O'Conor, Piper & Flynn senior VP is Realtor of Year

William J. Byrnes, a 34-year veteran of the real estate industry and the north region manager and senior vice president for O'Conor, Piper & Flynn ERA, was named Realtor of the Year by the Greater Baltimore Board of Realtors.

The GBBR also awarded honors in several other categories.

Katie E. Grove of O'Conor, Piper & Flynn ERA was named 2001 Distinguished Sales Associate of the Year; Irene Mabry Moses of Allen Realty was honored with the 2001 Community Service Award; Renee Kessler of Long & Foster Real Estate Inc. was named 2001 Rookie of the Year; and Alan R. Ingraham of First Horizon Home Loans/MNC Division received the 2001 GBBR Affiliate of the Year Award.

Byrnes, 63, was licensed in 1967 and is responsible for 22 sales offices in three states and 900 sales associates.

He is noted in the industry for pushing for a mediation clause to be included in the sales contract form that allows for Alternative Dispute Resolution, which helps homebuyers and Realtors resolve disputes without costly court action.

Byrnes holds a law degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law and an undergraduate degree from Loyola College.

He and his wife live in Towson; they have three grown children.