At its annual luncheon this month, the Palm Beach Board of Realtors had a good reason to celebrate, and not just because the holiday season had arrived.
The organization also used the occasion to remind members and guests that the board marked its 75th anniversary this year.
“We’re not doing a big celebration, but it is (a milestone) we’re going to recognize,” said John Pinson of John D. Pinson Inc., who later during the afternoon passed his leadership gavel to incoming board President Sabra Kirkpatrick of Brown Harris Stevens.
The organization was chartered by the National Association of Realtors on May 13, 1949. Eleven days prior, 14 charter members had held an organizational meeting at Palm Beach Town Hall. Today, the membership has grown to 764 full members, with 49 affiliate members and 103 others who simply subscribe to the board’s multiple listing service.
In addition to Kirkpatrick, officers sworn in for 2025 included President-Elect Jonathan Duerr and Vice President Victoria Brewer, both of Douglas Elliman Real Estate; Secretary Ronnie Hasozbek-Garcia of Premier Estate Properties; and Treasurer John O. Pickett III of Brown Harris Stevens. Pinson, meanwhile, assumed the title of past president as he completed his third term as president.
Five directors also will help lead the board in the coming year: Andrew G. Barbar of Keller Williams Palm Beach Island, Simon Isaacs of Simon Isaacs Real Estate, Steven R. Presson of the Corcoran Group, David “Hill” Scaff Jr. of Premier Estate Properties and Brooke M. Snader of Douglas Elliman.
Longtime board attorney Gary Nagle, as usual, handled the Dec. 11 installation ceremony at the Sailfish Club of Florida, swearing in the new leaders “by the power invested in me by nobody in particular.”
The luncheon also gave recognition to Michelle Sandmaier, who is retiring after more than 30 years with the board, where she oversaw its MLS.
During his remarks, Pinson said Palm Beach “has never been better for a real estate market” and alluded to President-elect Donald Trump’s win in the November presidential race.
“Certainly, the world’s attention is on Palm Beach,” Pinson said.
He also noted that heavy car traffic had become a new reality on the island. But, he quipped, “the main complaint I hear (from people) is: ‘There’s no place to park my jet.’”
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Darrell Hofheinz is a USA TODAY Network of Florida journalist who writes about Palm Beach real estate in his weekly “Beyond the Hedges” column. He welcomes tips about real estate news on the island. Email dhofheinz@pbdailynews.com, call 561-820-3831 or tweet @PBDN_Hofheinz. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach Board of Realtors marks a big birthday at holiday luncheon
