Event Coverage
2008 SILVAR Leadership Team Installed, Appreciation Awards Presented
SILVAR's 2008 leadership team was installed on Thursday evening, January 10, at the Sharon Heights Golf & Country Club in Menlo Park. 2006 California Association of REALTORS® President Vince Malta administered the oath of office to SILVAR's 2008 president, Leannah Hunt, while California State Senator for District 11 Joseph Simitian installed SILVAR's 2008 Board of Directors.
Leannah Hunt is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker in Palo Alto. She has been a resident of Palo Alto for 39 years, and is an active leader in both her profession and the community. A Coldwell Banker Premier Agent, Hunt is in the top 1 percent of Coldwell Banker agents nationally. She has 19 years of experience as a Realtor, is a Certified Negotiation Specialist and holds the E-Marketing Specialist Designation. She has been a member of the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors for the past 10 years. Hunt was voted Realtor of the Year in 1999 and is an active member of the California Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors.
Julia Keady, a Realtor with Cashin Company in Palo Alto, is SILVAR's new President-elect. Gerry Lawrence, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker in Los Altos, is treasurer.
In addition to the three lead officers, SILVAR's 2008 Board of Directors includes Mark Burns, past president; John Tripp, Region 9 Chair; Susan Tilling, NAR Director; Tim Alston, Los Gatos/Saratoga District Chair; Tom Cooper, Cupertino/Sunnyvale District Chair; Nadr Essabhoy, Palo Alto District Chair; Nicholas French, Los Altos/Mountain View District Chair; John Gerber, Menlo Park/Atherton District Chair; Brian Thornton, Affiliate Chair; and Jeff Barnett, Jeff Bell, Josie Gambera, David Hunt, Alicia Nuzzo and Toby Vanderbeek, Directors-at-Large.
The event's theme, "An Evening with the Stars," featured music at the cocktail hour provided by Silver Fox Trio, followed by a gourmet dinner. The Honorable Elaine Alquist, California State Senator for District 13, led everyone with the Pledge of Allegiance. 2008 C.A.R. President William E. Brown gave an inspirational talk to all Realtors and affiliates.
Gary Bulanti, SILVAR's 2006 Realtor of the Year, served as Master of Ceremonies. Bulanti introduced special guests, including local government officials from SILVAR's five districts of Menlo Park/Atherton, Palo Alto, Los Altos/Mountain View, Cupertino/Sunnyvale and Los Gatos/Saratoga. Bulanti also recognized the Association's past presidents: Pat Pipkin, Phyllis Carmichael, David Hobson, John Lazar, Nina Yamaguchi, David Barca, Jeff Barnett, Alicia Nuzzo, Judy Ellis, Ron Gates, Willi Krauss, John Tripp and Mark Burns.
On behalf of the membership, Bulanti thanked SILVAR's 2007 leadership, which included the 2007 Board of Directors, led by 2007 President Mark Burns; SILVAR's Charitable Foundation Trust, led by Cindy Luedtke; the PAC Board of Trustees, led by Gene Lentz; PRDS Board of Directors, led by Pete Aiello; and the Scholarship Program Committee, led by Nina Yamaguchi.
The 2007 Appreciation Awards were then presented by Burns and SILVAR Executive Officer Paul Cardus. Three President's Awards, given to SILVAR members who are well-respected by their peers and devoted to the Association, were presented to Jeff Bell, for his outstanding commitment and dedication to the advancement of committee work for the Association; Alice Nuzzo, for being an active member of the Association and the Los Altos community; and posthumously to Fariba Lighvani, for her generosity, commitment and support of the Association's activities.
Burns presented the Spirit of SILVAR award to Carolyn Miller, whom Burns described as "SILVAR's cheerleader," who has been very much involved in district and association events and committees, "for her tireless efforts in representing the Association's interests and promoting SILVAR and organized real estate."
The Affiliate of the Year award went to Gabe Bodner, for his "invaluable assistance as a fantastic advocate for SILVAR affiliates and the Association."
The most coveted award of Realtor of the Year went to Willi Krauss. Krauss, who has served as past president of SILVAR, was described by Burns as "one classy lady, … an inspiration to all SILVAR members, who has contributed her time and talents to SILVAR and its founding associations for over two decades, demonstrating her commitment to improving the Association and SILVAR's communities through service to the schools, to government and the public, without thought of reward or gain."
The evening concluded with dancing to music by the Juke Box Band.
Thank you to Installation Committee members, who helped make the event a huge success: SILVAR Development Director Kelly Dadsetan, Carol Boyden, Lehua Greenman, Leannah Hunt, Connie Montalbano-Hill, Laurel Robinson, Carolyn Schutz, Mickey Shaevitz and David Tonna.
A very special thanks to this year's installation sponsors: Producer ($7,500): Coldwell Banker - SF Peninsula and Silicon Valley; Leading Role;($2,500): Keller Williams - Palo Alto Office; Supporting Role ($1,000): Alain Pinel Realtors (Los Gatos Office and Almaden Office), Palo Alto District Members and Wells Fargo Home Mortgage - Palo Alto Office; Cast ($500): Allied Brokers Insurance and Ann Timoney (Opes Advisors), Kent Westerberg (Atwood, Haiman & Westerberg) and Los Gatos/Saratoga District Members; and Crew ($250): Absolute Mortgage Banking, Adamarc Financial Company, Anne Griffin (Princeton Capital), Caroline Wolf (Princeton Capital), Donn Kinne ( Princeton Capital), Elizabeth Everitt ( Princeton Capital), Franz Termite, J & M Termite Control, Inc., John Kemmer ( Farmers Insurance Group), Morton & Associates - Certified Public Accountants and Palo Alto Affiliate Bank.
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.