We are proud to announce that Sheila Wood, broker-owner of Carriage House Real Estate has been named the Berkshire’s 2006 REALTOR® of the Year! This award is given to one member of the Association that has contributed outstanding time and energy to the betterment of the Board.

Sheila, a member since 1993, became more actively involved in the Association in 2001 when she was first elected to serve on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS)

Board of Directors.

In 2003 she was elected to serve as the Vice President of MLS and moved up the officer ranks, serving as President in 2004 and ex officio in 2005. In 2006 the membership elected her Vice President of the Berkshire County Board of REALTORS®, the parent company of the MLS and Sheila plans to continue on to President Elect in 2007 and her Presidency in 2008.

Sheila is no stranger to committee work, and since 1994 has served with pride on the Professional Standards Committee, where she takes recertification training every two years on the REALTOR® Code of Ethics and the administration of hearings. She served on the MLS Fields, Website Advertising and the Broker-Owner Education Task Forces.

She actively participates in many REALTOR Community Service events, such as donations for and creation of Thanksgiving baskets for needy families, the Realtor Holiday Elf program for needy children and is a Relay for Life Dream Team Supporter. She serves as an official moderator of the Board’s education classes and speaks at the New Member Orientation, on MLS topics.

Sheila was a Presidential Appointment to serve as a Massachusetts State Director in 2004 and 2005 and is an alternate Director this year. In that capacity, Sheila attends all state meetings, takes part in the regional cacuses and votes on state matters including fiscal matters and budgets, bylaws, governance and the general workings of the state assocation, on behalf of the Berkshire membership. Sheila has been an active participant on Realtor Day on Beacon Hill in Boston, when REALTORS gather from throughout Massachusetts to speak to Legislators about issues affecting real estate, growth, the environment and private property rights.

On a national level, Sheila has attended critical leadership meetings, including the National Association of REALTORS convention and trade show in both 2003 and 2004 and also the Mid-year Conference in Washington DC in 2003 & 2004. She participated in MLS and Realtor Forums, as well as Realtor Day on Capital hill, meeting with the Federal legislators representing Massachusetts and spoke about insurance, banking regulations and more.

In our local community Sheila also serves with distinction. For more than nine years, Sheila has been a member of the Kiwanis Club of Lee, and it’s treasurer for the past three. Kiwanis is a world wide organization of volunteers dedication to changing the world one child and one community at a time.

She has also been a member of the Beartown Chapter of Ducks Unlimited for 16 years, and treasurer for the last seven. This organization seeks to raise funds to maintain the wetlands for migratory water fowl throughout the world.

Sheila is also a member of the Lee Sportsmen’s Association, on the Board of Directors of the Lee Chamber of Commerce and is a past member of the Zoning Board of Appeals.

First licensed in the State of Massachusetts in 1993, Sheila joined Carriage House Real Estate under the capable hands of Frank Brundage. In 1997 Frank retired and Sheila purchased the firm, now located on 218 Main Street in Lee and employs eight independent real estate agents.

Sheila’s Realtor Spirit:

“I take pride in being a member of the Realtor organization. We are the first contact for those looking to purchase a home, the most important purchase they will make. Having been in the real estate profession for 13 years, I have met many wonderful people throughout all walks of life.

It is important to me to be involved with our local Board, meeting new people and keeping my finger on the pulse of our current real estate market. Client and customer service is of utmost importance as well as cooperation and professional courtesy to fellow Realtors.

There is nothing more satisfying for me than guiding a family through the process of finding their perfect home.”