Woman honored for work in real estate
BUTLER TWP — Elisabeth McPoland broke barriers as a woman Realtor in the early 1970s, the largest of which was becoming a broker.
At age 87, she is still catching people's attention as she is still working in real estate.
On Feb. 16, McPoland was named the 2008 Realtor of the Year by the Butler County Association of Realtors during an annual luncheon at Ciafre's Runway Restaurant at the Butler County Airport in Penn Township.
"I was so pleased and shocked — (the award) was a complete surprise," she said from her office with Howard Hanna Real Estate in the Bon Aire Shopping Center on Route 8 north.
She began selling real estate in 1972 in Pittsburgh.
"I was talking to the brokers who owned that business and they mentioned that they had almost not hired me," McPoland said. "I asked why, and they said, 'Because you're a woman.'"
Most Realtors then were men, she said.
She owned her own real estate office in Pittsburgh from 1980 to 1988 — "the interest rate then was 19 percent" —but took some time off after her husband died.
Then in 1995, Howard Hanna came calling, asking McPoland to join an office in Pittsburgh.
"But my grandchildren were up here and finally, my daughter, Betsy Gibson (former head librarian at the Butler County Library and now Butler business owner) said that I was crazy to continue living in Pittsburgh (and driving back and forth to Butler County for family events).
"So I told Howard Hanna that I was coming to Butler and I'd join an office here, and that's what I did," McPoland said.
As for slowing down, she said no, "I'm very active," and is excited that a grandson recently got his real estate license and has joined the Hanna office with her.
John Capers, owner of Capers Realty and president of the 2009 Butler County Association of Realtors' board, said McPoland is "a lovely lady, most deserving of this award."
Other awardsAlso at the luncheon, Mark Kimmel of Northwood Realty was named 2008 Rookie (Realtor) of the Year.These people were named to the 2009 executive board and board of directors of the Butler County Association of Realtors:John Capers, president; Daryl Mikolay, president elect; Dennis Kearns, vice president; Russell Greer, treasurer; Denise Day, association executive; Eric Levin of Rishor-Simone, legal counsel; James Keffalas, state director; Lorraine DiDomenico, alternate state director; Shelley Wehr, affiliate director; and directors Kris Callen, Tamara Grassi, Jack Fields, Marcia Maher, Diane Mellish, Mark Prokay, C. Edwin Shields and Paula Worsley.
