December 8, 2023

Contact: Kim Walker, 704-940-3149

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – With another demanding year of real estate and industry challenges behind, more than 400 Realtors® gathered Fri., Dec. 8, at the Sonesta Charlotte Executive Park for Canopy Realtor® Association’s Holiday Awards Luncheon and Annual Meeting.

Canopy Housing Foundation presented Charlotte Family Housing, a shelter-to-housing program for working families experiencing homelessness, with funds raised from the 2023 Strides for Shelter 5k Run+Walk. The race, which was held in late October, raised $42,000 and will fund the redesign and restocking of Charlotte Family Housing’s MAP (Motivated Achievement Points) “Store.”  The store has household necessities that families require when moving from the shelter into supportive housing.  Families earn points to shop by meeting program benchmarks, milestones and goals. Members also participated in Canopy Housing Foundation’s annual virtual auction, which raises funds to help support local unmet housing needs in Mecklenburg, Iredell and Haywood Counties.

Realtors® paid tribute to outstanding real estate industry leaders, association volunteers, and the 2023 Humanitarian, while donating dozens of toys as a part of a long-time holiday toy drive tradition, to brighten the lives of children served by Charlotte Family Housing.

2023 Humanitarian Award – Charles A. Odell, President & CEO – Dilworth Center

Canopy Housing Foundation recognized Charles A. Odell for his service and work of more than 28 years positively affecting people suffering from addiction.  As a native of Charlotte, Charles has worked tirelessly to treat, educate and raise funds for thousands of community members that have come to the Dilworth Center for addiction recovery.  When he took the helm of the organization the Dilworth Center was experiencing significant challenges, however with his vision and hard work, the center has achieved an 80% success rate among those under its care. 

Having served as counselor, director, supervisor and employee assistance professional at a number of organizations, Charles has made a lasting and permanent impact in this area of healthcare, committing his life to the issue of addiction.  When the COVID pandemic lockdowns occurred, within 48 hours, Charles was able to develop virtual treatment programs for more than 800 people to ensure that their much-needed assistance continued. He also facilitates the content for the students in the counseling curriculum through the McLeod Institute, which is overseen by UNC-Charlotte and has served on that advisory board for more than 30 years. Some of his professional accomplishments include: the Jody Kellerman Award for excellence in leadership and service; service on the board of directors of the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers; raised almost $600,000 for scholarships to assist patients in offsetting cost of treatment, and the recent announcement of a $5 million campaign to ensure the Dilworth Center remains on a strong financial path. Founded in 1990, the Dilworth Center provides affordable, high quality treatment to those suffering from alcoholism and drug addiction. Since its inception, Dilworth Center has remained a beacon in the Charlotte Mecklenburg community and surrounding North and South Carolina regions, working tirelessly to bring thousands of people from a life of alcoholism and addiction to a fulfilling new life of recovery. Dilworth Center is a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization. Canopy Housing Foundation presented the 2023 Humanitarian with a $5,000 award to bestow upon a charity of his choosing.

Industry awards – 2023 Realtor® of the Year
Joan B. Goode, a veteran Realtor®/Broker at Dickens Mitchener Real Estate, was named the 2023 Realtor® of the Year.  The award is the highest honor given by the Association and recognizes a Realtor® member who has made outstanding contributions to both the real estate profession and community.

With more than 18 years of residential real estate experience, Goode an accomplished broker, elected to serve on Canopy Realtor® Association Board of Directors in 2024, has made community involvement her highest priority. Her passion to end homelessness in our region has been channeled through her years of service with Canopy Housing Foundation, serving as chair (2011, 2012), as well as chairing the Foundation’s Realtors® Care Day project (2015). An avid marathon runner, completing 2-3 races each year since 2000, Joan created and serves as chair of the Foundation’s annual Strides for Shelter 5K Run+Walk. To date the popular 5k, which serves as one of the few 5k’s in the state raising money and awareness for homelessness, has raised more than $172,000 over the race’s seven-year history. Her community involvement however, extends beyond her volunteerism at the Foundation. She has been an active member of Christ Lutheran Church and also volunteers and supports the YMCA Community Outreach, The Relatives, Urban Ministries, A Child’s Place, and Freedom School Partners, as well as the Daughters of the American Revolution. Goode has had a stellar business career since being recognized as Canopy Realtor® Association Rookie of the Year in 2005. That same year she was also recognized as Rookie of the Year at her company and again as Top Producing Agent in 2018, 2019, and in 2022.  A Five Star Professional Award winner for 10 years, in 2020, she was named one of the Top 5 Agents in NC by Newsweek in partnership with REAL Trends, due to her record of superior service to customers. For her hard work, dedication, leadership and commitment to the industry, Joan was recognized in 2019 with the Dickens Mitchener Spirit Award for her positive attitude and care for the community.  Joan is a native North Carolinian raised in Asheville and a graduate of North Carolina State University where she met her husband, Lane.  Together they have a daughter and twin sons. In her free time, she enjoys running, golfing, cheering NC State University games, and traveling with her family.

The 2023 President’s Award was bestowed upon Michael Wong, a Realtor®/broker with Fathom Realty.  The President’s Award is given annually to a member who goes above and beyond the call of duty.  Wong, a 2017 graduate of the Association’s Leadership Academy, served as a Canopy Realtor® Association Board of Director in 2021. He began this year in service on the Audit Budget and Finance Committee and then was appointed mid-year to the role of Treasurer serving on the Executive Committee.

The 2023 Committee Chair of the Year Award was presented to Valerie Belton, Realtor®/broker at VRB Realty for her service and work as 2023 Chair of Canopy’s Diversity & Inclusion Alliance. The Committee Chair of the Year Award is presented annually to someone who has gone above and beyond the call of duty in committee service. Valerie, a 2010 graduate of the Association’s Leadership Academy and a long-time volunteer, worked with great dedication to address opportunities and challenges in order to strengthen, encourage and increase diverse members’ participation and leadership within the Association.

For more information, visit www.CarolinaHome.com. For interviews, please contact Kim Walker.

Canopy Realtor® Association provides monthly reports on residential real estate market activity for the Charlotte region based on data from Canopy MLS. The Charlotte region, which this report is based on, includes 12 counties in North Carolina (Alexander, Cabarrus, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly and Union) and four counties in South Carolina (Chester, Chesterfield, Lancaster and York). For more residential-housing market statistics, visit www.CarolinaHome.com and click on “Market Data.” For an interview with 2023 Association/Canopy MLS President Tiffany Johannes, Realtor®/Broker-in-charge with RE/MAX Executive Ballantyne, please contact Kim Walker.

Canopy Realtor® Association owns and operates Canopy MLS, the region’s primary source for accurate and timely property data in a multicounty service area including the Charlotte MSA, Asheville MSA and Catawba Valley region spanning across North Carolina and South Carolina to outside the Carolinas. Canopy MLS provides the latest technology, tools and analytics that Realtors® utilize to support consumers with their residential real estate transactions. 

Original Publish Date: 12/8/2023