Greater Los Angeles REALTORS® Announces 2025 Association Award Recipients
The Greater Los Angeles REALTORS® Association (GLAR) announced their 2025 association award recipients at their Member Meeting & Awards Celebration on Monday, March 16th at the Above the Block LA Westside Ballroom. Members who received the 2025 Association Awards were honored for their dedication to the association, the real estate industry, and for service in their communities.
“We are honored to have so many outstanding members in our midst who are not only great REALTORS®, but who are incredibly selfless and giving of their time to lift up others in the association, and in their communities.” says 2026 GLAR President Chris Duff. “To be a REALTOR® is to go beyond what the license law calls for in terms of professionalism, ethics, and being a good citizen, and I am so proud of the members that are receiving these awards.”
Association award recipients were nominated by their peers and are honored for achievements which took place in 2025. To be eligible to receive an award, a member must be in good standing with the association and meet the criteria for the award they are nominated for.
Congratulations again to our 2025 GLAR Award Winners. You view highlights from the afternoon here.
2025 GLAR Association Award Recipients
REALTOR® of the Year: Jae Wu, Heyler Realty.
Jae received the 2025 REALTOR® of the Year award for her commitment to excellence, integrity, and service to her clients and the broader community. She has served as a volunteer leader at GLAR in various capacities throughout her time at the association, including as a member of the Board of Directors in 2025, lending her industry expertise to strengthen professionalism and conduct effective advocacy for the real estate community. In the community, she serves as Master of Ceremonies for Westwood Charter School’s Jogathon, has served as a Neighborhood Council Board Member, and has received the LA Works – Small Business Big Impact award.
Lifetime Achievement Award: Betty Graham, Coldwell Banker BH North.
Throughout her long career in Los Angeles real estate, Betty has been a locally and nationally recognized top producer, broker-owner, manager, and a positive influence in the community. Currently with Coldwell Banker, Betty has made her mark on the industry as the owner of Coast and Canyon Realty, a Manager of Jon Douglas in both Northern California and Beverly Hills, and was the former President and Chief Operating Officer of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Greater Los Angeles Company, and Past President of Previews NRT, and is currently a Business Coach for Tom Ferry International. She has served on the boards of the Malibu Board of REALTORS®, the Beverly Hills Board of REALTORS® (a precursor to GLAR), and has served on numerous committees for the California Association of REALTORS®. In the community, she is an active member of the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce and an avid supporter of A Place Called Home.
William May Garland Award: Steve Lewis, Core Real Estate Group.
With a career spanning more than three decades, Steve Lewis is dedicated to supporting the agents in his brokerage. A trailblazer in the boutique brokerage world, Steve is extraordinarily well versed in real estate law, and is dedicated to the support of his sales agents. He shares his expertise in the industry by running frequent contract classes to help his colleagues stay on top of the latest changes. He has managed brokerages for Coldwell Banker and the John Aaroe Group before founding the CORE Real Estate Group in 2018.
Office Manager of the Year: Tom Swanson, Exclusive Realty, Inc.
A trusted leader and mentor not only to his agents, but to many members of the Greater Los Angeles REALTORS®, Tom’s steady guidance has strengthened both his office and the broader real estate community. His leadership ensures that his agents are positioned for success and have a commitment to best practices that up hold a high ethical standard of conduct and values. In his brokerages, he actively fosters a culture of professionalism by supporting education, encouraging participation in association activities, and by being a trusted resource for agents looking for guidance on business operations and compliance. He served as the 2023 President of the Greater Los Angeles REALTORS®, and has served on various committees for the California Association of REALTORS®, including currently serving as the Vice Chair of the Local Presidents’ Leadership Forum.
Rising Star: Ian Brink, Sotheby’s International Real Estate.
A rising professional dedicated to professionalism, client-centric service and excellence in real estate, Ian has quickly made his mark at GLAR and in the real estate industry. Ian delivers tailored guidance to both his buyer and seller clients, leveraging his market expertise and a high level of responsiveness to earn trust and repeat referrals. He has quickly become a leader in the real estate field, earning his NAR Accredited Buyer Representative designation and graduating from the inaugural class of the Greater Los Angeles REALTORS® Leadership Academy in 2025. He currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Government Affairs Committee for GLAR.
Real Estate Service Provider of the Year: Andre Carruana, The Termite Guy.
Andre consistently goes above and beyond for GLAR members, not only conducting termite inspections but also educating agents and homeowners on what to do if the inspection turns up issues. He is essential to agents helping their transactions moving forward and is dedicated to professionalism and solutions in his field. Agents laud him for taking the time to explain the results of his inspections to their clients, and for his outstanding customer service.
Commercial REALTOR® of the Year: Omid Saleh, Keller Williams.
Omid Saleh has been in the commercial real estate industry for more than 15 years and has closed more than $375,000,000 in closed sales in his career. Known for putting his clients first, Omid is one of the top commercial REALTORS® in mixed-use, multi-family, and land for development throughout Southern California. He has served as Vice Chair for GLAR’s commercial committee since 2023, helping to bring the commercial committee’s programming to life, organizing tours of commercial properties and up-and-coming commercial areas throughout Los Angeles County and beyond. He was also recognized as a 2026 Real Estate All-Star by Los Angeles Magazine.
