REALTOR® of the Year
REALTOR® of the Year
2026 REALTOR® of the Year Nominations
Nominations are now open for the 2026 REALTOR® of the Year!
Nominate yourself or a fellow REALTOR® by March 1, 2026 to be considered for this prestigious award.
About the Award
Presented annually by ICBR since 1994, the REALTOR® of the year award recognizes those members who go above and beyond in their career and community. The ICBR REALTOR® of the Year will automatically be submitted as a REALTOR® of the Year nominee to the Indiana Association of REALTORS® and the National Association of REALTORS® Commercial for consideration for the State REALTOR® of the Year. In addition, the winner of the State REALTOR® of the Year award is automatically submitted for the NAR REALTOR® of the Year award.
The 2026 REALTOR® of the Year will be announced at the Indiana Commercial Real Estate Conference on April 22, 2026. View conference details
Award Criteria
To be eligible for the award, a nominee must be a REALTOR® member of the Indiana Commercial Board of REALTORS® (ICBR) and have not previously received this award from ICBR.
Additionally, ICBR looks for members who exhibit the following:
- Industry Impact – Exhibits professional leadership and expertise to the commercial real estate industry.
- Civic Activity – Local, state and national level participation in civic and service clubs, economic development organizations, charitable activities, political commissions, fraternal or religious groups, or activities that made their community a better place.
- REALTOR® Spirit – High principles of integrity, adherence to the REALTOR® Code of Ethics, and furtherance of the principles of good real estate practice among brokers, agents and the general public.
- Business Accomplishments – public recognition of business conduct and service to clients
- ICBR Association/Board Activity – ICBR offices held and committee work, special assignments, event participation and educational work. Membership and offices held in local chapters of Institutes, Societies and Councils.
- IAR or State Association Activity – State offices held and committee work, membership and work with Indiana Association of REALTORS® (IAR) or within Institutes, Societies and Councils, attendance at state conventions, directors meetings and educational conferences.
- NAR or National National offices held and committee work, membership and work with National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) or within Institutes, Societies and Councils, attendance at national conventions, directors’ meetings and educational conferences.
Congratulations
The Indiana Commercial Board of REALTORS® board of directors has named Bill French as the 2025 REALTOR® of the year.
Bill French’s reputation within the commercial real estate industry is one of excellence and dedication, known especially for his expertise and client-focused approach. French currently serves as Executive Director at Cushman & Wakefield, where he has been instrumental in leading high-value brokerage deals, guiding investment strategy, and mentoring the next generation of real estate professionals. With more than 3,500 career transactions and over $70 million in developed and redeveloped property value in just the past few years, Bill’s impact on the commercial real estate landscape is not only impressive — it’s foundational. But what truly sets Bill apart is not just the volume of his deals — it’s the depth of his dedication to people, to learning, and to building stronger communities.
From the early days of his career, Bill has consistently chosen to lead — not just from the front, but alongside others. He has served in key industry leadership roles, including State Chair for the International Council of Shopping Centers, District #3 Representative for the Indiana Commercial Board of REALTORS®, and leader within the Commercial Real Estate Alliance of Indiana. Bill’s commitment to education and mentorship stretches to Board of Advisors for Ball State University’s Miller College of Business and he regularly lectures at Ball State, Indiana University, and Ivy Tech Community College. He’s also deeply rooted in the civic fabric of Indiana, having served on the Visit Indy Board of Directors and United Way.