The Staten Island Board of Realtors will be led in 2007 by Frank Reali, Broker and co-owner of Century 21 Safari Realty.  He will be joined on the organization’s Executive Committee by brokers Dawn Carpenter (Dawning Real Estate), Christopher Stivanello (Interstate Group, Inc.) and immediate Past President Michael Diaz (Village Realty SINY).

The Realtors held their annual elections for Directors on October 18^th.  They elected Linda Garber (Century 21 Calabrese Realty), Dil Gillani (Robert DeFalco Realty, Inc.), Linda Labetti (Linda Labetti Real Estate, Inc.), Betty Pappas (All Shore Realty, Inc.), John Vernazza (Village Realty SINY) and George K. Wonica (Wonica Realtors and Appraisers).  They will join returning directors Ann Coppola (ERA Masters), Frank DiTommaso (Coldwell Banker DiTommaso Real Estate), Michael Dukhovny (Re/Max United), Al Giordano (Giordano Realty), Robert Martino (Charles J. Martino Real Estate), Kathleen O’Leary (Prudential Appleseed Realty) and George S. Wonica (Wonica Realtors and Appraisers).

The association completed the selection of its 2007 Officers and Directors on November 28^th when President elect Frank Reali appointed, and the directors affirmed, Frank Besignano to be the association’s first non-Realtor Director.  Mr. Besignano is Market President/Community Banking of the SI Bank & Trust division of Sovereign Bank. 

Sandy Krueger, the organization’s CEO said, “We modified our bylaws this year to incorporate a non-Realtor member of the business community into our Board of Directors.  Frank Besignano is eminently qualified to be the first person hold the position.  He has been in the local banking community for nearly 30 years and has been involved with many of the islands community organizations.  He is a Trustee of Staten Island University Hospital; a director of the Visiting Nurse Association of Staten Island and the March of Dimes; He is involved with the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce and the Staten island Kiwanis just to name a few.  We expect Mr. Besignano to help our board of directors to expand our view on how our association can play a bigger role in the community.”

Mr. Krueger added, “We moved into our new headquarters facility at 1535 Richmond Avenue this year and we look forward to helping the public understand what Realtors are all about as people, as members of the community and as key players in the real estate transaction.  Throughout the recent real estate boom, people have come to realize more then ever the role that real estate plays in the wealth of American families.  Protecting and growing that wealth, as well as placing a roof over one’s head, is what Realtors are trained to do.  Our job as an association is to help the community understand the value of real estate professionals.  I look forward to working with our 2007 Officers and Directors to achieve that goal.”