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Niceville Realtor® Installed As District Vice President of Florida’s Largest Professional Association

ORLANDO, Fla., January 2009 – Cliff Chaplin, broker/owner, The Realty Leaders in Niceville, has been installed as District 9 vice president of the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR), the state’s largest professional association. A member of the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors, Chaplin will serve his fellow professionals in District 9, which encompasses Bay, Walton, Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties.

“I think the biggest challenge for our district, along with most other districts, will be dealing with declining revenues without sacrificing our level of service provided,” Chaplin says. However, District 9 members have a unique opportunity in 2009 to expand on their business, he says.

“With the new Panama City International Airport expected to open in late 2009, our district will have a great opportunity to take advantage of the increased international awareness of our area and help create potential sales for our members,” Chaplin says. “Cooperating within the district on an International Council is one way we can achieve this.”

Active in residential brokerage, Chaplin served as 2008 president of his local association, and was treasurer in 2006, assistant treasurer in 2005 and chairman of the Realtor Outreach Committee in 2003-04, as well serving on various committees since 2001. On the state level, he has been a member of FAR’s Board of Directors from 2004-08 and a member of the FAR Honor Society from 2004-07. Chaplin has served on numerous FAR committees since 2003, and is a graduate of the Emerald Coast Association’s leadership development program.

An Air Force retiree who is a veteran of the first Gulf War, Chaplin is involved in a variety of military and community activities, including the Military Officers Association of America, the Air Force Association, the AMVETS Post 78 in Niceville, and served a two-year term as chairman of the Twin Cities (Niceville-Valparaiso) Veterans Council. He has coached for youth soccer and softball organizations.

As FAR district vice president, Chaplin will “help the boards in my district find creative ways to work together to help all our members – synergy is the key!” he says.

The Florida Association of Realtors®, the voice for real estate in Florida, provides programs, services, ongoing education, research and legislative representation to its 125,000 members in 67 local boards/associations throughout Florida.