In January, it's always a busy month for us…we are implementing new marketing initiatives in the new year, and we work on our Annual Award and Recognition Breakfast for our staff and agents.It's a great project for us to work on, one that we get to think about the past year, review our accomplishments, and pack it into an award presentation complete with video, presentations, framed awards and a professional photographer, our friend Jackie from J Harper Photography. We held our annual award recognition breakfast at the Common Man Inn & Spa in Plymouth NH. They have a great couple of function rooms, projectors, lots of parking and yummy food! And with agents coming from all over, this tends to be a nice central location for us! Here are some of our highlights we shared at the ceremony:

• In 2013, we recorded gross sales in excess of 94 million dollars, according to statistics from the Northern New England Real Estate Network. This sales achievement marked a 42% increase in gross sales over 2012.
• In 2013, we ranked as the 17th largest Real Estate firm in NH,  in terms of volume
• 183,878 visitors came to our website in 2013, from 117 Countries!
• We distributed over $23,000 to area organizations including: Above the Notch Humane Society, AHEAD, Ammonoosuc Community Health, Arts Alliance of NH, Boys and Girls Club, Area Chambers of Commerce Fundraising Activities, Good Neighbor Food Pantry, Holderness Historical Society, Pemi Baker Community Health, Squam Lakes Association, Weathervane Theatre & More!

At the end of the award ceremony, we awarded the "Peabody & Smith Realty Residential Sales Associate of 2013". That award was presented to Michele Penner, Managing Broker in our Bretton Woods, NH office. Michele joined Peabody & Smith Realty after she and her husband Terry sold their wholesale business in the southern part of the state. Michele has been with us for seven years, and they own a home in Bretton Woods. Michele has consistently earned a number of coveted Realtor designations over the years including GRI, SRES, ABR and more! You can see her bio here! We were so pleased to recognize Michele and all of our agents and staff at one of the best celebrations we have all year.   v In terms of awards, years of service recognition awards were presented to Carmen Burns, Sales Associate and Mary Menzies, Business Manager for 5 years of service. Steve Gorman, Sales Associate and April Reinhard, Executive Assistant, 6 years of service. Michele Penner, Managing Broker and Terry Penner, Sales Associate, 7 years of service. Mary O'Toole, Broker Associate, 9 years of service. Chrissy Smith, VP/Sales & Marketing, 10 years of service. Beth Horan, Broker Associate and Mary Doherty, Commercial & Investment Broker, 14 years of service. Charles Crannell, Sales Associate, 16 years of service. Anne Foss, Broker Associate, 19 years of service. Joy Moore, Managing Broker, 20 years of service. Jerry Love, Sales Associate, 23 years of service. Our photo credit for this event belongs to Jackie Nagle of J. Harper Photography. Jackie showed up on scene and was able to capture the joy and excitement in the room, and we thank her for such a wonderful job!