The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) has elected three officers to lead its New York Residential Specialist (NYRS) masters program. Shirley Hackel of Warburg Realty, and Frank Russo of Halstead Property have been elected committee co-chairs, and Sarah Orlinsky of Brown Harris Stevens has been elected secretary. First awarded in 2007, REBNY's NYRS designation recognizes top agents in the city. As the highest professional credential in residential sales, it identifies those qualified brokers who have successfully completed an advanced graduate program designed specifically for the nuances of the New York City market. The leadership changes will enable the NYRS program to continue to take on the challenges of maintaining course standards, creating benefits for graduates and also raising awareness among consumers and brokers about the advantages of working with a NYRS-certified professional. "We congratulate Shirley, Frank and Sarah and look forward to their leadership," said outgoing Committee Chair Alan Pfeifer. "The NYRS program will benefit greatly from their knowledge, insights and professionalism." The NYRS Masters Series, designed by brokers for brokers, covers real estate law, macro-economics, commercial real estate, ethics, negotiation, marketing, and technology. Each semester, the curriculum is revised to reflect changing market conditions and emerging issues. Agents enrolled in the NYRS spring semester will graduate on April 11, 2011, bringing the number of NYRS brokers to nearly 200. The NYRS fall semester will begin September 26, 2011. Contact Indi Jaipal at [email protected] to register. The Real Estate Board of New York is the city's leading real estate trade association with more than 12,000 members. REBNY represents major commercial and residential property owners and builders, brokers and managers, banks, financial service companies, utilities, attorneys, architects, contractors and other individuals and institutions professionally interested in the city's real estate. REBNY is involved in crucial municipal matters including tax policy, city planning and zoning, rental conditions, land use policy, building codes and legislation. In addition, REBNY publishes reports providing indicators of market prices for both the residential and commercial sectors.