Illinois REALTORS® celebrated 2023 REALTOR® of the Year Ezekiel “Zeke” Morris Monday night at the President Abraham Lincoln DoubleTree Hotel in Springfield.

The banquet honored Morris and recognized 23 local REALTORS® of the Year representing their local associations from around the state.

Morris has been a leader in the real estate industry with his local association, the Chicago Association of REALTORS®, Illinois REALTORS® and the National Association of REALTORS®.

As the 2022 Illinois REALTORS® President, Morris led the state association and its more than 50,000 members during the launch of the association’s American Dream of Homeownership campaign. He now serves as immediate past president.

Morris began his real estate career in 1989. He is a member and past president of the Chicago Association of REALTORS® and was named its local REALTOR® of the year in 2013. The Chicago association awards Zeke Morris scholarships supporting the education efforts of those who have shown a commitment to the stabilization and economic development of South and West Side Chicago communities.

At the state level, Morris has been involved in a number of working groups and committees and has chaired the Executive Committee, Finance Committee, Housing Opportunity Working Group, the Bylaws Committee, the Public Policy and Government Affairs Member Involvement Group and the State Legislative Contacts Working Group. He has served multiple terms on the Illinois REALTORS® Board of Directors and is the state association’s first African American president.

Local associations also recognized their own 2023 REALTORS® of the Year:

1. Rhonda Altman is the Three Rivers Association of REALTORS® ROTY and the assistant branch manager for Baird & Warner Real Estate in Plainfield.
2. Brad W. Andersen is the 2022 NSBAR ROTY and is the principal broker of the GGL Group at Compass in Lake Forest.
3. Dominic Campo is the Capital Area REALTORS® ROTY and is a managing broker for Campo Realty Inc., in Pawnee.
4. Ryan Cannon is the Peoria Area Association of REALTORS® ROTY and is a broker for RE/MAX Traders Unlimited in Peoria.
5. Jerry Gibson is the NorthWest Illinois Alliance of REALTORS® ROTY and is the managing broker for Keller Williams Realty Signature in Loves Park.
6. April Hix is the Central Illinois Board of REALTORS® ROTY and is a broker for Classic Homes Realty in Danville.
7. Linda Holt is the Egyptian Board of REALTORS® ROTY and is a broker for Century 21 House of Realty, Inc., in Carbondale.
8. Paul Kempa is the REALTOR® Association of the Fox Valley ROTY and is the designated managing broker for Realty ONE Group Excel in Aurora.
9. Brian Kwilosz is the Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS® ROTY and is a broker for EXIT Real Estate Partners in Downers Grove.
10. Gina LaMore is the Kankakee Iroquois Ford Association of REALTORS® ROTY and is the owner-designated managing broker for LaMore Realty in Manteno.
11. Barbara Maring is the Northern Illinois Commercial Association of REALTORS® ROTY and is the broker-owner for Keystone Realty in Elgin.
12. Janelle McCarter is the Illini Valley Association of REALTORS® ROTY and is the co-owner and designated managing broker for Landmark Realty of Illinois, LLC, in Princeton.
13. Patricia Palzet-Taylor is the Heartland Organization of REALTORS® ROTY and is executive vice president-managing broker for RE/MAX Plaza in Wauconda.
14. Tracy Patkunas is the Mid-Illinois REALTORS® Association ROTY and is a broker for RE/MAX Rising in Bloomington.
15. Nykea Pippion McGriff is the Chicago Association of REALTORS® ROTY and is vice president of strategic growth for Coldwell Banker Realty in Chicago.
16. Eric Porter is the Champaign County Association of REALTORS® ROTY and is a broker for the Real Estate Group in Champaign.
17. Alan Rossell is the local ROTY for the Oak Park Area Association of REALTORS® and is the broker-owner of the Jack Carpenter Organization in Oak Park.
18. Kris Rosser Schmitt is a co-ROTY for the Southwestern Illinois Board of REALTORS® and is the designated managing broker for KRS Realty LLC in St. Louis.
19. Karen Sheesley is a co-ROTY for the Southwestern Illinois Board of REALTORS® and a broker for RE/MAX Preferred in O’Fallon.
20. Cathryn Sommers is the Quad City Association of REALTORS® ROTY and is a broker for RE/MAX Concepts in Bettendorf, Iowa.
21. Chris Stephens was the North Shore-Barrington Association of REALTORS® 2021 ROTY and is the designated managing broker and corporate trainer for Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty, with offices in Barrington, Evanston and Winnetka.
22. Bonita Willis is the local ROTY for the HomeTown Association of REALTORS® and is a designated managing broker for Woodhaven Lakes Realty, Inc., in Sublette.
23. Joe Zanger is the Quincy Association of REALTORS® ROTY and is a broker for Zanger & Associates in Quincy.