The Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board (OMREB) is pleased to announce the election of REALTOR® Darcy Griffiths of Vernon to the position of President for the 2014-2015 term. She was installed along with 11 Directors representing the Central Okanagan, North Okanagan and Shuswap zones at OMREB’s Annual General Meeting on March 13, 2014.  Griffiths replaces outgoing President Karen Singbeil of Sicamous who stays on as Past President.

Darcy has been an OMREB Member and licensed REALTOR® for 23 years (1991), and has sold real estate in Vernon since 2001. She first served as a Director in 2008/2009 and held the Education portfolio.  She was elected again in 2010/2011, acted as North Zone media contact for one year (2010), and held the Communications portfolio for three years (2010 through 2012) as well as taking on the role of Director of National Governmental Affairs in 2012 (to present) and a seat on the Strategy and Governance Committee (current).  For the past year, Darcy has served as Zone media contact, Chair of the Finance Committee and a member of the Executive Committee.  Darcy has taught two units of the Residential Trading Services Applied Practice Course for four years and is a new CPE instructor for BC Real Estate Association (BCREA). 

“I am very proud to represent the professional REALTORS® of the Central Okanagan, North Okanagan, Shuswap and Revelstoke markets,” Griffith says.  “I look forward to working with our Members and our Board to help further our professionalism through continuing education, and supporting the many initiatives undertaken by our membership to help enhance the quality of life in our communities.”

This is a challenging but exciting time in our industry, Griffiths notes.  “As OMREB President, I will continue to help raise the profile of our Board locally and within the province while working with governments and other stakeholders to enhance housing opportunities for families in the Board area.”

Griffiths is hopeful more buyers and sellers will be able to reach their housing goals in 2014 as consumer confidence strengthens, the economy improves, employment grows, and the market moves into more balanced conditions in the Okanagan-Shuswap.   “I am confident that relatively low mortgage rates and moderate home prices will continue to allow more first-time buyers to enter the market this year, and will encourage more investors to develop rental opportunities for those who are not in a position to buy.”

Timothy Evans of Kelowna was officially installed as the Vice President of the Board of Directors for 2014-2015.  An OMREB Member for 30 years (1984), Tim has been a licensed Kelowna REALTOR® since 1979.  He first served as an OMREB Director in 1992 through 1996, and he held the Communications portfolio.  Tim was named Vice President in 1994 and became President in 1995.  During that time he was also a Director for BCREA and served on the association’s Education and Governance committees.  He was appointed to the Board for a second term in 2013-2015, and
currently serves on the Government Relations and Communications committees.  Over the years, Tim has taught five units of the Residential Trading Services Applied Practice Course.

OMREB’s 2014/2015 Board:
-  Darcy Griffiths, Vernon – President
-  Tim Evans, Kelowna – Vice President
-  Karen Singbeil, Sicamous – Past President
-  Jamie Blair, West Kelowna – Central Zone
-  Kent Jorgenson, Kelowna – Central Zone
-  Christopher Miller, Kelowna – Central Zone
-  Tanis Read, Kelowna – Central Zone
-  Maggie Garvey, Vernon – North Zone
-  Don Gilowski, Vernon – North Zone
-  Rob Shaw, Vernon – North Zone
-  Doug Hubscher, Salmon Arm – Shuswap Zone
-  Steve Lewis, Salmon Arm – Shuswap Zone

News from © iNFOnews, 2014