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

Lakeland Realtor® Installed as District Vice President
of Florida’s Largest Professional Association

ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 4, 2008 – Matt Ruthven, leasing specialist, The Ruthvens in Lakeland, has been installed as District 10 vice president of the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR), the state’s largest professional association. A member of the Lakeland Association of Realtors®, Ruthven will serve his fellow professionals in District 10, which encompasses Polk and Highlands counties.

“One of our district’s challenges is tight water restrictions that make it hard to get permits to build new commercial buildings,” he says. “In both the residential and commercial sectors, property tax increases and insurance availability are major issues.”

Active in the development and leasing of commercial warehouses and a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM), Ruthven served as 2006 and 2007 president of the Lakeland association. He has attended recent conventions held by FAR and the National Association of Realtors®. He is a graduate of Leadership Lakeland and a member of Kiwanis and the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce.

Ruthven brings extensive industry experience to his role as FAR district vice president. “Realtors need to educate buyers about the good supply of housing in our market as well as historically low interest rates, which improve their buying power.”

As a FAR vice president, Ruthven will focus on Realtor® education, training and involvement in vital housing-related issues in the region. As real estate professionals, Realtors seek to improve the availability and affordability of housing, while helping people from all walks of life achieve the American dream.