Garafalo installed as 2019 president Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors

White Plains, NY The Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors (HGAR) welcomes Ron Garafalo, sales manager with John Lease Realtors in Middletown, as its 2019 president. Renee Zurlo, regional manager with BHG Rand Realty in Central Valley, was re-elected as the 2019 president of the Hudson Gateway Multiple Listing Service (HGMLS). Zurlo has served as the HGMLS president for the past three years.

Garafalo and Zurlo, along with the executive officers and directors of HGAR and HGMLS, were officially installed in their new positions at the Falkirk Estate & Country Club in Central Valley on January 17th.  More than 250 people from the lower Hudson Valley attended.

“I’m so excited to welcome Ron Garafalo as our new 2019 HGAR president and wish him much success,” said Richard Haggerty, HGAR CEO.  “Ron has been involved with our Association for many years and we’re looking forward to working with him in this new role in the coming year.  I’m also delighted to welcome back Renee Zurlo as our HGMLS president for the third time.”

In addition to the new HGAR president, the 2019 HGAR executive officers installed include: Gail Fattizzi of Westchester Real Estate Inc. in Somers as president-elect for 2020; Irene Guanill of Meet the Sellers in the Bronx, as treasurer; Crystal Hawkins Syska of Keller Williams New York Realty in White Plains, as secretary; and Barry Kramer of Westchester Choice Realty, Inc. in Scarsdale, as immediate past president. 

New regional directors include:  Tony D’Anzica of Dynamax Realty NYC, Inc. in Manhattan as regional director, New York County; Clayton Livingston of Rand Commercial in White Plains, as regional director, Putnam County; Eydie Lopez of Keller Williams Hudson Valley United in Middletown, as regional director, Orange County; Roberta Bangs of BHG Rand Realty in New City, as regional director, Rockland County; and Aimee DeCesare of RE/MAX Distinguished Homes & Properties in Bronxville, as regional director, Westchester County.

Garafalo has enjoyed a real estate career for almost 20 years, following many successful years in corporate sales and management.  He quickly became a director with the former Orange County Association of Realtors (OCAR) and later, president of OCAR. Garafalo was an owner of Real Estate United, in Middletown, before joining John Lease Realtors.

Today he manages an office with more than 40 agents and is also a New York State certified real estate instructor. He teaches classes for HGAR at its Goshen location, with courses including Ethics, Fair Housing and Licensing.

Zurlo has been in real estate for almost 25 years and currently oversees five BHG Rand offices and 250 agents in Orange County.  Like Garafalo, she was also an owner of Real Estate United in Middletown before joining BHG Rand.  Zurlo also serves on HGAR’s Professional Standards Committee and is a NYS Certified Real Estate Instructor. In addition, Zurlo was honored as HGAR’s “Realtor of the Year” for 2018.