Vernon real estate agent Darcy Griffiths is the new president of the The Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board.
Griffiths was elected along with a new board of directors for the 2014-15 term at OMREB’s annual general meeting held earlier this month.
The board is comprised of 11 directors representing the Central Okanagan, North Okanagan and Shuswap zones
Griffiths takes over from Shuswap realtor Karen Singbeil, who remains on the board as past president.
Griffiths has been an OMREB member and licensed realtor for 23 years, and has sold real estate in Vernon since 2001.
She first served as an OMREB director in 2008-09 and held the education portfolio.
She was elected again in 2010-11, acted as North Zone media contact for one year (2010), and held the communications portfolio for three years (2010 through 2012) as well as taking on the role of director of national governmental affairs in 2012 (to present) and a seat on the strategy and governance committee.
For the past year, Griffiths has served as chair of the finance committee and a member of the executive committee.
She has also taught two units of the Residential Trading Services Applied Practice Course for four years.
“I am very proud to represent the professional realtors of the Central Okanagan, North Okanagan, Shuswap and Revelstoke markets,” Griffith said.
“I look forward to working with our members and our board to help further our professionalism through continuing education, and supporting the many initiatives undertaken by our membership to help enhance the quality of life in our communities.”
This is a challenging but exciting time in our industry, Griffiths noted.
“As OMREB president, I will continue to help raise the profile of our board locally and within the province while working with governments and other stakeholders to enhance housing opportunities for families in the board area.”
Griffiths is hopeful more buyers and sellers will be able to reach their housing goals in 2014 as consumer confidence strengthens, the economy improves, employment grows, and the market moves into more balanced conditions in the Okanagan-Shuswap.
“I am confident that relatively low mortgage rates and moderate home prices will continue to allow more first-time buyers to enter the market this year, and will encourage more investors to develop rental opportunities for those who are not in a position to buy.”
Timothy Evans, of Kelowna, will serve as the OMREB vice-president.
An OMREB member for 30 years, Evans has been a licensed Kelowna real estate agent since 1979.
He first sat as an OMREB board director in 1992 through 1996, and he held the communications portfolio.
Evans was named vice-president in 1994 and became president in 1995.
During that time he was also a director for BCREA and served on the association’s education and governance committees.
He was appointed to the board for a second term in 2013-15, and currently serves on the government relations and communications committees.
Over the years, Evans has taught five units of the Residential Trading Services Applied Practice Course.
Joining Griffiths and Evans on the board of directors are:
OMREB’s 2014/2015 Board:
• Karen Singbeil, Sicamous, past president
• Jamie Blair, West Kelowna, Central Zone
• Kent Jorgenson, Kelowna, Central Zone
• Christopher Miller, Kelowna, Central Zone
• Tanis Read, Kelowna, Central Zone
• Maggie Garvey, Vernon, North Zone
• Don Gilowski, Vernon, North Zone
• Rob Shaw, Vernon, North Zone
• Doug Hubscher, Salmon Arm, Shuswap Zone
• Steve Lewis, Salmon Arm, Shuswap Zone
The Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board is comprised of 1,015 member realtors and 92 real estate offices across the southern B.C. interior, covering an area that includes the Central Okanagan, North Okanagan and Shuswap from Peachland to Revelstoke.
