HGAR Leadership Expands Role of its 2020 Regional Directors

WHITE PLAINS—In an ongoing effort to create stronger member engagement, awareness and communication in a continually growing association, the HGAR leadership is expanding the role of its five regional directors covering Westchester, Putnam, Rockland and Orange counties, as well as Manhattan.

“As our membership and our territory increases in size, we think it’s very important to share information across our large geography and we are excited to embark on some new initiatives this year,” said HGAR President Gail Fattizzi.

Among them will be “County Days”—special events in each of the five counties within HGAR”s coverage area. “I’ve also asked our Regional Directors to serve on the HGAR Recognition Committee, so that we can have representation for all areas when considering our annual awards,” added Fattizzi. “Plus, we’ll be partnering with various committees, councils and organizations, such as the Women’s Council of Realtors, Young Professionals Network and others in planning regional events.”

“Our goal is to create enhanced visibility and communications on a regional level,” said Fattizzi. “We want everyone to know they are welcome to become more involved in this vibrant association.” There will be more teleconferencing, video and webinar opportunities as well.

Eydie Lopez
Orange County
Regional Director

Terri Crozier
Westchester County
Regional Director

Tony D’Anzica
Manhattan
Regional Director

Earlier this year, Eydie Lopez, Regional Director for Orange County, held a Legal Update session at the association’s Goshen office. She is considering a Realtor Safety session and Orange County Day at West Point later this year. In 2019, Lopez hosted a Holiday Party at HGAR’s Goshen office, a networking event at Ferraro’s Bulls Head Inn in Campbell Hill, and a tour of the new Orange County Government Center.

“My mission this year is to involve and empower members in our county to be recognized as a united county,” said Lopez. “I want all members to feel that they can participate and be part of the bigger picture by attending the events and informational sessions we are planning.”

Terri Crozier, Westchester County Regional Director, held a similar Legal Update program in White Plains. Crozier is also busy planning events for the rest of the year, including a County Day this summer, and a Real Estate Self Defense class for Westchester agents in September.

“My goals as the Regional Director of Westchester are to educate our members by demonstrating the value of membership with HGAR, and to invite them to participate in involvement on a higher level,” noted Crozier. “Not only will it help them professionally, it will also help them personally.”

Tony D’Anzica, Regional Director for Manhattan, is already busy planning a “Manhattan Day, informational event on legal updates, the OneKey MLS and all that HGAR offers to new Manhattan agents. In addition, he’s hoping to work with HGAR’s YPN group to plan a networking event in Manhattan.

“As the Manhattan Regional Director, I feel it is my duty to help educate our Manhattan agents, who very often tend to be Realtors in name only, not in spirit. Manhattan does not have a Realtor culture,” he explained. “The Manhattan culture has always been transaction driven, where results and prestige are defined by dollars. But our Realtor Code of Ethics states that we always consider the public interest in our actions.”

D’Anzica spearheaded the recent merger between the Manhattan Association of Realtors and HGAR and continues to work to grow the association membership there.

Richard Herska
Rockland County
Regional Director

Clayton Livingston
Putnam County
Regional Director

In light of all the recent video chats and meetings as Realtors practice “social distancing,” Rich Herska is planning to conduct more virtual events for HGAR members this year. The Rockland County Regional Director also chairs the Association’s newly revamped Young Professionals Network. “Our roles have changed drastically as a result of the Coronavirus, so one of my goals is to help us better ‘virtualize’ ourselves,” he said. “I think we need to embrace all of these new video meeting technologies because that’s going to be a big part of our future.”

In addition to planning in-person events, Herska also wants to keep Rockland Realtors aware of any important community updates in his county’s towns and villages.

Clayton Livingston, Putnam County Regional Director, echoes Herska’s feelings. “We are looking into the option of doing work group meetings virtually where we can connect with the Realtors here in Putnam County via videoconference,” said Livingston. “We also hope to have some in-person events later this year.”

One of his ideas is a Putnam County Day at Boscobel during the summer with a picnic and Shakespeare play. “I think that’s something we can all look forward to,” he said.