A group of 55 real estate professionals earned the Grand Valley Specialist designation by completing the inaugural course offered at the Grand Junction Area Realtor Association.

Tyler Harris, a broker associate at Bray Real Estate in Grand Junction, created the designation with the help of the GJARA young professionals network committee.

Participants had to earn the Commitment to Excellent certification through the National Association of Realtors as a prerequisite. Training focused on a code of ethics as well as getting involved in the community. Two days of training included presentations about Colorado Mesa University, the Mesa Conservation District, Palisade Irrigation, Ute Water and Western Colorado Community Foundation.

“Attendees learned how vital the university is to our local community, the economic impact that farming has in Mesa County and how nonprofits are some of the largest employers in Mesa County as well as what they provide to the community and where our water on the Western Slope comes from and how it’s treated and how we irrigate,” Harris said.