Central Fla. Realtor^® Honored as 2024 Realtor of the Year

The Realtor audience applauded as McGraw accepted the award from 2024 President Gia Arvin.

When asked his thoughts after receiving the Realtor of the Year award, McGraw said, “It’s truly all about serving the member, helping our Realtor members succeed – and helping buyers and sellers achieve their dreams of homeownership.”

Florida Realtors has presented Realtor of the Year and Associate Realtor of the Year awards for 72 years. Winners are honored as the greatest individual lifetime contributors to their local Realtor board, community, state association and the National Association of Realtors® (NAR).

Almost immediately after getting his real estate license more than 20 years ago, McGraw became involved at all three levels of the Realtor organization: his local association, the Orlando Regional Realtor® Association (ORRA), Florida Realtors and NAR.

His accomplishments over the course of his career are numerous and varied, including leadership positions and awards recognizing his service. McGraw’s list of committees, groups, forums and tasks forces he has served on at the local level goes on, single-spaced, for five pages on his nomination form – all the way back to 2001. Among that long list, he was ORRA’s president in 2011 and was the 2018 president of Stellar MLS.

McGraw’s involvement with Florida Realtors is just as deep – that list spans five-and-a-half pages – and dates back to 2005. Under his leadership as Florida Realtors president, the state association focused on its role as “Your Business Partner” for Realtors and local Realtor associations.

His goals in 2023 included boosting advocacy efforts; increasing and promoting professionalism; protecting Florida’s environment; and raising awareness of Florida Realtors’ charities and showcasing the Realtor heart and all Realtors do in their communities.

Knowing the importance of advocacy, McGraw has long been a strong supporter of RPAC (Realtor Political Action Committee). As president, he worked to raise awareness and funds for RPAC through his “Coffee with Cars” series of district events, where members could invest in their profession while networking, enjoying a cup of coffee and seeing classic cars.

In 2023, McGraw was instrumental in efforts that changed the specialty license plate’s design to also include Florida Realtors and the Realtor “R” logo as a REALTOR® license plate. The purpose of the redesign is to encourage more Realtors to purchase the “Homeownership for All” license plate and help fund affordable housing programs across the state. The new specialty license plate is now available at county tax collector’s offices, by mail or online. For more information, including how to purchase the new specialty license plate, go to https://homeownershipforall.org.

He also has been active in numerous National Association of Realtors® (NAR) committees, including currently serving on its Board of Directors and the 2024 Insurance Committee. In the community, he has supported and volunteered with Apopka Little League baseball, mission trips to Guatemala, the Apopka Rotary Club and the Toastmasters Club.

“What stunned me was when they said the list (of his involvement) goes on for five-and-a-half pages,” McGraw said after the awards luncheon. “I don’t love the titles or do it for the accolades. I just always want to get to work.”

His real estate colleagues and the Realtor profession have benefited from McGraw’s dedication and work ethic for the past 20-plus years.