Hearty congratulations go out to the 22 real estate professionals who earned their Gold Key – Excellence in Professionalism certifications on March 7. The graduates represent the 11th NEFAR class to earn this prestigious honor since the program began in 2021.
Taught by Cynthia DeLuca, the eight-hour class took place at the NEFAR Resource Center. The curriculum instructs students on the “keys” to success in the real estate industry by presenting broad general information on how to build a successful business.
Since NEFAR began offering the program, 460 NEFAR members have earned their Gold Key pins, which is a requirement to qualify for the EDGE™ professional society. Membership in EDGE™ signals that a REALTOR® is a professional who adheres to the highest ethical standards and understands how to do business in a progressive, multicultural environment.
The name EDGE is an acronym standing for Ethics, Diversity, Goals, and Excellence. The society is designed to allow REALTORS® to reach the pinnacle of professionalism. The society is open to all REALTORS® who complete six specific qualifications – Gold Key certification, the C2EX endorsement, At Home With Diversity certification, the Implicit Bias Training video, Code of Ethics or Business Ethics, and Fair Haven, a fair-housing on-line simulation. Code of Ethics is also required for Florida real estate license renewal. Several of the certifications are sponsored by the National Association of REALTORS®.
EDGE candidates cannot be found in violations of the Code of Ethics during the previous five years.
NEFAR’s newest class of Gold Key recipients is as follows:
- Kristin Barker, RE/MAX Specialists
- Patricia Barthlow, Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty
- April Benton Tischer, Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices Florida Network Realty
- Diane Brown, Watson Realty Corp.
- Camila Buenaventura, House & Haven
- Laveta Burts, Herron Real Estate LLC
- Michael Fountain, LPT Realty LLC
- Michael Godoy, Red Phoenix Realty, LLC
- Kayla Hunter, United Real Estate Gallery
- Paris Hurley, Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Partners
- Karen Iturrizaga Castro, Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Partners
- Kathleen Kershaw, One Sotheby’s International Realty
- Heidi Lynch, Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty
- Angela McKee, Watson Realty Corp. Property Management
- Cindy Moore, Watson Realty Corp.
- Janet Parrish, Navy to Navy Homes LLC
- Goldie Shahan, United Real Estate Gallery
- Ashley Smith, Century 21 Lighthouse Realty
- Morgan Teston, Bass Professional Realty, Inc.
- Sandra Tucker, Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty
- Tiffani Williams, Watson Realty Corp.
- Sarah Young, Exit 1 Stop Realty
