Member News & Updates
From Prosecutor to CEO: Jenny Pakula Leads Oregon REALTORS®
From Prosecutor to CEO: Jenny Pakula Leads Oregon REALTORS® The phone rings in the middle of the night, waking Jenny Pakula with unpleasant news. On the line are detectives from the Portland Police Bureau at the scene of a homicide. Understanding the situation, Pakula, a deputy district attorney in Multnomah County, jolts out of bed…
Judy Gysin Represents Mid Valley REALTORS® in Transit Task Force
Judy Gysin Represents Mid Valley REALTORS® in Transit Task Force For Judy Gysin, getting involved in the community has meant a little light reading. Well, maybe more than a little. And not exactly “light.” Judy and her husband, Greg, are principal brokers with The Gysin Group at Premiere Property Group LLC in Salem. Earlier this year, she…
From Vietnam to the Willamette Valley: Thuy Chrestenson and the American Dream
From Vietnam to the Willamette Valley: Thuy Chrestenson and the American Dream The story of how Thuy Chrestenson arrived in the United States from her native Vietnam reads like a classic Hollywood movie script, from the chance encounter with her future husband to their whirlwind romance and life together on a rural Oregon farm. Chrestenson,…
Ashleigh Fordham and the Art of Leading Agents Through Change
Ashleigh Fordham and the Art of Leading Agents Through Change As new technology and rule changes have reshaped the real estate industry, Ashleigh Fordham is seeing more agents experience what she describes as “change burnout.” “Agents have had a lot thrown at them,” said Fordham, managing principal broker and owner of Windermere Heritage. “Between legal changes, new…
Garibay Realty Team Makes Community Their Mission
Garibay Realty Team Makes Community Their Mission Decking the halls in downtown Salem is no small task. Just ask Ruben and Erin Garibay. The husband-and-wife couple behind Garibay Realty Team with HomeSmart Realty Group oversaw the installation of this year’s downtown Christmas lights – a spectacle only made possible by careful planning and hundreds of collective volunteer…
More Than A REALTOR®: Cathie Velasco Demonstrates Commitment to Community Service
More Than A REALTOR®: Cathie Velasco Demonstrates Commitment to Community Service The 2025 MVAR Awards & Installation Banquet on Nov. 5 was a night to remember for Cathie Velasco, who was named REALTOR® of the Year in recognition of her outstanding career success and commitment to community service. As a real estate broker since 2004,…
