Marla Martin, Communications Manager, or Jeff Zipper, Vice President of Communications 407/438-1400, ext. 2326 or 2314

Orlando Realtor Takes Office as President-Elect of Florida’s Largest Professional Association

ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 4, 2008 – Cynthia C. Shelton, a commercial broker with Colliers Arnold Associates in Orlando, has been installed as 2008 president-elect of the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR), the state’s largest professional association with more than 150,000 members.

Shelton is a member of the Orlando Regional Realtor® Association, Central Florida Commercial Association of Realtors®, Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) and the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC).

A Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) and member of the Counselors of Real Estate (CRE), she served as 2002 international president of the CCIM Institute. Shelton also was the 1996 president of the Florida CCIM chapter and 1994 president of the Greater Tampa Association of Realtors®. She has been an FAR board member since 1987 and a board member of the National Association of Realtors® for more than a decade.

In 2006, Gov. Jeb Bush appointed Shelton to the Florida Property Tax Reform Committee. She will continue to work on solutions and relief for rising real estate taxes for all property owners.

In her new FAR role, Shelton says she will continue to advocate for a national disaster insurance program. “Owners of Florida homes and commercial property need assistance, and we want other states to recognize that a relief program will also benefit their states as well,” she says.

Shelton also supports the new FAR Leadership Academy, which will help more Realtors® become leaders in their local and regional areas.  “We also want to get the word out on what Realtors® are doing to improve people’s lives in the communities they serve.”