Bay East recognizes best in local real estate from 2020 | News
Tri-Valley real estate professionals virtually joined their peers from across the East Bay last month to recognize the excellence of the local industry in a uniquely challenging 2020.
The Bay East Association of Realtors’ annual awards show recognized members who “have demonstrated ethical standards and professionalism, active community involvement and a high level of service to the real estate profession,” officials said.
Awards included Broker of the Year, Partner of the Year, Outstanding Leader Award, Good Neighbor Award, and, for the first time, three people who each received the John A. Deadrich Distinguished Service Award in the same year.
The ceremony, which included installing the Bay East leadership team for 2021, was held via video conference on Jan. 28 instead of the usual in-person gala due to the COVID-19 pandemic and social restrictions.
Bay East, headquartered on Koll Center Parkway in Pleasanton and with a satellite office in Alameda, is a trade association serving more than 5,800 residential and commercial property professionals in the area. In line with its mission statement, Bay East offers access to the multiple listing service, training for professional development, advocacy for the protection of private property rights and the promotion of home ownership, as well as a variety of networking opportunities and events.
Here are the 2020 award winners along with descriptions of the association:
Broker of the Year
June Burckhardt, along with Legacy Real Estate and Associates of Fremont, was named Broker of the Year for demonstrating the highest level of integrity and commitment to the Bay East and the real estate profession.
Burckhardt has been a member of the association since 2004 and a member of the board of directors of Bay East and its three-city home equity, strategic planning, business and marketing committees. She is also an active volunteer in her hometown of Fremont, where she works as a delivery driver for Meals on Wheels, Harvest Food Bank coordinator, and works with the annual Adopt on Angel project.
Partner of the year
Leah Nishi of Farmers Insurance in Alameda received the award, which recognizes affiliate members who contribute the time, money and resources to support the real estate profession.
As an active member of the Alameda Inforum Marketing Meeting (AIMM) and the Bay East Community Relations Committee, Nishi was instrumental in ensuring that the AIMM meetings continued during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Also known as an effective lawyer for local businesses, Nishi helped promote a new homeless service center in Alameda and secured a $ 1,500 grant for the Alameda Education Foundation to purchase school supplies.
Award for outstanding executives
Jennifer Branchini of Compass Real Estate in Pleasanton received the Outstanding Leader Award, which goes to a past President of Bay East who continues to pursue the vision of excellence on behalf of the association.
Since joining Bay East in 1998, Branchini has held a variety of leadership roles at the local, state and national levels. She was instrumental in building the Bay East Young Professional Network (YPN) and headed the YPN forum of the California Association of Realtors.
Branchini, the current Treasurer of CAR and President of Bay East in 2014, was previously named Broker of the Year in 2010 and an Outstanding Leader Award in 2017.
Good Neighbor Award
Louise Lovewell, with RE / Max Accord in Castro Valley, received the Good Neighbor Award, which recognizes a Bay East member who makes a positive contribution to their communities.
Lovewell has been a member of the association for more than 40 years, and in 1986 helped found Building Futures for Women and Children, a protection program for homeless women and children. She also volunteers with the Western Service Workers Association, Washington Elementary School, Dig Deep Farms, and St. Leander Church.
Bay East donated $ 500 to building futures for women and children and $ 500 to Dig Deep Farms in her honor.
John A. Deadrich Distinguished Service Award
2020 marked the first time three members of Bay East received the John A. Deadrich Distinguished Service Award for exemplary self-sacrifice, vision and achievement in the local real estate industry during the year.
The award went to former Bay East President Nancie Allen, President-elect Sheila Cunha, and Treasurer Steve Medeiros.
In May 2020, Allen, Cunha and Medeiros agreed to serve a second year in their respective roles to help Bay East tackle the challenges the real estate profession is facing during the COVID-19 pandemic, and doubled the time – and workload would add as a Bay East guide.
Her dedication to guiding in an uncertain year for the real estate profession helped Bay East provide essential services and products to its members and, according to Bay East representatives, act as a powerful and effective homeowner advocate.