Realtor of the Year: Katie Bane
<p>Katie Bane, co-owner and real estate agent for Northwest Realty Group, was recently awarded the “Realtor of the Year” award.</p>
Each year, the Coeur d'Alene Association of Realtors selects a Realtor of the Year based on an individual's community involvement, organization leadership involvement, and business/educational accomplishments.
During its quarterly general membership meeting, the Coeur d'Alene Association of Realtors recognized Katie Bane as 2014 Realtor of the Year. She was nominated by Northwest Realty Group broker Marcello Conigliaro.
"Katie is a dedicated professional who juggles a successful real estate practice, countless hours of community service and raising a family with grace and character," Conigliaro said in his letter to the nominating committee. "She is an excellent Realtor with the highest ethics and professionalism."
Katie is a lifelong resident of northeast Washington and North Idaho. She graduated from the University of Idaho with a Bachelor of Science in business with a marketing major in 1992, and has been a licensed Realtor since 1994. She is consistently in the top 1 percent of residential agents in the Coeur d'Alene MLS, with more than $10 million/year in production for the last three years.
She prides herself on her reputation for honesty and integrity among colleagues and clients alike.
"It's an honor to have been chosen," she said. "There are many great Realtors in our market that deserve this award, and I appreciate being recognized."
In December 2012, she partnered with two of the area's top-selling agents to form Northwest Realty Group, a real estate brokerage owned by Realtors with more than 56 years of combined experience.
Her professional and personal efforts have earned her membership in the Coeur d'Alene Association of Realtors Circle of Excellence every year since 2008. Katie holds accreditation as a Certified Negotiation Expert, Certified Residential Specialist, Accredited Buyer's Representative and Graduate Realtor Institute. She is a graduate of the 2011 Idaho Association of Realtors Leadership Academy and is a vocal advocate for professional standards and education.
In what little free time she has, Katie can be found on horseback high in the Idaho and Montana backcountry, or volunteering at the North Idaho Fair and Rodeo. She's the president of the North Idaho Fair Foundation, and has been the chair for the Silver Buckle Club at the North Idaho Fair and Rodeo since 2012, as well as an active committee member for the North Idaho Fair Cowboy Ball since its inaugural year. She is a leader in the Kootenai County 4-H community and is a member of the Panhandle Back Country Horsemen.
Katie is married to her college sweetheart, Zach Bane, who owns and operates Bane Built Construction. Together they have an 18-year-old daughter, Kassidy, who is attending college in Bozeman, Mont.
"This is a pretty impressive resume," Conigliaro said. "You can begin to appreciate how dedicated and deserving Katie is of this type of recognition. I do not know of anyone else who is more deserving."