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AAR members seek elected office at state, national levels
Five Aurora Association of REALTORS® members are taking their leadership experience and professional expertise to the state and national levels, vying for elected positions at CAR and NAR.
Sunny Banka is running to become president-elect of the Colorado Association of REALTORS®. David Barber and Larry McGee both have their sights set on becoming treasurer of CAR, and Nancy Griffin hopes to become Metro District Vice President-elect. Linda Philpott is in the running to return to her longtime post of NAR Director.
 Sunny Banka
Banka's leadership at CAR runs deep. She currently serves as the organization's treasurer, an elected post she has held since 2010. In addition, she has been chairwoman of the CAR Finance Committee since 2010 and has six years of service on that committee. Banka is also on the CAR Leadership Team and Leadership Council, was the 2011 Chairwoman of the Business Tax and Housing Subcommittee, and is a past chairwoman of CAR's Legislative Policy Committee.
"With my depth of experience at CAR, I am in a unique position not only to understand the needs of Colorado's 21,000 REALTOR® members, but also to listen to what my peers really have to say and communicate their needs effectively," Banka said. She is a past president and REALTOR® of the year of AAR, a past Metro District Vice President, and a CAR Director for 12 years.
Banka and one additional candidate are seeking the position of CAR President-elect.
 David Barber
As Barber concludes his year as Metro District Vice President, he sets his sights on the elected position of CAR Treasurer. The 2011 AAR REALTOR® of the Year brings enthusiasm, knowledge and perspective to the table, with extensive leadership experience built at the local level and beyond.
Barber was AAR's 2009-2010 president. Under his leadership, the Association organized a successful Road to Recovery Housing Fair in 2010, which provided assistance and advice to families in Aurora facing foreclosure. Barber was a member of the AAR Board of Directors from 2008-2011; was chairman of the CARHOF Committee in 2011, and was a member of the PSF and CARHOF committees from 2007-2011. He served on Government Affairs from 2007-2010.
"Success is a journey, not a location," Barber said. "Each day I set goals I wish to achieve and at the end of the day I review how many I have hit and which ones I missed and why. I also try to help others reach their success, because even if I miss my personal target, I get satisfaction in seeing them reach theirs."
 Larry McGee
Secondary AAR member Larry McGee also seeks the position of treasurer. McGee is the owner and managing broker of The Berkshire Group. He has been a REALTOR® since 1978 and opened his first brokerage in 1986; he managed a large corporate real estate office in Cherry Creek.
A past president of AAR and the Colorado CRS Chapter #1, McGee served as a chairman of Metrolist, Inc. The governor appointed him to Colorado's Housing Policy Task Force, and he has chaired state, local, and national committees within the real estate industry. Currently, McGee is a director of the Residential Brokerage Council (CRB), and chairs a presidential task force for CAR.
McGee's philosophy is that "real estate is a lifestyle, and not just a job."
Two additional candidates are vying for the position of CAR Treasurer.
 Nancy Griffin
AAR's current president doesn't plan any time off after her busy year. Instead, Griffin hopes to move into the position of Metro District Vice President-elect. The position involves acting as a liaison between CAR and the metro area REALTOR® Associations and helping coordinate the work of CAR within the metro district.
Griffin brings passion and dedication to the table, with the ability to generate enthusiasm and inspire loyalty as she leads by example. "Leadership is about serving the people you lead, not leading the people who serve you," she said.
A member of AAR's Board of Directors since 2009, she has also served as chairwoman of the CARHOF Committee and of the Speakers Committee which selects quality presenters for AAR's REALTOR® Update Meetings.
Before entering real estate, Griffin honed her leadership skills as a director of consumer relations with an international company, where she appeared on live television, managed customer service and call centers, and ran training classes worldwide.
Griffin faces one other candidate in the race for Metro District Vice President-elect.
 Linda Philpott
The longtime "NAR Director who Keeps You Informed" seeks a return to this post and the chance to continue representing members with an unparalleled commitment to attending meetings and sharing her experiences and information.
Philpott was an NAR Director from 2006-2011. During that time, she attended meetings and conferences, each time writing and e-mailing an in-depth report to a burgeoning list of NAR and CAR members with the singular goal of helping them stay informed about important issues and events affecting the REALTOR® community.
With a wealth of experience and dedication to service, Philpott is in a unique position to represent members as an NAR Director with knowledge and perspective. She has attended NAR's annual Conference & Expo nearly every year since 1990; the Mid-Year Legislative Meetings in Washington, D.C. every year since 1995, and every CAR State Convention since 1979. She is a past AAR president and REALTOR® of the Year and has served on dozens of AAR, CAR and NAR committees in more than 33 years in the business.
The number of NAR Directors a state may have is based upon REALTOR® membership in that state on July 31. CAR will elect a NAR Director in the June election; whether that member may serve will depend upon the count at the end of July.
June elections
Elections are June 4-7. The positions are voted on by CAR Board of Directors.
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