Gary Best of KW Commercial Division of Keller Williams Southern Arizona along with Sharon Ellsworth of RE/MAX Catalina Foothills Realty; and Joeann Fossland of Purple Sage Realty have been named Honorary Life Members of the Tucson Association of REALTORS® (TAR).
This distinguished honor is the highest recognition of extraordinary, long-term service that the association bestows on a REALTOR® member.
Gary Best, CCIM is an Associate Broker with Keller Williams Southern Arizona. He has been in the real estate industry since 1969 and has worked in the Tucson market since 1975. He specializes in commercial real estate sales, leasing, consulting and inspections. As a long-time Director, he also served as president of TAR in 2006 and was named REALTOR® of the Year in 2007.
Also joining this distinguished group was Sharon Ellsworth who owns RE/MAX Catalina Foothills Realty. She has been in the real estate business since joining the association in 1973. Ellsworth has served on the Board of Directors for TAR and the Arizona Association of REALTORS®. In 2004, she was REALTOR® of the Year and winner of the TAR Community Service Award.
Joeann Fossland, a Realtor with Purple Sage Realty, was licensed in 1983 and is a founding member of The Hearth Foundation. She has served as a TAR Director, Chair of the REALTORS® of Arizona Political Action Committee (RAPAC), and is a Past President of Women’s Council of REALTORS®. In 1986, she was TAR Affiliate of the Year.
To be considered for this honor, an individual must have been an active TAR member for at least 30 years. During that time, “they must accumulate at least 15 total years of volunteer service to our Tucson association in the position of a committee chair or higher leadership position. Then, at either the state or national level, they must accrue another five years of leadership,” said TAR CEO Philip Tedesco.
“This achievement is in tribute to their professionalism, expertise and dedicated willingness to serve their peers and industry,” he added.
As honorary life members, TAR will waive their annual dues and assessments beginning in 2015. At the state level (AAR) and national level (NAR), the association will also pay these dues and assessments.