Patricia Romke, Celeste Wheeler, and Nancy Vallee are among 19 Illinois REALTORS® of the Year (ROTY) to be honored April 13 at the 2026 REALTOR® of the Year Dinner in Springfield.

The ROTY award recognizes members who have done exceptional work to advance their association and the real estate industry.

Romke is the REALTOR® Association of the Fox Valley ROTY. She is a past president for her local association and has served on many local and state committees and working groups. She completed the Illinois REALTORS® Leadership Development Program in 2021 and also is a graduate of her local association’s leadership program.

Wheeler is the Southwestern Illinois Board of REALTORS® ROTY. She led her association as president and chaired its Affordable Housing Committee. She has chaired Illinois REALTORS® Business Issues Forum and served on a variety of committees and working groups. A military veteran, she graduated from the Illinois REALTOR® Leadership Development Class in 2018.

Nancy Vallee is the Three Rivers Association of REALTORS® ROTY. She is currently president-elect of her local association. Over the past decade, she has blended her background in art and marketing with a distinguished 20+ year career in emergency services to continue her lifelong commitment to serving others.

Romke, Wheeler and Vallee will join 2026 Illinois REALTOR® of the Year Sarah Ware, principal and designated managing broker of Ware Group Realty in Chicago, and other local ROTYs at the President Abraham Lincoln DoubleTree Hotel for the dinner.

The ROTY event is sponsored by the Illinois REALTORS® to support the Illinois Real Estate Educational Foundation (REEF).

(This is part of a series of articles featuring 19 local REALTORS® of the Year in 2026.)