Christie Knight, Preferred Choice Realty Group – 2010 President
Raised in the Panama Canal Zone, Christie moved to Lee County in 1995 after graduating from Florida State University and earning a Bachelors Degree in International Relations and working overseas for a few years. Upon moving to the area she earned her teaching certificate from USF and began her career teaching special education in the Lee County schools. In 2000 she switched careers and became a REALTOR® and then a broker associate in 2003, the same year she became active in the Association. Since 2003 Christie has served as Chair for several committees including the Tradeshow, RPAC Fundraising and Finance and has served on various others. In 2005, she was elected to the Board of Directors, served as Secretary in 2007 and in 2008 served as the Association’s Treasurer. Christie is also active at the state and national level, serving on the Florida Association of REALTORS® Honor Society and as a Board Director; she is also a National Association of REALTORS® Director. Christie has been appointed to as the Association’s 2010 President and the Lee County 20/20 Conservation Committee.



Gary Verwilt, GRI, Realty Executives of Fort Myers – 2010 President Elect
Licensed in 1984, Gary Verwilt has been a member of the National Association of REALTORS® for over 25 years. In that period of time he has marketed Residential, Commercial and Vacant Land in the Real Estate Field.  Currently Gary is manager of Realty Executives Southwest Florida. He holds the Graduate REALTOR® Institute designation (GRI), the SRES designation, and the “At Home With Diversity” Designation. Gary’s activities with the REALTOR® Association of Greater Fort Myers and the Beach began with committee memberships in various committees, progressing to chair of the Public Policy & RPAC Committee, to a member of the Board of Directors, to Secretary, Treasurer, and just recently nominated for President-Elect for 2010 and President of the Association for 2011.




Marion Briggs, Sun Country Realty of FL, Inc- 2010 Secretary
A Florida REALTOR® since 1981, I became the Broker for Sun Country Realty of Fla., Inc. in 1997. I started volunteering for the Association by serving on the Golf Crisis Committee and in 2004 was the chairman of that committee. The past couple of years I’ve worked on the Affordable/Attainable Housing Committee and this year I joined the Public Policy Committee. For 2007 and again this year I am a Director for the Florida Association Of Realtors as well as being a Director this year for our association. I obtained a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from the University Of South Florida in 1994 as well. I have the time, energy, passion and skills necessary to be a part of your leadership team and pledge to serve you to the best of my abilities.

Ron Carpenter, Realty Executives of Southwest FL

Connie Gustafson, Prudential Florida Realty
Connie Gustafson is a native of Indiana and received her B.S. and M.S. degrees from Indiana University. She is a former educator who worked in both public schools and psychiatric hospitals with emotionally disturbed children. Connie is a former Dale Carnegie instructor and was employed as a sales consultant and national trainer for an educational publishing company. In this capacity she trained teachers, administrators, and account executives. Her real estate background spans over 20 years. She originated loans as a mortgage banker and worked as an account executive with a mortgage insurance company where she mediated customer and underwriter relationships and was responsible for regional training in the Southwest US. Connie moved to Fort Myers in 1999 and, after receiving her real estate license, joined Prudential Florida WCI Realty. Connie is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the REALTOR® Association of Greater Fort Myers & the Beach, Inc.,  Chairman of the Grievance Committee, and a member of the FAR Board of Directors.




Marge Mathers, Sun Country Realty of FL, Inc.
Marge is a member of several committees and sub-committee events for the local Board and on committees and task forces for FAR and the state WCR chapter. 2008 Ft Myers Board of Directors 2008 Public Policy/RPAC Chair 2007 REALTOR® of the year with the REALTOR® Association of Greater Fort Myers & the Beach, Inc. 2007 President, Cape Coral WCR 2006-2008 Federal Political Coordinator 14th District (Fl) with Congressman Connie Mack







Deborah Murray, Keller Williams World Class
My desire to serve the Association is driven by my passion for this industry and true aspiration to help make a difference. My positive energy and enthusiasm can be a benefit to the 2010 Board of Directors. My leadership
skills are evident in my career path. I have participated in many avenues of the real estate industry as both a residential and commercial associate and Broker/Manager. This brings diverse real estate experience to your
Board of Directors. As a professional licensed to practice real estate in the State of Florida, since 1984, I pride myself in the fact that my reputation of professionalism, honesty and integrity has never been successfully challenged. Although my involvement in the real estate industry spans decades, my record is sparkling clean. 

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Barbara Bruneel, Century 21 Town & Country
After completing my Navy career, I returned to my home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The winters finally got the best of me and I relocated to Lehigh Acres 18 years ago. In March of 2000, I received my Sales Associate’s license and started my new career at Century 21 Town & Country. I’m proud to say there was no need to look anywhere else, I’m here to stay. I am a Broker Associate and my designations include: CFA – Certified Foreclosure Agent, ABR – Accredited Buyer’s Representative, RFS – Residential Financial Specialist, Relocation Specialist, CGRN Specialist – Century 21 Global Referral Network and I attended the 2009 Leadership Academy. During my years as a Realtor, I have served on the Knowledge Services Committee and the Grievance Committee. Taking my full time Real Estate Career very seriously, above all I believe in integrity and honesty.




Joanne Chando, Avalar Gulf Coast Properties
Broker/Owner of Avalar Gulf Coast Properties and a real estate professional for over 25 years. In 2002 Joanne was honored as an Association New Member of the Year. Since that time, Joanne has been a either a member of, or Chairman, of every committee at the Association. In 2008 she received The President’s Award for her contributions to the Association. Joanne Chando was a FAR Director 2005-2007. At FAR she has served on Professional Standards and has been on Professional Development including subcommittees since 2005. She has also been an Education Ambassador and worked on several statewide projects that included auditioning and auditing FAR Instructors in the field as well as reviewing programs for possible inclusion in the FAR curriculum.  In 2009 she was singled out as one of only 12 REALTORS® statewide to participate in the FAR Leadership Academy where she was elected Chairman of her team. Education, Ethics and Enthusiasm are the hallmarks of her professional life.



Donna Guido, Wentworth Realty Group
As a Florida licensed Real Estate Agent, Donna is a member of the Realtor Association of Greater Fort Myers and the Beach Inc. and is a Real Estate Counselor at Wentworth Realty Group in Fort Myers. Donna specializes as a buyer's agent in Residential Real Estate in Lee County. She actively works on various committees within the Real Estate Community. Donna has been a member of the Fort Myers Chapter of Women's Council of Realtors since 2001 and currently serves as the 2009 Florida State District V Vice President for Women's Council. The Council focuses on providing outstanding networking opportunities and educational programs to their members and promotes leadership development both locally and nationally. Donna helps to fulfill the mission of the Council by assisting to develop members to be Entrepreneurs and Industry Leaders.




Kevin Jarrett, Kellwer Williams World Class
This is my twelfth year in the real estate business in South West Florida. I have sold homes and managed sales teams from Local Builders to National Builders. After leaving the New Home Sales arena, I obtained my Broker's License and have been a Team Leader and was Qualifying Broker for two different National Franchises. I am currently at Keller Williams World Class Realty as a Broker Associate. Real Estate is not my job, it's my career! I am very involved with the REALTOR Association of Greater Fort Myers and the Beach, Inc. where I am or have been on the Public Policy Committee, Attainable/Workforce Housing Subcommittee and the MLS Practices Forum. I also am a graduate in the Strategic Leadership Academy that the Association has developed for 2009. I am excited for the opportunity to serve for you, the agent, and be a voice for your concerns. I have learned that this career I have chosen is not just about selling homes…it is about protecting property values, about educating the public on current housing conditions and educating our politicians on our concerns and needs in our communities.



 Jim Maginness, Exit Realty Sunrise
 Jim Maginness, a Realtor in the Lee County area since 2004 with Exit Realty, specializing in residential properties. Jimhas been a member of the Realtor Association of Greater Fort Myers and the Beach since 2006. Upon becoming a member of the association in 2006, he became involved in the association by becoming an active member of the Public Policy/RPAC Committee, supporting the committee’s efforts on behalf of the association’s membership to protect private property rights and the real estate profession. Jim is currently serving as the chair of the Public Policy Committee for 2009. As chair of the Public Policy Committee, he was appointed and served as a director on the 2009 Board of Directors for the Florida Realtors, formerly Florida Association of Realtor (FAR). Jim is an active member of the Affordable/Attainable Housing Task Force committee.



Cindy Roberts, Realty World Roberts
I am proud to say I have been a resident of Fort Myers since 1960 after my parents moved our family here from Nashville, Tennessee. I earned a B.S. degree from Florida State University, College of Business in 1979, obtained my Real Estate license the same year and my Brokers license in 1982. My professional designations are ABR, CRS, GRI and I am currently enrolled in the E-Pro course. I have been a member of the Fort Myers Association of Realtors/Greater Association of Fort Myers and the Beach since 1979. I’ve previously served as secretary and a director back in the 80’s and 90’s. I served on numerous committees i.e. private property week, chair of the Sales Excellence award committee, helped to re-write the by-laws in the 90’s and currently serving my second year as a Director. While affiliated with a national franchise, by today’s standards our office would be considered a “boutique” office. I believe that being a part of this smaller, family owned office provides me with a unique perspective to contribute to the Association. Real Estate has been my sole profession for over 30 years. I have been and remain committed to providing the highest level of professionalism and integrity to the Real Estate industry.




 Karen Swanbeck, Coldwell Banker Residential Realty
 Karen Swanbeck moved to Fort Myers in 1983 to work for WINK after earning her Bachelor of Science Degree  Communications from Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York. In 1985 she became a licensed Insurance Agent, and opened her firm Tenney Insurance Services in 1991. In 1997 Tenney Insurance Services merged with RTI Insurance and Karen managed their Florida Operations until 2000 when she became a Realtor and joined her husband Tom in their real estate business, TeamSwanbeck at Coldwell Banker, Fort Myers Beach. She has been a member of the Realtor Association of Greater Fort Myers and the Beach since it was formed, and recently completed the Association’s Leadership Academy.  Karen has her ABR, AHWD, Previews Luxury Home Specialist, Certified Negotiation Specialist and Certified Home Marketing Specialist designations. In addition she currently serves on The Fort Myers Beach Library Board, The Community Services Advisory Board for the Town of Fort Myers Beach, and is the Co-Secretary of the Pilot Club of Fort Myers Beach. Karen and her husband Tom enjoy boating, traveling and living on Fort Myers Beach with their children Robert (17) and Sarah (15) who are attending Fort Myers High School.




John Toney, Century 21 Sunbelt Realty
John Toney was born in Pennsylvania in a small rural farming community about 30 miles north of Philadelphia. He moved to the Ft. Myers area in 1985 and settled in Cape Coral several years later. After running a successful automotive business for seven years, he felt the time was right for a change. John received his Sales Associate license in 2000 and joined the REALTOR® Association of Greater Ft. Myers and the Beach. In 2002 he passed his Broker’s exam. John has been at the same real estate office and has received many awards for his outstanding production. After serving two years on the MLS Committee, John was appointed Chairman for the 2007 session. John continues to serve on that committee. John is currently finishing out his term as a two year Director at the REALTOR® Association of Greater Ft. Myers and the Beach and looks forward to serving you for another two year term. John is also an FAR Director and is proud to represent our Association on a State level.