At a gala banquet at the Grand Lake Lodge,
Penny Hamilton, owner-broker of Forest and Lake Real Estate Company,
Granby, was awarded “Grand County Realtor of the Year” for 2005.
It’s an annual award that honors realtors for
not only professional achievement, but for devotion to volunteerism
and overall community involvement.
The award was presented to Hamilton by Paul
Lewis, owner-broker of Coldwell Banker Mountain Properties in Winter
Park, who was last year’s Realtor of the Year.
“Penny is involved in so many community
betterment projects that the list is too long to recite,” Lewis
said. “She sits on the board of the Greater Granby Area Chamber of
Commerce and the Grand County Board of Realtors.
“We had many worthy nominees because so many of
our Realtors devote hundreds of hours to public service,” Lewis
continued. “They are truly the unsung heroes of our community. But
Penny Hamilton’s long, long list of community achievements and
activities made Penny an outstanding choice for this important
award.”
In nominating Hamilton for the Grand County
Realtor of the Year, Tracey Chambers, a broker-associate with United
Country Real Estate Central, outlined Hamilton’s “long, long list of
community achievements” in a narrative. Chambers wrote:
“Three words describe our ‘Dr. Penny,’ –
positive, energetic and enthusiastic. Those attributes make her a
tireless worker.
“She doesn’t just talk-the-talk, she actually
walks-the-walk. While she has more degrees than a thermometer, that
doesn’t stop her from getting her hands dirty and breaking finger
nails.
“As our nominating committee approached our
submissions deadline, our biggest problem was getting Penny to sit
down long enough to list her history of community involvement. But
here is a partial list:
“As a pilot who co-holds a world aviation speed
record, one of the first things she did, even before she and her
husband moved full-time to Grand County in 1992, was co-found the
Grand County Aviation Association and the Friends of the Granby
Airport, Inc.
After getting the IRS 501(c)(3) status for the
Friends of the Granby Airport, Inc., she served as its secretary for
nine years. Each year, she participates in the annual airport
clean-up, fix-up day and helps when the Colorado Chapter of the 99s
(women aviators). She also serves as the Granby Airport Support
Network Volunteer for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA).
“Recently, Penny served as the local
coordinator/hostess for the spring conference of the Colorado
Airport Operators Association (CAOA) held at the Winter Park
Mountain Lodge.
“But when Penny first came to Grand County,”
continued Chambers, “she noted the County animal shelter was under
staffed. So, Hamilton co-founded Grand County Pet Pals and brought
new energy to Pennies for Pets. She wrote grants resulting in a
computer and adoption-management program at the shelter and more
funds to support its activities. She worked on the ‘Pet of the Week’
newspaper feature and, with the help of newspaper editor Patrick
Brower, made it a reality resulting in the adoption of literally
hundreds of pets that, otherwise, might have been euthanized for
lack of timely adoption.
“In 2003, sensing our local law enforcement
officers are under-appreciated, Penny initiated, with the help of
Sheriff Rod Johnson and former Deputy Sheriff Glen Trainor, a
program that has, so far, expressed a community ‘thank-you’ to 12
law enforcement officers with emphasis on making those without
families here feel at home in Grand County.
“Penny donates her time and/or contributes
financially to the Grand County Council on Aging and the Senior
Diner Program; the Grand Foundation, the Granby Rebuilding Fund, the
Grand County Food Banks, the Grand County Events Center, the Grand
Youth Experiential Adventures, the Samaritan Center and the EAA
Aviation Student Scholarship Project.
“She was a founding member of the Grand County
Business and Economic Development Association (BEDA), drafting its
initial grant application for start-up funding, helped recruit other
board members, served as the BEDA volunteer executive director but
credits Jana Huse for doing all the heavy lifting for BEDA.
“Currently, she sits on the board of the Granby
Chamber of Commerce where she coordinated the welcome center for
Ride the Rockies, helped raise funds for the Chamber’s Spring Golf
Tournament and was actively involved in getting funds for the Granby
Community Relief and Rebuilding Project. Penny has recruited the
judges for the Fourth of July Parade and assisted the parade
announcer with local information. On the Grand County Board of
Realtors, she served as Outreach Chairperson to raise scholarship
funds for local students and assisted with the food and
back-to-school supplies drives.
“As part of her Granby Chamber volunteer work,
one of her favorite activities is nominating local heroes for
various recognition programs. So far, several of her nominees such
as: Lorene Linke, Carl Marsh, Kenya Marte, Kadie Huse and Susan
Masterson have been honored in special ceremonies held in the
Governor’s Mansion for the Colorado Cares Awards.
“In addition, she nominated, now Winter Park
Police Chief Glen Trainor for awards related to his heroic actions
during the Granby bulldozer rampage of June 4, 2004. One award for
Chief Trainor will be presented soon, and another is still pending.
“In connection with the Granby Centennial,
Penny is doing research and about to author: Granby: Then and Now
(1905-2005) A Quick History of Granby, which is scheduled to be
available for readers on or about December 9, 2005.
“How she finds time to do all she does is a
mystery to me,” Chambers continued. “Especially, when you know that
she and her husband co-author a series of thrillers such as The
Grand Conspiracy and The Panama Conspiracy (written as William
Penn), plus two more novels in the ‘conspiracy’ series. But I also
know all of these community activities, plus running her own real
estate company and taking time to mentor younger real estate agents
cuts into her leisure-time activities – assuming she has any leisure
time. But one summer, she and her husband found time to teach me to
sail on Lake Granby. “For sure, she always finds time for Bandit,
their Old English Sheepdog, and for working with Old English
Sheepdog Rescue.”
Gary Glenn, the broker-owner of Prudential
Winter Park Realty, summed up the important roles realtors have in
the local economy. Moreover, why each year, dedicated,
community-oriented brokers are recognized as such.
“As past president of the Colorado Association
of Realtors and having received the Grand County Realtor of the Year
Award myself,” he said, “I know how important it is for Realtors to
be involved in our community, and to be hands-on, proactive in
community projects.
“Real estate is such an important economic
engine that creates so many jobs that it is vitally important for
the agent-brokers to give back to the community by volunteering and
donating their time to improve the quality of life of our full-time
and part-time residents.”
And from her long list of community
involvement, Hamilton has certainly done just that.
Sky-Hi Daily News - Article
Friday July 18th, 2008
Local Realtor,
Penny Rafferty Hamilton, was recently recognized by the National
Association of Realtors (NAR) “Good Neighbor” program for her
community service to the Grand County Business & Economic
Development Association (BEDA).
BEDA President, Sharon Brenner, presented Penny with the NAR
Certificate of Appreciation. “Penny was a volunteer founding member
of BEDA and wrote the very first funding grant which helped launch
BEDA for our community,” Brenner explained.
“Penny also volunteered to be our very first Executive Director. She
even designed the business cards to introduce BEDA and our mission,”
Brenner continued. Grand County BEDA’s mission is to promote
commerce in Grand County and help local businesses succeed through
cooperation, support, networking, Improvement grants, education and
attracting new employers and employees to Grand County.
BEDA provides education and support for existing and new businesses
throughout the year. They also service as a resource for relocating
businesses to Grand County. Business Improvement projects are
supported through low interest loans and grants. To learn more about
the Grand County Business & Economic Development Association visit
their web site at
www.gcbeda.com
2009
Denver 7 ABC
Television Every Day Hero Winner
Granby
Pilot and Volunteer in the News
(2009)
Recently Colorado GA
pilot, Penny Hamilton of Granby, was awarded the Denver, Colorado
ABC Television award for outstanding volunteers, 7 Everyday Hero,
during her Granby Library Pre-school Aviation Education program
called “Penny The Pilot,” where she is dressed as historic aviator
Amelia Earhart.
The 7 Everyday Hero award
is presented to Colorado
volunteers who motivate others, make a difference, and donate their
time and talent to build a better community, often over an extended
number of years.
Penny has a long history
of community involvement spanning over 20 years in her Greater
Granby area of Colorado.
In 2005, she was recognized as Grand County Realtor of the Year for
her public service and charitable work. In 2009, Penny was also
awarded the Colorado Association of Realtors Good Neighbor award for
her volunteer community service.
Hamilton
is a member of the Colorado Pilots Association, Colorado Aviation
Historical Society, Wings Over the Rockies, 99s, Founding member and
current volunteer Secretary of the Friends of Granby Airport, AOPA
Airport Support Network Volunteer for Granby/Grand County Airport
and past winner of the FAA Central Region Administrator’s Champion
award for her work on behalf of aviation education.
In 1994 the FAA named a
new holding intersection just south of the
Granby
airport at an altitude of 15,500 feet above sea level for her.
Because “penny” was already in use in another part of the airway
system, the FAA computer found “Penny” available and is now shown on
current aeronautical charts.
For several months, the
Everyday Hero Award link from ABC-Denver 7 broadcast with anchor,
Mitch Jelniker and “Penny the Pilot” at the Granby library aviation
education program will be available to see the television broadcast
on-line is
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/7everydayhero/19942663/detail.html
2010 Greater Granby Area Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement
Award
March, 2011-Friday, March 25 was the Greater Granby Area Chamber
of Commerce's annual meeting. Held at Remington's Restaurant,
it was a great gathering of Chamber members with time to connect
with other business people. The annual report, election of
board members and annual awards were entertaining with just the
right amount of information. Sharon Brenner, President/CEO
Greater Granby Area Chamber of Commerce Congratulations, Penny!.
Penny Hamilton, Lifetime Achievement Award
Now and then someone comes to the forefront as the nominating
committee begins looking at award winners. This year Penny
Hamilton, nominated both for Volunteer and Business Person, was
clearly one to consider for the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Penny, married to Bill Hamilton, has given of her time and
knowledge since they moved to the area. She received the
Realtor of the Year Award and Channel 7 Good Neighbor Award
as well as several Aviation awards and recognitions. She
helped start BEDA and Pet Pals and works closely with
Friends of the Airport and the library. She has authored or
co-authored history books and fiction books based in Grand
County and is the number one cheerleader for women in
careers uncommon to women |
|
|