Senior Records Specialist retires

By Carrie D. Worthington, Publications Officer

"Records Section. This is Naomi Cottle."

Sound familiar? For almost 24 years, Naomi Cottle's pleasant voice greeted callers who were inquiring about their license status ... or the status of another licensee or firm.

"Is my license 'active'?" Did you receive my renewal check?" "What address do you show for me?" Can you tell me if someone is licensed?" "Do you show a company with the name .... ?"

For all those years, Naomi patiently answered questions posed by licensees and consumers. She updated licensee records. She helped process thousands of renewal applications - each year! And she helped countless licensees who came to the Commission office in need of assistance in completing a form or an application.

She saw many changes in the real estate industry and in the Commission and its staff. Saw records retention go from file folders to microfilm, and finally to optical imaging.

"It's unbelievable, in the length of time I've been here, how many changes have been made," she exclaimed. But 24 years is a long time, and now Naomi, herself has made a big change: Effective October 1, 1997, Naomi Cottle retired as Senior Records Specialist.

"It took me a long time to make the decision [to retire]," Naomi stated. "It was a hard decision. It really was," she said emphatically.

"I'm not looking at it as an end, just as a new beginning," she continued.

She echoed the thoughts of many licensees, the Commission and staff when she said, "It's going to be different. It's going to be an adjustment."

As we adjust to the office without Naomi, we wish her much happiness in her retirement.