BMAR: The board's reputation continues to be impeccable

The Bronx Residential and Commercial Investment Forum tookplace on June 15th and 16th at the Hutch Metro Center. This was the first event conducted in cooperation with the BOEDC and Bronx Chamber of Commerce. The Commercial Investment Forum on Friday was by all accounts a huge success. We had a capacity crowd and significant media coverage. I was joined by incoming president, Richard Guarino; forum committee members, Sandra Erickson and Danielle Erickson, Kathy Zamechansky, Ellen Feld, Maxine Mears Clarke, and Christina Taylor; and members of our board of governors. The caliber of speakers was superb and included among others, the president of online grocer Fresh direct. Kathy Zamechanskydid a marvelous job of moderating the event. Her intimate knowledge of the commercial investment universe was ever apparent. The feedback we received was extremely positive, with high marks for the panelists and the venue. Saturday was equally well executed and our speakers did a terrific job. I commend Ellen Feld, Maxine Mears Clarke, Christina Taylor, and Sonny Vataj for their outstanding presentations, and choice of speakers. Ellen Feld was an excellent spokeswoman on the value of using a Realtor. The interest from the participants was highand we will be working on ways to publicize the event to attract a larger audience in the future. I am hopeful that we will continue to work with the BOEDC and the Bronx Chamber of Commerce on providing educational and professionally fulfilling events for our members and the public. The election of the 2013 officers and new governor members held earlier this month will provide leadership and continuity for the association and real estate industry. The board's reputation continues to be impeccable and is evident with additional members that will be serving on the board of governors. My term serving as president of this distinguished association will be completed on August 31st. I am grateful for the tremendous support from my leadership team, past presidents, governor members,CEO Nunzio Del Greco and our staff for what has been a terrific year for me. I have grown up around the Realtor organization, and began attending state meetings with my father as soon as I was able to walk. It has been a great honor to serve as your president over the past year, and it is hard for me to believe that a year has passed. Nunzio reminded me that as a past-president, I get to join the senior council. I don't quite feel "senior" yet, but I have good company and look forward to joining my friends, Matt Engel, Mark Engel, Sandra Erickson, PerryGault, Virginia Gallagher, BillySchur,Susan Goldy, and my father Michael Schmelzer, who remain active as past presidents of our Association. I would also like to thank our CEO Nunzio Del Greco, Janine Schall, Diane Nogueras, and Grace Rivera for making all of the events and meetings run smoothly and professionally. As a NYSAR RPAC trustee I will continue to update you on the political races and candidates that support Realtor issues. It has been a pleasure and honor to serve as your president. I am confident that Richard Guarino as the incoming president of the board and the 2013 officers will provide solid leadership and continuity for the association and real estate industry into the future. Matthew Schmelzer is the 2012 president of the Bronx-Manhattan North Association of Realtors (BMAR) and executive vice president of Tryax Realty Management, Inc., Great Neck, N.Y.