The Rhode Island Association of Realtors (RIAR) has announced that Richard Berlinsky of Equity Advisory Group and Appraisal Resource in East Greenwich was chosen by his peers as the 2013 Rhode Island Realtor of the Year.

The award recognizes one of more than 4,000 Realtors throughout Rhode Island for their dedication to the Realtor organization and their local communities. The statewide winner is chosen from the winners of five regional Realtor of the Year awards. Winners are chosen based on their demonstrated commitment to their local, state and national board of Realtors and their civic and charitable contributions.

Berlinsky, a certified appraiser, is a 26-year member of the Realtor organization and the vice chairman of the State of Rhode Island Appraiser Board for the Department of Business Regulation. He also served as the 2011 president of the Rhode Island Commercial and Appraisal Board of Realtors and in that role, helped pave the way for the Rhode Island Commercial Information Exchange, an online information-sharing platform for commercial real estate professionals. Berlinsky sits on the Board of Directors of the Rhode Island Association of Realtors and serves as the association’s education chairperson. He lives with his wife Judie and three children in North Kingstown. 

Other candidates for the 2013 Rhode Island Realtor of the Year award included Leann D’Ettore of Next Home Real Estate in Cranston, Greater Providence Board; Connor Dowd of Keller Williams in Middletown, Newport County Board; Matthew Phipps of Phipps Realty in Warwick, Kent Washington Association; and Debby Smith of Residential Properties in Cumberland, Northern RI Board of Realtors.