Realtors Rick Balzer and Swift Torrance were recently awarded emeritus status by the Laguna Board of REALTORS. Emeritus status requires at least 40 years as a real estate professional and serving as a CAR Director and on at least one committee.
A senior marketing consultant with an MBA in finance and computer science, Torrance has been a realtor since 1975 and was named Salesman of the Year at the Coldwell Banker Laguna office in 1979, 1981, 1991 and 1993. The Laguna Board of REALTORS named Torrance Realtor of the Year in 1995. In 1999, Torrance quite literally became the “top” Realtor in the United States after hiking to the top of Mt. Whitney, the highest mountain in the contiguous U.S. Torrance has over $280 million in real estate sales, including 67 transactions of $1 million or more.
Balzer was named Realtor of the Year in 1972, and as a member of the city’s Parking and Transportation Committee, he was instrumental in the acquisition of property in Laguna Canyon—the Act V parking lot. In 1986, Balzer acquired the RE/MAX franchise for Laguna Beach and sold it three years later to another RE/MAX broker. In 1993, he joined Grubb and Ellis, which was eventually acquired by Prudential and is now Berkshire Hathaway Home Services California. Balzer has also served as a director of the Laguna Art museum, the Laguna Beach Community Foundation and the Boys & Girls Club.
Sponsorship Opportunities Available for 24th Annual Taste for Charity
Ron Pickett, an affiliate agent with the Laguna Beach office of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage and sponsorship chair for Annual Taste for Charity, has announced the sponsorship opportunities for the Laguna Board of REALTORS Charitable Assistance Fund’s 24th Annual Taste for Charity on Wednesday, April 24. Tickets for the event are $65 and sponsorships opportunities include Platinum for $5,000, Gold for $2,500 and Silver for $1,500 as well as other digital advertising opportunities.
“This year, our goal is to raise more than $100,000 for the beneficiaries,” said Pickett. “Last year, thanks to our sponsors and attendees, we were able to provide more than $75,000 to our very deserving Laguna Beach beneficiaries! Each year, the Laguna Board of REALTORS Charitable Assistance Fund carefully selects several Laguna Beach nonprofits to receive all event proceeds. Please join us this year again for a fun night full of Laguna’s best!”
The event will be hosted at Seven7Seven (formerly Tivoli Too), which is located at 777 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach. At the event, there will be food, drinks, entertainment from the Agave Bros Band, as well as silent and live auctions, featuring artwork, jewelry and artisan gifts. This year’s beneficiaries include the Boys & Girls Club Laguna Beach, Laguna Food Pantry, Laguna Beach Seniors, Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, First Thursdays Art Walk, LOCA Art Foundation, No Square Theatre, The Laguna Board of REALTORS Charitable Assistance Fund and Laguna Beach High School.
For more information about tickets, sponsorships and advertising opportunities, contact Pickett at 949-246-8500.
