Sara Calo receives Ohio REALTORS 2023 Vincent T. Aveni Lifetime Achievement Award
From left: Ohio REALTORS Treasurer Michelle Billings, Ohio REALTORS 2023 Vincent T. Aveni Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Sara Calo, President-Elect Ali Whitley, and President Ralph Mantica
REALTOR Sara Calo, of Mayfield Villiage, was honored with the Ohio REALTORS 2023 Vincent T. Aveni Lifetime Achievement Award at the Ohio REALTORS Convention, held September 10-13, in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Vincent T. Aveni Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes those Past Presidents of Ohio REALTORS who provided exemplary service to the organization. Aveni served as President of the organization in 1980 and the award was created after his passing in 2006.
The Award, created by the Ohio REALTORS Past Presidents Committee, is bestowed upon a Past President who has demonstrated a continued commitment to the same values and passion for excellence that Aveni displayed throughout his life. Sara served as Ohio REALTORS President in 2016.
On the local level, Sara has served as President of the Lake Geauga Area Association of REALTORS and on numerous committees including Nominating, RPAC, Finance, Legislative and Strategic Planning. She also served on the District 2 YPN Advisory Board and as an instructor for the New REALTOR Orientation. She has received the LGAAR REALTOR of the Year, CABOR Professional of the Year and WCR Business Person of the Year among many other awards of distinction. She is a graduate of Leadership Lake County, Class of 2012 and has served as chairman of her local Chamber of Commerce.
On the state level, Sara served as President-elect in 2015, Treasurer in 2014, District #2 Vice President from 2011-2012, and as an OAR Director since 2005. She has served as chairman of several OAR committees, including Finance, Communications, Economic Issues & Trends Forum and the Political Activity & RPAC Fundraising Committee, where during her year as chair, the RPAC campaign exceed its goal by almost $100,000. She has also served as a member of the Executive Committee, Enlarged Legislative, Legislative Steering, Research Advisory, Professional Development and Scholarship Committees. She has received OAR's President's Sales Club Award of Distinction for several years.
On the national level, Sara has served on the Global Business & Alliances Committee, RPAC Participation Council, Business Issues Policy, Research, Consumer Communications and Diversity Committees. In 2016 she will serve as the State Representative of the RPAC Major Investor Council. She served as Federal Political Coordinator (FPC) for Representative Marcy Kaptur. Sara served as the Ohio representative to NAR's My REALTOR Party Participation Council. She has been an NAR Director since 2014. She contributes to RPAC at the Golden R Major Investor Level and is a President's Circle Member. She was an inaugural member of the Ohio RPAC Hall of Honor and was inducted into NAR’s RPAC Hall of Fame.
Additionally, she has been active at the local and state level of the Women's Council of REALTORS, including service as President of the local chapter in 2008. She holds the ABR (Accredited Buyer's Representative), CRS (Certified Residential Specialist), PMN (Performance Management Network) and e-Pro designations of NAR. Calo has received the OAR President's Sales Club Award of Distinction.
Civically, she served as Chairman of the Western Lake County Chamber of Commerce in 2012 and is a member of HOLA (Hispanic Organization of Lake & Ashtabula). Calo was appointed to the Lake County Board of County Commissioners -- ADAMHS Board (2009-2012).
Calo, and her husband, Jack, have two daughters and four grandchildren and reside in Mayfield Village.
“Sara has been a fixture in our industry, playing an important role at every level of the REALTOR organization,” said Ohio REALTORS President Ralph Mantica. “We are grateful for the many contributions she has selflessly made, and we are stronger because of her.”
Previous recipients of the Vincent T. Aveni Lifetime Achievement Award include: Vince Aveni, 2007; Paul Everson, 2008; Harley Rouda, 2009; Owen Hall, 2010; George Smith, 2011; Steve Brown, 2012; Barbara Lach, 2013; Terry Hankner, 2014; John Lynch, 2015; Steve Casper, 2016; Bonnie Boyd, 2017, Darlene Breen, 2018; Brad Knapp, 2019, Jim West, 2020, Chris Hall, 2021, and Greg Hrabcak, 2022.
The Ohio REALTORS, with more than 36,000 members, is the largest professional trade association in Ohio.
