Event Coverage
2016 SILVAR Leadership Team Installed
The 2016 SILVAR leadership team was installed Thursday night at La Rinconada Country Club in Los Gatos. California Association of REALTORS® 2013 President Don Faught administered the oath of office to SILVAR's new president, officers and board of directors. C.A.R. 2005 President Jim Hamilton served as master of ceremonies and welcomed about 180 members and guests to the special event. Alain Pinel Realtors Vice President/Regional Manager Jeff Barnett led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance and delivered the inspiration message.
Karen Trolan, a REALTOR®, broker and assistant manager of the Alain Pinel Realtors Los Gatos office, was installed as 2016 President; Denise Welsh, a REALTOR® with Alain Pinel Realtors, Los Altos, President-elect; and Phyllis Carmichael, a REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Los Altos, Treasurer.
Joining SILVAR's lead officers as this year's board directors are Chris Isaacson (Coldwell Banker), past president; David Tonna (Alain Pinel Realtors), Region 9 Chair; Brett Caviness (Coldwell Banker), Menlo Park/Atherton District Chair; Amy Sung (Pacific Union International Real Estate), Palo Alto District Chair; Katherine Frey (Alain Pinel Realtors), Los Altos/Mountain View District Chair; David Hunt (W.A. Krauss & Co. Property Management), Cupertino/Sunnyvale District Chair; Suzanne Yost (Alain Pinel Realtors), Los Gatos/Saratoga District Chair; and Directors At-large Jeff Bell (Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage), Davena Gentry (Sereno Group), Eileen Giorgi (Sereno Group), Gene Lentz (Keller Williams Realty), Cassie Maas (Aain Pinel Realtors), Ryan Nunnally (Alain Pinel Realtors); and Affiliate Chair, Eric Temple (Willow Glen Organics).
Trolan is a Los Gatos resident and has been a REALTOR® and broker for 30 years. She began her real estate career with Van Vleck Realtors and continued on with Cornish & Carey and later Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. From top agent, Trolan moved up the ranks quickly to vice president and manager of the Cornish & Carey's Palo Alto Midtown office, vice president/managing broker for the Los Altos office, and finally, when Coldwell Banker bought Cornish and Carey, Trolan was named senior vice president and regional manager of Silicon Valley Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.
Despite suffering severe injuries from a tragic airplane accident in 2009 that left her paralyzed from waist down, Trolan through sheer perseverance and hard work went back to doing most of the activities she did before the accident. In April 2011, Trolan joined the Alain Pinel Realtors Los Gatos office, where she is currently assistant manager, responsible for agent improvement, community involvement and other special projects.
A strong supporter of organized real estate, Trolan has served as president-elect for SILVAR (2015), chair of SILVAR's Los Gatos/Saratoga District, and as a California Association of REALTORS® Region 9 Director. Before that, she was a board director for PenWest (1995, 1996), president of the Los Altos Board of Realtors (1994), president-elect of the Los Altos Board of Realtors (1993) and Palo Alto Board of Realtors (1990).
In her address to members, Trolan said she is passionate about bringing SILVAR's broker community together with stronger cooperation. "We can do that by focusing on gaining more knowledge through our education, improving our ethical standards by helping each other do the right thing, and strengthening our professionalism," she told members.
SILVAR's 2016 president also urged members to avail of SILVAR opportunities to learn and improve in business, ethics, cultures, sales, time management, self-motivation and other topics. "These efforts turn us towards the improvement of our respect and reputation out in the public. We are only as good as the agent that a client meets. Let's work together to help the public understand that we are here to serve, professionally and ethically! They need us. … We are the heart of Silicon Valley! Together we make a difference!" said Trolan
During the evening members and guests paid tribute to the late John Tripp, SILVAR National Association of REALTORS® Director and past president, who passed away December 27, 2015. Hamilton noted Tripp "epitomized SILVAR at its best" and he will truly be missed.
Special guests at the installation gala included representatives from neighboring associations and public officials, including Santa Clara County Assessor Larry Stone and Los Gatos Mayor Barbara Spector.
The following Installation Sponsors were also acknowledged for their generous support in making the evening a success. SILVAR thanks this year's installation sponsors: Alain Pinel Realtors, Sereno Group, MLSListings Inc., Supra, EverBank – Erika Brown, The SILVAR Districts of Los Gatos/Saratoga, Cupertino/Sunnyvale, Los Altos/Mountain Palo Alto and Menlo Park/Atherton, Private Mortgage Advisors – Jamie Myers, Pacific Union, Princeton Capital – Dennis Greene and TourFactory – Darrell Monda.
Photo Gallery
The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 4,000 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. SILVAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in Silicon Valley.
The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.
For further information, please email or call the SILVAR office at (408) 200-0100.