Three Pennsylvania Realtors® awarded at reception

Three Pennsylvania Realtors® received awards during a special ceremony last night in Harrisburg during the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors® Fall Business Meetings.

Carol Palomera of Pittsburgh received the Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes an individual who has significantly contributed to the Realtor® organization. Kathleen McQuilkin of Exton was named the Realtor® of the Year, which acknowledges meritorious contributions to the advancement of the profession and to the real estate community. And Cheryl Rawlings of Altoona was presented the Realtor® Active in Politics Award, which distinguishes exemplary legislative volunteerism on behalf of the association.

A Realtor® for 44 years, Palomera has served as director on PAR’s board for more than 25 years and has served on several state committees. She received the Realtor® of the Year award in 1998 from her local association, the Realtors® Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh and also received the Certified Residential Broker of the Year award in Pennsylvania. Additionally, she has also been awarded Realtor® emeritus status.

“It was a wonderful journey,” said Palomera, who called the award a surprise and an honor. “I loved it all, and thank you to everyone from the state and Pittsburgh.”

McQuilkin has been a Realtor® for more than 40 years and has been consistently active in the industry. A past PAR president, she has also served as the vice president for district 2 and previously received PAR’s Realtor® Active in Politics Award. She has also served as a member of the National Association of Realtors® board of directors for the last six years.  Locally, she was the chair of her local association, the Suburban West Realtors® Association, and president of the former Chester County Association of Realtors®. She also served as the chair of the Suburban Realtors® Alliance, where she has been a member of the board of directors for the past 15 years.

“Thank you to my Realtor® family for this unexpected honor,” said McQuilkin. “To be included among the other nominees tonight and the past award winners is humbling.” McQuilkin encouraged members to get involved at PAR and thanked those who encouraged her along the way.

Rawlings is a member of the Allegheny-Highland Association of Realtors®, who works nonstop to keep local Realtors® appraised of federal, state and local legislative issues that could impact their business. Rawlings has served as a key contact for her member of Congress through NAR’s Federal Political Coordinator program, working with retired Rep. Bill Shuster and current Rep. John Joyce. She currently serves on NAR’s Realtor® Party Member Involvement Committee. She has also been active is political campaigns, volunteering on campaign committees, helping at Republican Headquarters, attending fundraisers and circulating nomination petitions. Additionally, Rawlings is an elected member of the Blair County Republican Committee since 2002.

“This is quite an honor,” said Rawlings. “I am humbled by the award. There are so many Realtors® active in politics and I applaud you. If you are not, start being active. It’s a way for us to have a voice in the political arena.”

State Sen. Judy Ward (R-Blair) was on hand to award Rawlings with a citation from the Pennsylvania Senate, while a representative from the office of U.S. Rep. John Joyce (R-Blair) presented Rawlings with a copy of her biographical entry, which has been published in the Congressional Record.