Top July Agents
BERLIN – Hileman Real Estate recently named its top July agents.
Sonia Zaffiris, Associate Broker, earned top listing agent for July, while Terri Bradford,GRI has been named top sales agent for July.
Realtor Completes Course
OCEAN CITY — Carter Howell of Re/Max Premier Properties of Ocean City has successfully completed the Realtor e-PRO course to become one of a select few real estate professionals to earn the prestigious certification offered through the National Association of Realtors.®
The certification course is an educational program unlike any other professional certification or designation course available, comprehensive and interactive. It is specifically designed to provide real estate professionals with the technology tools needed to assist consumers in the purchase or sale of a home.
With more than 70 percent of consumers beginning their real estate research on the Internet, e-PRO certified agents have the experience and expertise to meet the demands of today’s buyer and seller.
“The real estate industry has undergone a fundamental change over the past several years,” said Howell. “A majority of consumers are taking the time to conduct their own research prior to contacting an agent. In turn, real estate professionals must be knowledgeable of how technology can assist them in serving the needs of the buying and selling public.”
The exclusive certification course is presented entirely online and certifies real estate agents and brokers as Internet professionals. Because of its innovative design, students are able to complete the course at their own pace, when and where they want, via any Internet connection.
Employees Recognized
WILLARDS – Atlantic/Smith, Cropper & Deeley Insurance Brokers has announced Gary Waldych as the top producer for the month of July.
Waldych specializes in commercial lines insurance with an emphasis on condominiums, trucking, and contracting companies. He has been with the company since 1986.
Rick Martelo received special recognition for his July production. Martelo, an Account Executive, specializes in commercial insurance, has been with the company since 1979.
Realtor’s Blog Wins Award
OCEAN CITY – Monica McNamara, a local real estate with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, started a blog site this summer and wrote her first article on July 1. Her site, with her article entitled, “What Would I Want If I Were A Buyer?”, appeared on the Real Town Real Estate web site.
McNamara was awarded the grand prize in the Real Town/Inman Connect Blog Contest for this first blog.
“Monica’s enthusiastic writing style is a prime example of what we at Real Town have maintained for the 13 years we have provided community-generated content, namely, the fact that there is a wealth of undiscovered talent waiting to be published. Blogging definitely provides that platform,” said John Reilly, vice president of publishing of Internet Crusade, home of Real Town.
As the grand prizewinner, McNamara received a trip to the Real Estate Connect Conference in San Francisco, Calif., sponsored by Inman News.
“The conference was the best real estate gathering I have ever attended,” McNamara said. “I have continued to actively blog and the most rewarding part of all of this has been receiving an email from a soldier stationed in Iraq. He is coming to work for the Ocean City Police Department after his tour with the 101st Airborne Division and he wants me to help him find a home. I was thrilled.”
OP Office Leaders
OCEAN PINES – Peter Copenhaver, branch vice president of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage’s Ocean Pines office, has announced the top producers for July.
Valerie Kelm was the top listing agent, Greg Erdie was the top sales agent and Edie Brennan was the top producing agent in the office.
Bank Declares Dividend
BERLIN – Calvin B. Taylor Bankshares, Inc. (TYCB) announced that its Board of Directors has declared a one-time special cash dividend of $1.30 per share. This dividend is payable on Sept. 16 to shareholders of record as of the close of business Sept. 5.
Calvin B. Taylor Bankshares, Inc. is the holding company for Calvin B. Taylor Banking Company in Berlin.
Doctor Achieves A Local First
BERLIN – Orthopedic Surgeon Doctor Thomas Beck. of Atlantic Orthopedics aims to do for the knee what has now been done for the hip, provide a knee implant procedure that meets the needs of younger, more active patients who suffer pain associated with osteoarthritis. Called the Journey Deuce knee system, this high-performance implant is a partial knee-resurfacing device that uniquely preserves bone and ligaments otherwise sacrificed during total knee replacement.
Beck performed the first Journey Deuce Knee Replacement on the Eastern Shore at Atlantic General Hospital in June 2008.
“The knee is comprised of three compartments: the medial (inside), the lateral (outside) and the patello-femoral (middle). In a typical knee reconstruction, an orthopedic surgeon will remove the medial compartment, the patella-femoral section and the lateral compartment, sacrificing the one or both of the Cruciate Ligaments,” said Beck.
With the Journey Deuce, however, Beck now has the opportunity to treat the reported 30 percent of patients who only have osteoarthritis in two of the three compartments of the knee, while leaving all of the ligaments intact.
Because the Journey Deuce does not span the full width of the knee, surgeons do not sacrifice the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments during the surgery.
“Now, we can offer patients a procedure that allows us to preserve these two ligaments which contribute to the normal, stable feeling of your natural knee, whether you’re engaging in rigorous physical activity or simply getting up from a chair,” adds Beck.
Also, since the Journey Deuce spares bone on both the femur (thigh bone) and the tibia (shinbone), Young, active patients now have an “early intervention” solution for their osteoarthritis knee pain. Typically, surgeons try to delay total knee replacement for their younger patients, because a potential revision procedure later in life can take a toll on physical activities before the patient is willing to give them up.
Additionally, the Journey Deuce system’s benefits extend to the typical, or older, knee replacement candidates. Since the implant is less invasive and there is less disruption of soft tissue, post-operative recovery may be less painful.
“The Deuce is a powerful, new treatment option in my orthopedic practice,” says Beck. “This technique can be a life-changing procedure for a large percentage of knee surgery candidates.”