2020 NVAR President Nicholas Lagos proudly accepts the gavel from Installing Officer Perry Gawen, Jr. after taking his oath of office.

THE SIGHTS, SOUNDS AND TASTES of Greece welcomed guests to the 2019 Installation and Recognition program at NVAR’s Fairfax headquarters on Dec. 19. A nod to 2020 President Nicholas Lagos’ heritage, the Greek-themed event celebrated incoming leaders and honored 2019 volunteers and award recipients.

“In 2020 I want to take our engagement to the next level,” Lagos said during his remarks, referring to 2019 President Christine’s Richardson call last year for members to become engaged. “I am asking for your ‘commitment’ so that we, as a team, can accomplish the goals established by the Board of Directors in our Vision 2020 Strategic Plan,” Lagos explained.

The 2020 Board of Directors gathers post-ceremony with Installing Officer, NAR 2020 First Vice President Leslie Rouda Smith (far right). Pictured left-right: Dallison Veach, Marriah Unruh, Ken Tully, Peter Nguyen, Thai-Hung Nguyen, Shelia Jackson, Sherry Rahnama, Shirley Buford, Debbie Baxter, Rob Allen, Amina Basic, Christine Richardson, Reggie Copeland and Derrick Swaak. (Not pictured: Heather Embrey)

Lagos also thanked past and future volunteer members for their service and laid out his plans for accomplishing NVAR’s strategic goals, encouraging members to be the best version of themselves, and setting the stage for NVAR’s centennial in 2021.
Serving as the installing officers, Perry Gawen Jr., original broker/owner of Lagos’ Century 21 Gawen Realty, administered the oath of office to Lagos, and Leslie Rouda Smith, 2020 NAR first vice president, swore in the 2020 NVAR Board of Directors.
“NVAR is fortunate to have Nicholas as our 2020 president as we embark on a new year, new decade and new era of NVAR in this evolving industry,” NVAR CEO Ryan Conrad said. “One of Nicholas’ guiding principles is to ‘be kind’ – and I am confident that his caring nature and commitment to our members’ success will carry us forward in the coming year.”

In addition to installing the 2020 association leaders, NVAR presented the 2019 Affiliate of the Year, Hall of Fame and Honorary Life Member Awards.
To view event photos, visit NVAR.com/installation19.


 

Members of the 2019 NVAR Leadership Institute receive their certificates of completion for the year-long program. Pictured left-right with 2019 NVAR President Christine Richardson: Tiffany Aquino, Kirill Gorbounov, Casey Menish, Lisa Langlais, Michelle Sanoske, Sean Bugg, Natalie Roy, Tatiana Busch, and Richardson.

Hall of Fame honorees for 2019 display their awards bestowed by NVAR’s 2019 President, Christine Richardson (left-right): Verna Vargas, Matt Kahn, Nancy Harvey Steorts and Richardson.

Recognizing exemplary dedication to NVAR, the Northern Virginia real estate industry and the local community, 2019 NVAR President Christine Richardson honors Sherry Skinner of Interstate Moving as Affiliate of the Year.

Realtor® Mario Rubio of Rubio Real Estate is recognized as NVAR’s 2019 Honorary Life Member by 2019 President Christine Richardson.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

To view a PDF of the event program, visit NVAR.com/installation

2019 AFFILIATE OF THE YEAR:
Sherry Skinner, Interstate Moving & Storage

2019 HALL OF FAME HONORS:
Heather Embrey, Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate Premier, Falls Church
Matt Kahn, Falls Realty, Falls Church
Nancy Harvey Steorts, Long & Foster Real Estate, Alexandria
Verna Vargas, NVAR Member Systems Manager

2019 HONORARY LIFE MEMBERSHIP:
Mario Rubio, Rubio Real Estate

2020 NVAR BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
President
Nicholas Lagos, Century 21 New Millennium

President-Elect
Derrick Swaak, TTR Sotheby’s International Realty

Secretary/Treasurer
Reggie Copeland, CR Copeland Real Estate, LLC 

Immediate Past President
Christine Richardson, Weichert, Realtors®

DIRECTORS AT-LARGE:
Rob Allen, Long & Foster Real Estate 
Amina Basic, Keller Williams Realty 
Deborah Baxter, Coppermine Realty 
Shirley Buford, Long & Foster Real Estate
Heather Embrey, Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate Premier
Shelia Jackson, Long & Foster Real Estate
Peter Nguyen, TTR Sotheby’s International Realty
Thai-Hung Nguyen, Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate Premier
Sherry Rahnama, RE/MAX Executives
Ken Tully, RE/MAX Preferred Properties, Inc. 
Marriah Unruh, Keller Williams Capital Properties 
Dallison Veach, Veach Realty Group