NAR Recognizes Realtor® David M. Peretti of Winchester, Mass., for Distinguished Service

San Diego, November 16, 2009

David M. Peretti, a Realtor® from Winchester, Mass., has received the National Association of Realtors® 2009 Distinguished Service Award. Out of 1.2 million Realtors®, no more than two are recognized with this award each year, which is announced during NAR’s annual REALTORS® Conference & Expo.

NAR established the DSA in 1979 to honor Realtors® who have made outstanding contributions to the real estate industry and are recognized as leaders in their local communities. The award is considered the highest honor an NAR member can receive; recipients must be active at the local, state and national association levels, but must not have served as NAR president. NAR President Charles McMillan presented the award to Peretti.

“Realtor® David Peretti truly is a model of distinguished service,” said McMillan, a broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Dallas-Fort Worth. “He has provided invaluable service and insights to the Realtor® association at the local, state and national levels and has been a mentor to many budding Realtor® leaders through the years. Furthermore, his involvement in numerous volunteer activities throughout the years makes Peretti an outstanding example of how Realtors build and strengthen communities.”

Peretti has been a Realtor® for 38 years. By age 32, he was president of the local Realtor® association – the North Central Massachusetts Association of Realtors® – and in 1988 served as president of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors®. Peretti is currently a senior vice president with Hammond Residential Real Estate in Winchester, Mass.

“I am honored to accept the Distinguished Service Award,” said Peretti. “I have always believed in the principle of service above self, and I’ve been fortunate to have served and worked with so many different people over the years. As a Realtor®, I’m proud to be part of a profession that helps improve people’s quality of life through homeownership, as well as through our commitment to and involvement in our surrounding communities.”

Peretti is currently a member of NAR’s Board of Directors; he’s served in that body since 1988. In 1995, 2003 and 2007, Peretti was NAR’s Committee Liaison on the Extended Leadership Team, and he was an NAR Regional Vice President for Region 1 in 1992.

Throughout the years Peretti has been a member of numerous NAR committees, including Executive, Federal Taxation, Finance, Legal Action, Nominating, Strategic Planning, Economics and Research and Risk Management. He was chair of the Election Reform Task Force in 2007 and vice chair of both the Finance and Public Advocacy Advisory committees in 2005.

In addition to being MAR’s president in 1988, Peretti also served as first vice president in 1987, treasurer from 1984-1986, and secretary in 1983. For more than 30 years, Peretti has served on various MAR committees. He chaired the Finance Committee in 1980, 1981 and 1984; and the Personnel and Communications committees in 1983; his committee membership service includes Executive, Investment, Business Development, Strategic Planning and Realtors® Public Policy.

Peretti also is actively involved in the statewide multiple listing service, MLSPIN. He served on MLSPIN’s Board of Directors from 2001-2007, was chair of its Personnel Committee in 2007 after being a member of that committee from 2002-2006, and served on numerous other committees, as well.

Locally, Peretti received the Realtor® of the Year award from NCMAR in 1976 and again in 1980. In addition to his NCMAR presidency, Peretti held myriad leadership positions in the local association, including first vice president, second vice president, third vice president and secretary in 1979, 1978, 1977 and 1976, respectively. He currently represents the Greater Boston Board of Realtors® on the MAR Board of Directors, a responsibility he has assumed since 1988.

Peretti is an active member of his community. He has held leadership positions on the local Chamber of Commerce, Boy Scout Council and Home Health Aide service, which provides aid to the infirm and elderly. He is currently an elected town meeting member for the town of Winchester, a position he has held since 1997, and participates in a number of community organizations and associations, including the Winchester Boat Club and the Winchester Congregational Church.

The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing 1.2 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

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