Fleck, DeBaise, Cardone Take Honors
By Kim Shindle
It was an emotional evening for three PAR members during the annual Awards Ceremony at the September Business Meetings in Harrisburg. Honored for their dedication and service to the real estate industry, the members were presented PAR’s most prestigious awards. PAR Past President Robert J. Fleck of Danville received the Distinguished Service Award; District Vice-President Diane S. DeBaise of Meadville was presented with the REALTOR® Active in Politics (RAP) award and President-Elect Dominic J. Cardone of Glen Mills was named REALTOR® of the Year.
Last year’s Distinguished Service Award winner Janice Smarto presented Fleck his award. Fleck has been active in the real estate profession for 28 years working with Coldwell Banker Fleck Agency in Danville, following a career as an English teacher and wrestling coach. He is a director of the National Association of REALTORS® and is a former PAR REALTOR® of the Year recipient.
Fleck brought chuckles to the crowd as he noted, “My wife is a real estate broker and a wonderful producer. She’s let me have the time to come to PAR and I’ve received more from you guys (PAR members) than you ever got from me.”
Fleck serves as a director of First Community Foundation of Pennsylvania and the Columbia County Alliance for Economic Development and is a member of the Danville Business and Industrial Development Committee, the regional vocational technical school authority, the American Red Cross and Kiwanis.
A graduate of Bloomsburg University, Fleck has taught real estate courses at his alma mater.
Dominic Cardone, 2005 RAP award winner, said of DeBaise prior to presenting her award, “People have done many activities that you aren’t aware of until you see their applications for these awards. This award winner is committed, devoted and has significantly advanced the legislative agenda for PAR.”
DeBaise has 23 years of experience as a broker/appraiser with Coldwell Banker Bainbridge Kaufman Real Estate in Meadville. She is a RPAC trustee and a Sterling “R” contributor. She has also helped her local association achieve 200 percent of its RPAC fund-raising goal.
Surprised by the appearance of her mother and son, DeBaise noted, “Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You all are my REALTOR® family.”
An active community member, DeBaise serves with local chapters of the American Cancer Society, the March of Dimes, Habitat for Humanity, Wesbury-Hillside Board of Directors and the local hospital auxiliary and soup kitchen.
2005 REALTOR® of the Year George Naylor jokingly told PAR members he wasn’t ready to give up his award because it has brought him such great joy. In presenting the award, Naylor recalled the first time he met Cardone, the father of 10 children, Cardone was pushing a baby carriage at a PAR meeting.
Cardone will serve PAR as its 2007 president. He has held key leadership positions in the state association for 15 years and has held every leadership post in the Suburban West REALTORS® Association.
A graduate of Georgetown University, Cardone also teaches REALTOR® education courses throughout the state.
He is a volunteer with St. Thomas the Apostle Parish and serves as co-chair of the advisory board of the Franciscan Spiritual Center.
Cardone’s wife Betsy works in the real estate business with him, along with his daughter Christina and son Anthony.