This article was originally published on TimesFreePress.com.
Travis Close, a Realtor at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Realty Center who served as president of the Greater Chattanooga Association of Realtors last year, was recognized Wednesday at the 2015 Realtor of the Year in Chattanooga.
The award was presented Wednesday at GCAR’s membership breakfast.
The Realtor of the Year award is given to a Realtor in recognition of his or her civic, business and industry/organization contributions. Close has been a Realtor for nearly nine years, and joins only four other Realtors who have been awarded this honor in the same year that they have been president of the association: Jennifer Grayson (2011), Jason Farmer (2007), Kathy Tucker (2004) and Steve Champion (2003).
“The association bestows this highest honor on individuals who stand out from the crowd and embody all that it means to be a Realtor,” said Randy Durham, chair of the GCAR Realtor of the Year Committee. “Mr. Close has put more time, effort, thought and heart and soul into our Association than any other Realtor and is deserving of this award.”
Close has been actively involved within GCAR since 2008, serving on the Education, Grievance and Member Services Committees. He has served on both the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and GCAR Board of Directors, as well as the Tennessee Association of Realtors (TAR) Residential Forms Committee. He has been accepted into the National Association of Realtors (NAR) Leadership Academy and was elected as TAR Divisional Vice President.
Close is deeply involved in the community as an adult chaperone and volunteer team leader for Signal Crest United Methodist Church’s Youth Appalachian Service Project, board member of Notre Dame High School, and volunteer with the local Boy Scout Troop.
“It has truly been an honor to serve this association and use my skills to better the real estate community,” Close said. said. “My wife has been my support system while I’ve been juggling so many hats, and I appreciate her patience and encouragement during what has been a jam-packed, productive year for the Greater Chattanooga Association of Realtors.”