C. Oregon REaltor of the Year named

You might think that the COAR Realtor® of the Year award goes to the highest-selling local Realtor,® but the award isn’t about sales. This annual recognition highlights an industry professional who has displayed exceptional professional values and civic involvement. The 2013 Realtor® of the Year Award went to a woman who has served the real estate community and the city of Bend for over 20 years: Sheree MacRichie.

Sheree first moved to Bend in 1981, where she managed a Pediatrics Clinic before getting her real estate license in 1991. Since then, through hard work, education, and innovation she has been committed to providing top client service, staying on the leading edge of the industry, and volunteering countless hours of service to the local, state and national Realtor organizations, as well as many civic, community and charitable causes.

Sheree first became involved with COAR as the facilitator of the Tuesday morning MLS meeting in Bend—a position she held for two years, while at the same time serving as a MLS Executive Committee Director. Her involvement with MLS encouraged her to continue serving COAR, and she later co-chaired the Professional Standards Committee and served on the state’s Professional Standards Committee.

Continuing her interest in COAR, Sheree served as a COAR Director, and then moved up through the “chairs,” serving as Secretary/Treasurer of COAR in 2008, as President-elect in 2009, and as President of the local Realtor Association, COAR, in 2010. Another year as Immediate Past President followed those years in office.

Attending National Association of Realtors® (NAR) national conventions and the Mid-Year meetings in Washington, D.C., Sheree participated in the “hill visits” with Oregon’s representatives in Congress.

She has embraced the educational opportunities through the Realtor family, and has earned her GRI (Graduate Realtor Institute) designation, her CRS (Certified Residential Specialist) designation, her ABR (Accredited Buyers Representative) designation, and NAR’ “Green” designation.

She has also served and/or volunteered for a number of charitable activities, political commissions and service clubs, including being a member of the Bend Chamber of Commerce since 1984. She served on the Citizens Advisory Committee for the Bend Metro Transportation District, and on the Bend-La Pine School District budget committee. She was a Capital Campaign volunteer for Hospice House, and attended “Leadership Bend” in 2001. She also serves as a member of the Sunrise Village HOA Architectural Review Committee. Sheree is also a member of EDCO, striving to stay on top of the business climate in Central Oregon and the issues facing Bend and our environment.

In 2012 Sheree was honored by ReMax Key Properties as their #1 Broker for that office, #22 Top Broker in the State of Oregon, and #74 Top Broker in the Pacific Northwest Region, attesting to her success as a Realtor.

Sheree is an avid skier, both Nordic and downhill, (even after knee surgery); she’s skied with her family since they were children. For the past two years she’s volunteered for “Ski for Light”, a group that assists blind skiers, giving them the opportunity to enjoy the sport.

The Criteria for selecting a Realtor® of the Year, whether at the Local, State or National, is based on general guidelines developed by the National Association of Realtors:

Realtor® Spirit –Professional Standards, High principles of integrity, adherence to the Realtor® Code of Ethics, and furtherance of the principles of good real estate practice among brokers, agents, and the general public. Civic Activity –participation in civic and service clubs, charitable activities, political commissions, or fraternal or religious groups. Business Accomplishments –Public recognition of business conduct, service to clients, imaginative and creative advertising programs, rehabilitation work, land utilization, etc. Local Association/Board Activity –Local offices held and committee work, special assignments, seminar activity and educational work, membership, and offices State Association Activity –State offices held and/or committee work, attendance and participation in state conventions, directors meetings, and educational conferences. National Association Activity –Attendance at national conventions National offices and committee work, membership, and work in Institutes, Societies, and Councils, attendance at national conventions and directors’ meetings.