The Realtor Association of Greater Miami and the Beaches (RAMB) and the Realtor Association of Miami-Dade County (RAMDC) are proud to announce their merger into one association. The organization’s new name will be the Miami Association of Realtors (MIAMI) once the name is approved by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). This is the largest merger in the history of NAR, bringing together 23,000 Realtors in South Florida and forming the largest Realtor association in the nation.

Merged Association – Leadership, Benefits, Products & Services
Jack H. Levine, President of Levine Realty, Inc., will serve as the first Chairman of the Board of the new MIAMI Association. Levine considers this historic merger a milestone that will benefit all – the 11,500 members of each organization, the local real estate industry and business community, and the buying and selling public.

“Together, we are uniquely positioned to provide South Florida Realtors with the most comprehensive and leading-edge real estate marketing tools and services available that will enhance how MIAMI members serve their clients,” said Levine. “In addition, consumers will now have access to more combined tools and resources in South Florida than almost any other market. This unprecedented development further strengthens the South Florida real estate market’s position as a world-class destination and expands international opportunities which will result in even more demand for local real estate.”

Serving with Jack H. Levine will be Residential President Oliver Ruiz, Commercial President Ron Kohn, Broward County President Terri Bersach and Presidents-elect Martha Pomares, Ralph De Martino, Patricia Delinois, Betty Gonzalez, John Dohm, and Natascha Tello.

RAMB Chief Executive Officer Teresa King Kinney will serve as the CEO of the merged association. The merger became effective on August 2, 2010. A merger celebration and installation event, which will also highlight the association’s 90th anniversary, is planned for October 15, 2010, at Jungle Island in Miami.

“It is a great honor to help lead this new merged association, which combines the rich histories, large memberships and powerful programs of two very successful organizations, providing unlimited new opportunities for the future,” said Kinney. “We remain committed to excellence, innovation and serving our more than 23,000 members who represent every specialty of real estate, including Residential, Commercial, and international.”

The association hosts more than 600 member seminars and events each year and offers more than $30,000 in free premium marketing tools and services to each of its members to contribute to their success and help them better serve consumers. The new association includes a Residential Association, a Commercial Association, a Broward County Board of Governors, an award-winning International Council and an Educational Foundation.

International Partnerships
The association has more than 65 signed agreements, which generate substantial referral business and other opportunities, with partner organizations throughout the world. This alliance will increase the association’s international leverage and capacity, as it continues to promote South Florida and the local real estate market to buyers, investors, tourists, and global corporations and positively impact the local community and economy.

Merger Initiative
Chairman of the Board Teresita “Terri” Bersach, led the merger initiative for RAMB along with Residential President Oliver Ruiz, Commercial President Ron Kohn, and Presidents-elect Martha Pomares, Ralph De Martino and Betty Gonzalez.

President Victor Ulloa led the initiative for RAMDC with Secretary/Treasurer Jack H. Levine, Presidents- elect Ernesto Vega and Patricia Delinois, and Past Presidents Norka Diaz and Rei Mesa.

The merger agreement was facilitated by Charles Richardson. Keith J. Blum with the law firm of BOIES, SCHILLER & FLEXNER LLP represented the merger.

About the Association
The MIAMI Association is the merged association for RAMB and RAMDC and retains the charter received from the National Association of Realtors in 1920 and is celebrating its 90th year of service to Realtors, the buying and selling public, and the communities in South Florida. Comprised of four organizations, the Residential Association, the Realtors Commercial Alliance, the Broward County Board of Governors, and the International Council, it represents 23,000 real estate professionals in all aspects of real estate sales, marketing, and brokerage.  It is the largest local association in the National Association of Realtors, and has partnerships with more than 60 international organizations worldwide. MIAMI’s official website is
www.miamire.com.