The 34-year-old son of Don Asher Jr., Realtor of the Year for 2002, replaces Ronald L. Acker Sr., owner/broker of Re/Max. Don Asher headed the Realtors in 1988.

"It is only the fourth time in the 81-year-old history of the association that a son has followed in his father's footsteps and been elected president of the local Realtor association," Kevin Fritz, vice president, communications/marketing for the association, tells GlobeSt.com.

The last time a son followed his father into office was 1963 when Lawrence Condict Jr. was elected president. His father led the Realtors in 1934 and 1935. Howard Babcock Jr., association president in 1962, followed his father, Howard Babcock Sr., 1931. Robert Heasley, 1957 president, followed his father, Merle Heasley, 1938.

Dean Asher joined the Realtors' group in 1993. At Don Asher & Associates, Orlando, Dean Asher manages a portfolio of 6,000 multifamily units valued at $50 million.

The brokerage handles property management for apartments, condominiums, duplexes and single-family product. The firm also handles investment portfolio management for overseas investors and advises home owners and condo associations' managers.

In accepting his new responsibilities, Dean Asher told a party crowd of 200 professionals at the Westin Grand Bohemian hotel, Downtown, "People ask why I pursued this position. I could give them a canned response, such as to give back to my profession, but that's not it. I want to make a difference."

He already has formed the Young Realtors Council in response to the growing numbers of young professionals choosing real estate as a career.

"The 9-11 tragedy and the economy has convinced many young and older professionals that real estate is the place to be right now," the association's Fritz tells GlobeSt.com.

The association has grown from 2,000 members in 1992 to its present 6,000 total.