MKB Realtors is very proud to share the good news about our very own Kit Hale!

The National Association of REALTORS® on Monday recognized Kit Hale of Roanoke, Va., and Ken Libby of Stowe, Vt., as the 2019 recipients of the Distinguished Service Award. The DSA is an honor presented annually to no more than two of the association’s 1.4 million members. Libby and Hale were recognized at NAR’s Board of Directors meeting, which capped off the REALTORS® Conference & Expo in San Francisco.

Hale, GRI, is principal broker and managing partner of MKB, REALTORS®, in Roanoke and has been a REALTOR® for 28 years. He has served in a variety of national leadership positions over the past 16 years, including on NAR’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee. In 2016, he chaired an NAR presidential advisory group focused on election guidelines for NAR national leadership; in 2015, he was REALTOR® Party fundraising liaison; and in 2008, he served as president’s liaison to the Housing and Diversity committees.

Hale was president of the Virginia REALTORS® in 2006, Virginia REALTOR® of the Year in 2007, and Region 3 Vice President in 2011.

In 2009, the Virginia governor appointed Hale to serve on the Virginia Housing Development Authority’s Board of Commissioners; it’s a position Hale held for 11 years, including two terms as chairman of the board. He is also the longtime chair of Housing Virginia, a statewide organization dedicated to ensuring all Virginians have access to quality, affordable housing.

Active in his local community, Hale currently serves on Roanoke City’s Planning Commission and served for 10 years on the Roanoke City Board of Zoning Appeals. He’s on the board of directors for Renovation Alliance (formerly Rebuilding Together, Roanoke) and the board of directors for the Council of Community Services, which focuses on planning for health and human services as well as linking people with community resources.

“We’re fortunate to work in an industry that provides robust opportunities to be involved in our communities and organization in such meaningful ways,” said Hale. “None of this would be possible without the sincere and quality mentorship of many respected REALTOR® members.”

NAR established the DSA in 1979 to honor REALTORS® who have made outstanding contributions to the real estate industry and who serve as leaders in their local communities. It 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.