Sandra Thomas chosen as Realtor of the Year

2022 officers installed

By Ethan Nahté

The Mena Area Board of Realtors (MABR) recently held their annual Christmas Banquet at the Mena Mountain Resort, where they conducted their 2022 officer installation and presented the Top Realtor awards. Sandra Thomas was selected as the MABR 2021 REALTOR®-of-the-Year and was awarded with a plaque.

Hershel Bell, realtor with Holly Springs Real Estate and past president of MABR, said, “Sandra Thomas was our realtor of the year, in part because she is on two state realtor committees, she’s heavily involved in the state association and she serves on two boards. She has also had several designations above just getting a real estate license. She’s traveled across the state taking classes to further her education and she’s very nice to work with, so we thought she was a great candidate.”

The REALTOR®-of-the-Year award is an annual peer award of the Arkansas REALTORS® Association granted to the one REALTOR® who best exemplifies the REALTOR® spirit. It is based on criteria set by the National Association of REALTORS® and includes business accomplishments, community service, activity in the local, state and national REALTOR® organizations, and adherence to the Golden Rule in all life situations.

The 2022 Officers and Directors installation by the MABR Nominating Committee resulted as follows:

President – Rachel Lance

President Elect – Amanda Warrington

Secretary – Marion Titsworth

Treasurer – Le-Ann Holmes Director (through 2022)

Current Director (to be replaced by Board of Directors at the Sept. meeting) – Amanda Warrington

Director (through 2022) – Don Brewer

Director (through 2023) – Sandra Thomas

Past President – Hershel Bell

MABR also was recognized for their involvement and support of the Special Olympics Arkansas (SOAR). According to SOAR, “The relationship Special Olympics Arkansas has with Arkansas Realtors dates back to 1985. They contribute both volunteers and funds. Realtors host numerous events year-round that benefit Special Olympics Arkansas. Throughout the years the Arkansas Realtors Association has raised over 2 million dollars for Special Olympics Arkansas.”

MABR received two awards from the Special Olympics, one for the most dollars raised per member and one for the most dollars raised for a small board, up to 100 members.

Nancy Wright of RE/MAX said, “A lot of our local fundraising was due to our Special Olympics auction we hold each year, and Diana Dugan, 2021 SO chair, who did monthly fundraisers.”

MABR raised a total $9,416, just shy of 5% of the total raised by the entire association, which raised $200,000.

The total raised per Mena member was $165.19. MABR’s closest competitor was Paragould, raising $95.90 per member.

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