Bluegrass Realtors® presented its awards for 2025 at the recent Installation Luncheon and Member Recognition Meeting – Realtor® of the Year and Good Neighbor – honoring outstanding Realtors® within the Association. Additionally, President’s Award recipients were honored.
Randy Newsome was named the 2025 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. Newsome has been a Realtor® since 1990 and is a broker with United Real Estate Bluegrass. He has served the Association in many leadership positions including president in 2024, several years as a director, treasurer, and has held many committee roles including government affairs, finance and executive. He is also a lifetime member of the Top Producers Club.
Additionally, Newsome has served the state and national associations as a State Trustee for the Kentucky Realtor® Institute (KRI), delegate with Kentucky Realtors®, audit committee member, and graduate of the Kentucky Realtors® Leadership Academy. Nationally, he has served as a director for the National Association of Realtors®. Newsome is a graduate of Morehead University with a bachelor's degree in business administration.
The Good Neighbor Award was presented to Rachel Underwood, an agent with Christie's International Real Estate Bluegrass and member of Bluegrass Realtors®. Underwood has given her time through a variety of organizations like the Ronald McDonald House, Lighthouse Ministries, United Breast Cancer Foundation and Central Kentucky Riding for Hope, where she has helped individuals with physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges experience healing and growth through equine-assisted activities. Her largest commitment to children and families is reflected in her 10 years of service on the board of directors for the Hearing and Speech Center of Lexington, where she currently serves on the executive committee. She has been instrumental in reshaping the organization’s mission, vision, and strategic leadership to better serve children with hearing and speech challenges, ensuring they have the tools and support needed to thrive.
Underwood has further expanded her community outreach efforts in her work through the Realtor® Community Housing Foundation (RCHF), serving previously as treasurer and now as president-elect, where her leadership has strengthened the ongoing programs that support housing needs across the region.
The President’s Award, an honor bestowed by the Association’s president, was given to Rusty Underwood, an agent with Christie's International Real Estate Bluegrass, and the Bluegrass Realtors® staff for their dedicated service to the Association and the industry.
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.