On June 18, the Virgin Islands Territorial Association of Realtors (VITAR) named Lorine Williams its Realtor of the Year. Williams accepted the honor during VITAR’s semi-annual meeting at The Palms at Pelican Cove. Lt. Gov. Gregory Francis and Commissioner of Licensing and Consumer Affairs Wayne Biggs were on hand for the announcement, as were realtors from across the territory.
“It took me completely by surprise! But as the president of VITAR, Kerstin McConnell, read the winner’s bio, I began to recognize myself,” said Williams, a broker associate with Coldwell Banker St. Croix Realty since 2002.
Each year, VITAR recognizes a notable member of the real estate field who serves both her profession and her community in exemplary fashion. The association considers business accomplishments, leadership skills, and participation in civic activities and service clubs, among other things. Lorine Williams fits the bill.
A realtor since 1979, she is licensed in both New Jersey and the Virgin Islands, and teaches Code of Ethics to realtors here. As federal political coordinator, Williams works as liaison between the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and the Delegate to Congress. She has been elected president of VITAR twice in the past and is a current director for the NAR. Williams has served six years on the Board of Directors of the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce and has been active with Junior Achievement in its 22- week “JA Company” program, which teaches high school students how to form and run a business. An advocate for the Women’s Coalition for over a decade, Williams also volunteers for on-call crisis intervention. She’s on duty once a month.
In her spare time? Williams enjoys working with the Caribbean Community Theater and serves on the board of two condo associations.
Lorine Williams has been named Realtor of the Year twice previously, in 1996 and 2006. This November, she will join honorees from the 50 states (one per state) for a formal presentation of the prestigious award in San Francisco.