The Greater Lehigh Valley Realtors (GLVR) has reappointed Christopher Raad of Harvey Z. Raad Realtors as president.

Raad was set to be the 2016 Past President of the Association, but following the death of Jim Zurn, has agreed to return to the position of president for the upcoming year.

“The GLVR Board of Directors will strive to achieve the goals that Jim had wished to accomplish this year,” Raad said. “We will continue to keep his passion for the community and private property rights a top priority.”

Raad has been on the GLVR Board of Directors since 2011 and was president in 2015. He has been on the MLS Committee since 2005, was the Vice-Chair for 2010-2011, and Chair for 2012-2013. Raad will be Vice-Chair of the Commercial, Industrial & Investment Committee in 2016. He was also selected to the National Association of Realtors Board of Directors for 2016-’17.

He previously was on the Board of Directors for Camelot for Children and the City of Allentown Historical Architectural Review Board. Raad, a lifelong resident of the Lehigh Valley, resides in Center Valley.

“It has been an emotional time, but Jim would want us to move forward with Association business,” said Justin Porembo, CEO of the GLVR. “I’m glad we were able to bring resolve to the void in our leadership in a timely manner. I truly feel that Jim would have wanted us to put Association business on the highest pedestal.”

To ensure a full complement of the 15-member Board of Directors, Jim Christman of Keller Williams Real Estate in Palmerton was appointed to the board.

The 2016 leadership team includes Raad, president; Cass Chies, president-elect; Timothy Mahon, Treasurer; Sean LaSalle, secretary, and Kimberly Lucas-Mantz, immediate past president.