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Ben Cushing, the Career Development Director at Coldwell Banker Lifestyles in New London, was selected as the 65th NHAR Realtor of the Year.

Cushing, a 27-year Realtor who lives in New London with his wife Amy and two sons, received the award at NHAR’s annual Realtor of the Year ceremony, held Sept. 17 at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord at the tail end of the association’s education symposium.

“Now more than ever, we’re a profession whose members need to lead by example in terms of advocating for buyers and sellers of real estate,” said Joanie McIntire, 2024 New Hampshire Realtors president. “I’ve known Ben for a long time, and he sets a very high bar in that regard.”

Cushing was selected from a group of 14 local board honorees and presented with a variety of mementos for the occasion, including a Realtor of the Year crystal and pin, a citation from Governor Chris Sununu, and a certificate to cover his expenses at the upcoming National Association of Realtors conference and trade show in Boston.

Find the 2024 Realtor of the Year video here.

“Ben has taken leadership roles in every stage of his career,” McIntire said. “As a business owner, community activist, and as a volunteer at the local, state and national level of our organization, no one has worked harder to move the industry forward and celebrate our unique community of familial competition.”

Cushing has been an active Realtor since 1997 and has spent much of the last decade in leadership positions at the state association, including its treasurer and, in 2023, association president. He was the 2019 recipient of the New Hampshire Association of Realtors Distinguished Service Award and a 2023 graduate of the prestigious National Association of Realtors Leadership Academy.

Previously, he owned and operated Cushing Real Estate in New London before starting the Cushing School of Real Estate, where he instructed those earning and maintaining their real estate licenses.

Cushing said he cares deeply about the Realtor Code of Ethics and its implications on the homeowners he serves.

“Behind every real estate transaction is a story, and my goal is always to listen with compassion, and not view these transactions as merely business. Creating an environment where my customers and clients feel that they are valued and respected is the cornerstone of being a good Realtor.

“Realtor spirit is not just confined to our profession. It shows in all areas of our communities.”

Past recipients of the Realtor of the Year award include:

Recipients are collectively judged by an NHAR working group to select the state Realtor of the Year based on the following criteria:

Realtor spirit: high principles of integrity, adherence to the Realtor Code of Ethics, and furtherance of the principles of good real estate practice among brokers, agents and the general public.
Civic activity: Local, state and national level participation in civic and service clubs, charitable activities, political commissions, fraternal or religious groups.
Business accomplishments: Public recognition of business conduct, service to clients, imaginative and creative advertising programs, rehabilitation work, land utilization, etc.
Local board activity: Offices held and committee work, special assignments, seminar activity and educational work, membership and offices held in local chapters of Institutes, Societies and Councils.
State association activity: Offices held and committee work, attendance and participation in state conventions, directors meetings and educational conferences.
National association activity: National offices and committee work, membership and work in Institutes, Societies and Councils, attendance at national conventions and directors’ meetings.

The state Realtor of the Year is announced at the annual conference each year and is presented with an engraved crystal award. In addition the recipient receives funds to assist with attending the National Association of REALTORS annual conference, where all state Realtors of the Year are recognized. All recipients are listed on a plaque displayed at the state association office.

REALTOR of the Year

REALTOR of the Year