Two members reappointed to state real estate commission

Two members of the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors® (PAR) have been reappointed to the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission by Gov. Tom Corbett.

Annie Hanna Cestra will serve her third term on the state real estate commission and is the current chair. She previously served on the commission’s education committee.

Joseph Tarantino was reappointed to the state real estate commission where he has continually served since first being appointed in 1994. He is presently serving as vice chair of the board and previously served two terms as chair.

Cestra is the executive vice president and chief operating officer of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services. The company has grown from its first office in the Shadyside/Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh in 1957 to 170 offices in the eight states. She also has served as a director of the Realtors® Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh’s Executive Committee and a delegate to PAR.

Additionally, Cestra serves as the chair of the Urban League of Pittsburgh and supports the league’s mission to enable African-Americans to secure economic self-reliance, parity and power, and civil rights.

“It was a true honor to have been reappointed to the commission. Being on the commission has been very gratifying and I look forward to continuing my service to the licensee and the real estate consumer in this Commonwealth,” Cestra said. “If only we could move the state capital to Pittsburgh so my travel time would be more manageable!”

Tarantino is president of ERA Continental Realty which is celebrating its 40^th year anniversary in 2014 and he is a resident of Chester County. He has been a Realtor® for more than 45 years and has received his Realtor® Emeritus status from the Pennsylvania and National Association of Realtors®. Tarantino has been a real estate consultant for various companies and governmental agencies.

“I am very appreciative of the confidence and support that I was given by all members of the Senate and by Gov. Corbett for this reappointment to the Real Estate Commission. I look forward to serving the consumers of Pennsylvania and to increase the professional and ethical excellence and training of my fellow real estate licensees,” Tarantino said. “I also look forward to working with the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors® and other industry associations towards common goals for the protection of all consumers of real estate services in Pennsylvania.”