WPAR Names Leah Caro as 2011 Realtor of the Year!

The Westchester Putnam Association of REALTORS  (WPAR) has named Leah Caro, broker/owner of , as its REALTOR of the Year for 2011.

The "Realtor of the Year" award is based on involvement with the Association, as well as volunteer activities within the local community.  Caro has been in the real estate industry for 18 years, is member of WPAR’s Board of Directors and is the organization’s immediate Past President. 

Over the years, she has served on the Association’s Leadership, Awards, Finance, Member Services, Membership, Legislative, and Broker/Owner Manager Committees.  She has also been a part of the Education Council, Fair Housing and Cultural Diversity Committee, Long Range Planning Committee and Communications Council, among many others. She has also represented her local Association on the Boards of Directors of the National and New York State Associations of Realtors.

In addition, Caro is a member of the Women’s Council of REALTORs and serves as a director for the Westchester Residential Opportunities.  In her local community, she has been involved with the Chamber of Commerce on many projects that give back to the community.  Caro lives in Crestwood with her husband Doug Kooluris and her son Joseph.

The WPAR also named Jim Newhouse, owner of Newhouse Financial & Insurance Brokers of Rye Brook, as its Affiliate of the Year for 2011.  The WPAR “Affiliate of the Year” Award is based on an affiliate’s participation in WPAR events and involvement with WPAR members.

Newhouse has been actively involved with the Association for the past few years and has been an avid supporter of REALTOR events like its Annual Members Day, various networking events and the Women’s Council of REALTORS.

His company is also one of WPAR’s Preferred Providers, offering discounts to employees of major corporations or individually-owned companies with a few or even one employee.  Newhouse was recognized for his tireless work with WPAR members to find affordable solutions for healthcare insurance.

Finally, Mike Gibbons and Sarah Hughes, co-chairs of the Association’s political action committee, were honored with the “Extra Mile” Award, a special award presented to those who have excelled in their involvement with the REALTOR family.  Gibbons owns CJM Gibbons Realty in Dobbs Ferry and Hughes works with William Raveis Legends Realty Group in Briarcliff Manor.

The Westchester Putnam Association of REALTORS, Inc. is a not-for-profit trade association representing more than 7,500 real estate professionals doing business in Westchester County and the surrounding region.

It's predecessor organizations, the Westchester County Board of Realtors, Inc. and Putnam County Association of REALTORS, Inc., were founded in 1916 and 1932 respectively. The Association owns and operates the Empire Access Multiple Listing Service that provides a real estate MLS database for the Bronx, Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties, New York.