By By ERIN VER BERKMOES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Niles realtor receives top honor.
Donna Palmer from Niles was named the 2005 Realtor of the Year by the Southwestern Michigan Association of Relators at their annual awards banquet.
Palmer is an associate broker with Coldwell Banker Real Estate Specialist in Niles.
Palmer has been active with association of realtors since she received her real estate license in 1989.
She has served with the association and the Multiple Listings System Board of Directors as the immediate past president, as well as earned the professional designations of Graduate Realtors Institute and the Accredited Buyer Representative and Certified Residential Specialist.
Palmer has served on the board of the association as either an officer or director since 1996 and has also chaired the Equal Opportunity / Housing Needs, Finance and Special Events Committees.
Palmer has received a number of other awards including the Platinum Award for the MLS production in 2003, the Gold Award in 1998, and 200-2002, and the Silver Award from 1992-1997, and 1999 and holds life membership in the Silver and Gold Award categories.
She also received the Association's Education Achievement Award every year from 1994 – 2000 and again in 2003 and 2004.
Palmer is also involved in the community with the Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Niles Community Development Corp. and its home ownership program, her church and Safe Shelter.
Palmer is the chairman-elect of the Chamber of Commerce and has served on its board of directors since 2001. And is also been a director of the Safe Shelter for three years and has been involved with the local Habitat for Humanity.
Palmer has had many interesting experiences while showing homes over the years.
For anyone who may be looking to get into the real estate business Palmer had this to say, "There are great opportunities in this business. It can be a bit hard to get started in, but once you are involved the possibilities are really endless."
Palmer also said that she really loves working here in the Niles area, because all of the realtors in the area really work together and she enjoys helping educate first time home owners through the cities development corp.