On the Town: Realtors’ group installs new board
Because the Burbank Assn. of Realtors conducts the annual installation of its president and board of directors in December, it always doubles as a joyous gala in which the greetings of Christmas, Hanukkah and Festivus are exchanged.
Breaking with the tradition of staging this event as a luncheon, this year saw the local Realtors step it up, go into full-on party mode and gather for a jubilant evening affair at the De Luxe Banquet Hall on Olive Avenue this past week.
While this event has always served as an enjoyable opportunity for area Realtors to engage in holiday reveling with colleagues, there is also business to be conducted — the reorganization of the association’s officers and the recognition of members who have made outstanding contributions to the industry and community.
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This year’s gala saw outgoing president Caleb Gonzalez honored for his year of service as the gavel was passed to Harutyan “Harry” Timuryan, who will lead the organization through 2017.
Beginning his career as a residential mortgage officer, Timuryan earned his real estate license in 2003 and ultimately transitioned from the lending end of the industry to sales. An active member of Burbank Assn. of Realtors for many years, Timuryan played an instrumental role in establishing a young professionals network committee to develop strategies to foster leadership.
He has also been actively involved in legislative issues, served on the organization’s long-range planning, budget and finance committees, the group’s Community Service Foundation, and in 2012 was elected to serve on its board of directors.
Thanking Gonzalez for his dedicated service, Cheritta Smith, the association’s executive officer as well as the event’s chairwoman and hostess, congratulated Timuryan and the board members who will serve with him.
“You, as leaders, have the vision, the knowledge and the talent to help us pave the way into the future,” Smith said as she acknowledged the new board composed of Leah Archer, Daina Burness, Marion Chase, Robert Clark, Karol Kochova, Steve Marx, Mike Napolitano, Brynn Ochse, Ludwig Parsamian and John Scarff.
Along with the formal business of the evening, the association’s members also honored Trena Pitchford, executive director of the Burbank Arts for All Foundation, as Citizen of the Year; Anthony Carusa as Affiliate of the Year; Alisa Cunningham for her longstanding leadership role, Napolitano for his impressive record of respected service, Burness of Dilbeck Real Estate as Realtor of the Year, and the Brad Korb Real Estate Group, represented by Brad, Nancy and Courtney Korb, for showing consistent and dedicated service to numerous community nonprofit organizations.
Among the dignitaries who were on hand for the gala who also recognized departing directors Cunningham, Linda Barnes and Marty Del Cid for their many years of service, were Mayor Jess Talamantes, Vice Mayor Will Rogers, City Councilmen David Gordon and Bob Frutos and City Clerk Zizette Mullins.
The Burbank Assn. of Realtors is a professional trade organization representing Realtors and affiliate members engaged in real estate that has been serving Burbank since 1922.
The organization established a community service foundation in 1986 that operates as the group’s charitable arm. Among those who have benefited from the group’s philanthropy over the past quarter century have been local high school seniors who have received scholarships, Habitat for Humanity, the Burbank YMCA, Burbank Temporary Aid Center, the Kid’s Community Dental Clinic and Family Promise of the Verdugos.
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DAVID LAURELL may be reached by email at dlaurell@aol.com or (818) 563-1007.
