A Week In Business

GRI Awarded

BERLIN – Sheppard Realty’s Janel T. Warren was recently awarded the Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI) designation.

Warren earned the GRI designation by attending a specific, intensive series of a minimum of 90 hours of classroom instruction, covering a variety of subjects including contract law, professional standards, sales and marketing, finance and risk deduction. In addition, they have learned the fundamentals of brokerage and other areas of real estate specialization. With this designation and through increased awareness of current topics important to the real estate professional, such as legal issues, Warren can better serve prospective clients and customers.

Area Team Recognized

BERLIN – Rick Meehan and Katy Durham, sales associates with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage’s Ocean City 52nd Street office, were named one of the coastal region’s Top 5 Teams for units sold and gross commission income (GCI) sold in 2006. The awards were presented by Hal Maxwell, president of CBRB, during the company’s annual awards ceremony.

The Top 5 GCI Team Award is given based on the gross income production for the calendar year and the Top 5 Unit Team Award is given based on units sold in the calendar year.

"Rick and Katy are an important part of our real estate family at the CBRB 52nd Street office," said Ed Wehnert, branch vice president of the Ocean City 52nd Street office. "We are all proud of their accomplishments. Their combined team efforts deliver the highest level of service to their buying and selling clients. The results of their efforts speak for themselves. They are the best of the best."

"We appreciate all the support we have received from the entire staff at Coldwell Banker’s 52nd Street office," said Meehan. "We also would like to thank our customers and clients that have supported us over the years."

Meehan is licensed in Maryland. Durham is licensed in Maryland and Delaware.

Seacoast Top Producers

BERLIN – Seacoast Realty, a Carl M. Freeman Company, recently announced the firm’s top producers for the month of April.

Top Listing Volume awards for individual agents by office are Julie Schroeck, Bethany Beach; Ellen McCreary, Ocean View; Marc Grimes, Bear Trap; Rich Riddle, Marketplace; Steve Alexander Edgewater/Sea Colony; and Robert Kauffman, Clarksville.

Grimes received top honors for listing volume for April.

Top Sales Volume awards for individual agents by office are Pam Pridgeon, Bethany Beach; Ellen McCreary, Ocean View; EF Quillen, Clarksville; and Rich Riddle, Marketplace.

Pam Pridgeon received top honors for sales volume for the month of April.

Top Listing Volume Team Award and Top Sales Volume Team Award went to the Allison Stine Team for the Marketplace office.

Agent Among Tops In Region

BERLIN – Peck Miller, a sales associate with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage’s Ocean City 52nd Street office, was named one of the coastal region’s Top 5 Individuals for gross commission income (GCI) sold in 2006. The Top 5 GCI Individual Award is given based on the gross income production for the calendar year.

"Peck brings to his real estate career a spirit of creativity wrapped in salesmanship. He is a salesman’s salesman," said Ed Wehnert, branch vice president for the Ocean City 52nd Street office. "His real estate family at CBRB’s 52nd Street office is proud of his achievements and we know that he will continue to excel in the future."

"With the support of the management and staff of Coldwell Banker’s 52nd Street office, I am able to provide seamless support, which enables me to maintain great relationships with my clients," said Miller.

Miller is licensed in Maryland and is a member of the Ocean City Planning Commission.

Free Seminar Planned

BERLIN – Prudential Carruthers Realtors will host a free real estate buyer’s seminar at its West Ocean City office on Monday, June 11 from 10-11 a.m.

The seminar will provide information on how to select, finance and purchase a home. Rental and management information will also be provided. Handouts provided will include a property selection criteria checklist; current mortgage rates and financing programs available; the buying process, settlement/closing procedures and costs; and a how-to rental brochure.

Seating is limited. Make reservations by calling 410-524-7000.

Agent Honored

BERLIN – Edie Brennan, an associate broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage’s Ocean Pines South Gate office, was named one of the coastal region’s Top 5 Individuals for units sold in 2006. The Top 5 Unit Individual Award is given based on units sold in the calendar year.

"Year in and year out, Edie performs at a level that is amazing," said Peter Copenhaver, branch vice president of the Ocean Pines South Gate office. "She and her staff provide top notch service to her customers and clients and she is quick to help new agents get started in the business."

"I appreciate all the support that I have received from everyone at Coldwell Banker and from my two assistants, Evelyn and Katrina, and to my many clients and customers," said Brennan.

Brennan is licensed in Maryland and Delaware.

AGH Promise Update

BERLIN – When Atlantic General Hospital launched its 30 Minute ER Promise in February, clinicians and support staff hospital-wide were poised to make the commitment a reality, relying on the improved protocols and technology advances they had implemented months before to speed the efficiency of patient care delivery.

During February, March and April, the emergency department met its goal more than 99 percent of the time. Only 17 of 6,471 patients who received care in the emergency department waited longer than 30 minutes to begin treatment or be placed in a treatment room.

But, hospital administrators knew the real test would come with the onset of summer when emergency department volumes double.

With 495 patient visits to the ER over Memorial Day weekend, from Friday, May 25 through Monday, May 28, the staff still met the goal 95.9 percent of the time.

Andi West-McCabe, director of Emergency Services at Atlantic General Hospital, points to interdepartmental cooperation and a strong commitment by the emergency department and registration staff for this success.

“None of this could be accomplished without the incredible dedication of staff throughout the hospital – to ensure that physician protocols inside the ER are followed, that the vacated beds are turned over upstairs to accept newly admitted inpatients from the ER, and that we have the technology in place to speed everything along,” said West-McCabe. “We all worked together to guarantee that Atlantic General’s patients experience some of the shortest wait times in the country. It’s something to be proud of and something we will work very hard to maintain.”

The implementation of new technology also plays an integral role in the success of Atlantic General’s 30 Minute ER Promise.

“This effort will continue,” said Colleen Wareing, vice president of Patient Care Services at Atlantic General Hospital. “We implemented new protocols and made sure any changes in the ER maintained our excellence in patient outcomes while minimizing the number of individuals who leave without receiving treatment. It’s that simple.”