Leaders in the local real estate business community last month announced honors for their peers and community members for their career-spanning efforts and support in 2020.
The Sequim Association of Realtors named its Realtor of the Year, Affiliate of the Year and many more awards via Zoom at the group’s weekly meeting in early February.
Association president E. Michael McAleer said the awards are nominated by its membership and voted on by an awards committee.
Members say the awards have been given out for about 40 years.
Realtor of the Year
Ed Sumpter, owner and designated broker at Blue Sky Real Estate, 190 Priest Road, was given Realtor of the Year, the association’s highest tribute for his faithfulness to the principles of the Realtor organization, professionalism and the code of ethics.
Association members say Sumpter has served as its secretary and on its board of directors bringing policies, bylaws, rules and regulation documents up to date.
He’s also remained active in encouraging real estate agents to be active in the association’s committees, such as the Public Relations Committee, association leaders say.
Along with his efforts for the association, real estate leaders say Sumpter devotes time to the community with regular donations to causes, such as Christmas blanket and coat drives.
“In his own business, Ed is an example of Realtor Spirit to which we can all aspire,” McAleer said.
Mark McHugh, owner and broker of Mark N. McHugh Real Estate. Courtesy photo
Realtor Achievement
Mark McHugh, owner and broker of Mark N. McHugh Real Estate, 720 E. Washington Street, Suite 101, received the Realtor Achievement award. McHugh has served as the Association’s treasurer since 2012 and helps with financial questions, arranging the group’s financial audits and more.
Nominators wrote that McHugh “plays a large part in keeping the Board of Directors on the straight and narrow (and) he has taken charge of projects this year that no one else was willing to do.”
Catherine Coté of CSC Designs, LLC. Courtesy photo
Affiliate of the Year
The association presented Catherine Coté of CSC Designs, LLC, with the Affiliate of the Year award for being one of the best supporters of the association and real estate industry.
In 2020, she helped create the Affiliate’s Committee to help make affiliates’ role in the association more meaningful and to grow participation.
Association leaders said she’s worked with McCrorie Carpet, the McAleer Team at Re/MAX Prime, and now in her current business of CSC Designs. Nominators said she does “awesome stuff” and worked hard “to add value to our members this year.”
James Castell, sales and marketing director for Castell Insurance. Courtesy photo
Community Service
Typically presented to a real estate agent, association members selected James Castell, sales and marketing director for Castell Insurance, 426 E. Washington St.
Association leaders say Castell provides important information and context about insurance at weekly membership meetings, and his “Clallam Corner” YouTube Channel highlights local businesses.
His shift to technology helped his family’s agency earn one of Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance’s 10 Agent For The Future awards for being “forward-looking” and “digitally savvy.”
Castell also serves as host for various events such as the association’s awards banquet and the Sequim Irrigation Festival kick-off dinner and auction.
Beth McHugh, managing broker of Mark N. McHugh Real Estate. Courtesy photo
President’s Award
McAleer presented Beth McHugh, managing broker of Mark N. McHugh Real Estate, with the Sequim Association of Realtor’s President Award for serving on the group’s scholarship committee, elections committee and awards committee.
She is also past-president and helped train the association’s new association executive, Karyn McCracken, and “the results have been outstanding,” McAleer said.
Citizen of the Year
Based on his contributions to the public, John Golbeck — a staff member at the Oak Table Cafe, 292 W. Bell St. — was named Citizen of the Year.
Golbeck, an employee with the restaurant for more than 30 years, has also served as a foster father to local children for many years.
One nominator said, “Whenever I have seen him, he is always being patient and loving to kids pulled from a miserable situation.”
The nominator said they had “heard stories of the care that he gives to the kids in his home, the time he spends to make sure they have as much as possible and to make sure that each feel recognized, loved and special.”
He restored a bike beautifully as a gift for this ‘daughter’ so she could have some independence and the ability to get a job.”
Courage under Fire
Charmayne Hurlbut received the “Courage under Fire” award for being a constant presence as an affiliate of the association, its leaders say.
Hurlbut started in finance under the tutelage of Lee Chatfield. Some of the longer serving members will remember her sitting behind her desk at Sound Community Bank before opening her own mortgage brokerage and later transitioning to Clallam Title Company.
“Charmayne has shared her expertise and unfailing good humor with this Association as long as I can remember,” McAleer said.
A nominee said despite health challenges, she’s continued to deliver food and supplies to elderly shut-ins who couldn’t get out during the COVID pandemic.
For more information about the Sequim Association of Realtors, visit sequimrealtors.org or call 360-681-8365.
