REALTOR® Zeke Morris is honored for his work promoting the Fair Housing Act’s 50th anniversary at a Board of Directors meeting for Illinois REAL:TORS® held in Lombard on Oct. 4, 2018.

Illinois REALTORS recognized four people for making contributions to the association and to the real estate industry at its annual Fall Business Meetings.  

The four were awarded Presidential Medallions for service by Illinois REALTORS® President Matt Difanis. The medallions are one of the highest honors the association can bestow, and they are awarded at the end of the outgoing president’s term at the association’s Board of Directors meeting.  

Guzmán honored for service promoting state association at national level 

REALTOR® Mabél Guzmán was honored with a Presidential Medallion for her work promoting the state association at the national level.

REALTOR® Mabél Guzmán, with @Properties in Chicago, is the recipient of a Presidential Medallion for working collaboratively with Illinois REALTORS® leadership to create a more strategic and organized plan for advancing our members’ involvement with NAR. 

Guzmán has served in prominent roles with the National Association of REALTORS®, and has been a strong advocate for integrating Illinois’ volunteer leadership into NAR’s governance.  

At the national level, Guzmán was 2017 NAR vice president of association affairs, served as the organization’s liaison for global committees and chaired NAR’s Conventional Finance & Policy Committee. A champion of equal housing opportunity, Guzmán testified before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Urban Affairs and Banking on inequality and opportunity in the housing market. Guzmán has served on the NAR Board of Directors.                

Guzmán was president of the Chicago Association of REALTORS® in 2011, and was later named the local association’s REALTOR® of the Year. At the state level, Guzmán served as a member of the association’s Board of Directors and as chair of the REALTOR® Political Involvement Committee and Public Policy and Government Affairs Member Involvement Group for Illinois REALTORS®.  

This is Guzmán’s third Presidential Medallion. She was recognized for service in 2014 and 2015.  

Crosby noted for contributions to leadership selection process 

REALTOR® Jean Crosby is honored with a Presidential Medallion for service to Illinois REALTORS®.

REALTOR® Jean Crosby, partner with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Crosby Starck Real Estate in Rockford, is awarded a Presidential Medallion for her pioneering role as chair of the Screening and Candidate Audit Working Group. Her work has little to do with selection and much to do with pioneering a new screening step where her role required a heightened level of confidentiality to protect both the Illinois REALTORS® and prospective candidates. 

Her attention to ethics and professionalism has immeasurably strengthened the association’s commitment to best representing its members.  

Crosby has earned widespread respect through her long service to local, state and national REALTOR® organizations. She was honored with the National Association of REALTORS® Distinguished Service Award in 2015. She has served on NAR’s Board of Directors and Finance Committee, and chaired the NAR Legal Action and Business Issues Policy committees. Crosby is a member of the Illinois REALTOR® and NAR RPAC halls of fame. 

For Illinois REALTORS®, Crosby served as president in 1999 and was the state association’s REALTOR® of the Year in 2002. She has chaired the Illinois REALTORS® Audit, Professional Standards and Nominating committees.  

At the local level, Crosby served as a president of the Rockford Area REALTORS® and was also named as that association’s REALTOR® of the Year.  

Crosby’s work on behalf of the real estate industry includes serving as president of the Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers and chairing the Illinois Real Estate Administration and Disciplinary Board.  

Morris gets medallion for work promoting Fair Housing anniversary 

REALTOR® Zeke Morris, managing broker and owner of EMA Realty and management in Chicago, is awarded a Presidential Medallion for his work championing equal housing opportunity on the 50th anniversary of the federal Fair Housing Act.  

Morris served as chair of the National Association of REALTORS® Fair Housing Act Anniversary Implementation Group, a position which helped guide the organization’s commemoration of the landmark legislation. That role resulted in his traveling nationally to promote awareness of fair housing policy and the need for REALTORS® to recommit to the ideals of the federal act and the REALTOR® Code of Ethics.  

Morris’ commitment to fair housing extends well beyond his formal roles with REALTOR® organizations. He located his business in an underserved neighborhood where he established a training center to help grow the next generation of homeowners and REALTORS® to serve his southside Chicago community.  

Morris served as president of the Chicago Association of REALTORS® from 2011-2012, and served on or led numerous committees. The Chicago association awards the Zeke Morris Scholarships to students seeking to attain the pre- and post-licensing education necessary to become REALTORS®.  

At Illinois REALTORS®, Morris chaired the Public Policy & Government Affairs Member Involvement, State Legislative Contacts and Housing Opportunity working groups. He’s served on the association’s Board of Directors and is a member of the Illinois and NAR RPAC halls of fame.  

Jones honored for work for bridging historic barriers 

Courtney Q. JOnes, REALTOR® and REALTIST®, is honored with a Presidential Medallion by Matt Difanis at a Board of Directors meeting on Oct. 4, 2018 in Lombard. Jones was honored for his work bridging historical gaps and for promoting fair housing.

REALTOR® and REALTIST® Courtney Q. Jones, principal and business development officer with Chicago Homes Realty Group in Chicago, is awarded a Presidential Medallion for fostering an unprecedented level of cooperation and collaboration between the Dearborn REALTIST Board and the Illinois REALTORS, notwithstanding significant historic barriers. 

Jones is also honored for working collaboratively to better the real estate industry for all through promotion of minority homeownership.  

Jones serves as president of the Dearborn REALTIST® Board, the oldest African American real estate trade association in the U.S., which was founded in 1941.  

Through Jones’ leadership, the Dearborn REALTISTS® have partnered with Illinois REALTORS® on a variety of projects which promote fair housing and homeownership in underserved areas of the state.  

Jones’ leadership resulted in a community homeownership fair in Chicago, and he has been a part of Illinois REALTORS® programs commemorating the legacy of the federal Fair Housing Act.