East County realtors group’s merger approved by NAR

The National Association of Realtors has approved the merger of the El Cajon-based East San Diego County Association of Realtors and the Chula Vista-based Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors. The members of the two associations voted to approve the merger earlier this year. The California Secretary of State approved the merger in August. The merged association will be known as the Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors.
The East County association has 770 members and the South County association has 1,127 members. With a combined 1,897 members, the new association will move into the upper echelons of mid-sized realtor associations in California and nationally. South County CEO Richard D’Ascoli will serve as CEO of the merged association and East County CEO R. Alan Smith will serve in the newly-created role of senior vice president of strategic initiatives.
The first president of the merged association is Peg Tischer-Keeley, who was serving as president of the East County association during the final seven months of a lengthy merger due diligence and negotiation process. Jeff Campbell will lead the merged association during calendar year 2013.