Heartland Association Honors Realtors

The Heartland Association of Realtors held its annual awards banquet recently at Four Points by Sheraton Sebring, Chateau Elan. It was the first time the Realtors held their banquet at the hotel next to Sebring International Raceway.

The Rookie of the Year Award, sponsored by Highlands Independent Bank, went to Kris Harrington of RE/MAX Realty Plus.

The Congeniality Award, sponsored by Heartland National Bank, was presented to Sue Dean of RE/MAX Realty.

Heartland Title Insurance Agency Co. was named the Affiliate of the Year. The award was sponsored by the Heartland Association of Realtors

Association Achiever, sponsored by Haynes Pest Control, went to Sherrie Lleo Abraham of RE/MAX Realty.

Kim Reed of Country Club Realty of Sebring was honored as the Realtor of the Year. The award was sponsored by MIDFLORIDA Federal Credit Union.

Hall of Fame, sponsored by the Highlands County Economic Development Commission, went to Gayle Labanowitz of RE/MAX Realty

Presidents Award, sponsored by Heartland Title Insurance Agency, went to Jan Farinato of RE/MAX Realty

The Lifetime Service Award, sponsored by Highlands Today, was given to Bud Worden of Worden Realty for 36 years of service to the real estate Industry.

"We celebrated the achievements of our membership during 2008 and we are enthusiastic about the upturn in real estate already happening in 2009," said Arianna Jordan Burke, executive director of the association.