Hobe Sound Realtor® Takes Office As President of Florida's Largest Professional Association

ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Patricia S. Fitzgerald, manager/broker-associate with Illustrated Properties in Hobe Sound and Mariner Sands Country Club in Stuart, has been installed as 2011 president of Florida Realtors®, the state's largest professional association with more than 115,000 members.

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"After several difficult years, 2011 will be the year of opportunity for Florida's real estate professionals," says Fitzgerald, who specializes in residential sales, bank-owned properties and property management.

Fitzgerald has been active in local, state and national real estate associations for more than two decades. She is a former president and secretary of the Jupiter Tequesta Hobe Sound Association of Realtors and chaired several key committees. In addition, she has been president, vice president, secretary and treasurer of the regional multiple listing service (MLS) organization.

On the state level, Fitzgerald has chaired a number of committees, subcommittees and task forces. She has served as secretary, vice president and president-elect for Florida Realtors. She has been a director of the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) since 1999, serving on several committees, including communications chairman.

In the community, Fitzgerald is past president of Executive Women of the Palm Beaches. She is a graduate of Leadership Palm Beach County, and an active fundraiser for youth organizations, military activities, and other community and civic activities.

As president of the state association, Fitzgerald will focus on enhancing Florida Realtors' services and support for real estate professionals. "I would like to continue to elevate our profession through substantive education and training programs," she says. "With technology moving so quickly, we must provide members with information that will help them be successful in serving their clients."

Fitzgerald adds that Realtors must continue to be leaders in their Florida communities. "We will focus on housing-related issues, such as increasing the availability of financing for buyers, so that more Floridians will be able to achieve their dream of homeownership," she says.

Florida Realtors®, formerly known as the Florida Association of Realtors®, serves as the voice for real estate in Florida. It provides programs, services, continuing education, research and legislative representation to its 115,000 members in 65 boards/associations. Florida Realtors® Media Center website is available at http://media.floridarealtors.org.

SOURCE Florida Realtors