L-R, Steve Francks, Executive Vice President, Washington Association of Realtors(W.A.R.), Jim Harris, ABR, CIPS, CRB, CRS, chairman International Real Estate Council, W.A.R., Mike Flynn, CRS, 2004 President W.A.R. Carmella Ma, 2005 Chairman International Operations Committee NAR, Janet Ruddick, CIPS, Deputy EVP W.A.R. Maria Rosol, CIPS, 2004 chairman International Operations Committee NAR.

Poulsbo resident Jim Harris, current president of the Washington Association of Realtors (WAR) and past president of the Kitsap County Association of Realtors (KCAR), was recently recognized for his many years of international service in the real estate industry with the International Ambassador of the Year Award. The award was presented to the WAR for its exceptional Ambassador Association relationship with The Real Estate Institute of New Zealand.

The Ambassador Association program is loosely based on the international Sister-City program. The goal of the relationship, besides understanding another culture, is to learn about the real estate business in New Zealand, thereby creating networking opportunities with fellow real estate professionals.

Harris, a Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS), has been assigned as the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) President’s Liaison to the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand by every NAR President since 1999. In 2003 WAR was designated by NAR to be the Ambassador Association to the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand.