STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – More than 9,600 Realtors^® recently traveled to Washington, D.C., on behalf of current and future home and property owners.

Gathering at the 2017 REALTOR^® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo in May, representatives of the Staten Island Board of Realtors® (SIBOR) joined fellow Realtors from New York state and across the nation to attend meetings and informational sessions.

The Realtors met with regulatory agency staff and lawmakers on Capitol Hill to discuss and advocate real estate issues affecting their businesses, communities and clients.

While in the nation’s capital, members of the Staten Island group met with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York) and Congressman Dan Donovan (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn).

Gathering on Capitol Hill during the 2017 REALTOR® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo are, from left, Greg Sokol, president of SIBOR; Congressman Dan Donovan (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn); Dawn Carpenter, president of the New York State Association of Realtors® (NAR); John Vernazza, NAR Congressional Liaison to Congressman Donovan, and Mike Blasi, SIBOR president-elect.

During the legislative-focused meetings, the Realtors focused on several significant issues affecting their industry, including flood insurance, tax reform and sustainable homeownership.

The SIBOR faction included Greg Sokol, president; Mike Blasi, president-elect; Laird Klein, secretary/treasurer and past president; Sandy Krueger, CEO of SIBOR; Phyllis Cangro and Philip DeCarlo, directors; Sari Kingsley, John Vernazza and George K. Wonica, past presidents; Dawn Carpenter, president of the New York State Association of Realtors® and a past president of SIBOR; Realtors Aldo Iemma, Justin Hendler and Rosanne Lafata, and SIBOR staff member Richard Mohr.

“Realtors are critical advocates for their clients and the real estate industry,” said SIBOR President Greg Sokol. “This meeting was the perfect opportunity to further educate ourselves about issues facing real estate markets, as well as the legislative and regulatory issues on the horizon that could affect Realtors, home buyers and sellers, and property owners.”

HALL OF FAME

During the convention, SIBOR past president Sari Kingsley was inducted into the NAR Realtors Political Action Committee (RPAC) Hall of Fame. The names of inductees are added to the RPAC Hall of Fame Wall on the roof garden of the NAR Washington, D.C., headquarters building.

In addition to informational legislative sessions and meetings with legislators, SIBOR members had the opportunity to explore the latest industry innovations and receive up-to-date information on the newest products and services from more than 100 industry-leading companies that participated during the trade expo.

About the Staten Island Board of REALTORS® (SIBOR)

Having marked its 100th anniversary in October 2015, the Staten Island Board of REALTORS® (SIBOR) is the largest professional and trade association in Staten Island, N.Y.

SIBOR exists to enhance the ability and opportunity of its members to conduct their business successfully and ethically, and promote the preservation of the public’s right to own, transfer and use real property.

Comprised of approximately 1,800 members, SIBOR serves real estate agents, brokers and affiliated professionals throughout the borough and surrounding areas.

SIBOR is the provider of the Staten Island Multiple Listing Service Inc. (SIMLS), which works as a clearinghouse through which more than 250 local real estate firms exchange information on properties they have listed for sale. Together, its members participate in over 3,000 real estate transactions every year.

All SIBOR Realtors belong to the New York State Association of REALTORS® (NYSAR) and the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).

SIBOR may be reached at 718-928-3220 and viewed online at www.SIBOR.com. SIBOR may also be visited on Facebook at “Staten Island Board of Realtors” and “SIBOR Global Real Estate Summit,” and on Twitter via @SIBOR.

Media Contact: Barton Horowitz
Relevant Public Relations, LLC
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