REALTORS® recognized for service

Jerry Romanik, Jerry Speer and Todd Polinchock have more in common than being REALTORS®.

These PAR members were honored for their dedication and commitment to the real estate industry Tuesday evening during PAR’s Annual Awards Ceremony in Harrisburg.

Romanik of Summit Realty in Hawley was named PAR’s REALTOR® of the Year. A past PAR president, he also serves as an NAR director. He was named REALTOR® of the Year four times and was presented the Outstanding Service Award by the Pike/Wayne Association. The award was presented by 2007 REALTOR® of the Year Melissa Sieg, who recalled Romanik’s efforts to register REALTORS® for the Amber Alert program.

“Being a REALTOR® has always been very important to me,” Romanik said. “When I put my REALTOR® pin on it means something to me.”

For the first time, two REALTORS®, Speer and Polinchock, were both presented the REALTOR® Active in Politics Award for significantly advancing PAR’s legislative agenda through political involvement. The award was presented by last year’s recipient Janice Smarto. Both Speer and Polinchock serve as Pennsylvania’s representatives on the national REALTORS® Political Involvement Committee.

A former PAR president, Speer has long been involved in legislative and political affairs. He has served on the Legislative Committee, the REALTORS® Political Action Committee and is a Key Contact for state Sen. Jay Costa and Rep. Dan Frankel. Speer is a member of the REALTORS® Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh and is a Federal Political Coordinator for Rep. Mike Doyle.

Speer said, “I’ve always been involved in politics. Our country is one of the few that allows ownership of real property and I believe we should help to retain private property rights.”

Polinchock of Keller Williams Real Estate Market Center in Blue Bell is the chairman for the Suburban REALTORS® Alliance and is a key contact for the Bucks County Commissioners. At the state level, he has served on the Legislative, Issues Mobilization and REALTORS® Political Action committees. He is a Federal Political Coordinator for Rep. Patrick Murphy.

“I’m a political junkie,” Polinchock said. “It’s so rewarding to work with this organization.”