2012 Annual Banquet award recipients selected

By Nunzio Del Greco, RCE The banquet committee coordinating the 88th Annual Banquet celebration unanimously selected the 2012 Award Recipients to be recognized at the formal event scheduled for April 25, at the Marina del Rey Caterers, Bronx. The Annual Banquet is a well known industry networking event for professionals active in the business and real estate community. The Annual Banquet is a Black Tie function major networking and fundraising event. The association unites the real estate industry and business community. Hundreds of members, companies, and friends throughout the N.Y. metro region attend the excellent event to network and renew old friendships. An impressive group of industry business and elected officials will be in attendance as Dais Guests. Networking cocktail hour begins at 5:30 p.m. followed by the program and formal dinner at 7 p.m. The Heritage Award was created in 2011 to recognize a firm or company active in the real estate industry for multiple generations. The committee unanimously selected "The Yasgur, Gershenov, Diamond, Laub, & Rosenberg families to receive the 2012 Heritage Award. William Schur, banquet committee chairperson announced the other Annual Banquet Award Recipients. They are: * Distinguished Service Award: Billy Schur, BMAR past-president * Realtor of the Year: Matthew Engel, 2010-2011 president * Realtor Associate of the Year: Edward Meltser, Goodman Management * Affiliate Member of the Year: Jason Lieberman, DEC Copiers * Institutional Member of the Year: Scott Swerdlin, Capital One Bank * Community Leadership Award: Marlene Cintron, BOEDC Matthew Schmelzer, 2012 president of the board said, "We will be announcing the Key Note Speaker soon for the 2012 Banquet. Prior speakers included: mayor Michael Bloomberg; mayor Rudolph Giuliani; former first lady and senator of the U.S. Hillary Clinton; congressman Charles Schumer now senator; governor Nelson Rockefeller; U.S. senator Jacob Javitz; mayor John Lindsay; secretary of state Hon. Randy Daniels; U.S. attorney general Robert Kennedy; N.Y.C. comptroller William Thompson, Jr.; N.Y.C. police commissioner Raymond Kelly; Bronx borough president Adolfo Carrion; Ruben Diaz, Jr.; Sandy Treadwell, secretary of state for New York and Dominic Chianese "Uncle Junior" of the Sopranos and others. The 2012 Banquet will also honor members for their years of service to the organization. They are: 40 Years: Joel Fishman, Joel T. Fishman & Associates; 30 Years: Susan Goldy, Halstead Property Riverdale LLC-The Susan Goldy Team; Ron Garfunkel, Service Directions, Inc.; Harry Bajraktari, Bajraktari Realty Group LLC; 25 Years: Jim Lewis CPA; Peter Jude Collins, Property Appraisal Services, Inc.; 20 Years: Michael Harbater, CS Brown Co., Inc.; Richard Evans, Property Appraisal Services, Inc.; Richard Anastasio, Property Appraisal Services, Inc.; Philip Parker, The Mortgage Man; Fred Canzone, Canzone Plaster & Tile; Richie Berk, Artcraft Architectural Window Systems; Kenneth Friedman, Friedman Management Corp.; Larry Samsky, Skyline Appraisals, Inc.; and Anthony Monaco, Monaco & Ranisi Realty Corp. There are discounts for advanced paid reservations. For reservations or more information on the 88th Annual Banquet, please contact Janine Schall at (718) 892-3000, (212) 242-4343 or email: [email protected]. BMAR services professionals and companies throughout the N.Y.C. area including: licensed real estate brokers and agents; multi-dwelling property owners; building service vendors and suppliers; unlicensed property managers; attorneys; appraisers; banks; mortgage companies; fuel service and energy companies; title and abstract companies; insurance companies and insurance brokers; contractors and other companies servicing the industry and business community. Founded in 1924, BMAR is the local chapter for the NYS Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors, Inc. BMAR has a rich history with an extraordinary culture of inclusiveness, camaraderie, successful and dynamic business professionals. This fact is very evident since many of our members are 3rd or 4th generation of active companies in the organization. For more information on BMAR membership, contact Grace Rivera at (212) 242-4343; (718) 892-3000 or email: [email protected]. Nunzio Del Greco, RCE is the CEO of the Bronx-Manhattan North Association of Realtors, Bronx, N.Y.