June 26, 2007
Gerken & Associates Realtors is excited to welcome Jay Jones to our residential real estate division. Jay graduated from Hollister high school, Branson's neighbor to the south where he then went on to attend college at Missouri State University and Drury University in nearby Springfield to enhance his business skills. A long standing local for over 20 years, Jay offers his local knowledge of the area and passion for real estate to his clients. Welcome aboard Jay!
June 20, 2007
Gerken & Associates attended the Branson Chamber of Commerce 10th annual Small Business Awards Dinner held at Buckingham's in the Clarion Hotel at the Palace. Of the nine small businesses that were nominated, Comfort Inn & Suites was named the winner. Other nominees included Branson Scenic Railway, Christian Action Ministries, Creative Printing & Design, French Hen Café & Coffeehouse, Hansen's Tree Service, Lilley's Landing, Ozark Trails Magazine and Touch of Class.
June 14, 2007
Carol Turpin, Office Administrator for Gerken & Associates Realtors, was honored by the Hollister Chamber of Commerce as the June Volunteer of the Month. Carol earned this recognition for her many hours spent contacting the membership for fair share amounts. Her commitment and dedication have helped the Hollister Chamber boost dues income and strengthen its ability to serve the community and its members. Way to go Carol!
June 2, 2008
The Tri-Lakes Board of Realtors gave recognition to Gerken & Associates for their continued service to the board as several members from the firm were conducted into the 2008 Honor Society. In addition, firm members were paid tribute for their generous donations to RPAC (Realtor Political Action Committee), a group which raises funds for those in political office whom are supportive of protecting private property rights. Jeff Gerken was also recognized for graduation from this year's Tri-Lakes Board of Realtors Leadership class.
May 23, 2008
Officially opened a month before schedule, Gerken &Associates attended the premier opening of Sight & Sound Theater's new Branson show entitled, "Noah The Musical". Audience members were treated to the story of Noah as he leads live animals through the crowd on the way to the Ark which stands as a state-of-the-art set design that towers four stories above the audience. Truly a sight to see, tickets are on sale now and available online.
May 9, 2008
Gerken & Associates attended the "One Year Before Opening" celebration of the new Branson Airport being developed on 922-acres just 8 miles south of Branson. Over 500 guests were in attendance for the event, which included a tour of the construction site and future plans announced by local dignitaries. The Branson airport will be the first privately-financed and operated commercial airport in the United States.
May 2, 2008
Charlie Gerken participated in the Branson Elementary School's Literacy Day. The annual event was sponsored by the Branson Hollister Rotary Club in which male members of the club individually read books to the school's first graders over the course of a couple of hours. In addition, the Branson-Hollister Rotary club donated over 700 books to the kids which were delivered live via helicopter by the United States Marines Corp. Once the helicopter touched ground, the kids were invited to climb inside and tour the massive flying machine.
April 25, 2008
Hey bidder bidder! Gerken & Associates donated auctioneering services to the annual Tri-Lakes Board of Realtors RPAC (Realtor Political Action Committee) auction held last Thursday night. Duane Gerken, auctioneer colonel for the firm, was the auctioneer for the event, and along with his staff, helped raise over $13,000. Money raised at this event goes towards legislation in helping individuals protect private property rights.
April 13, 2008
Gerken & Associates office expansion and remodel has been nominated for one of "417 Magazine" best local interior remodels. Since then, the publication has been sending interior judges by to walk through and evaluate our space. Stay tuned for the winning results. In the meantime, if you haven't seen our office in awhile, feel free to stop by and visit us.
April 2, 2008
Gerken & Associates attended the Butterfly Brunch at The Butterfly Palace & Rainforest Adventure hosted by Christian Action Ministries. Gerken & Associates is a corporate sponsor for the fundraiser and a local artist painted our large ceramic butterfly, which is one of 58 butterflies to be displayed in a community wide art exhibit. Please be sure to stop by our office to see this beautiful piece of art!
March 21, 2008
Gerken & Associates was a corporate sponsor of the NAIA Basketball Tournament held on the campus of College of the Ozarks over the last two weeks. In total, 32 teams participated from around the country. After six days of play, on game 31, Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT) from Klamath Falls, Oregon emerged as the tournament champions to take home the 2008 pennant. OIT also achieved the tournament championship in 2004. The tournament was deemed a huge success by NAIA officials and has been held at the College of the Ozarks in Branson since 2000.
March 14, 2008
Gerken & Associates attended the 61st Branson Chamber "Black Tie Dinner", a yearly gathering of community business members. During the event, recognition was paid to Branson's top leaders, including the presentation of the Pioneer, Ambassador, Beautification and Community Spirit Awards. During the event, Charlie Gerken was recognized for his continuing role as a Branson Chamber Ambassador.
February 25, 2008
The Tri-Lakes Board of Realtors appointed Harriet Leenerts as an advisor to the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. In this capacity she will help decide what charities the foundation will support. The Tri-Lakes Board of Realtors has contributed over $10,000 to this outreach program and will continue to support several other charity foundations in the community as well.
February 12, 2008
The team that plays together stays together! Gerken & Associates has again formed a bowling team to participate in this year's Big Brothers / Big Sisters 8th Annual Bowl For Kids' Sake held at the Millennium Bowling & Entertainment facility in Branson West. By building relationships with other family-oriented, kid loving organizations, BBBSB continues to strive for the mission of serving kids and their families not only by increasing the numbers served, but by increasing the quality of its programs.
January 28, 2008
Charlie Gerken served as a "Youth of the Year" judge for the Boys & Girls Club which is the highest recognition bestowed upon a teen member. Over the course of a year, Club members are recognized monthly at each facility based upon character, participation and grades. In January, each facility chooses the top 3 candidates to participate in a public speaking and interview competition with community leaders. Ultimately, the competition is multi-tiered and results in Boys & Girls Clubs of America naming one "Youth of the Year" to represent the Club across the country for a year.
January 20, 2008
Harriet Leenerts, Duane, Kay and Jeff Gerken attended the Missouri Association of Realtors annual Capitol Conference and Board of Director meetings in Jefferson City. Over 420 Realtors arrived at the Capitol to meet with Representatives and Senators to discuss legislation affecting real estate. Committee meetings attended included Legislative Policy & Regulatory, Cultural Diversity, The Center of Education & Private Enterprise and the Economic Development Council.
January 11, 2008
Gerken & Associates were invited as sponsors to the Butterflies of Branson press conference for the delivery and unveiling of the event's large ceramic butterflies. Sponsors were invited to meet the artists who will be painting the 58 butterflies for the first annual community wide art exhibit. Afterwards, all the butterflies will be auctioned off at The Butterfly Ball & Benefit Auction held later this year in October. Christian Action Ministries is holding the fundraising event in order to raise money for their organization.
January 3, 2008
We're honored to start another New Year with Harriet Leenerts. Harriet is a Broker who has been with the Gerken & Associates sales' team for over 30 years! She has an admired history of dedication to client satisfaction and served as President of the Tri-Lakes Board of Realtors. Through good markets and bad, Harriet has been through it all. The national news may claim it's a rough time to be in real estate, but not in our office. Things are rockin' along as normal. Happy New Years to all!
December 20, 2007
Gerken & Associates held their annual Christmas party at Tony Z's fine Italian dining in Branson. After the meal, the Fun Committee organized a sales game in which agents, staff and spouses drew for gift prizes and then promoted them to the rest of the group. It was a fun exercise in quick-thinking marketing skills. Plus a lot of laughs! We as a firm feel very fortunate for the team we have, clients we represent and city we live in.
December 6, 2007
Way to go Charlie Gerken! Charlie was recently elected to serve on the Branson-Hollister Rotary Club Board of Directors. A die-hard Rotarian, Charlie has served in numerous roles for the club's community involvement, including volunteer work for the Women's Crisis Center, Salvation Army and Community Day of Caring. In addition, Charlie has served as the Rotary float driver for the past two years in Branson's annual Adoration Christmas Parade.
December 1, 2007
Gerken & Associates attended the Tri-Lakes Board of Realtors annual banquet held downtown at the new Hilton convention center. Everyone in the firm had plenty to celebrate as recognition was given to team members Harriet Leenerts, Kay and Duane Gerken for their roles in serving as past presidents of the board. Jeff Gerken was recognized and sworn in as newly elected 2008 Tri-Lakes Board of Director. Also that night, Janetta Cole was sworn in as the new president for the Tri-Lakes Board of Realtors. Congratulations to all!
November 21, 2007
Gerken & Associates donated their time in revolving shifts to CAM (Christian Action Ministries) for the 19th Annual Holiday Food Harvest. The annual food drive was set up at the Jubilee Foods grocery store located on Highway 76 to help meet the needs of our area citizens. Several local business organizations volunteered to help deliver the donated food and items. By the end of the day, over four truck loads were donated from our efforts, making it the most successful food drive ever!
November 17, 2007
Harriet Leenerts and Jeff Gerken attended the 2007 Missouri Association of Realtors (MAR) Leadership Conference for local board leaders held at the University Plaza Convention Center in Springfield, Missouri. The Conference is held every year to educate current and incoming Board leaders. Those attending the conference heard from such notable speakers as Jim Asbury, 2008 MAR President, Dick Gaylord, 2008 NAR President and Dennis McClelland, MAR CEO and Executive Vice President.
November 14, 2007
Congratulations Jeff Gerken! Jeff was recently elected to serve on the 2008 Tri-Lakes Board of Realtors Board of Directors. In addition, Jeff will lead the 2008 Education Committee Chair of which he has served for two years. Both the founding firm's partners, Kay and Duane Gerken have served individual terms for the Tri-Lakes Board of Realtors Board of Directors as well.
November 8, 2007
Jeff and Charlie Gerken were recognized and presented with the Hollister Area Chamber of Commerce Member of the Month Award for Gerken & Associates assistance and contribution to the Hollister community. The certificate was presented to the boys at the monthly Hollister Chamber luncheon held at the Keeter Center at College of the Ozarks. Jeff Gerken currently serves as a Hollister Chamber Ambassador and chair of the Membership Committee. Charlie Gerken is a Branson Chamber Ambassador and was recently elected to a 3-year term on the Board of Directors.
October 29, 2007
Gerken & Associates attended Branson Mayor Raeanne Presley’s 50th birthday party held at Catina Laredo Mexican Restaurant, located downtown at the Branson Landing. Friends and colleagues of Mayor Presley donated over 50 toys as a way to collect one for every birthday she has celebrated. All of the toys collected were donated to charitable organizations in the Tri-Lakes area who will distribute them to children in need this Christmas.
October 26, 2007
Kay Gerken has been elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the College of the Ozarks Associates. Kay previously served a six year term in which she was elected President for three consecutive years. The College of the Ozarks Associates mission is to raise awareness of the College as well as funds that enable the College to provide equipment and opportunities for students not covered by the College budget.
October 17, 2007
Gerken & Associates had a phenomenal turnout for our ribbon cutting and open house celebration. Over 200 friends of the firm showed up to celebrate including the mayor. Thank you all for attending and your continued support.
October 16, 2007
Thirty-two years is a long time to be in one place! Gerken & Associates is celebrating the completion of our office renovation as we honor our past and move towards the future. Tomorrow, we will be hosting a ribbon cutting and open house celebration from 4 pm to 6 pm. Hors d'oeuvres, refreshments and good times will be provided. Please RSVP Carol at 417.334.1892 if you plan to attend. We look forward to seeing you there!
October 12, 2007
Gerken & Associates is proud to welcome Bob Warlick to our commercial real estate division. Active in the community, Bob has served in numerous civic and municipal organizations including the Branson Board of Aldermen, City of Branson Planning and Zoning Committee, City of Branson Budget Committee, Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce Legislative Committee and Downtown Branson Main Street Association President just to name a few. Currently Bob is a member of the Board of Directors of Mountain Country Homes of Hope (formerly Habitat for Humanity).
October 9, 2007
Welcome aboard Eugene Kartavtsev! Gerken & Associates invited Eugene on as a residential sales agent. Bilingual in both English and Russian, Eugene brings to the firm his love for all-things real estate and a great attitude towards client satisfaction - just the type of agents Gerken & Associates is known for.
October 5, 2007
Gerken & Associates is a booth vendor at the first-ever Tri-Lakes Remodeling Show held in the new convention center in downtown Branson. The weekend-long event is hosted by The Vacation Channel and Tanco Lumber Company in Forsyth. More than 150 vendors will attend the show offering helpful hints to thousands of visitors on just about any aspect of owning a home. Norma Vally, also known as the "Toolbelt Diva", star of the Emmy-nominated Discovery Home Channel show, "Tool Belt Diva" will be a featured guest and conduct two "Savvy Storage Solutions" workshops on Saturday. Don’t miss it!
September 23, 2007
Hollister's 9th Annual Grape and Fall Festival is just about here and Gerken & Associates will be a booth vendor. Held at Hollister’s historic Downing Street, the event attracts thousands of visitors for a grape-stomping good time! Festival features include the Grape Stomp, Basketball Tournament, Children’s Activity Tent, Entertainment Stage featuring live entertainment from area stars, Ozarks arts and crafts booths, Food Court and other area vendors that help keep admission to the annual event free.
September 19, 2007
Gerken & Associates is a proud sponsor and supporter of the 50th Annual "Ham and Bean" Dinner held at the Branson United Methodist Church. Every year the church puts on a dinner and lunch fundraiser to help support the church’s growth and sustainability. We’re thankful to be able to support the church’s endeavors.
September 13, 2007
Duane Gerken introduced Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder, key speaker for the "VIP Breakfast in Branson" held today at the Hilton Convention Center and Hotel. Kinder is the major force behind bringing the Tour of Missouri to our state and the reception was given in honor of him and the cycling event that generated over 30,000 spectators and 112 world-class cyclists to race in Branson.
September 10, 2007
Carol Turpin has been promoted to Office Administrator for Gerken & Associates. Carol joined the firm a year ago as an Administrative Assistant and has since taken a more proactive role in managing the daily office operations, assisting agents and maintaining customer relations. Congratulations Carol! We're fortunate to have you on our team.
September 6, 2007
Gerken & Associates participated in a miniature golf tournament fundraiser for the Missouri Association of Realtors' non-profit Center for Education & Private Enterprise. The Center provides scholarships for high school students to attend Missouri Business Week at Missouri University. The Center also provides training materials to teachers for the "It's Your Move" program, which covers the home buying process, terminology and other valuable information related to housing. Gerken & Associates supported the fundraiser with a company team of 12 golfers and signed up an additional 7 golfers from Liberty Bank. Over 40 golfers participated in the local fundraising event.
August 29, 2007
Charlie Gerken was a featured lecturer in this year's Branson Area Chamber Business Expo. Charlie's Internet Marketing workshop titled, "Online or the Breadline" tackled key objectives in how businesses can better track their online marketing dollars, attract and retain web visitors. The workshop was held at the Chateau on the Lake Hotel and was free to all Branson Area Chamber members.
August 27, 2007
Gerken & Associates is a corporate sponsor and participant in this year’s Branson Area Business Expo and Small Business of the Year Awards Dinner. The expo will be held tomorrow between noon and 5 p.m. at the luxurious Chateau on the Lake Hotel. It will feature over 40 Branson businesses and is free to the public. The private Awards dinner will start at 5:30 p.m. Please stop by our booth and see us!
August 23, 2007
Clients of Gerken & Associates' have a lot to look forward to. Jeff and Charlie Gerken, along with other top-producing Realtors across the country attended the highly-anticipated Hobbs/Herder two-day MegaMarketing Seminar held at the Chateau on the Lake Hotel in Branson. The Orange County, California-based, real estate advertising agency taught attendees how to take marketing efforts to the next level with high-impact advertising, public relations and integrated marketing business solutions of the future.
August 12, 2007
Gerken & Associates is a corporate sponsor of The Jeff Julian Golf Classic which is part of Driving 4 Life, a national fundraising campaign sustained by community golf events and major gifts from corporations. Most Driving 4 Life events are organized by ALS patients, their families, friends, and other members of the ALS community. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks motor neurons in the brain (upper motor neurons) and spinal cord (lower motor neurons). The Julian Tournament will be held September 16th at Ledgestone Country Club and Championship Golf Course in Branson.
August 8, 2007
Welcome aboard Paul Buckles! Gerken & Associates invited Paul on as an experienced residential sales agent. He brings to the firm his love for all-things real estate and a great attitude towards client satisfaction - just the type of agents Gerken & Associates is known for.
July 17, 2007
Gerken & Associates attended the highly anticipated BransonAirport groundbreaking ceremony today. The airport will be the first privately funded commercial airport in the United States. At a cost of over $140 million, the airport will be located inside the Branson Creek development, just south of Branson on Highway 65. It is scheduled to open in Spring 2009.
July 13, 2007
Charlie Gerken recently ran a successful bid for a seat on the Branson Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Elected to represent the General Business Category and over 1,000 members, Charlie will serve a 3-year term beginning October 1st. Gerken & Associates has been a Branson Chamber member for over 32 years and Duane Gerken, the firm's founding broker, has also served on the Board. It is a high honor to be elected to the Chamber Board of Directors and represent professional leadership of the community. Thank you all area chamber members for your continued trust and support.
July 4, 2007
Enjoy the fireworks, hot dogs and burgers as Gerken & Associates Realtors is closed in honor of Independence Day. Should you need to reach any of us, you can always contact a live agent on duty via our toll free number. Most of us are available, unless we are on TableRockLake water skiing; then you might need to leave a voicemail.
June 19, 2007
Harriet Leenerts, Duane & Kay Gerken have been very, very busy. All three attended the Missouri Association of Realtors State Directors' meeting in Kansas City, Missouri to conduct public policy, professional development and business services. While there, Duane & Kay attended the Women's Council of Realtors fundraiser fashion show, the Realtor of the Year selection committee and the Economic Development Council, in which they voted for implementation of a statewide commercial information exchange (CIE). As a member, Harriet Leenerts attended the Cultural Diversity Committee which handles educational opportunities for Missouri Realtors in fair housing and cultural diversity.
May 24, 2007
Gerken & Associates Realtors donated auctioneering services to the annual Tri-Lakes Board of Realtors RPAC (Realtor Political Action Committee) auction. Duane Gerken, auctioneer colonel for the firm, was the sole auctioneer for the event, and along with his staff, set a record amound of over $27,000 raised. Money raised at this event goes towards helping individuals protect private property rights.
May 24, 2007
Gerken & Associates Realtors donated auctioneering services to the annual Tri-Lakes Board of Realtors RPAC (Realtor Political Action Committee) auction. Duane Gerken, auctioneer colonel for the firm, was the sole auctioneer for the event, and along with his staff, set a record amound of over $27,000 raised. Money raised at this event goes towards helping individuals protect private property rights.
May 5, 2007
Gerken & Associates recently completed renovations on our office expansion. Butler, Rosenbury & Partners served as lead architect and Laura Daly was the interior designer. The office, which has housed the firm for 32 years, is now four times the original size! With lots of new space, fun colors and work systems in place, we're excited to show the place off! Please stay tuned as we'll be hosting a ribbon cutting and open house party next month.
May 3, 2007
Gerken & Associates, city officials and Tri-Lakes area businesses celebrated the National Day of Prayer at the 6th Annual Mayor's Prayer Breakfast. A record crowd of 586 filled the Convention Hall at CelebrationCity sponsored by the Branson Christian Businessmen's Committee. Paul Teas, founder of CampBarnabas, was the featured speaker, giving personal accounts of his faith. The Christian summer camp allows children with special needs the opportunity to get a summer camp experience. Each summer, CampBarnabas hosts more than 1,000 campers during nine, one-week terms.
April 27, 2007
The Tri-Lakes Board of Realtors held their annual awards dinner last night. At the event, recognition was given to all four Gerken family members for their continued service to the board as each was conducted into the 2006 Honor Society. In addition, all four Gerken family members were paid tribute for their generous donations to RPAC (Realtor Political Action Committee), a group which raises funds for those in political office whom are supportive of protecting private property rights. Kay Gerken was also recognized for spearheading this year's Tri-Lakes Board of Realtors Leadership class.
April 17, 2007
Harriet Leenerts, Kay and Duane Gerken attended the Missouri Association of Realtors (MAR) quarterly Business Conference and Directors' meeting held at the Ritz Hotel in St. Louis. All three serve as MARState Directors representing the Tri-Lakes Board of Realtors. Duane and Kay are members of MAR's Economic Development Council and helped with plans being formulated for a statewide Commercial Information Exchange (CIE). This will allow Realtors as well as the State of Missouri's Department of Economic Development (MODED) to access the availability of properties for sale and lease in Missouri. As a member of the Cultural Diversity Committee, Harriet helped make funds available for 19 members of MAR to go to Georgia to help build a house for Habitat for Humanity.
April 9, 2007
Gerken & Associates, the managing company for Branson Heights Shopping Center won a Beautification Award given by Blossoms of Branson. The award was in recognition for the colorful tulip gardens planted along the frontage of the shopping center's parking lot and Highway 76. Blossoms of Branson, a local volunteer group, encourages the beautification of Branson with blooming plants and shrubs. The group created a contest for home and business owners to create prolific plantings all over Branson.
March 24, 2007
Kay Gerken was nominated by the Tri-Lakes Board of Realtors Board of Directors for the Missouri Association of Realtors "2007 Realtor of the Year Award". The Board is submitting Kay's nomination for her outstanding dedication and service to both the local and state Realtor Associations. The Realtor of the Year Award is selected by past recipients from around the state of Missouri. Kay's husband and founding firm partner, Duane Gerken, was the recipient of this prestigious award in 2001.
March 20, 2007
Gerken & Associates Realtors is proud to be a corporate sponsor of the 45th Annual Spaghetti Lunch & Dinner of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Branson. The yearly tradition not only helps support the financial needs of the church, but also serves as an outreach to the community. The first Spaghetti dinner was held in 1962 and served approximately 400 people. Today's lunch and dinner event is expected to serve over 1,600 meals. That's a lot of spaghetti!
March 10, 2007
Charlie Gerken, e-PRO, GRI was invited to speak to the 2007 Branson Tri-Lakes Chamber Leadership class today at Citizens Union Bank. Charlie's presentation was entitled, "Internet Marketing: Online or the Breadline". Topics ranged form basic Internet vocabulary to an extensive review of website statistic platforms and how to manage them. The Branson Chamber Leadership class is a select group of people from local businesses who learn about Branson's evolution, environment, community service, marketing, government and future economic development plans. Charlie is a 2006 graduate and his brother, Jeff Gerken is a 2004 graduate.
Febuary 26, 2007
The team that plays together stays together! Gerken & Associates formed a bowling team and donated $350 to the Big Brothers Big Sisters 7th Annual Bowl For Kids' Sake held at the Millennium Bowling & Entertainment facility in Branson West. In its seventh year serving Stone and Taney counties, BBBSB has served over 200 kids with the expectations of serving 300 kids by the end of 2007. By building relationships with other family-oriented, kid loving organizations, BBBSB continues to strive for the mission of serving kids and their families not only by increasing the numbers served, but by increasing the quality of its programs.
February 19, 2007
Last night, Charlie Gerken was honored and recognized for his continuing role and service as a Branson Chamber Ambassador at the 60th Branson Chamber "Black Tie Dinner", a yearly gathering of community business members. The event was held at the beautiful Chateau on the Lake with recognition given to Branson's top leaders, including the presentation of the Pioneer, Ambassador, Beautification and Community Spirit Awards. Gerken & Associates, along with the Tri-Lakes Board of Realtors helped sponsor the event. So far, the Branson Chamber has over 1,200 business members and growing.
February 10, 2007
All of the Realtors at Gerken & Associates participated in the fourth annual Tri-Lakes Board of Realtors "Have A Heart" Food Drive. The area Food Drive goes to support local food pantries, including the Salvation Army, OACAC, Christian Associates of Table Rock Lake, and Christian Action Ministries. If you're interested in donating money or food items, the office of Gerken & Associates serves as an official drop off location and will deliver cash and food items to the pantries for you.
January 24, 2007
Duane and Kay Gerken attended the Capitol Conference in Jefferson City along with over 400 Missouri Realtors. The Realtors spent time meeting with their legislators encouraging them to oppose an increase in recording fees on real estate transactions. While at these meetings, Kay led 10 members of the Tri-Lakes Board of Realtors Leadership Academy through the Capitol Conference and meetings. Kay explained and oriented the Academy members of the purpose of the Conference and the influence Realtors have in the legislative process. Duane and Kay were honored at a special dinner for high dollar donors to the Realtors Political Action Committee. Also, as Past Presidents of the Missouri Association of Realtors, Duane and Kay participated in the ribbon cutting for the remodeled offices of the Association located in Columbia, Missouri.
January 15, 2007
Joni Glessner has been diligently giving her time as a volunteer to help the Missouri National Guard, emergency personnel, church groups, and Springfield citizens, chop, saw and dig their way out of the largest natural disaster Missouri has had to deal with. Just 40 miles north of Branson, Springfield has been paralyzed by massive power outages, food, gasoline and equipment shortages caused by a brutal ice storm.
January 4, 2007
Gerken & Associates has flipped sides! We recently located to our new office addition while the other half of our building is being remodeled. Last year, Gerken & Associates took the once popular Bridal Shop next door and knocked out three separate walkways to connect the two spaces.Located on West Highway 76, in the BransonHeightsShopping Center, Gerken& Associates expansion will be four times its original size. To date, the office has been in the same location for over 32 years!
December 25, 2006
Santa Claus came by and visited Gerken & Associates! Since we were such good Realtors this year, he brought us three large DELL flat screen TV's for our new conference rooms! No more huddling clients around laptops. From now on, all our clients and customers can comfortably search for their future home up on the big screens.
December 17, 2006
An American tradition since 1891, Jeff and Charlie Gerken have been out serving in the local Salvation Army Red Kettle program and together, they've raised a considerable amount! The Salvation Army provides residential services, disaster relief, holiday assistance, medical facilities, and family and career counseling. More than 30 million people a year are aided by The Salvation Army. If you would like to become a volunteer, please contact Charlie Gerken for further information.
December 14, 2006
Charlie Gerken, Broker / Partner of Gerken & Associates, presented a check in the amount of $1,000 to Joan Westfall, Director of C.A.M. (Christian Action Ministries). C.A.M. represents an alliance between several area churches, business leaders and local residents to help those in need in emergency situations. C.A.M. relies solely on the generosity of members in the community to enable their services to continue. Gerken & Associates, a proud supporter of C.A.M. since its 1985 inception, has contributed over $15,000 in donations.
December 11, 2006
Last weekend, the Hollister Chamber held its annual WinterFest Chamber banquet. As a Hollister Chamber of Commerce Ambassador, Jeff Gerken was honored to present the Hollister Chamber Volunteer of the Year Award to Pam Druffel of Ozark Mountain Bank.Ozark Mountain Bank is a shining example how businesses are willing to contribute and support the community.
December 4, 2006
Charlie Gerkenwas selected for theRookie of the YearAwardby the Tri-Lakes Board of Realtors for his outstanding achievements for 2006! The award was given at the Annual Installation Banquet held at the Chateau on the Lake. Duane Gerken(1985 President), Kay Gerken (1991 President) and Harriet Leenerts (2003 President) were also given special recognition for their past leadership and continuing role in the Tri-Lakes Board of Realtors.
November 22, 2006
Gerken & Associates donated their time in revolving shiftsto CAM (Christian Action Ministries) for the 18th Annual Holiday Food Harvest. The annual food drive was set up at the Jubilee Foods grocery store located on Highway 76 to help meet the needs for area citizens in need. Dick Clark's American Bandstand theater loaned a classic car to help deliver the donated food and items. By the end of the day, over three truck loads were donated, making it the most successful food drive ever!
November 6, 2006
Congratulations to the Gerken brothers! Both Charlie and Jeff Gerken are now GRI (Graduate Realtor Institute) Designees! GRI is a designation awarded by the Missouri Association of Realtors to National Association of Realtors members who have successfully completed the required 12, eight-hour courses of advanced lectures and exams held throughout the state of Missouri. In total, there are six agents at Gerken & Associates who have earned their GRI designations. Quite impressive!
October 30, 2006
Charlie and Jeff Gerken completed and passed the GRI-404: New Home Construction course and exam held in Branson. The eight-hour course focused on architectural design, site orientation, quality construction and ways in which technology is changing the markets. In addition, special attention was given to serving today's builders and solving new home buyer needs.
October 15, 2006
Harriet Leenerts, Duane and Kay Gerken, attended the Missouri Association of Realtors® (MAR) annual convention in Lake Ozark, Missouri with over 600 registrants. Duane and Kay attended the MAR Past Presidents' recognition banquet as well as the installation of the 2007 officers. Duane and Harriet attended the nationally recognized commercial speaker, Tom Lundstedt's presentations and Kay was a featured speaker at the MARLeadershipAcademy. Duane and Kay also attended nationally recognized speaker, John Hamilton's seminar on Negotiations. The four day conference is an event-packed experience that Gerken & Associates attend every year to stay abreast of industry changes.
September 18, 2006
Gerken & Associates is proud to announce yet another addition to our firm! Carol Turpin recently joined as an Administrative Assistant to help with the day-to-day office needs. She brings a strong background in customer relations, a love for people and a “can do” attitude. We're excited and fortunate to have her with us.
September 14, 2006
Jeff and Charlie Gerken passed the GRI-403 course and exam held in Branson. The 8 hour course focused on current residential financing information and practical calculator skills to assist both buyers and sellers in the marketplace. Financing fundamentals of Conventional, FHA, VA, ARMs and current innovative financing techniques were reviewed and discussed as well. Jeff & Charlie have completed over 100 hours towards their GRI (Graduate Realtor Institute) designation and are due to graduate next month!
August 27, 2006
Charlie Gerken recently completed and passed the GRI-409 course in Jefferson City. The course focused on Business planning and positioning for professional real estate agents. Topics included written business plans, productivity, organizational structures, budgeting, and the latest in technology and transaction management.
August 16, 2006
Duane and Kay Gerken, the firm’s founding partners and brokers, celebrated their 37th wedding anniversary today. Like their commitment to their marriage, their commitment to the firm is proof to what teamwork and humor can achieve.
July 22, 2006
Jeff Gerken is now a certified Internet professional, having completed the e-PRO training program and exam for real estate professionals, endorsed by the National Association of Realtors. An e-PRO agent streamlines the entire transaction, from showing to closing through a number of online tools and advanced software. Currently, there are fewer than 10 agents in the Tri-Lakes Board of Realtors whom are e-PRO certified.
July 13, 2006
One more done! Jeff and Charlie Gerken are well on their way to earning their GRI (Graduate Realtor Institute) designations. Both attended and passed the GRI-405 course and exam today in St. Louis. The course examined the role of seller's agents, buyer's agents and transaction brokers in Missouri real estate practice. Topics included creation of agency or non-agency, duties of an agent and transaction brokerage, dual agency and designated agency. Both the Gerken boys have completed over 80 hours of credit towards their GRI destinations. They are due to graduate in September.
July 4, 2006
Gerken & Associates, along a new home owner in RockawayBeach, helped support the Annual Rockaway Beach Fireworks Spectacular. The downtown event featured live entertainment , area food, crafts, and games. The fireworks show started at 9:50 pm and featured a spectacular finale never seen before! Each year, the fine folks of RockawayBeach go above and beyond to outdo last year's event. This year was no exception!
July 1, 2006
Charlie and Jeff Gerken recently drove to St. Charles, Missouri to attend the GRI-408 course. Both passed the exam which drew parallels between license law and the Code of Ethics. It also covered competence in different real estate disciplines, including non-interference with agency relationships and arbitration of disputes.
June 21, 2006
Harriet Leenerts, Kay and Duane Gerken attended meetings in St. Charles, Missouri, along with other fellow Realtor leaders who serve as Directors for the Missouri Association of Realtors (MAR). Key approval was given for $25,000, to co-sponsor with the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, the 2006 Governor’s Conference on Economic Development. Created in 1979, this statewide, not-for-profit gathering of economic professionals and community leaders provides a unified voice for economic development in Missouri. The Conference will be held in St. Louis on September 25-27.
June 13, 2006
Jeff and Charlie Gerken just got back from a 2-day stay in Joplin, Missouri after completing and passing both the GRI-406 and 407 course exams. GRI-406 addressed issues in sale contracts including enforceability, default remedies, multiple offers, closing and possession. GRI-407 consisted of law and risk management, covering an array of issues and solutions. Topics included advertising, fair housing conduct, antitrust, fraud, negligence, inspections, and environmental issues.
June 6, 2006
Every year the Branson Tri-Lakes Realtor Political Action Committee (RPAC) holds an auction to help raise money for candidate campaigns that support property rights. Donations come from voluntary contributions rather than member's dues treasury. Charlie and Duane Gerken helped by providing free auctioneering services. By the end of the night, the event raised a total of $19,440, up $4,379 from 2005's auction! This money will go towards improving federal mortgage programs, allowing more families to join the ranks of homeownership while eliminating burdensome regulations inhibiting healthy real estate markets.
May 24, 2006
Charlie and Jeff Gerken were both invited on a Realtor hard hat tour of the new Branson Landing development. During the tour, they were given an opportunity to view several of the new luxurious condos the $420 million complex has to offer. Also while on tour, special attention was given to construction facts and statistics as well as estimated completion dates. If you have questions about the new Branson Landing or would like to view its gorgeous condos, please contact Jeff or Charlie Gerken.
May 19, 2006
Lights! Camera! Action! Charlie Gerken was featured |