NABOR recognizes members at annual awards banquet

Naples Area Board of Realtors (NABOR) held its annual awards banquet on April 11 at Naples Grande Beach Resort. Chartered in 1949, the 8,500+ professional member organization of Realtors in Collier County recognized the accomplishments of many of its outstanding members who volunteered their time and talents to better the organization, the real estate industry and community in 2024. The highest honor – Realtor of the Year, which recognizes a member who has distinguished themselves through outstanding contributions in the community, and on the local, state, and national association level – was awarded to Nick Bobzien, NABOR President 2023, an active member of the real estate profession, 20-year member of NABOR, and broker associate at Downing-Frye Realty.

In 2024, Bobzien volunteered over 150 hours to a task force that monitored lawsuit settlement communications from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) concerning new buyer broker contract requirements. As a result of the new guidelines and working with NABOR’s Legal Resources committee, Bobzien led his team in developing new contract forms and instructing Realtor members on those changes.

The banquet started with opening remarks from NABOR President Terrilyn VanGorder and was followed by recognizing 28 members of the NABOR and/or Florida Realtors Honor Society by master of ceremonies PJ Smith, NABOR President 2024. Honor Society members participate at the local and national levels, which includes activity in NAR’s institutes, societies and councils, designations earned; educational activities; and political involvement. Smith then presented the following 11 awards:

• Humanitarian Award: Spencer Rigsby
• President’s Award: Greg Urbancic
• Business Partner Committee Contribution Award: Adam Bleggi
• Business Partner Rising Star: Christian Ross
• Business Partner of the Year: Sam Saad
• Commercial Realtor Achievement Award: Darren Schoof
• Education Volunteer of the Year: Michael Downer
• Educator of the Year: Erin Miller
• Global Achievement Award: Paula Angelopoulos Urbinati
• Realtor Committee Contribution Award: Erin Miller & Mary Waller
• Realtor Rising Star: Matthew Craig

Before lunch was served and the final three awards were presented, Smith bestowed a Gratitude Coin to Shaun Garry NABOR Vice President for his countless hours of work revising the bylaws, assisting with legal counsel during the NAR Settlement and subsequent new buyer broker contract form development, and assessing and analyzing MLS and compliance related issues during 2024.

Gratitude Coins were also given by Nick Bobzien NABOR President 2023 to Adam Bleggi, Christina Davidow, Shaun Garry, Erin Miller and Sam Saad. Marcia Roggow, NABOR Director presented Gratitude Coins to Claire Bisignano Chesnoff, Michael Downer, Tina Falzarano, Jeff Jones, Pat Pitocchi and Amy Reinholdt.

The 2023 Ad Miller Award recipient Danielle Hudson presented the 2024 Ad Miller Award to former Florida Housing Finance Corporation Chairman Ryan Benson. This NABOR award recognizes an individual who works to enhance and/or preserve private property rights, ownership and transferability, and the preservation of the free enterprise system. Benson is also involved in leadership at Collier Building Industry Association and the Housing Alliance, a new non-profit that provides information, education and advocacy for accessing and developing attainable housing solutions in Collier County.

NABOR President Terrilyn VanGorder presented two Hall of Fame awards. The first was presented to a 34-year veteran Realtor, Paula Angelopoulos Urbinati. She is a past NABOR Hall of Fame RPAC award recipient, has served on NABOR’s board of directors, is a past Realtor of the Year award recipient, and has been a member of both NABOR and Florida Realtors Honor Societies for over 20 years. This distinguished award honors a member who has given at least 20 years of extraordinary dedication and service to the profession.

The second Hall of Fame Award was presented to former high school principal turned Realtor  Pat Pitocchi. In addition to volunteering her time and talents to NABOR for over 20 years, Pitocchi earned several designations including Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI), Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS), and At Home with Diversity (AHWD). She has received a multitude of awards for her devotion to education including Florida Realtors Education Award, NABOR Educator of the Year Award (twice), and NABOR Global Achievement Award. Over the years, Pitocchi taught classes at NABOR for GRI, CIPS, the Success Series, Sales Contracts, Listing Contracts, FR/BAR Contracts, and Code of Ethics.

Ryan Bleggi, NABOR President 2022, who won the 2023 Realtor of the Year award, presented Nick Bobzien with the top honor for 2024 – Realtor of the Year. Bobzien’s steady leadership as immediate past president while on the Legal Resources committee during NAR’s lawsuit settlement helped both members and the public navigate through the myths and facts surrounding new changes to the home selling and buying process. The experience also inspired him to pursue training and become a NABOR contract course instructor.

In addition to his role on the Board of Directors from 2016 to 2024, Bobzien also served on multiple NABOR committees including Governmental Issues, MLS, Global Business, Young Professionals Network, NABOR History, Professional Development, and Media Relations; and task forces such as the Investment Advisory Group, Capital Improvement, and New Construction, among others. He is also currently the Vice-chair of RPAC (Realtor Political Action Committee), a member of the Professional Standards Committee, and Budget & Finance Committee. Bobzien also serves on several Florida Realtor and NAR committees.