Breaking News: HGAR’s Dorothy Botsoe Named NYSAR Realtor of the Year

ALBANY—The New York State Association of Realtors announced today at its 2020 Virtual Fall Business Meetings that veteran Westchester Realtor Dorothy Botsoe, Broker/Owner of Dorothy Jensen Realty, Inc. of White Plains, has been named NYSAR 2020 Realtor of the Year.

Botsoe, who has more than 30 years real estate experience, made history three years ago when she became the first African American president of the more than century-old Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors.

During her HGAR presidency in 2017, she also made history by doing something that no other president had ever done in the past—personally reaching out to HGAR’s then 11,000 Realtors with her “Tea with the President” series. She traveled through all four counties—Westchester, Putnam, Rockland and Orange, as well as the Bronx—to meet with Realtors and listen to their concerns and suggestions.

Botsoe said being named the 2020 NYSAR Realtor of the Year is an “overwhelming honor.”

“It’s amazing that my peers think I’m so deserving of such consideration,” she said. “I never think about an award – it’s always about service and advocating for consumers and other Realtors. I do it selflessly, because at the end of the day, it’s about what’s in the best interest of the consumer and the real estate industry.”

Botsoe’s involvement with NYSAR began more than 20 years ago and since then she’s served more than 150 times on various committees, such as the Housing Opportunities Foundation, Legislative Policy Forum and Education Management Committee.

A native of Ghana, West Africa, Botsoe opened her own brokerage in 1995, specializing in all aspects of real estate including sales, leasing and real estate owned/foreclosure specific work. She holds a B.A. in Business Administration from SUNY Purchase.

Her accomplishments and positions include honors such as the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors Realtor of the Year (2012), the New York State Women’s Council of Realtors Member of the Year (2007), the New York State Chapter of Women’s Council of Realtors President (2003) and New York State Graduate Realtor Institute Chapter President (2003). She has served on the board for the Women’s Council of Realtors as Governor, Treasurer and President at both the local and state levels. She also served as Second Vice President and Director for the former Westchester County Board of Realtors and has also served on the National Association of Realtors Board of Directors and its Diversity Committee.

At HGAR, Botsoe currently serves on the Board of Directors, the Fair Housing Task Force and the Legislative Council and the Global Business Council. Last year she co-chaired HGAR’s Fair Housing & Cultural Diversity Committee.

She has been an avid supporter of RPAC and has continuously been listed in HGAR’s “RPAC Honor Roll,” donating more than $10,000 to RPAC annually. She has also been inducted into NYSAR’s “RPAC Hall of Fame” and is always a staple at NYSAR’s Lobby Day in Albany.

Two years ago, she co-chaired HGAR’s RPAC Committee, while also serving as the Immediate Past President of HGAR. Among the events she created and organized for RPAC were Zumba Fitness, Realtor Olympics, a visit to the Culinary Institute of American and many other Networking events.

In addition, Botsoe was honored by the Westchester Residential Opportunities (WRO) in 2017 for her tireless work for the full-service housing counseling organization that helps families and individuals in Westchester and the lower Hudson Valley by educating first-time homebuyers. She served on WRO’s Board of Directors for two years and is currently a member of its Diversity Committee.

NYSAR also gave special recognition at the Virtual Fall Business Meetings to  significant contributors to the Realtor Political Action Committee, including HGAR members Michael Schmelzer of Tryax Realty Management Inc. for his $150,000 contribution and Dorothy Botsoe, Nancy Kennedy and HGAR CEO Richard Haggerty for their $50,000 contributions to RPAC.

The most recent HGAR members to have been named NYSAR Realtor of the Year honor include J.P. Endres in 2010, the late Henry Fries in 2006 and Savo Fries in 2004.