Eunice L. Burns Environmental Awareness Awards
Eunice L. Burns Environmental Awareness Awards
The Eunice L. Burns Environmental Awareness Awards are presented by the Ann Arbor Area Board of REALTORS® to Washtenaw County individuals, organizations, or businesses who are proactive on environmental issues including:
• Using products that contain recycled materials or energy saving-qualities
• Taking steps to clean up environmental problems
• Developing innovative recycling or reuse programs
• Restoration and remodeling efforts that promote historical preservation and reuse materials
Congratulations to the 2022 Recipient!
The 2022 Eunice L. Burns Environmental Awareness Award was given to Barry Lonik. About Barry: He has led the effort to establish the model farmland and natural area protection programs in Washtenaw County for nearly 30 years, some of the most successful in Michigan. Barry started the Legacy Land Conservancy and served as its first executive director for six and a half years, developing it into an effective nonprofit organization.
He has been involved with ten ballot campaigns—nine of which won—that will raise almost $200 million of public funds for the acquisition of land and conservation easements. He is currently president of Treemore Ecology and Land Services, Inc., consulting with nonprofits, local governments, private landowners and conservation buyers toward the protection of natural and agricultural lands.
Through Barry’s direct involvement, nearly 8,000 acres of land have been permanently protected in and around Washtenaw County, and he has attracted over $16 million of state and federal matching grants for farmland protection.
Resources:
Ann Arbor Greenbelt Millage
Township land preservation programs:
Webster Twp. Farmland and Open Space Board
Ann Arbor Charter Twp. Farmland and Open Space Board
Ann Arbor Twp. Protected Properties Map
Scio Twp. Land Preservation Commission
Purchase of Development Rights:
Preserving Farmland and Open Space
For more information on his work, please visit: https://farmsfortomorrow.org/guests/barry-lonik/
Past Environmental Awareness Award Recipients
1997 - Mallet's Wood: Efficient use of land.
1998 - Sunward CoHousing: Efficient use of land.
1999 - Huron Valley Watershed Council: Adopt a Stream Program.
1999 - Ed Shaffran: ReUse of buildings.
2000 - ReUse Center: Recycling efforts.
2000 - EnHouse Recycle Ann Arbor: Green building demonstration.
2001 - Habitat for Humanity
2002 - Buhr Park Children's Wet Meadow Project: Wetland preservation.
2003 - Mallet's Creek Library: Environmental friendly building practices.
2005 - Barry Wallace: Lifelong commitment to keeping Washtenaw County drinking water pure.
2005 - Cardea Construction: Green renovation of home at 1515 South Maple.
2006 - The Conlin Company: Reduction of paved parking areas in Scio Village Condominiums.
2006 - The University of Michigan School of Natural Resources: Green renovation of building.
2007 - Mayor John Hiefje: Environmental friendly policies.
2007 - Robyn Angle: Green construction of Clearlake home.
2008 - Big George's Appliance Mart: Green construction of new store on Stadium Boulivard.
2009 - Gordon Hall
2009 - The Cedars
2010 - Architectural Resources, LLC: Embracing green initiatives in her work as a REALTOR.
2010 - Meadowlark Builders: Their reuse, recycling, and energy efficient practices.
2011 - Laura Shope: Embracing green initiatives in her work in real estate.
2011 - Habitate for Humanity Huron Valley.
2012 - Matt & Kelly Grocoff, GreenovationTV.com
2012 - First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor
2013 - Matt & Rene Greff, Arbor Brewing Company
2013 - The Betty Brigade
2014 - Urban Energy Works, LLC
2014 - The Village of Dexter
2015- Ann Arbor Learning Community
2015 - City of Ann Arbor Greenbelt District Program and Green Things Farm
2016 - Urban Ashes
2017 - Faith in Action and Alex Young of Zingerman's Roadhouse & Cornman Farms
2018 - Happy Planet Running and Barbara Lucas, The Green Room, WEMU
2019 - The Ann Arbor Public Schools and South Arbor Charter Academy
2020 - Richard Andres & Deb Lentz, owners of Tantre Farm and Washtenaw Food Hub
2021 - 3Mission Partners
2022 - Barry Lonik
AAABoR Committees
AAABoR® is committed to providing the programs and services you need to be successful. Member input is critical to a strong organization. Serving on a committee will give you a voice in the discussions that guide decisions.
Click to see the 2022 AAABoR Committees
The Community Involvement Committee will identify opportunities for the Board and members to support community organizations and housing related activities.
Staff Liaison: Katharine Joyce
Google Website: https://sites.google.com/aaabor.com/community
The Education Committee reviews and recommends classes, seminars, and continuing education.
Staff Liaison: Angella O'Keefe.
Google Website: https://sites.google.com/aaabor.com/edu
The Finance/Investment Committee reviews financial reports and makes budget, policy and investment recommendations to the Board of Directors.
Staff Liaison: Lica Kwofie
Google Website: https://sites.google.com/aaabor.com/finance
The Governmental Affairs Committee works to promote the importance of the REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC), fundraises for RPAC, creates awareness of legislation affecting the real estate industry, and makes candidate endorsement recommendations.
Staff Liaison: Angella O'Keefe
Google Website: https://sites.google.com/aaabor.com/gov
The Grievance Committee meets as needed to review complaints alleging Code of Ethics violations and requests for arbitration.
Staff Liaison: Tom Renkert
The MLS Committee reviews and recommends MLS policy, rules and regulations and MLS products and services.
Staff Liaison: Eric Rolfe
Google Website: https://sites.google.com/aaabor.com/mls
The Strategic Planning Committee is an advisory committee whose charge includes evaluating short and long term strategies that add value to AAABoR membership while at the same time generating alternative revenue streams needed for the sustainability of the association.
Staff Liaison: Christine Paga
Google Webiste: https://sites.google.com/aaabor.com/ndr
Future MLS Advisory Group Committee is an advisory committee whose charge includes evaluating the future of our MLS system and making recommendations to the Board of Directors.
Staff Liaison: Tom Renkert
Google Webiste: https://sites.google.com/aaabor.com/tech
Young Professionals Network Committee brings together fellow "young at heart," like-minded professionals for networking and insight into the real estate industry.
Staff Liaison: Christine Paga
Google Webiste: https://sites.google.com/aaabor.com/ypn
Welcome
Office Hours: 8:30am - 4:30pm Mon - Fri
If you need any assistance or help, our team is available over the phone or in the office Monday - Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm. Curbside pick-up/drop-off is available by appointment. Please call (734) 761-7340 to schedule your appointment.
About Us
The Ann Arbor Area Board of Realtors® is the Trade Association for the Washtenaw County, Michigan REALTORS. Established in 1919, the Ann Arbor Area Board of Realtors has grown from 20 REALTOR® members to over 1,000 REALTORS® and Affiliate members today. The mission of the Ann Arbor Area Board of Realtors is to strengthen our REALTOR® community through advocacy, collaboration, education, innovation and civic engagement.The Ann Arbor Area Board of Realtors® promotes standards of REALTOR professionalism, ethics and integrity; provides tools and technology to enhance membership profitability; communicates REALTOR viewpoints on private property issues to government officials; and markets the value of REALTORSto members of the public.(*The term REALTOR is a registered mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the world’s largest trade association, the National Association of REALTORS, and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.)
REALTOR® of the Year
The REALTOR® of the Year award is given to a REALTOR® who has made a commitment to contribution to their community, clients and the local and state REALTOR® Associations.
2022 REALTOR® of the Year
Chrissie Geaorge
Trillium Real Estate
This year’s award recipient cares deeply about the experiences her clients have throughout their transactions. She knows that the relationships she creates with other REALTORS® help to ensure positive sales experiences. She appreciates the inherent guide the REALTOR® Code of Ethics provides and works diligently to make certain her work reflects that Code.
The REALTOR® of the Year believes supporting our local association provides an opportunity to create a fair, honest and professional marketplace that can support REALTORS® working to build fulfilling, community-based businesses. In various roles throughout the past ten years, she has worked hard to help the association serve the membership to the best of its abilities.
She has served the board in many roles including five years as an MLS Committee member, with a year each as its Vice Chair and Chair, currently serving on the Finance Committee since 2016 (including serving as Vice Chair and Chair), a member of the Non-Dues Revenue/Strategic Planning Committee since 2020, and a member of the Board of Directors for eight years including serving as Treasurer and President. She has attended various state and national REALTOR® association events.
Since 2016, our award winner has been a speaker for and frequently involved with Mott Children's Hospital’s Perinatal, Infant and Reproductive Loss (P.I.R.L) Committee.
In anticipation of the Supreme Court's decision to legalize marriage in 2015, she co-hosted a fundraiser and information event “S.C.O.T.U.S. or Bust!” which included political participants within our local, state and federal governments. Much of the professional/political involvement was coordinated through her brokerage. The event raised significant financial gifts and awareness.
She is an Ann Arbor SPARK Annual meeting attendee and a member of The Ark. Her passion for her work and service to her clients is well known within her broad community.
We are thrilled to present the 2022 REALTOR® of the Year Award to Chrissie George of Trillium Real Estate!
Who's Who of Past REALTORS® of the Year
Ann Arbor Area Board of REALTORS®
1986 - 2019
| Year | Name | Year | Name | Year | Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1986 |
Jean Willing |
1998 |
Michelle Derr |
2010 |
Vance Shutes |
|
1987 |
William Cornish |
1999 |
LaTanya Keith |
2011 |
Joe Peoples |
|
1988 |
Bev Sikorski |
2000 |
William Miliken |
2012 |
Alex Milshteyn |
|
1989 |
William Kinley |
2001 |
Susan Snyder |
2013 |
None |
|
1990 |
Edward Surovell |
2002 |
Dennis Pearsall |
2014 |
Linda Lombardini |
|
1991 |
Jeff Stabnau |
2003 |
Paul Frisinger |
2015 |
Kay Merx |
|
1992 |
Rick Jarzembowski |
2004 |
Peter M. Cornell |
2016 |
Jodie Franklin |
|
1993 |
Eunice Burns |
2005 |
Helen Corey |
2017 |
Tonya Ireland |
|
1994 |
Robert Andrus |
2006 |
Pat Williams |
2018 |
Todd Lands |
|
1995 |
James Anderson |
2007 |
Sandi Smith |
2019 |
Matt Miller |
| 1996 | David Lutton | 2008 | Laura Dykstra |
2020 |
Laurie Buys |
| 1997 | Dawn Foerg | 2009 | Mary Helen Gilbert (in memoriam) | 2021 | Megan Mazurek |
Ann Arbor Board of REALTORS®
1967 - 1985
| Year | Name | Year | Name | Year | Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1967 |
Robert Davis |
1974 |
John Swisher, Jr. |
1980 |
David Gillies |
|
1968 |
Charles Reinhart |
1975 |
Richard Caldwell |
1981 |
Carl Brauer, Jr. |
|
1969 |
Ruth Hobbs |
1976 |
Robert Thornton, Jr. |
1982 |
Bart Hamilton |
|
1970 |
Fred Eibler |
1976 |
George Fahmie |
1983 |
Peter Cornell |
|
1972 |
Lawrence Larson |
1977 |
Carolyn Lewis |
1984 |
Randolph White |
|
1973 |
Warren McLean |
1978 |
Jerry Klein |
1985 |
Robert Thornton, Jr. |
|
|
|
1979 |
Janice Caldwell |
|
|
Ypsilanti Board of REALTORS®
1967 - 1985
| Year | Name | Year | Name | Year | Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1967 |
Maurice Obermeyer |
1974 |
Wendell Barnes |
1980 |
David Hamilton |
|
1969 |
Ruth Murray |
1975 |
|
1981 |
William Cornish |
|
1970 |
Harold Lawson |
1976 |
John Simpkins |
1982 |
Allen Elmer |
|
1971 |
Norman Abercrombie |
1977 |
Gerard Elmer |
1983 |
Larry Collins |
|
1972 |
Keith Metty |
1978 |
David Simpkins |
1984 |
Franklin McVeigh |
|
1973 |
Lucille Compton |
1979 |
Marion Starwas |
1985 |
Patricia Ballard |
Affiliate of the Year
The Affiliate of the Year award is given to an affiliate member who provides significant contributions and outstanding service to the Ann Arbor Area Board of REALTORS®. Recipients are nominated by their peers and elected by past award recipients.
2022 Affiliate of the Year
First Merchants Bank
This year’s award recipient supports his community through volunteer work. He recently served for three consecutive years as the Lead/Chair for the Ann Arbor Rotary Club’s largest annual fundraiser, the Golf and Tennis Outing & Auction and has sponsored and participated in Washtenaw County’s American Heart Association, “Heart Walk”. He is in his fourth year serving in a volunteer position with his company’s Community Engagement Committee and in his fifth year as the elected Finance Council Chair for his local church and parish.
This member, who is in his twenty-second year as a mortgage banking professional, focuses on availability to his clients and professional referral partners. Working with many local REALTORS® comes naturally for him having grown up in a local real estate family. In 2021, he was recognized by his company as the top producing loan officer in both units and volume and was recently asked to present at the First Merchants Bank National Annual Sales Meeting.
Our award winner proudly supports RPAC and recently completed a two-year term as the elected Affiliate Director for the Ann Arbor Area Board or REALTORS®.
We are thrilled to present the Affiliate of the Year Award to John Simpkins of First Merchants Bank.
Who's Who of Past Affiliates of the Year
Ann Arbor Area Board of REALTORS®
1988 - 2020
| Year | Name | Year | Name | Year | Name |
| 1988 | Ken Collica | 1999 | Thomas McLinden | 2010 | Teresa Myers |
| 1989 | 2000 | Scott Broshar | 2011 | Christy Perros | |
| 1990 | Gary Selesko | 2001 | Gary Selesko | 2012 | Kitty Rose |
| 1991 | Patricia Suggitt | 2002 | Debra Ellison | 2013 | William Smith |
| 1992 | Bill Holmes | 2003 | Michael Hobercht | 2014 | Sharon McRill |
| 1993 | Ira Mark | 2004 | Thomas Richardson | 2015 | Constance Pearson-Ramirez |
| 1994 | Richard Stuber | 2005 | Greg Ottaviani | 2016 | Jeremy Shaffer |
| 1995 | Ron Fletcher | 2006 | Kristy Haborian | 2017 | |
| 1996 | Mary Wiseman | 2007 | Nancy Burger | 2018 | Monica Juleff |
| 1997 | Marcia Major | 2008 | Cindy Reach | 2019 | Rebecca Brooks |
| 1998 | 2009 | Jeff Fletcher | 2020 | Carrie Aeschliman | |
| 2021 | Amanda Lawrence |