Abdo, Pontrelli complete GRI course
The New Jersey Association of realtors is pleased to announce that two of its members, Maggie Abdo and Karoline Pontrelli of Century 21 Semiao & Associates recently completed their GRI (Graduate Realtor Institute) course, and join the ranks of the GRI graduates this year.
After completing all three courses of the GRI program, a student is awarded the nationally recognized Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI) Designation. With 90 classroom hours of real estate instruction, the course’s emphasis is on topics such as contract law, professional standards and ethics, sales and marketing, finance and risk reduction. Individuals completing the program learn the fundamentals of brokerage and other areas of real estate specialization, allowing them to better serve prospective clients and customers. Courses are taught by leading real estate instructors.
Karoline Pontrelli has been licensed since 1985, and has been with Century 21 Semiao and Associates since 2007. She has completed the Business Masters Series of Advanced Consulting and Communications Skills, a course of enhanced service value to meet customer needs. In addition she has earned numerous designations including Mature Moves Assessment Course, Certified Commercial Property Expert, Certified Distressed Property Expert dealing with Short Sales. She is a member in good standing with The Meadowlands Board of Realtors, The New Jersey MLS, The Garden State MLS, The Hudson County MLS and The Monmouth/Ocean County Multiple Listing System. In addition to having been presented with The Circle of Excellence Award for 2011 from The New Jersey Association of Realtors, Ponrelli has been honored by The Quarter Century Club for serving 25 years as a realtor.
Maggie Abdo has been a realtor for the past eight years specializing in Bergen, Hudson and Essex County. She joined Century 21 Semiao in 2005, also gaining her commercial designation that year. In addition to her recent GRI designation, Abdo has also completed and earned both the SFR and CDPE designations, Certified Short Sale and Foreclosure Recourse specialist. She is a member in good standing with The Meadowlands Board of Realtors, The New Jersey MLS, The Garden State MLS, and The Hudson County MLS. A few of Abdo’s top production achievements include Century 21 Semiao and Associates’ Top Listing Agent in the Lyndhurst office from 2008- 2011 and Agent of the year for 2010 (Sales and Listing). Century 21 Real Estate Corporation has awarded Abdo The Masters Diamond award for 2010 and The Masters Emerald award in 2011.
“I am very proud of these two hard working and dedicated ladies. To find the time during these market conditions to continue to improve their skills takes a much disciplined person. They deserve a great amount of respect for their individual achievements,” stated Broker Owner of Century 21 Semiao and Associates Fernando G. Semiao.
Upon graduating, Pontrelli and Abdo received their designation at a reception at the annual convention in Atlantic City.
Only an elite 14% of NJAR ®’s membership has attained the GRI Designation throughout its 40+ year history.
The New Jersey GRI program is offered throughout New Jersey and is certified and approved by the National Association of Realtors®, the nation’s largest trade association, with a membership of over one million. Only members of the Realtor organization may earn the GRI. Maggie Abdo and Karoline Pontrelli can both be reached at Century 21 Semiao’s Lyndhurst branch, 201-460-8000.
