Carmen Bauman Installed as 2024 HGAR President
WHITE PLAINS—Approximately 250 colleagues, association executives and well-wishers were on hand for the 2024 Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors Installation Gala on Feb. 1 to celebrate the installation of Carmen Bauman as the 2024 HGAR President and the swearing-in of the association’s 2024 Executive Officers and Directors.
The gala held at the opulent Opus Westchester in Downtown White Plains was themed “Stronger Together.” After her installation, officiated by OneKey MLS Chief Executive Officer Richard Haggerty, 2024 HGAR President Bauman, Associate Broker with commercial real estate brokerage firm RM Friedland, stressed that during her term she will be seeking increased participation by the membership to help HGAR grow even stronger.
Bauman is the first Chinese American to serve as association president. In addition, she is the first commercial real estate broker to serve as HGAR President since 1997. Bauman served as President-Elect in 2023. Previously, she served as Treasurer of the Board of Directors in 2022 and has been a member of the HGAR Board since 2019. In 2023, she served on HGAR’s Global Business Council, Legislative Committee and Young Professionals Network.
“This year you will hear me speak about ‘Stronger Together’ because that is what we are. We are stronger together,” Bauman told the Installation Gala event gathering. “We should stand together now more than ever, rise together. The Realtor collective can and will remain strong. So, I would ask each and every one of you to raise your glass and let’s have a toast—here’s to evolution not revolution. Here’s to the Realtor family.”
Bauman, who is also an attorney, stated earlier that in 2024 she will be asking each HGAR member “to step out of your comfort zone and explore some uncharted territories—get involved with the association if you have never been involved before or get even more involved if you’re already engaged.”
A poignant part of the program was when Bauman’s sons Jake and Sebastian led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The program also featured the installation of the HGAR Board of Directors by HGAR Chief Executive Officer Lynda Fernandez and the installation of the 2024 Executive Officers by 2024 NYSAR President Joe Rivellino.
The 2024 HGAR Executive Officers installed include: Vlora Sejdi of HomeSmart Homes & Estates in White Plains as President-Elect; Joseph Lippolis of BHHS Rivertowns Real Estate in Peekskill as Treasurer; Rey Hollingsworth Falu of Hollingsworth Real Estate Group in White Plains as Secretary, and Tony D’Anzica of Dynamax Realty NYC Inc. in Manhattan as Immediate Past President.
“We are so excited to welcome Carmen Bauman as our 2024 Association President. She offers a wealth of knowledge as an attorney, commercial and residential broker, and will be a dynamic leader,” said HGAR CEO Fernandez, who participated in her first Installation Gala since taking over as association CEO in September 2023. “We are also very fortunate to have such a diverse and vibrant group of 2024 directors from throughout the Hudson Valley and New York City who are dedicated to advancing HGAR’s strategic vision.”
HGAR’s 2024 Regional Directors include Joseph Cosentino of Morris Park Realty Group in the Bronx as Bronx County Regional Director; Carole McCann of Hudson Heritage Realty in Washingtonville as Orange County Regional Director; Lee Presser of Exp Realty NYC in Manhattan as New York County Regional Director; Jennifer Rousset of Howard Hanna | Rand Realty in New City as Rockland County Regional Director; Aaron Velez of Houlihan Lawrence in Somers as Putnam County Regional Director; and Crystal Hawkins-Syska of Keller Williams New York Realty in White Plains as Westchester County Regional Director.
Additional HGAR 2024 Directors installed were Emran Bhuiyan of EXIT Realty Premium, Bronx; Timothy Bohlke of Howard Hanna | Rand Realty, Suffern; Layla Boyles of Century 21 Realty Center, Monroe; Anthony Domathoti of Exit Realty Premium, Bronx; Mackenzie Forsberg of Genesis Realty Group LLC, Bronx; Ron Garafalo of John J. Lease Realtors Inc., Middletown; Joseph Houlihan of Houlihan & O’Malley Real Estate Services, Bronxville; Diane Mitchell of Wright Bros Real Estate Inc., Nyack; Timothy Mullowney of Zillow Inc., Manhattan; Roseann Paggiotta of Exp Realty, White Plains; Darin (Nan) Palumbo of Green Grass Real Estate Corp., Bronxville; Anthony Ruperto of Ally Realty, Beacon; Christina Stevens of Laujel Realty Corp., Bronx; Maryann Tercasio, Howard Hanna Rand | Realty, Central Valley; Cheryl Williams of Corcoran Legends Realty, Tarrytown and Shanese Williams of Exp Realty, White Plains.
The program concluded with the acknowledgment of HGAR’s 2023 major award winners by HGAR Recognition Committee Co-Chair Crystal Hawkins-Syska
Realtor of the Year: Anthony Domathoti, Exit Realty Premium, Bronx
Affiliate of the Year : John Dolgetta, Dolgetta Law, PLLC, White Plains
Spirit Award : Darin “Nan” Palumbo of Green Grass Real Estate Corp., Bronxville; Christina Prostano, CP Global Team, Compass NYC
Extra Mile Award : HGAR Treasurer Joseph Lippolis, BHHS Rivertowns Real Estate, Peekskill
Up and Coming : Tiffany French, Clarke Real Estate, New Rochelle and Tracey Scaro, ERA Insite Realty Services, White Plains
Excellence in Commercial Real Estate : MacKenzie Forsberg, Genesis Realty Group, Bronx
Stephanie Crispinelli Humanitarian Award : Matt McAllister, Corcoran Baer & McIntosh, Nyack
Albert P. Schatz Legislative Advocacy Award : Kathy Zamechansky, KZA Realty Group, Bronx
YPN Award : Kadian Martin of Curasi Realty of Montgomery
President’s Award : Former HGAR Marketing Director Cathleen Stack.
HGAR also recognized Leah Caro of Park Sterling Realty of Bronxville, who earned the NYSAR Alan Yassky Award for 2023.
The sponsors of the 2024 Installation Gala were: OneKey MLS, Premier Sponsor; Sentrilock, DJ Sponsor; CoreLogic, Bar Sponsor; Dolgetta Law, PLLC, Bar Sponsor; Allan Block Insurance, Gold Sponsor; Cuddy + Feder LLP, Gold Sponsor; RM Friedland, Gold Sponsor; TEG Federal Credit Union, Gold Sponsor; Start Elevator, Gold Sponsor; Record & Return, Silver Sponsor; Silverson, Pareres & Lombardi LLP, Silver Sponsor; True View Home Inspections, Silver Sponsor; The Restoration Operators, Silver Sponsor and Summit Club Residences, Silver Sponsor.
PHOTOS BY JOHN VECCHIOLLA
