President John Tripp of Foundation Trust, who is also a member of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors Los Gatos/Saratoga District, launched an ambitious agenda at the installation of the new leadership team.

His goals include enhancing the value of membership and increasing active member participation in one of the largest trade associations in Silicon Valley. The group represents more than 4,000 Realtors and affiliate members engaged in the real estate business that serves clients on the Peninsula and in the South Bay.

"A proactive, solution-based and regional approach to legislative and governmental affairs, coordination with other associations to bring unaffiliated licensees into the associations and under the strict Realtor Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, and the development of common tour policies with neighboring associations in adjacent marketing areas are my goals for 2006," Tripp said.

Education, mediation and dispute resolution are also on the top of his list as important areas that add to the continued vitality of organized real estate.

"I'd like to see a mediation and ombudsman program up and running again so there would be a method or system and an opportunity to be heard," Tripp said. "I believe this is a way to provide a service that would avoid costly and drawn-out litigation."

He would also like to challenge the perception that professionals in the real estate industry have tremendous success but put in little or no work. "That is not the case," Tripp said. "Realtors are hard-working professionals who want to help their community."

Having spent his entire professional career in real estate, Tripp brings a wealth of experience to his new position. A member of Santa Clara Housing Bond Trust Fund subcommittee for the analysis of applications for loans and grants, he is also involved in arbitration, mediation and negotiations concerning real estate issues. His business practice includes real estate advisory for pension plans, IRA accounts and estate management. He has served as an officer, director or chairperson at SILVAR several times and has been selected as Realtor of the Year twice.

Joining Tripp on the association's leadership team are: president-elect Mark Burns (Cupertino); treasurer Gerry Lawrence (Los Altos); California Association of Realtors Region 9 chairman Ron Gates (Los Gatos); past president Willi Krauss (Sunnyvale); and directors Adam Atito (Palo Alto), Jeff Bell (Cupertino), Brian Bernasconi (Los Gatos), Gary Bulanti (Menlo Park), Bo Chang (Sunnyvale), Josie Gambera (Los Altos), Lehua Greenman (Woodside), David Hunt (Cupertino), Leannah Hunt (Palo Alto), Aileen La Bouff (Los Altos), Mindi Oie (Cupertino), Susan Tilling (Menlo Park) and Dave Tonna (Los Gatos).

Burns, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker in Cupertino, was named "Realtor of the Year." In her commendation, Krauss, the association's 2005 president, noted that Burns "has displayed such consistent and passionate support for our organization over time ... as a board member and a steady volunteer for a seemingly infinite number of SILVAR and community activities; this Realtor's knowledge, business sense, and truly 'one of a kind' perspective are difficult to imagine doing without."

Burns has twice been awarded the SILVAR community outreach award. Over the past 17 years, he has been a regular contributor and volunteer for Cupertino Community Services, Cupertino Educational Endowment Foundation, Northwest YMCA, Organization of Families with Special Needs, Pacific Autism Center for Education, the Cupertino Rotary Club and Cupertino Chamber of Commerce. He has chaired the Cupertino/Sunnyvale tour meeting for nearly two decades and headed the Tour Policy and Sign Ordinance committee for two years.

Burns serves on the association's board of directors, has served as a California Association of Realtors director, chairs the Cupertino/Sunnyvale tour meeting, chaired the Tour Policy and Sign Ordinance committee for two years, and has served as a trustee on the SILVAR PAC for seven years.

Recognized by Janet Case, the association's executive officer, as a "model to the community showing the valuable contributions a Realtor can make to society," Gambera of Cashin Company in Los Altos received the "Spirit of SILVAR" award for her enthusiasm and service to membership in over a dozen leadership roles for the association.

Jimmy Kang, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, was recognized as "Affiliate of the Year" for his dedication and countless efforts on behalf of the association, which has experienced a 30 percent growth in affiliate membership over the past two years.

Bulanti of Alain Pinel in Menlo Park, and Jeff Barnett, vice president and manager of Alain Pinel in Los Gatos, each received President's Awards for their distinguished and exceptional service to the association.