Heidi Rickerd-Rizzo, Pacific Union Real Estate vice president and branch manager of the Napa and St. Helena offices, announced that Karen Cherniss has joined the firm’s Napa Valley office as a sales associate.

 Cherniss, a 23-year residential real estate veteran, specializes in residential property sales in the Napa  Valley. She has been a Napa Valley resident for 12 years. She previously was with Windermere Real Estate.

 “Karen Cherniss is considered one of the most sought-after and respected real estate professionals in the Napa Valley,” said Heidi Rickerd-Rizzo.

 In a previous capacity, Cherniss served as marketing director for Frank Howard Allen Realtors Marin, and was advertising director for TRI Realtors in Marin and San Francisco.

 Cherniss is a member of the board of directors for the Napa chapter of Realtors. She received a bachelor of arts degree from San  Francisco State University and is a Leadership Napa Valley graduate.

Cherniss can be reached at 738-8261 and at www.karencherniss.com.