Meet the Association
“The mission of the Florida Association of Realtors® is to advance Florida’s real estate industry by shaping public policy on real property issues; encouraging, promoting and teaching consistent standards for ethical practice and professionalism; and building on the efforts of local Boards/Associations to provide the information and tools members need to succeed.”

The Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR) is the largest trade association in the state with more than 115,000 members.

As a member of FAR, you’ll enjoy business contacts, networking opportunities, educational offerings, research and legislative representation, programs, services, and tremendous camaraderie. The Association headquarters are located in Orlando, and the FAR Office of Public Policy is located in the heart of  Tallahassee.

FAR’s elected leadership and business management teams share a common goal.  Individually, each brings to the table years of expertise in the real estate industry and proven business management skills. As partners, they seek solutions to advance specific public policy issues and meet the needs of Florida’s Realtor community.

Meet Cynthia C. Shelton
Cynthia C. Shelton, a commercial broker with Colliers Arnold Associates in Orlando, is the 2009 President of the Florida Association of Realtors®.

Shelton is a member of the Orlando Regional Realtor® Association, Central Florida Commercial Association of Realtors®, Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) and the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC).

A Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) and member of the Counselors of Real Estate (CRE), she served as 2002 international president of the CCIM Institute. Shelton also was the 1996 president of the Florida CCIM chapter and 1994 president of the Greater Tampa Association of Realtors®. She has been an FAR board member since 1987 and a board member of the National Association of Realtors® for more than a decade. In 2006, Gov. Jeb Bush appointed Shelton to the Florida Property Tax Reform Committee.

• More about Cynthia
  

Meet John Fridlington
At FAR, John Fridlington is the executive vice president of the association and chief management officer. He is responsible for the administration of programs, services and policies, and for FAR’s financial condition.

John’ s 22 years with the California Association of Realtors® and four years with the Massachusetts Association of Realtors®, made him the perfect candidate to take the helm here in Florida in January 2005. John spends a lot of time traveling throughout Florida, meeting with local boards to assess their needs and to determine how FAR can best serve its membership.

Each day at FAR, the leadership and management team, along with the entire FAR staff, work together to help Realtors succeed. That’s because, in the end, it is all about you.

FAR History

How long has the Florida Association of Realtors been around? 2009 marks our 95th anniversary!

In 1916, 68 real estate brokers from 16 Florida communities gathered in Jacksonville for the first convention of what is now FAR. That first meeting marked the beginning of a vision and an ongoing mission to serve the Realtors® of Florida and the people who make their home in the Sunshine State. Realtors brought order, fairness and professionalism to the real estate business in Florida. Since that humble beginning, thousands and thousands of Realtors have helped millions of Floridians achieve the American Dream of homeownership.

Today, FAR and its members are busier than ever, protecting private property rights and keeping a very close eye on some 3,600 pieces of legislation each year that have a potentially huge impact on the property owners of Florida.