Area Business Briefs

August 10, 2018 at 7:49 p.m.

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Harstines Among America’s Top Realtors

SYRACUSE – Dan and Amanda Harstine of Integrity Real Estate in Syracuse, were named one of America's  top real estate  professionals by REAL Trends. They are now a member of the The Thousand Top Real Estate Professionals, a national award  ranking  sponsored annually by REAL Trends.

The Harstines are now ranked  in the top one-half of 1 percent of the more than 1.3 million realtors nationwide.

The Thousand Real Estate  Professionals were announced  June 29 with four  separate  categories  honoring the top 250 residential agents  and agent teams  for excellence  in  individual sales  professionals-sales volume, individual sales  professionals-transaction sides, team professionals-sales volume and team professionals-transaction sides.

According  to “The Thousand,” the Harstines had 155 closed transaction sides totaling over $33 million in closed sales volume, ranking  them 142nd  in the nation. NAR reports the average  agent  closes 10 transaction side per year.

"The  best individual agents and teams, including Dan and Amanda  Harstine's award­-winning  efforts were nothing  short  of phenomenal  considering the challenges  in today's complex  housing  market," said Steve Murray, founder of REAL Trends, a Denver-based consulting, publishing  and communications company that  compiles the yearly, third-party verified  list.

"Being a member of ‘The Thousand’ is an incredible achievement in today's  increasingly competitive environment. This elite group  of sales associates  bring  together innovative marketing solutions that  combine cutting-edge technology with  best-in-class customer service to consistently exceed their  clients' expectations,”  said Luke Bahrenburg, vice president  of real estate  advertising at Dow Jones, publisher of The Wall Street Journal.

"We am absolutely thrilled to be named  to The Thousand," said Dan Harstine, who serves clients  primarily in Kosciusko County. "It's  incredibly gratifying to help customers find  their  dream  homes as well as help them  sell their  properties quickly  and for the highest price possible."

The Harstines have been involved in the local real estate  industry since 1995, serving  Kosciusko and surrounding counties. They have been named America's  Best Real Estate Agents eight consecutive years by Zillow/Trulia. Through  their  career, Harstine's have closed over 3,000  real estate  transactions.



Grossnickle Eye Center Adds Lifferth To Staff

Grossnickle Eye Center recently added Austin Lifferth, OD to its eye care team. Dr. Lifferth specializes in the management of eye diseases and conditions, particularly glaucoma, and will see patients in Warsaw, Mishawaka and Plymouth.

“I am excited to work at Grossnickle Eye Center and to join a family that is genuinely dedicated to caring for their patients,” said Lifferth. “They have a strong reputation for providing comprehensive care and superior vision for more than 40 years. I look forward to being a part of that.”

 Lifferth’s passion for eye care can be traced back to his high school years, when a report on the eye quickly ignited his interest in the visual pathway and ocular anatomy. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in biology (BYU-Idaho, Ricks College) and in optometry (Indiana University), before graduating from Indiana University School of Optometry.

He competed externship rotations in ocular disease, contact lenses, and primary care, and served an ocular disease residency at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Huntington, W Va. Today, Lifferth is board-certified, a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, and a member of the AAO and the Optometric Glaucoma Society.

For more information call Grossnickle Eye Center at 800-992-6975 or visit  GECenter.com. Lifferth is currently accepting new patients.



Breeden Joins First Federal As Vice President

First Federal Savings Bank  announced the addition of Lindy Breeden as vice president of commercial lending. He will be responsible for servicing all commercial loans for First Federal.

Prior to joining First Federal he was market president of Kosciusko County for Horizon Bank. Breeden has had a total of 39 years of banking experience with a concentration in the commercial lending. He has worked in locations near and around Rochester and Warsaw.

Breeden can be contacted for an appointment at 574-551-6890 or [email protected].



Belle Tire To Hold Grand Opening Today

Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a flag-raising at Belle Tire’s new location at 1120 Lake City Highway, Warsaw, at 9:30 a.m. today.

Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer will speak at the ceremony.

For more information call 574-306-0700 or visit belletire.com.



Chamber Member Cookout Aug. 24

The Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce will host a cookout for its members from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at its offices, 523 S. Buffalo St.  Warsaw.

Harstines Among America’s Top Realtors

SYRACUSE – Dan and Amanda Harstine of Integrity Real Estate in Syracuse, were named one of America's  top real estate  professionals by REAL Trends. They are now a member of the The Thousand Top Real Estate Professionals, a national award  ranking  sponsored annually by REAL Trends.

The Harstines are now ranked  in the top one-half of 1 percent of the more than 1.3 million realtors nationwide.

The Thousand Real Estate  Professionals were announced  June 29 with four  separate  categories  honoring the top 250 residential agents  and agent teams  for excellence  in  individual sales  professionals-sales volume, individual sales  professionals-transaction sides, team professionals-sales volume and team professionals-transaction sides.

According  to “The Thousand,” the Harstines had 155 closed transaction sides totaling over $33 million in closed sales volume, ranking  them 142nd  in the nation. NAR reports the average  agent  closes 10 transaction side per year.

"The  best individual agents and teams, including Dan and Amanda  Harstine's award­-winning  efforts were nothing  short  of phenomenal  considering the challenges  in today's complex  housing  market," said Steve Murray, founder of REAL Trends, a Denver-based consulting, publishing  and communications company that  compiles the yearly, third-party verified  list.

"Being a member of ‘The Thousand’ is an incredible achievement in today's  increasingly competitive environment. This elite group  of sales associates  bring  together innovative marketing solutions that  combine cutting-edge technology with  best-in-class customer service to consistently exceed their  clients' expectations,”  said Luke Bahrenburg, vice president  of real estate  advertising at Dow Jones, publisher of The Wall Street Journal.

"We am absolutely thrilled to be named  to The Thousand," said Dan Harstine, who serves clients  primarily in Kosciusko County. "It's  incredibly gratifying to help customers find  their  dream  homes as well as help them  sell their  properties quickly  and for the highest price possible."

The Harstines have been involved in the local real estate  industry since 1995, serving  Kosciusko and surrounding counties. They have been named America's  Best Real Estate Agents eight consecutive years by Zillow/Trulia. Through  their  career, Harstine's have closed over 3,000  real estate  transactions.



Grossnickle Eye Center Adds Lifferth To Staff

Grossnickle Eye Center recently added Austin Lifferth, OD to its eye care team. Dr. Lifferth specializes in the management of eye diseases and conditions, particularly glaucoma, and will see patients in Warsaw, Mishawaka and Plymouth.

“I am excited to work at Grossnickle Eye Center and to join a family that is genuinely dedicated to caring for their patients,” said Lifferth. “They have a strong reputation for providing comprehensive care and superior vision for more than 40 years. I look forward to being a part of that.”

 Lifferth’s passion for eye care can be traced back to his high school years, when a report on the eye quickly ignited his interest in the visual pathway and ocular anatomy. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in biology (BYU-Idaho, Ricks College) and in optometry (Indiana University), before graduating from Indiana University School of Optometry.

He competed externship rotations in ocular disease, contact lenses, and primary care, and served an ocular disease residency at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Huntington, W Va. Today, Lifferth is board-certified, a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, and a member of the AAO and the Optometric Glaucoma Society.

For more information call Grossnickle Eye Center at 800-992-6975 or visit  GECenter.com. Lifferth is currently accepting new patients.



Breeden Joins First Federal As Vice President

First Federal Savings Bank  announced the addition of Lindy Breeden as vice president of commercial lending. He will be responsible for servicing all commercial loans for First Federal.

Prior to joining First Federal he was market president of Kosciusko County for Horizon Bank. Breeden has had a total of 39 years of banking experience with a concentration in the commercial lending. He has worked in locations near and around Rochester and Warsaw.

Breeden can be contacted for an appointment at 574-551-6890 or [email protected].



Belle Tire To Hold Grand Opening Today

Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a flag-raising at Belle Tire’s new location at 1120 Lake City Highway, Warsaw, at 9:30 a.m. today.

Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer will speak at the ceremony.

For more information call 574-306-0700 or visit belletire.com.



Chamber Member Cookout Aug. 24

The Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce will host a cookout for its members from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at its offices, 523 S. Buffalo St.  Warsaw.

Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092

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