The Tehachapi Area Association of Realtors recently recognized City of Tehachapi Economic Development Coordinator Corey Costelloe as the 2020 Affiliate of the Year at their annual installation event on Friday, Aug. 6 at Dorner Family Vineyard.

"The Tehachapi Area Association of Realtors was proud to present Corey Costello the 2020 TAAR Affiliate of the Year Award for his tireless dedication to our association and to property owners and citizens of the Greater Tehachapi area. In a COVID stricken year, our association continuously relied on Mr. Costello to keep us abreast of the latest City of Tehachapi news as well as economic developments in the area. In a time where public meetings were hard or impossible to attend, Corey was a lifeline to the association and his input was invaluable," said Josh Orrantia 2020 president of TAAR.

Costelloe represents the City of Tehachapi as one of many affiliate members of TAAR, an organization dedicated to advocating, promoting and protecting the standards of Realtors in the Tehachapi area. Membership includes both the local Realtors and many other affiliate businesses offering services beneficial to the real estate industry and home ownership.

The City of Tehachapi has been an affiliate member for many years and spent much of 2020 assisting TAAR with their virtual meetings, regular updates of City projects and programs, assistance with market information for potential investors and many other services. This is the first time since the association was formed in 1985 that a representative of the City of Tehachapi was honored as Affiliate of the Year.

"It was very unexpected but an honor to be named Affiliate of the Year by this wonderful organization," Costelloe said. "Realtors are the advocates for our community, they are often the first person that a potential new resident or business investor engages with when considering Tehachapi as home. We have made it a priority to work with this organization at the executive level and build relationships with our local Realtors to help us all raise the profile of this community and continue to build a sense of place here in the City of Tehachapi."

Costelloe was joined by Miramar International's Terry Gardner who was named Realtor of the Year and Sally Lawrence Broker/Owner of Advantage Real Estate who was honored by outgoing president Josh Orrantia with the President's Choice Award.

The 2021 officers were officially installed as well, 2021 President is Stacy Peel, President Elect is Joe Morones, Vice President is Terry Gardner, Secretary/Treasurer Jim Hutson, Immediate Past-President Josh Orrantia and directors Terri Ables, Linda Clough, Terry Gardner, Anne Mulkins and Tessa Noonan.