The Middle Tennessee Association of REALTORS® (MTAR) held their 2016 Installation and Recognition luncheon Thursday, January 14 at the Doubletree Hotel in Murfreesboro. The event honored MTAR's 2015 successes and the volunteers that made them happen.

Congratulations to Bill Jakes, Exit Realty Bob Lamb and Associates, MTAR's 2015 REALTOR® of the Year. Bill is very active with the Association as a member of the Government Affairs Committee and the Board of Directors. A Murfreesboro native, he is very active in preserving the history of Rutherford County. Other nominees for 2015 REALTOR® of the Year were: Chris Garrett, Century 21 United Realty; Greg Myers, Keller Williams Realty; and Missy Peterson, Reliant Realty ERA Powered.

Juanita Thouin, with Exit Realty Bob Lamb and Associates is MTAR's 2015 Rookie of the Year. Juanita became a REALTOR® in July 2013 and has been active with the Public Relations and Member Services Committee and the Scholarship Committee at MTAR. Other nominees for the 2015 Rookie of the Year were: Danielle Moore, Keller Williams Realty; Karen Pfluge, Crye-Leike, REALTORS®; Angela Plunkett, Weichert REALTORS®, The Andrews Group; and Melissa Taylor, Parks, Smyrna.

The REALTOR® of the Year and the Rookie of the Year are chosen from among over 1500 REALTOR® members in MTAR's 8-county area. Based on nominations from their peers and points calculations for their service, these real estate professionals were recognized for their contributions in leadership, commitment and service during the year 2015

2016 MTAR President Dale Patterson of Keller Williams Realty, the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors were sworn into office by Tennessee Association of REALTORS® President-Elect Brian Copeland. Patterson began his real estate career in 1986. He previously served as a math teacher in the Rutherford County school system. President Patterson has served MTAR in many capacities, most recently as Treasurer in 2014, 2015 President-Elect and works annually with the MTAR Scholarship Committee. Directors installed were: Chris Garrett, Century 21 United Realty - President-Elect; Lynn Tede, Parks, Smyrna - Secretary; Scott Abernathy, Reliant Realty ERA Powered - Treasurer; Virginia Pappafotis, Parks, Smyrna - Past President; Rex Brown, Coffee County Realty; Jay Cash, James R Cash Auctions & Real Estate; Bill Jakes, Exit Realty Bob Lamb and Associates; Pat Lane, Crye-Leike, REALTORS®; Mark Messick, Exit Realty Partners; Greg Myers, Keller Williams Realty; Janet Nettles, Middle Tennessee Properties; Kay Petty, Parks Realty, Land, Auction; Julia Samuelson, Cornerstone Realty; and Sharon Swafford, Swafford's Property Shop.

Recognized for their service were outgoing Directors: Gordon Carlisle, Keller Williams Realty; Susan Emory, Crye-Leike, REALTORS®; and Richard Lewis, Exit Realty Bob Lamb and Associates. The Association also expressed their appreciation for 2015 Committee Chairs: Debbie Howard, New Penn Financial; Chuck Shaw, Exit Realty Bob Lamb and Associates; Janice Carlton, Coldwell Banker Segroves-Neese Real Estate; Kay Petty, Parks Realty, Land, Auction; Trey Lewis, Ole South Realty; and Robert Carroll, Parks, Smyrna.