SAMCAR Welcomes 2024 Leadership, Honors Volunteers at Installation

The 2024 President of the San Mateo County Association of REALTORS® (SAMCAR), Moisés Pelayo, and the Board of Directors were officially sworn into their term by Installation Officer and Past President, Jesse Gutierrez, at SAMCAR's 2024 Installation ceremony on Friday, January 12, 2024 at Domenico Winery in San Carlos. Also honored were SAMCAR's Past Presidents, Outgoing Directors and Committee Chairs, and award winners for 2023 REALTOR® of the Year, Affiliate of the Year, Community Service, and Homeowner Hero Awards, as well as a special posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award to Michael Monozon.

View photos from the 2024 Installation on Flickr

Moisés Pelayo is a REALTOR® with KW Peninsula Estates in Burlingame and has been an Association member since 2007. As a director representing SAMCAR at the state level, Pelayo has served on the California Association of REALTORS® Homeownership Housing, Realtor Risk Management, Transaction and Regulatory, and MLS Policy committees as well as the Assistant Regional Chair in 2023. He has also served on numerous committees locally, most prominently as chair of the Membership Committee prior to joining the SAMCAR Board of Directors in 2021.

In his inaugural address as SAMCAR President, Pelayo spoke about the ripple effect he believes association members can have in their communities. "Our members' passions create stronger communities," he proclaimed as the theme for his year as SAMCAR president, emphasizing the myriad ways that SAMCAR members volunteer and engage civically.

Among special guests at the inaugural ceremony were California Association of REALTORS® CEO John Sebree joining SAMCAR for its Installation ceremony for the second year in a row. In his keynote address, Sebree opined on the unique character of California's real estate market, long supportive of competitive practices including, among other things, the state association's buyer broker agreement. He emphasized the California Association of Realtors' goal of supporting members in their businesses, sharing an optimistic attitude about the year ahead and providing motivational perspective to an audience of real estate professionals whom, he reminded, are drivers of local economic activity with each home sale.

SAMCAR was also pleased to welcome many elected officials from throughout San Mateo County, including San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa, and Gina Quiney, Chief of Staff for Supervisor Ray Mueller, Daly City Councilmember Glenn Sylvester, Foster City Mayor Patrick Sullivan and Pacifica Mayor Sue Vaterlaus—both SAMCAR members—as well as Foster City Vice Mayor Stacy Jimenez, Millbrae Mayor Anders Fung and Councilmember Gina Papan, San Carlos Councilmember Pranita Venkatesh, San Mateo Mayor Lisa Diaz Nash, South San Francisco Vice Mayor Eddie Flores, and candidates for San Mateo City Council Danielle Cwirko-Godycki and Nicole Fernandez.

View Photobooth Gallery from Denon & Doyle

Congratulations to our 2023 Annual Award Winners!

REALTOR® of the Year Award

Paul Beaudreau, a REALTOR® with KW Peninsula Estates in Burlingame was named 2023 REALTOR® of the Year. Paul has been a SAMCAR member since 2012 and has served as the chair on the Peninsula Government Affairs Committee and vice chair for Local Candidate Recommendations Committee (LCRC). Presented the award by past recipient Jesse Gutierrez, Beaudreau was acknowledged for his leadership and volunteerism with SAMCAR's government affairs committees and campaign activities supporting local candidates and working to defeat harmful measures at council meetings and the ballot box.

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Affiliate of the Year Award

Andrea Bologna, First American Home Warranty, was named 2023 Affiliate of the Year. Andrea joined SAMCAR in June 2017 and serves on the Special Events Committee, most recently as committee chair in 2023 and 2024. Previous award recipient Ann Palermo presented the award, noting Bologna's kindness and dedication to serving her clients as well as her colleagues. She was acknowledged for creating unique experiences for SAMCAR members through renewed social events, notably initiating a series of theater outings through a partnership with BroadwaySF.

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Community Service Award

Jennie Lok, a REALTOR® with KW Peninsula Estates in Burlingame, was honored with SAMCAR's 2023 Community Service Award. She joined the Association of REALTORS® in 2017. Presented the award by previous recipient Adele Della-Santina, Lok was acknowledged for her service to the community through programs aimed at promoting mental health and financial empowerment, as well as her particular support for Aerial Recovery, a non-profit organization composed of skilled Veterans and First Responders, which undertakes complex missions ranging from disaster relief to combatting sex trafficking. Lok has previously been recognized among REALTOR® Magazine's 30 under 30 in 2019.

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Homeowner Hero Award

Gina Papan, Councilmember and former Mayor of the City of Millbrae was honored with the 2023 Homeowner Hero Award. Presented the award by SAMCAR Government Affairs Director, Fernando Peña, Papan was recognized for her outstanding leadership on housing related matters and protection of private property rights. When the City of Millbrae considered a vacancy tax, Papan carefully weighed arguments about the lack of data, helping to defeat such a broad policy. She also represented a small housing provider at a local council meeting, providing evidence and balanced information for the council to make an informed decision granting an appeal by the property owner in a housing provide tenant matter. Additionally, Papan has worked tirelessly with her colleagues on addressing homelessness and regional transportation, listening to constituent concerns, promoting disaster preparedness, public safety, quality of life services and the regional economy that set her apart.

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Lifetime Achievement Award

Michael Monozon (1946 – 2009) was posthumously awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award, a prestigious distinction that has only been awarded six times previously. President Moisés Pelayo presented the award and dedication as part of his first official speech as SAMCAR President. Phil Watson, a REALTOR® with Christie's International Real Estate Sereno, joined Moisés on the stage to share personal memories about Michael Monozon. Monozon mentored and trained countless real estate agents in his career, many of whom were in attendance at the event along with members of his family, all touched by the occasion to honor his lasting impression on all who knew him.

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Outgoing Director Jeff LaMont was also acknowledged at the ceremony after completing his term of service on the SAMCAR Board. Jessica Eva was individually recognized for her year of service in the post of C.A.R. Region 25 Chair, a state-level role responsible for coordinating SAMCAR's state association delegates at the California Association of REALTORS® three annual business meetings. Outgoing 2023 President Marla Perego was unable to attend the event, but was acknowledged for her year of leadership service before past president Diane Viviani ceremonially passed the presidential gavel to 2024 SAMCAR President Moisés Pelayo.

The 2024 SAMCAR Board of Directors are:

• Moisés Pelayo, President, KW Peninsula Estates

• Frank Vella, President-Elect and C.A.R. Region 25 Chair, SF HomeLife, Inc.

• Diane Viviani, Treasurer, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

• Linda Crose-Andersen, Coldwell Banker Half Moon Bay

• Jessica Eva, Golden Gate Sotheby's International Realty

• Anita Maxwell, Coldwell Banker Realty

• Celeste Pagan, Coldwell Banker Realty

• Marla Perego, Coldwell Banker Realty

• Patrick Sullivan, Liberty Realty

• Judy Taylor, Compass

• Michael G. Verdone, Economic Concepts

• Diane Wilson, Intero Real Estate Services San Carlos

• Marianne Zanone Rush, Coldwell Banker San Carlos

Meet your Board of Directors

Special thanks to Robert Pedro for leading the Pledge of Allegiance and Caitlin Beanan for singing the National Anthem to open the program, DJ Kevin Hartmann from Denon & Doyle for entertainment during the reception and highlighting key parts of the ceremony with music, photographer Craig Burleigh for capturing moments from the event, SAMCAR's 2024 Corporate Sponsors for making this event possible, and to master of ceremonies Robert Brisbane for presiding over the entire ceremony.