Sandra Schwab

Sandra Schwab joins the Lincolnshire office. She was born in Lincoln, Nebraska and spent her early childhood in California. She graduated from Union College, Lincoln, Nebraska with an Education degree. She became an elementary teacher, teaching grades 1-8. She also has a degree in music with emphasis in piano. She earned a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. She received her realtors license in Tennessee, also in Colorado and now in Nebraska. She has 2 grown children. She enjoys traveling, cooking and playing the piano. She recently returned to Nebraska to be close to a new grandchild and family. Sandra can be reached at 970-396-4502 or Sandra.Schwab@woodsbros.com.

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

Julia Peterson

Julia Peterson joins the Country Club office. She has lived in Lincoln since 2009. She is married to Tyler (Boomer) Peterson and they have one daughter. Her hobbies include cooking, walking and spending time with family. Julia can be reached at 402-904-0984 or Julia.Peterson@woodsbros.com.

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

Scott Rotert

Scott Rotert joins the Lincolnshire office. He grew up in Pocahontas, Iowa. He moved to Nebraska in 1996. Scott and his wife Stephanie have one son and two cats. His hobbies include golf, riding his motorcycle and reading. Scott can be reached at 402-440-6538 or Scott.Rotert@woodsbros.com.

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

Laura Horak

Laura Horak joins the Grand Island office. She grew up in St. Paul, Nebraska. After marriage, Laura and her husband moved many times, St. Libory, McCook, York and now they have settled in Grand Island. They have three grown children and can’t wait to be grandparents. Her hobbies include crafts, scrap booking and bowling. Laura can be reached at 308-380-0058 or Laura.Horak@woodsbros.com.

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

Matt Garner

Matt Garner joins the Country Club office. He grew up in Hyannis, NE. He moved to Lincoln in 2003. He and his wife Mandy have a two year old child. His hobbies include fishing, rental property and spending time with family. Matt can be reached at 402-613-3709 or Matt.Garner @woodsbros.com.

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

Woods Bros Realty celebrated its top real estate professionals with an Awards Banquet Feb. 15 at the Country Club of Lincoln.

Vladimir Oulianov of the Country Club Plaza office was named the Salesperson of the Year for 2012, with the Most Transactions Closed, Most Listings Closed, and Highest Volume of Closed Listings. Oulianov and Craig Loeck of the Lincolnshire office were both recipients of the Century Award for closing over 100 transactions in the calendar year. Loeck also received the Most Closed Sales Units Award, and John Nanos of the Country Club Plaza office had the Highest Volume of Closed Sales.

Gene Ward of the Lincolnshire Square was honored with the Woods Bros Realtor of the Year award for 2012 for his dedication through the years to Woods Bros, as both a past manager and an agent, and the real estate profession as a whole.

Trish Jarvis of the Lincolnshire Square office won the Excellence in Outgoing Referrals award for helping people relocate in other areas. Sales Couple of the Year went to Bob & Sally Peterson of the Country Club Plaza office, and the year’s Rising Star for most success within the start of his career was their son, Boomer Peterson, also of the Country Club Plaza office.

The overall Outstanding Achievement award went to Karen Duncan of the Lincolnshire Square office for her 190 percent increase in sales from 2011 to 2012. Office Outstanding Achievement Awards also went to: John Nanos, Country Club Plaza; Tammy Peter, Wilderness Hills; Pam Norton, Beatrice; Chuck Kotera, Seward; and Melanie Bachman, Grand Island.

Top Sales Associates by office were: Vladimir Oulianov, Country Club Plaza; Craig A. Loeck, Lincolnshire; Susan Ferris, Wilderness Hills; Chuck Winkler, Grand Island; Shelly Nitz, Seward; Gayle Coffin, York; and Pam Norton, Beatrice.

To see more of the top awards, please visit www.WoodsBros.com/Awards.

View photos of the event on our Facebook page. Be sure to “Like” us!

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

Nicole Duden

Nicole Duden joins the Country Club office. She has lived in Lincoln since childhood. She is married to Nate and they have 3 boys, ages 6, 4 and 22 months. Her hobbies include reading and watching Kansas basketball…don’t worry, she likes Husker sports too! Nicole can be reached at 402-580-1507 or Nicole.Duden@woodsbros.com.

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

Chuck Winkler

Chuck Winkler of the Woods Bros Realty office in Grand Island, was recently honored with the REALTOR® of Distinction Award from the Grand Island Board of REALTORS® (GIBOR).

The REALTOR® of Distinction Award is used to recognize an agent for outstanding conduct in business and in the community.

Winkler has been a REALTOR® since 1973 and an Associate Broker since 1976. He holds the At Home with Diversity, Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) and Graduate of REALTORS® Institute (GRI) designations. Winkler was president of GIBOR in 1977 and 1992, in addition to serving in other offices and committees.

He is a founding member and advocate for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) of Hall County and supports the local Big Brothers/Big Sisters program.

Winkler and his wife have been married 41 years and have 4 children and 5 grandchildren. For more information about Chuck Winkler, visit his website at www.WoodsBros.com/ChuckWinkler.

Woods Bros Realty, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate and wholly owned subsidiary of HomeServices of America, is a full-service company offering 124 years of expertise in real estate as well as experience in mortgage, title, closing, and insurance services. Providing an easier way to buy and sell, more than 200 sales associates work with clients in Lincoln, Seward, Beatrice, York, Grand Island, and southeast Nebraska. For more information about Woods Bros Realty, visit www.WoodsBros.com.

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

Mark Kohler

Mark Kohler joins the Wilderness Hills office. He is a lifelong resident of Lincoln. He enjoys history, historical structures & historical preservation. He is currently the President of Capitol View Neighborhood Association. His hobbies include home renovation and pets. He has one dog named Joey. Mark can be reached at 402-405-9955 or Mark.Kohler@woodsbros.com.

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

The first snowfall has officially come and gone, ushering in Winter 2012. Depending on which side of the millenium you were born, you may have met it with disdain or ecstacy. If you were like me, who experienced more than half of the previous century, you gave it mixed reviews. If you were one of 30-some thousand area students, it was a preview of Winter break, with flannel boxers or sweat gear the day’s fashion wear.

Wednesday afternoon found me rummaging through the depths of our basement in search of snow shovels, a quest not unlike exploring the underside of our vehicles’ seats spelunking for ice scrapers. I’ve made a pretty consistent practice of not seeking any of the above until they’re significantly past being needed. Sort of like those late night, last-minute collegiate papers……….I digress. This time, however, the forboding fright-cast of local meterologists prompted earlier preparation. The basement findings included a couple of sleds, resting in retirement from our now-adult children’s days of spills and chills on inclines such as Holmes Lake Dam or Riley Elementary School. Good times those were, with soothing mugs of hot chocolate and mini-marshmallows thawing out fingers and toes at the completion of the icy escapades.

The outlook on the snowfall is a classic tale of observation. Most remember Ralphie and his little brother, waiting hopefully for snow and the excrutiatingly slow arrival of Christmas. Would there be a Red Ryder B-B gun? And who doesn’t remember the challenges of snowpants, boots, mittens and stocking caps? Those items always seemed to prompt the urgency of bathroom treks, but NOT until you were fully mummified in the winter outerwear.

The coming of the first snow on winter’s eve was a good thing, I’ve decided. Helped me re-trace some days not unfamiliar to our classic friend Ralphie. It helped me appreciate a couple of good mugs of hot chocolate and the sounds of neighborhood school escapees frolicking in the winter froth. It was a good day to listen to holiday music. It was a good day to find a little escape from some crushing headlines, although my mind keeps repondering those awful events in Connecticut.

Here’s to the first snowfall and its welcomed moisture….and to hot chocolate…..and children gleefully escaping school for a day…..and holiday music…..and friends like you.

All the best of the seasons to you and those you hold most dear. This year, may we all hold those a little more tightly.

Peace,

Lance Hall

 Posted by Lance Hall

Woods Bros Realty professionals Polly Figueroa, Jennifer Gatlin, Jeff Graham and Russ Quick have all been awarded the Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI) designation.

These Realtors have completed the curriculum required for the designation by attending 90 hours of classroom instruction covering a variety of subjects, including contract law, professional standards, sales and marketing, finance and risk reduction.

The GRI designation sets those Realtors who have obtained it apart because it indicates to the public that they have obtained a professional educational foundation on which to base the services they provide.

Woods Bros Realty, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate and wholly owned subsidiary of HomeServices of America, is a full-service company offering 123 years of expertise in real estate as well as experience in mortgage, title, closing, and insurance services. Providing an easier way to buy and sell, more than 200 sales associates work with clients in Lincoln, Seward, Beatrice, York, Grand Island, and southeast Nebraska. For more information about Woods Bros Realty, visit www.WoodsBros.com.

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

Trish Jarvis, Bob Danley and Vladimir Oulianov, all of Woods Bros Realty in Lincoln, have been awarded the prestigious Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) Designation by the Council of Residential Specialists, the largest not-for-profit affiliate of the National Association of Realtors®.

Realtors who receive the CRS Designation have completed advanced courses and have demonstrated professional expertise in the field of residential real estate. Fewer than 31,000 Realtors® nationwide have earned the credential.

Home buyers and sellers can be assured that CRS Designees subscribe to the strict Realtors® code of ethics, have access to the latest technology and are specialists in helping clients maximize profits and minimize costs when buying or selling a home. For more information about the Council of Residential Specialists, visit www.crs.com.

Trish Jarvis has been a full time real estate professional at Woods Bros Realty for over 17 years. She specializes in residential sales: new construction and  existing homes, townhomes, acreages and downtown condos. She also represents Hausmann and Sons Construction.

Woods Bros Realty, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate and wholly owned subsidiary of HomeServices of America, is a full-service company offering 123 years of expertise in real estate as well as experience in mortgage, title, closing, and insurance services. Providing an easier way to buy and sell, more than 200 sales associates work with clients in Lincoln, Seward, Beatrice, York, Grand Island, and southeast Nebraska. For more information about Woods Bros Realty, visit www.WoodsBros.com.

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

Congratulations to Jean Piontek, who is celebrating 20 years with Woods Bros Realty. CEO Gene Brake and Wilderness Hills Office Managing Broker Judy Sasek presented her with a 20-year clock today.

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

Matt Kinning

Matt Kinning joins the Wilderness Hills office. He attended Southwest High School and studied Construction Management at the University of Nebraska-Kearney. He is also a member of Kinning Design Build, Inc.  They began building homes in the Lincoln area in 1986.  The company was founded as Kinning-Sydow Builders, Inc.  by two couples, Jerry and Julie Sydow and Mike and Mary Kinning.  The summer of 2010, ownership changed to Mike and Mary Kinning and their son Matt.  With second generation arising, Kinning Design Build, Inc. is eager to carry on the tradition and standards the company has been known for in the home building community for years. Matt can be reached at 402-430-1023 or Matt.Kinning@woodsbros.com.

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

Kris Stettner

Kris Stettner joins the York office. She has been a licensed real estate agent since 2005. She began her career with Woods Bros Realty in Grand Island, NE. Kris and her husband Rick have 3 children. Rick was born and raised in Hampton, NE , they have lived in that area for 20 years. In their spare time you can find them at ball games. Kris can be reached at 402-631-7619 or kris.stettner@woodsbros.com

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty