan
2002 – Pete Dalton, Charles “Ben” Bates
2003 – Hope Bickerstaff Allenson
2004 – Gerri Jones
2005 – Pam Bingemann
2006 – Selby Kaiser
2007 – Carol Hill
2008 – Holly McMurry
2009 – Walter Williams
2010 – Paul Gruenther
2011 – Linda McMorrow
2012 – Audrey Lackie
2013 – N/A
2014 – N/A
2015 – Clare Berry, Eileen McVeigh, Rory Dubin
2016 – Janna Thomas
2017 – Carol Zingone
2018 – Sally Suslak, Gonzalo Mejia
2019 – Sharon Daniels
2020 – Sherry Davidson
2021 – Milagros “Millie” S. Kanyar; Dane Leslie; Terrell P. Newberry
2022 – Wanda McReynolds
2023 – Rory Dubin
Awarded to a NEFAR REALTOR® member who has actively worked to raise the consciousness of inclusiveness within NEFAR, the REALTOR® community or in their workplace. Nominees should be REALTOR® members who have earned the At Home with Diversity designation and have completed online fair-housing tools such as NAR’s Implicit Bias training, and the Fair Haven video simulation. They should also have tangibly demonstrated the promotion of fairness and diversity regarding age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability and so forth within NEFAR or their workplace, or the real estate industry.
2021 – Paul Gerald Ellsworth
2022 – Gonzalo Mejia
2023 – Clark LaBlond
Awarded to a NEFAR member who has been involved in real estate by working within the global community. Members who hold the Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) designation and are actively involved in NEFAR’s Global Council as well as those who have shown participation in some form of international real estate at the local, state, national, and international levels, are given strong consideration.
2021 – Rory Alan Dubin
2022 – Gonzalo Mejia
2023 – April Hall-Lloyd
Awarded to any NEFAR REALTOR® member to commemorate their faithful long-term service to NEFAR. Prior winners excluded.
1996 – N/A
1997 – Wendell Davis
1998 – Eileen McVeigh, Pam Bingemann
1999 – Don Taylor, Peter Sapia
2000 – Bob Ransom, Bonnie Siecker
2001 – George Linville, William Glenn East
2002 – Pat Jones, Dee Bumbarger, Henry Rogers
2003 – Ed Powell
2004 – Linda McMorrow
2005 – R.D. de Carle, Pete Dalton
2006 – Beverly Garvin
2007 – Sandy Holdren, Sherry Davidson
2008 – Eileen McVeigh
2009 – N/A
2010 – N/A
2011 – N/A
2012 – Carol Hill
2013 – Jeanne Denton-Scheck
2014 – N/A
2015 – N/A
2016 – N/A
2017 – Dane Leslie, Andre’ Boutte’, Audrey Lackie, Joyce Roberts
2018 – Sally Suslak
2019 – Janna Thomas
2020 – Terrell Newberry
2021 – Audrey Richie Lackie
2022 – Wanda McReynolds
2023 – Rory Dubin
Awarded to the REALTOR® member who has done an exemplary job to educate the NEFAR membership through professional instruction and/or mentorship to less-experienced agents in the real estate industry.
2002 – Robert Morrell
2003 – Jeffrey Marks
2004 – BB&T
2005 – Patricia Sherman
2006 – Andrew Wooten
2007 – Bob Morrell (posthumously)
2008 – Ulrich Leinhase
2009 – Ulrich Leinhase
2010 – Patricia Sherman
2011 – N/A
2012 – Beverly Garvin
2013 – Patricia Sherman
2014 – Gonzalo Mejia
2015 – N/A
2016 – N/A
2017 – Patricia Sherman
2018 – Lorri Reynolds
2019 – Kim Knapp
2020 – N/A
2021 – Dunia Christy Taylor
2022 – Amanda Feagle
2023 – Ant Stroud
Awarded to a NEFAR member who has dedicated extensive personal time and resources to humanitarian causes or charitable efforts. Nomination must include specifics regarding the amount of time, type of support and/or resources rendered, and the full name(s) of organizations served. Prior winners excluded.
1996 – Barbara Lester
1997 – William “Fritz” Sheffield
1998 – Eileen Blocker
1999 – Melissa Nelson
2000 – Judy Hicks
2001 – Judy H. Law
2002 – Maria Taylor
2003 – N/A
2004 – Joanne Gaudette
2005 – Charlotte Esarey and Teva Monroe
2006 – Penelope “Penny” Daily and William Vasana
2007 – Paul Gruenther and Carol Ann Benjamin
2008 – Donna Goedecke and Carol Ann Benjamin
2009 – Rosie Hetman
2010 – Don Mullinax, Mary L. Walker, Richard MacDonald, Paul Wilson
2011 – Sandi Wagner, Mary L. Walker, Joanne Gaudette, Judy Jones Davis
2012 – Ted Mello and Randy Brown
2013 – Andrew Bell
2014 – Gloria Vinson
2015 – Mario Gonzalez and Karen Swinson
2016 – Bill Sharp
2017 – Cole Slate and Tiffany Mayer
2018 – Jessica Harrison
2019 – Lorri Reynolds
2020 – N/A
2021 – Rosario “Rose” Lampe
2022 – Ben Glynn
2023 – Samantha Heflin
Awarded to a NEFAR REALTOR® member who has been a REALTOR® for a maximum of three years and who has demonstrated active NEFAR participation through educational accomplishments and/or NEFAR committee, council, and or task force service. Prior winners excluded.
2002 – Mike Temple
2003 – N/A
2004 – William Vasana
2005 – Paul Gruenther
2006 – Carol Zingone
2007 – Catheryne “Cappy” MacPherson
2008 – N/A
2009 – N/A
2010 – N/A
2011 – N/A
2012 – Andrew Bell
2013 – Diana Galavis
2014 – Julie Bentley
2015 – N/A
2016 – N/A
2017 – Joshua Rosenberg
2018 – N/A
2019 – Christian Oliva
2020 – Cherrae (Rae) Laws
2021 – Akime Heyward Deering
2022 – DeMarcus Rodriguez
2023 – Sharon McNeal
Awarded to a NEFAR REALTOR® member who has excelled in their professional development for the past two years. Items considered are the completion of local, state, and national real estate courses (including online courses) and the earning or supplementing NAR-conferred designations and/or certifications. Prior winners excluded.
2002 – Paul Lippens
2003 – Linda McInnis
2004 – N/A
2005 – N/A
2006 – N/A
2007 – Mary Slaughter
2008 – Carol Zingone
2009 – Cammie Thomas
2010 – N/A
2011 – N/A
2012 – Mark Good
2013 – Missi Howell
2014 – Rory Dubin
2015 – Gonzalo Mejia
2016 – Stephanie Saylor
2017 – Wanda McReynolds
2018 – Paul Ellsworth
2019 – N/A
2020 – N/A
2021 – April Hall Lloyd
2022 – Carray Young
2023 – Sharon McNeal
Awarded to a NEFAR member who has made the greatest contribution to the property management profession through professional leadership initiatives and/or educational accomplishments. Prior winners excluded.
1996 – Vernon Dean
1997—Bryan Cantrell
1998 – Joan Sapia
1999 – Wendell Davis
2000 – Carole Martin
2001 – Michael Hodges
2002 – Wendy Brozino
2003 – Wayne Jones
2004 – Wendell Davis
2005 – Brenda Needham
2006 – Michael Hodges
2007 – Wanda Franklin
2008 – Brenda Needham
2009 – Terri Brown
2010 – Roger Perkins
2011 – Wanda Franklin
2012 – Nancy Maggiore
2013 – Tiea Vincent
2014 – N/A
2015 – N/A
2016 – Mario Gonzalez
2017 – Mike Collins
2018 – N/A
2019 – Jeanell Wilson
2020 – Philip Scarborough
2021 – Lisa A. Schueneman
2022 – Bailey Jordan
2023 – April Hall-Lloyd
Awarded to one NEFAR REALTOR® member who has demonstrated continued personal involvement and support to NEFAR and to the real estate profession for the past three years. The current NEFAR president is not eligible.
1996 – Russell Grooms
1997 – Charlene Perez
1998 – Neil O’Donnell
1999 – Walter Williams
2000 – Roy Orren
2001 – Billie K. Motz
2002 – Eileen McVeigh
2003 – Kay Seitzinger
2004 – Phyllis Staines
2005 – Andre’ Le Gras Boutte’
2006 – Millie Kanyar
2007 – Linda McInnis
2008 – Stephanie White
2009 – Carol Zingone
2010 – Selby Kaiser
2011 – Linda McMorrow
2012 – Holly McMurry
2013 – Dane Leslie
2014 – Missi Howell
2015 – Diana Galavis
2016 – Gonzalo Mejia
2017 – Kim Knapp
2018 – Diane Cook
2019 – Charles “Ben” Bates
2020 – Michael Hodges
2021 – Marc Jernigan
2022 – Rory Dubin
2023 –Bailey Jordan
Awarded to a NEFAR member who has remained in the background, while faithfully going well above and beyond in serving NEFAR through volunteer service and/or support.
1996 – Shuri Speed
1997 – Betty Fisette
1998 – Bonnie Siecker
1999 – Adelva Johnston
2000 – Christine Lee Phillips
2001 – Ernie Roundtree
2002 – Holly McMurry
2003 – Sandy Holdren
2004 – Diane Moss
2005 – Bonnie Siecker
2006 – Hazel Tweedale
2007 – Carolyn Minor
2008 – Iris Clerc
2009 – N/A
2010 – N/A
2011 – Gonzalo Mejia
2012 – N/A
2013 – Donna Overman
2014 – N/A
2015 – Kim Sandberg
2016 – N/A
2017 – N/A
2018 – N/A
2019 – Joyce Roberts
2020 – N/A
2021 – Kelli Anne King
2022 – Rae Laws
2023 – Wanda McReynolds
Awarded sparingly, this honor recognizes NEFAR members who have gone far and above expectations in their efforts to support NEFAR’s special projects or events.
1996 – Eileen McVeigh
1997 – Bob Ford, Less Loggins, Amy Snowden
1998 – N/A
1999 – Corey Mann, Erna Elton
2000 – Sandy Holdren
2001 – Kay Stalvey, Diane Ward, Jeanell Wilson, Mike McCray
2002 – Wally Conway, HomeBanc Mortgage Corp.
2003 – Bonnie Siecker, Teresa Campbell
2004 – Amanda Dandy, Mary Kay Engelking, Carol Hill
2005 – Erin Fortner, Cassie Browning
2006 – Carol Mikell, R.D. de Carle, Jennifer McLaughlin, Dianne Pittman
2007 – Cathy Whatley, Paul and Judy White
2008 – Vera Thrift
2009 – N/A
2010 – Carol Hill, Holly McMurry
2011 – N/A
2012 – N/A
2013 – Kim Knapp, Janna Thomas
2014 – Holly McMurry
2015 – Becky Williams
2016 – Diana Galavis, Holly McMurry
2017 – Don Mullinax
2018 – N/A
2019 – Lisa Andrews
2020 – N/A
2021 – Tiea Vincent
2022 – Elizabeth Wells, Jon Singleton, MaliVai Washington, Mark Feagle
2023 – Laila Iarossi
Honorees for the following awards are handpicked by the NEFAR’s CEO, President, and/or NEFAR staff members.
Awarded to an elected official within NEFAR’s delegation area as a recognition of their personal efforts in supporting the real estate profession. This can be someone who has promoted legislation beneficial to the real estate profession and/or property rights. Nomination of local elected officials is strongly encouraged.
1996 – Steve Wise
1997 – Rep. Joe Arnall
1998 – Rep. John Thrasher
1999 – Sen. Jim Horne
2000 – Rep. Kelley Smith
2001 – N/A
2002 – Commissioner Brad Purcell
2003 – Rep. Ander Crenshaw
2004 – Rep. Jennifer Carroll
2005 – N/A
2006 – Rep. Audrey Gibson
2007 – Jim Overton
2008 – Lee Buck
2009 – Clay County Commission
2010 – John Crescimbeni
2011 – N/A
2012 – Angela Corey
2013 – Lori Boyer
2014-2024 – N/A
Awarded to a NEFAR REALTOR® who has made a significant mark within the profession of real estate in Northeast Florida. The nominee’s name should be recognizable within the community-at-large and is synonymous with exemplary ethical behavior as well as knowledgeable and compassionate service to clients. This individual is also highly respected in the REALTOR® community and has demonstrated generosity with his or her time through their support of community organizations/projects/programs.
2021 – William A. Watson, Jr.
2022 – Cathy Whatley
2023 – Linda Sherrer
Presented to a past president who, for many years, has been actively involved in the association through personal volunteerism and has demonstrated excellent leadership abilities. This award honors someone who has unselfishly served the association and the community and exemplifies the standards established by the Realtors’® Code of Ethics. Recipients of this award must be a past president in good standing of the association, and the award may be given at any time.
2023 – Millie Kanyar
This award honors a long-time REALTOR® member, living or deceased, who has made a significant mark on the Northeast Florida real estate industry.
2021 – Walter L. Williams
2022 – George Linville
2023 – Pete O. Dalton
The following awards are no longer available.
1996 – Debra Pataky
1997 – Tim Dooley
1998 – Garry Watson
1999 – Charlene Alexander
2000 – Carolyn McMoran, Roy Mahler
1996 – Selby Kaiser
1997 – Robert Bossen
1998 – Clare Berry
1999 – Kathy Tinney
2000 – Kay Seitzinger
2001 – Russell Grooms
1996 – Randy McNeal
1997 – John Winkler
1998 – Gerri Jones
1999 – Norman W. Gregory
2000 – Hobart Joost, Jr.
1996 – Lynn Klimp, Jamie Brooks
1996 – Marty Moore
1997 – Pat Jones