Sovereign Realty + Management CEO and outgoing Atlanta REALTORS® Association President Karen Hatcher was named the 2022 Realtor of the Year by the organization.  

She is the first African-American woman and African American business owner to receive the award since it was established more than 60 years ago, the association said. Hatcher was also the first Black woman to lead the ARA. 

During her term, Hatcher sought to encourage inclusion within the organization through a campaign called “Let’s Dance.” According to Hatcher, “Diversity is being invited to the party, inclusion is being asked to dance.”  

In 2022, the ARA instituted voting rights for local multicultural real estate affiliate associations and reinstated voting power to ARA members who actively participate in committees. The multicultural association representative on ARA’s board of directors also had their non-voting seat turned into a voting seat, and ARA provided $20,000 to multicultural partner organizations. 

Envisioned by Hatcher in 2021, the ARA board formed the Atlanta REALTORS Impact Foundation to award educational scholarships and encourage charitable giving. ARA donated $135,000 to support the Community Excellence Scholarship program and to establish an ARA Care Fund.  

“This year was monumental for our association in a multitude of ways, from my tenure as president to our restructured operations, adding new key personnel and our astounding committee work,” Hatcher said. “Our focus for 2022 was implementing our strategic plan through acceptance and putting our voices at the forefront of significant real estate industry issues.”