Lorry Aslinger of Keller Williams Realty has earned the Graduate Realtor Institute designation. She joins other top producers in the residential real estate industry who hold the designation.

Ms. Aslinger earned the GRI designation by attending an intensive series of 90 hours of classroom instruction, covering such subjects as contract law, professional standards, sales and marketing.

Ms. Aslinger is licensed in Tennessee and Georgia.

Builders group cites members

The 2008 award recipients from the Home Builders Association of Southern Tennessee are Tim McClure, McClure Construction, developer of the year; George Wright, George Wright Construction, builder of the year; Aaron Stanley, Noland Co., rookie of the year; and Karen Flores, Cornerstone Bank, Ralph Chumley Award.

Williams earns Farm Service designation

Jeff M. Williams of the USDA Farm Service Agency in Dayton, Tenn., has received the Accredited Rural Appraiser designation from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers.

Mr. Williams is a farm loan specialist and appraiser for the Farm Service Agency. The designation will help him to understand the changing nature of the appraisal industry to ensure that his appraisals are in compliance with regulations, according to a statement.

Graves receives GRI designation

Mike Graves with Crye-Leike Realtors in Athens, Tenn., has earned the Graduate Realtor Institute designation.

Mr. Graves earned the GRI designation by attending an intensive series of 90 hours of classroom instruction, covering such subjects as contract law, professional standards, sales and marketing.

Mr. Graves holds broker licenses in Tennessee and Georgia, as well as Tennessee and Georgia auctioneer licenses.

He is a member of the Tennessee and National associations of Realtors, as well as the Tennessee and National associations of Auctioneers.

WCR names Smith as member of year

Jean Smith of Crye-Leike Realtors has been named as Realtor member of the year by the Women’s Council of Realtors’ Chattanooga Chapter.

“This is a great unexpected honor, and I really appreciate the recognition from my fellow Realtors,” she said.

In 2005, Mrs. Smith served as president of the WCR Chattanooga Chapter. She holds the Graduate Realtor Institute designation and serves on the governmental affairs committee for the Chattanooga Association of Realtors.

Mrs. Smith and her husband, Charlie, live on Signal Mountain. They are members of Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church. She is a board member with the Bachman Community Center.

Mortgage bankers recognize members

The Chattanooga Mortgage Bankers Association has named Jill McLean of BB&T as the 2008 mortgage banker of the year.

The 2008 associate member of the year is Melanie Reeves with Freedom Mortgage. The 2009 board members are: Ms. McLean, president; Bobby Allison, American Home Mortgage, vice president; Darlene Boyd, Regions Bank, secretary; and Brian Kniegge, Mortgage South, treasurer.