Valley Realtor is new OAR president

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

For the first time in five decades, a member of the Youngstown Columbiana Association of Realtors will become the president of the Ohio Association of Realtors.

Thomas J. Williams, of Austintown, who works as a corporate trainer and recruiter at Northwood Realty in Youngstown, will take the helm of a 27,000- member organization Jan. 14 at the group’s annual winter conference.

Williams, a veteran Realtor of 35 years, was first elected in 2011 by OAR’s board to serve as the organization’s treasurer.

“You have to be qualified to fill this position, and typically presidents come from larger cities like Columbus or Cleveland,” Williams said. “It’s a positive thing for YCAR, but I’m just humbled and honored to take this position.”

The Ohio Association of Realtors works on a host of issues to represent groups such as YCAR. Its chief task is lobbying for beneficial legislation in Columbus and Washington, D.C.

In 1999, Williams served as president of YCAR and later went on to work as the organization’s legislative chairman.

His new duties with OAR will include additional meetings, hosting conferences and meeting with lawmakers, among others. He also will keep his job at Northwood Realty.

“This is a career achievement,” Williams said. “But it’s not all about me, it’s about giving back to these associations across the state and helping the business of my industry.”