Realtor Association Awards Paxton, Centorino

Festival Of Trees, Gingerbread Contest Also Part Of Holidays

The regional Realtor association, Rockbridge Highlands, has been busy this holiday season creating ways to highlight the importance of home, bringing awareness to the home buying/selling process and the importance of using a Realtor.

Its first endeavor was showcasing the logos of their members on their tree at the Friends of Natural Bridge State Park’s Festival of Trees event this year. A first for RHR, all members were invited to paint ornaments related to all things pertaining to home – keys, doors and even houses. The tree uses their branded color scheme with ornaments with member logos along with ribbon and other decorations. It even has a gingerbread house tree topper in keeping with the theme of home. The Association’s board of directors enthusiastically agreed to participate in this event when the new Association executive, Anne Herring, suggested the idea.

Next up was the gingerbread house contest in partnership with the local chamber of commerce. Again, a first for both organizations, the contest was held at The Georges’ Patton Room in conjunction with the chamber’s “Keep the Cheer Here” event. One unwrapped toy for a needy child equaled one vote for the donor to vote for their favorites of 10 different gingerbread houses. The top four entries were taken to the Southern Inn for display in the windows through the Christmas parade.

The winners were announced during RHR’s annual installation banquet and awards program later that evening at the Southern Inn. Tied for third place was Jane Harris/James River Realty and Kara Braddick/James Wm. Moore Real Estate. In second place was the local Farm Credit of the Virginia’s office with its gingerbread farm, and the No. 1 bragging rights went to Lori Parker for her Victorian mansion gingerbread house.

The “grand finale” was the annual awards program, where two prestigious awards are given each year after nominations and selections from the membership.

Matt Paxton, publisher of The News-Gazette, received the Public Service Award “for being such a beacon in our community and to the real estate industry for decades,” said Herring. “He has consistently been a great resource and point of contact for the Association.”

The second award is for Realtor of The Year, which has been given since 1998 to an area Realtor who has great Realtor to Realtor cooperation, is active in civic affairs as well as local, state and national associations and has extensive business accomplishments in the world of real estate and beyond. The 2024 Realtor of the Year is Sarah Centorino, “who is paving the way for newer agents to make a difference and to excel quickly in the industry and beyond,” said Herring.

Will Moore, the master of ceremonies, surprised Centorino with a plaque and other gifts, and her name will join the many others hanging with pride in the association office. Moore then installed her as the 2025 president of RHR. All former presidents passed the gavel over to continue the traditions and responsibilities of the Association and toward the community, this region and the industry.

“Exciting times lie ahead for the real estate industry and RHR wants the region to know ‘Who We R’ and what it means to be and use a Realtor,” said Herring.