OREGON REALTORS® - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Administrative Coordinator for the Government Affairs Department
- Administrative Support Coordinator
Alex serves as the Administrative Coordinator for the Government Affairs Department, and she provides support for all in-house I.T. needs. She updates the Oregon REALTORS® website and compiles data from database systems. Alex is a friendly voice to members on the phones, assisting with reception and legal hotline. She provides support for events and helps wherever she is needed.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Risk Management Department
Anna is a valuable member of the Risk Management Department where she provides administrative support and takes on key projects. She also assists with the Business Issues Key Committee and Good Neighbor Award Recognition Committee. Anna is a student at Oregon State University, currently pursuing a major in Economics and minor in Political Science.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- President of the Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Diversity Key Committee Chair / Mid Valley Association of REALTORS®
Job Titles:
- Director of Marketing & Communications
Ben is responsible for planning and directing promotional campaigns, supervising and coordinating the Marketing and Communications Department, and ensuring that marketing and communications align with the organization's overall goals.
Beth Caster, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services NW Properties, is a member of the Yamhill County Association of REALTORS®. Caster has been in real estate since 2002, becoming a REALTOR® in 2003 and gaining her Principal Broker License in 2016. An avid knitter, cook, and local wine/beer advocate, Caster maintains an incredible level of dedication and involvement in her industry. She is committed to bringing the highest caliber of service to the public and is a strong proponent of the Code of Ethics.
Caster believes in the benefits of continuing education and holds multiple REALTOR® and real estate family designations - Graduate REALTORS® Institute, Accredited Buyer Representative, Certified International Property Specialist, Certified Residential Specialist, and Master Certified Negotiation Expert.
Serving on innumerable committees, groups, and tasks forces for the Yamhill County Association of REALTORS®, Oregon Association of REALTORS®, and the National Association of REALTORS® over the years, Caster was also awarded the Yamhill County Association of REALTORS® REALTOR® of the Year award in 2008. Caster has long been a REALTOR® Political Action Committee (RPAC) investor and supporter and believes in the power of the REALTOR® Party. Caster has been involved with the Oregon REALTOR® charity, the HOME Foundation, since 2009 at both the local and state levels; she is chair of the 2017 HOME Foundation Board of Directors.
In addition to her monumental REALTOR® volunteer service, Caster is also heavily active in her local community. Sher serves on several local boards, committees, and fundraisers. She is a sponsor of the McMinnville Farmer's Market and serves on their Board of Directors.
Beth Caster was selected as the recipient of the 2017 OAR Distinguished Service Award by a committee of her peers based on her outstanding legacy of work in her local, state, and national REALTOR® communities and civic engagement. Her service, at every level, is to be commended.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
Brock is responsible for keeping the Government Affairs Department of the Association running efficiently and effectively by coordinating administrative support to the Director and the Department. Brock will also assist the team with coordination of Oregon REALTORS® involvement in state issue and candidate campaigns as well as with preparing and maintaining committee meeting minutes for the Government Affairs and Political Affairs Key Committees and the ORPAC Trustees.
Charlotte Van Werven, Administrative Support & ORPAC Coordinator Charlotte acts as ORPAC administrator which includes processing incoming and outgoing contributions and keeping records of Major Investors. She also assists the Executive Assistant with managing association governance and serves the office through administrative support.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Central Oregon Association of REALTORS
Lester Friedman, Coldwell Banker Bain, is a member of the Central Oregon Association of REALTORS®. In 2012, Lester was bestowed the Central Oregon Association of REALTORS® REALTOR® of the Year award.
Lester has also been active at the state and national levels for real estate. He has been a voice for real estate on the Political Affairs Committee, REALTOR® of the Year Committee and Professional Development Committee. For more than a decade, he has served as a State Director.
Lester is very active in his community; from helping with the Central Oregon Community College to Bend Police Advisor to a Mt. Bachelor Mountain Ambassador as part of the National Ski Patrol. He is also a board member of the Jewish Community of Central Oregon.
Lester Friedman was selected as the recipient of the 2019 OAR Distinguished Service Award by a committee of his peers based on his outstanding legacy of work in his local, state, and national REALTOR® communities. His service, at every level, is to be commended.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Rogue Valley Association of REALTORS
Colin Mullane has been named the 2017 Oregon REALTOR® of the Year. The award, bestowed in Salem on Thursday, April 13 at the REALTOR® of the Year Luncheon, is the highest award granted by the Oregon Association of REALTORS®.
Colin is a member of the Rogue Valley Association of REALTORS® and a Principal Broker at Full Circle Real Estate in Ashland. An Irish transplant, Colin has been a REALTOR® in Oregon since 2000, and has been heavily involved in all levels of the REALTOR® organization at local, state and national levels.
Serving as a member and chair of numerous committees, work groups, and task forces for the Southern Oregon MLS, Rogue Valley Association of REALTORS®, and Oregon Association of REALTORS® for years, Colin also served as the 2015 OAR President and has been on the OAR Board of Directors since 2016. In 2010, he received the Rogue Valley Association of REALTORS®' REALTOR® of the Year award and the local REALTOR® Image Award in 2009.
For the past few years, Colin has become highly involved at the national level and has served on several committees and will become the Region Vice President for the National Association of REALTORS®' (NAR) Region 12, comprising of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska.
Colin is committed to professional development and has received multiple designations and certifications - Accredited Buyer's Representative®, Certified International Property Specialist, NAR's Green Designation, EA Broker, and At Home With Diversity®. In addition to professional development, Colin has been a REALTORS® Political Action Committee Major Investor since 2013.
At every level, Colin Mullane is passionate about the real estate industry and is an exemplary model for Oregon REALTORS®. Colin Mullane is the Oregon REALTOR® of the Year for his outstanding service to all REALTOR® organizations, the real estate profession, and his community.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Executive Committee
- Professional Development Key Committee Chair
David executes the association's strategic, operational, and budgetary goals in collaboration with the Executive Committee, Board of Directors, Senior Leadership Team and staff. He also oversees the day-to-day operations and personnel, and functions as the second in command, acting as the Chief Executive Officer's representative in their absence.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- District 4 Vice President / Rogue Valley Association of REALTORS
Members of the Oregon Association of REALTORS® (OAR) have honored local REALTOR® and community leader, Don Livingood on Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at the Distinguished Service Award Luncheon held during the 2019 OAR Fall Convention & Trade Show.
Job Titles:
- Director of Education & Diversity
Erica is responsible for strategic initiatives within continuing education and diversity at Oregon REALTORS®. Erica leads the day-to-day management of our professional development department and implementation of diversity, inclusivity, and fair housing initiatives within the organization. Erica also serves as the staff liaison to the Professional Development Key Committee and Diversity Key Committee.
Job Titles:
- President of the Oregon Association of REALTORS
George Grabenhorst has been installed as the President of the Oregon Association of REALTORS® for 2017 Read More
Job Titles:
- Immediate past President
- Member of the Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Finance & Membership Administrator
Gretchen is responsible for coordination, maintenance, and processing of the Association's finance and membership information. She also provides support services to the CFO with bookkeeping and accounting activities in daily, monthly, and annual cycles.
Jenny joined Oregon REALTORS® in September of 2003. Prior to stepping into the role of CEO, Jenny served as the Association's legal counsel, providing programs and services which help members reduce and manage their risks of doing business. Jenny is responsible for all aspects of planning, organizing, directing, and coordinating the staff programs and activities of the Association. In 2004, Jenny was instrumental in forming the Oregon REALTORS® HOME Foundation which has provided over $2 million to organizations dedicated to affordable housing. Over the years, Jenny has served the National Association of REALTORS® on a variety of committees, including the Professional Standards Interpretations and Procedures Sub-Committee, chair of the Association Executives Institute and the Legal Action Committee.
Job Titles:
- Director of Legal Affairs & Public Policy
Jeremy is responsible for the Legal Affairs of the Association and works with the Government Affairs team on policy and legislative issues. He staffs the Business Issues Key Committee, the Legal Action Committee, the Economic Development Committee, and also works on Professional Standards issues. Jeremy works on the Association's Legal Hotline and on providing programs, services and tools which help members reduce and manage their risks of doing business.
Starr is a past president of OAR (2006) and was the Oregon Association's REALTOR® of the Year in 2008. He has served on the National Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors numerous times. Locally, Starr has served as President of the Eugene Association of REALTORS® and was its Realtor® of the Year in 1995. He has also served on a variety of community groups, including the Eugene-Springfield Metro Partnership, Willamette Valley Services and the Marist School Board. Starr is also widely known as a devout Oregon Duck sports fan. He's married with two adult children.
Jill Russel made outstanding contributions to her REALTOR® organizations, the profession, and the
community in which she lives. Julia Rajnus of Century 21 Showcase says of Jill, "She is always a pleasure to work with and truly deserving of this honor for all the work she puts in at the state and local level."
In addition to serving on the local level as a director, president-elect and president, Jill has also contributed as a committee chair and committee member on the RPAC, Strategic Planning, Government Affairs, Diversity, and Executive Committees, and the MLS advisory council.
But she's not just active in REALTOR® causes. Jill also serves in her community with her involvement in the Soroptimists, the Oregon Employer Council, and even beautifying her community with highway clean-ups for the past three years.
Jill is the current holder of GRI, CRS, PSA, SFR, E-Pro, C2EX, and Principal Broker designations.
Joann Hansen has been active in the Association since 1983, serving as a district vice president, state director, association president, a chairman of OREF, and president of the HOME Foundation. And she doesn't just contribute to the REALTOR® community. Joann has more than a decade of service to her local community, including serving on the Coos County Planning Commission as well as the Chamber of Commerce.
"She's an Oregon Original," said Dannie Walker of Premiere Property Group. "She's a small-town girl with a big-world heart who never backs down from doing what's right. She has such a long history in Coos Bay, from her involvement with the Chamber of Commerce and the Planning Commission, all the way back to the creation of a section of Highway 42 down here on the coast. She's caring, committed, compassionate, and devoted to her family. She's my best friend and I love her. I'm so glad she's getting this award. It's about time!"
Joann has been recognized as REALTOR® of the Year twice, once by Oregon REALTORS®, and once by the Coos County Board of REALTORS®. She's an NAR-certified mediator, a Leadership Institute Northwest graduate, and a GRI graduate.
Jodi Hack, Lobbyist As a consultant to the association, Jodi is responsible for lobbying the State Legislature and Executive Branch agencies on behalf of REALTOR® interests, developing legislative and regulatory strategy, and providing legal analysis of legislative and regulatory proposals.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- District 6 Vice President
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Vice President
Katie plays a critical role in facilitating the organization's technological efficiency, data management, and information security. This position requires a diverse skill set, including technical proficiency, project management, and the ability to provide support and training to staff, ultimately contributing to the overall success and functionality of Oregon REALTORS®.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Coordinator
- Facility Manager
Kelly provides support to all departments and entities. She is the Professional Standards Administrator, Facility Manager for the Oregon REALTOR® Plaza, serves as an operational resource for local Association Executives, and is responsible for the state's Core Standards compliance. Kelly also works with our legal team, and is the staff liaison to the Good Neighbor Award Recognition Committee.
Job Titles:
- Bend REALTOR®, Wins Distinguished Service Award 2019
Members of the Oregon Association of REALTORS®(OAR) have honored local REALTOR® and community leader, Lester Friedman, with the 2019 Distinguished Service Award. The award, one of the highest granted by the Association, was bestowed in Salem at the Salem Convention Center on Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at the Distinguished Service Award Luncheon held during the 2019 OAR Fall Convention & Trade Show.
The OAR Distinguished Service Award was established in 1993 to recognize outstanding service and contributions to the Association over a period of at least 10 years. Criteria for the award includes service in areas such as committee membership, committee leadership, and service as a state director, officer or National Association of REALTORS® director. Since the Award's inception, 30 Oregon REALTORS® have been selected to receive this industry driven recognition.
Lester Friedman, Coldwell Banker Bain, is a member of the Central Oregon Association of REALTORS®. In 2012, Lester was bestowed the Central Oregon Association of REALTORS® REALTOR® of the Year award.
Lester has also been active at the state and national levels for real estate. He has been a voice for real estate on the Political Affairs Committee, REALTOR® of the Year Committee and Professional Development Committee. For more than a decade, he has served as a State Director.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Vice President
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- District 5 Vice President / Central Oregon Association of REALTORS
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
Nicholas provides in-house legal counsel to the Association and its committees, provides risk management guidance to members through the Legal Hotline, and develops programs, services and tools that help members practice real estate in Oregon competently, lawfully and ethically.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Political Affairs Key Committee Chair / Mid Valley Association of REALTORS®
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Business Issues Key Committee Chair / Mid - Columbia Association of REALTORS®
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Government Affairs Key Committee Chair / Portland Metro Association of REALTORS®
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Vice President
Job Titles:
- Marketing & Communications Manager
Shayna develops and executes member-benefit driven communication and marketing messages, through social media, email and the Oregon REALTORS® website. She assists all Oregon REALTORS® departments to ensure communication is in keeping with Oregon REALTORS® brand, and is the staff liaison for the Safety Committee.