Texas Realtor® to Watch

TEXAS REALTOR ® TO WATCH BY KARA HUMPHREY

CONGRATULATIONS VIRGINIA ANN!

T E X A R K A N A M O N T H LY

See Virginia Ann receive her award at the 3:52 mark in the video.

SEVEN TEXAS REALTORS ® UNDER THE AGE OF 40

were recently named REALTORS ® to Watch and were recognized for their excellence in leadership, community involvement, and sales in 2020, by the Texas REALTORS ® Young Professionals Network (YPN). Their accomplishments were honored on September 1, through a virtual celebration. Texarkana’s very own, Virginia Ann Prazak, of ERA Raffaelli Realtors was among the celebrated honorees. For decades, Virginia Ann’s family has been deeply entrenched in the real estate business of Texarkana. She is the third generation of REALTORS ® , following in the footsteps of her grandmother who opened Rafaelli Realtors in 1981 along with her father and uncle. Now, she and her brother, who is a REALTOR ® in Virginia Ann, have also joined the ranks of their family’s real estate business. “My family’s legacy has helped me learn the values of being a REALTOR ® and to uphold our profession in the highest regard,” she said. Having previously worked as a lawyer, Virginia Ann made her way into the real estate profession after recognizing her law practice was keeping her from her family and monopolizing more of her time than she intended. When Viriginia couldn’t be present for a medical procedure her daughter was undergoing because she was acting as lead counselor for a jury trial, she decided it was time for a change. “It was torture to not be by my child’s side,” she said. “I love that this career path allows me to be both a mother and run a business. Getting to help families, meet families, and include my own family [in my work] is the cornerstone to what makes this job so special.” Virginia Ann has earned many designations—including Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR), Graduate Realtor Institute

(GRI), and Pricing Strategy Advisor (PSA) certifications. She also holds a National Association of REALTORS ® Commitment to Excellence certification. After recently completing the National Association of REALTORS ® At Home with Diversity Certification she joined a coaching program to stay connected with REALTORS ® all across the country. She has served as local chair for the Arkansas Political Action Committee, was a member of the Award of Excellence committee, and was recently selected to complete the Arkansas Realtors Leadership Program, which prepares participants for leadership endeavors at the local, state, and national levels. As a vital part of our city, Virginia Ann also volunteers her time to community service organizations outside of the real estate arena. She has volunteered with the Junior League of Texarkana, delivering school supplies to under-funded schools, and is a mentor to an Educational Opportunity Center scholarship recipient. She has stepped up during these difficult months of the COVID-19 pandemic to make hundreds of masks for local health workers when there was a shortage in the area. “Operating under new standards due to COVID-19 has been a hurdle to overcome. However, I am committed to continuing to get outside of my comfort zone to succeed.” Congratulations to Virginia Ann Prazak for earning the distinguished honor of being one of Texas’ REALTORS ® to watch for 2020. We are proud and grateful to have you serving the community of Texarkana!

3515 Hastings Crossing Road • Texarkana, Arkansas

6602 Northern Hills Drive • Texarkana, Arkansas

250 Myrtle Springs Road • Texarkana, Texas

3A Fernwood • Texarkana, Texas

1901 Mall Drive • Texarkana, TX 75503 www.era.com/era-raffaelli-realtors 903.794.1800

Joe Sterle 903-826-2603

Kristi Crane 903.244.7168

Ashly King 903.306.9009

Virginia Ann Prazak 903.277.3333

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T E X A S R E A L T O R ® T O WAT C H