Every year, the Rhode Island Association of Realtors (RIAR) recognizes one of 5,000 Realtors with the RI Realtor of the Year Award, the highest annual honor awarded by the state association. The winner is chosen from five Realtors who have received a Realtor of the Year Award from one of five local Rhode Island Realtor boards.
This year's winner is Stephen Antoni of Re/Max Professionals in East Greenwich, who received the 2007 Kent-Washington Association's Realtor of the Year Award. Antoni has held numerous positions in the local, state and national associations including his most recent post as president of the Kent-Washington Association.  He is also chair of the RI Association of Realtors Government Affairs Committee where he has been instrumental in organizing a presentation series with RI officials and politicians.
Other candidates for the RI Realtor of the Year award included Sussy DeLeon, the recipient of the Greater Providence Board of Realtors 2007 Realtor of the Year award; Jennifer O'Hora Lawrence, recipient of the Newport County Board of Realtors 2007 Realtor of the Year award; Robert Martin, the Northern RI Board of Realtors 2007 Realtor of the Year award winner; and Steve Kirby, winner of the RI Commercial & Appraisal Board of Realtors 2007 Realtor of the Year award.