Photograph by Jean Newton
Sharon Butler, who works for Union Planters Mortgage in Los Gatos, was honored as Affiliate of the Year by the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors.
Real Estate Association honors members
What matters most to real estate loan specialist Sharon Butler is helping people become homeowners. In her job at Union Planters Mortgage in Los Gatos, she's extra busy these days with low interest rates spurring refinancing opportunities and with first time buyers entering the market.
"It's a great industry and it's especially rewarding for me to be able to make a profound difference in someone's life. It's really of core importance to be able to get them into a home," said Butler.
Her philosophy is one of the reasons Butler is so respected by her clients. Her volunteer efforts in the community and time spent supporting the real estate industry also makes her highly regarded by her peers. In recognition of her commitment to the real estate industry, Butler recently received the Affiliate of the Year Award from the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors at a special end-of-the year awards ceremony.
"I'm honored, especially considering the quality of the competition with so many worthwhile people. It's phenomenal and humbling," said Butler upon receipt of the award.
Butler credits her daughter, Kymberly Bashaw, who also works with her, for helping to organize and execute many activities during the past year, including a ski trip, old-fashioned country fair picnic and the inaugural event for the organization's new leadership. The efforts of the mother-daughter duo also benefited the community. They initiated a cleanup day, in which the group's members picked up trash in designated areas from Saratoga to Los Gatos, and they were also actively involved in raising funds for the homeless at the recent Home for the Holidays event in Saratoga.
"Sharon Butler is always helping out. She's put in a tremendous amount of work on behalf of Realtors and to support the efforts of the group," said Jeff Barnett, president of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors and vice president of Alain Pinel Realtors in Los Gatos, who presented the award.
Barnett also recognized other association members honored at the event, including Jane Bigelow of Coldwell Banker Los Altos for Realtor of the Year and Susan Tilling of Coldwell Banker Menlo Park as Committee Chair of the Year. David Barca of ziprealty.com and Nancy Goldcamp of Coldwell Banker Palo Alto both received the Community Service Award.
At the association's year-end event, Barnett, who will turn over the top spot at the association to Alicia Tuvell of Coldwell Banker in Los Altos, said the past year was filled with many obstacles for Realtors.
"It was definitely hard to keep on track this year with the recession, dot-com bust, Wall Street woes, the war and hiring a new executive vice president for the organization," said Barnett. "However, in spite of all these obstacles, we accomplished a great deal in moving forward and bringing technology to the forefront."
As one of only 16 members selected for the California Association of Realtors strategic planning committee, Barnett will continue his active involvement within the real estate industry in 2002. Barnett, who was also elected to the National Association of Realtors board of directors and will serve a three-year term, said, "It is important to have the interests of both homeowners and Realtors in Silicon Valley represented at both the national and state levels."
Ron Surace
One of Barnett's challenges during the past year as president of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors was leading the search for a new executive officer when former Executive Vice President Penny Pompei moved to the East Coast. After a nationwide search and interviewing more than 100 candidates, the organization selected Ron Surace, who has extensive experience in leading a commercial/industrial real estate association in Southern California.
"We are extremely pleased to find such experienced leadership, especially in the areas of multiple listing service and real estate forms," Barnett said.
Formerly chief operating officer of the American Industrial Real Estate Association, Surace brings more than 15 years experience in management and expertise in the insurance industry as well as a stint as military officer and community college teacher to the job. His multi-faceted 25-year career also includes the designations of author and poet. He graduated with a B.S. degree from Iowa State University and received his master's from the University of Northern Colorado. Surace and his wife, Mary Jane, are currently house hunting, with plans to move to the area from Ventura County.
Surace will oversee the 3,000-member trade association that serves Realtor and affiliate members in offices from Los Gatos, Saratoga, Cupertino, Sunnyvale, Mountain View and Los Altos in Santa Clara County to Palo Alto, Menlo Park and Atherton in San Mateo County. An information resource for both Realtors and consumers, the association provides ongoing education programs and training, Internet access and online networking as well as mediation services and legislative advocacy.
"My vision for the group is to improve member services," said Surace. "For me it's an opportunity to get into the residential side of the business. I am looking forward to bringing forward my experience in commercial real estate with the main focus of giving our members the services they deserve."
For more information on the association, check out its website at www.siliconvalley-realtors.org.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
