Democrat employee wins two awards

Cheryl Platz

Cheryl Platz, an ad sales rep for the Mountain Democrat and also the head of the Democrat’s Real Estate Department, was honored recently with two awards for her work with clients whom she labels “good friends.”

Platz, who helps spearhead the HomeSource section every week as an advertising representative, received the El Dorado Women’s Council of Realtors Affiliate of the Year award at the group’s luncheon earlier this month. She also received the Debbie Amaral Memorial Award and Affiliate Citizen of the Year 2012 granted by the El Dorado County Association of Realtors. Both awards were an honor presented to the worker bee claiming that her relationships with her clients makes for the success they all experience.

“I’m extremely honored to get these awards,” Platz said. “I want to send a heartfelt thanks to those that supported me. These are my friends and my clients, and that’s obvious in our meetings.”

“Management at the Mountain Democrat has been extremely supportive of the real estate community and has given me the green light to parnter with these great people,” Platz added.

Platz works with Realtors and affiliates daily to not only sell ads, but to help produce real estate-related content for HomeSource. Platz was part of the revamping of HomeSource just over three years ago and continues to be a big reason, along with Real Estate Editor Noel Stack, that the weekly section produced in the Mountain Democrat continues to see success.

“(HomeSource) has grown in this struggling time for real estate because of the relationships we’ve built,” Platz said. “They are the most generous, friendly people I’ve ever worked with. I’m grateful they have taken me into their circle and I’m happy to serve them and help them any way I can.”

The HomeSource section spotlights not only local real estate listings, but columns from writers on buying and selling houses, redecorating your home, national and local trends on the market, and even tax information for homeowners.

“It’s a tool for them to grow their business,” Platz said of HomeSource and her clients. “Our goal when we redid HomeSource was to work as partners with Realtors and affiliates.”

At the presentation of the Debbie Amaral Memorial Award, Platz was praised for volunteering her time to support the Women’s Council of Reatlors, Top Achievers, the EDCAR Golf Tournament, Honor our Troops, weekly Tour Meetings in Diamond Springs and Cameron Park, and the annual Can Tree Charities.

Devoted to her three grown children and six grandchildren (soon to be seven), Platz balances home with work to create relationships that go beyond sales. She’s built lifelong friendships.

“That’s what my job is all about, my relationships with my clients,” Platz said. “We are in this together. I don’t have an attitude that I’m selling them something.”

Patrick Ibarra

Patrick Ibarra joined the Mountain Democrat as Managing Editor in March 2012. Prior to that, Ibarra was a news editor, sports editor, copy editor, writer and columnist at various newspapers in California and Washington state. He is a 2003 graduate of Gonzaga University, earning a major in Journalism while minoring in Broadcasting and English.

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