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Bluegrass Realtors® presented its highest awards for 2024 at the recent Installation Luncheon and Member Recognition Meeting – Realtor® of the Year and Good Neighbor – honoring outstanding Realtors® within the Association. Additionally, three individuals were recognized with the President’s Award.
Kelley Nisbet was named the 2024 Realtor® of the Year, the highest recognition the Association can bestow on a Realtor® member based on their association activity, community activity, and business activity. A second-generation Realtor® since 1996, Nisbet is the broker/owner of Coldwell Banker McMahan. Nisbet has served the Association in many leadership positions including president in 2023, several years as a director, treasurer, and has held many committee roles including government affairs, professional standards, finance and executive.
Additionally, Nisbet has served the state and national associations as a State Trustee for the Realtor® Political Action Committee (RPAC) holding both the treasurer and chair positions, delegate with Kentucky Realtors®, committee member on various committees, Quick Response Team member, and graduate of the Kentucky Realtors® Leadership Academy. Nationally, she is a member of the Relocation Directors Council and has served as a Director for the National Association of Realtors®. Nisbet is a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a degree in Finance and Economics.
The Good Neighbor Award was presented to Christy Helton, an agent with Christie's International Real Estate Bluegrass and member of Bluegrass Realtors®. Helton has shown her true character through her volunteer role with BIA Cares for over a dozen years. Through her leadership as a devoted member and Board chair, BIA Cares has undertaken a wide range of meaningful service projects, from home remodels and roof replacements to increasing ADA accessibility. The all-volunteer board has also partnered with nonprofits such as Make-A-Wish, the Foster Care Council, Bob Brown House, and the Lexington Rescue Mission. In the past year alone, Helton played a major role in raising just under $100,000, enabling the organization to tackle significant home remodels for people with disabilities, low-income senior citizens, families with terminally ill children and veterans. She has led initiatives to provide medical beds and equipment for families in need, school supplies and holiday gifts for children in foster care, and even a full year’s supply of coffee for the Lexington Rescue Mission.
In addition to the hundreds of hours Helton gives to BIA Cares, she has further expanded her community outreach efforts by joining the Realtor® Community Housing Foundation (RCHF) as a director, continuing their mission to help others.
The President’s Award, an honor bestowed by the Association’s president, was given to Tommy Black, an agent with RE/MAX On Main, Inc; Katrina Bowers, Chief Operating Officer of Bluegrass Realtors; and Greg Buchanan, broker of ERA Select Real Estate, for their dedicated service to Bluegrass Realtors® and the industry over the past year.
As the region’s leading advocate for homeownership, Bluegrass Realtors® understands the value and joy of owning a home. The Association represents more than 4,000 Realtors® located in 38 counties: Anderson, Bath, Bell, Bourbon, Boyle, Casey, Clark, Clay, Elliott, Estill, Fayette, Franklin, Garrard, Harrison, Henry, Jackson, Jessamine, Knox, Laurel, Lee, Lincoln, Madison, McCreary, Menifee, Mercer, Montgomery, Nicholas, Owsley, Powell, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Rowan, Russell, Scott, Shelby, Wayne, Whitley and Woodford counties. Visit www.bluegrassrealtors.com for up-to-the-minute real estate listings and buying and selling resources.