Memphis Area Realtors Names New Team At Gala Memphis Realtors field new team for 2001 By MARY DANDO The Daily News The new millennium blew in with cold, wintry days, but the 2001 inaugural gala of the Memphis Area Association of Realtors was warm with congratulations all around for its new officers and board members. Fontaine Taylor of Coleman-Etter was sworn in as the associations new president. Members of the 2001 MAAR board of directors also were installed during the ceremony before the festivities began. "The real estate business as we know it is changing very fast. The changes are happening now and we must prepare our members," Taylor said. Stressing involvement, communication and education, Taylor emphasized the importance of reaching out to all MAAR members, including those in outlying counties and those in the commercial industry. Outgoing MAAR president Pat Beech will now be involved in the political side of the association, R-PAC. Beech said she would be involved in collecting money for political action on behalf of Realtors. "We support the issues that support the Realtors. We dont support political candidates because of their political affiliation. We support only those individuals that support Realtors," she said. Several members of MAAR were honored at the inaugural gala for their contributions to the association and community. Lita Hilton of West Tennessee Properties was named MAARs Realtor of the Year. Wendy Turner of Southern Properties was recognized as the MAAR Realtor-Associate of the Year. Donna McComas of Financial Federal Savings Bank received the 2000 Affiliate of the Year award. Hilton, Realtor of the Year, was honored for her continued involvement in MAAR. Hilton has been a member of the association since the late 70s. She holds the designations as a Graduate of the Realtor Institute and is a certified residential specialist as well as being a life member of the Multi-Million Dollar Club. She has also served on the MAAR and the Tennessee Association of Realtors board of directors and has been active with the National Association of Realtors. Hilton has also been very involved in her community. She is past president of the Millington Chamber of Commerce, its first woman president and Person of the Year by that chamber. She is also past president of the Millington Environmental Improvement Commission. Hilton is a member of the Millington Business and Professional Womens Club, serves as a director for a local bank and is a past president of the Millington-Tipton Realty Group. "It was such a surprise when they named me as Realtor of the Year. It is such an honor to be chosen by your peers," she said. Hilton is partner with her husband, Zeke, in West Tennessee Properties based in Millington. With 12 other real estate agents, Hilton said they were a "pretty diversified group" selling houses in Millington, Tipton County, Barlett, Raleigh, Frayser and Germantown. Hilton is particularly pleased this years Vesta Home Show will be in Millington. "Everyone thinks when the Navy base left Millington everything died but thats not the case. The Bureau of Navy Personnel moved in here and theyre a different type of Navy," she said. She has seen a tremendous growth in home sales in Millington. "The lowest price for a home in Millington now would be $85,000," she said. She pointed to the Vesta Show as an example, with homes beginning around $215,000 and going above $300,000. Being selected as Realtor of the Year does not require any duties during the coming year. "Its just absolutely an honor thats bestowed on you for the past things you have done. I love MAAR, I love working with them and I love working in the community," she said. Realtor-Associate of the Year Wendy Turner has been a member of MAAR for 12 years. She has been active in many MAAR projects, including the Youth Villages 5K Run and Habitat for Humanity. Turner is also a life member of the Multi-Million Dollar Club and serves on the clubs board of directors. MAAR Affiliate of the Year Donna McComas has been an active association member for many years and has been involved in residential lending since the mid 1980s. McComas is a former business professor at Arkansas State University and has written three college level business communications textbooks. McComas is probably best known as chairman of the Downtown Neighborhood Association Home Tour. She also served as president of the Harbor Town Garden Club. Other MAAR officers installed at the inaugural gala event include: Bayard Snowden, Wilkenson & Snowden, first vice president; Joel Hobson III, The Hobson Co., second vice president; Frank Donato, RE/MAX Elite of Memphis, secretary/treasurer; and John Criswell, Crye-Leike, Realtors, president-elect. Directors of the 2001 MAAR board installed at the gala were Phoebe Burks of Crye-Leike, Realtors; Dianne George of Home Realty Co.; Jane Hubbard of Reid Realtors; Lawrence Johnson of Lawrence Johnson Realtors; Tom King of the Bill King Co.; Kathy McMath of Crye-Leike, Realtors; Patty Rainey of McWaters & Associates; and Josie Robinson of Preferred Realtors.