BILL McCUBBIN certainly knows those three magic words in real estate: Location, location, location.

That knowledge has helped him build Orion Partners into the largest commercial real estate brokerage in the North Bay.

We would like to offer another word that describes his influence in Marin County: Leader.

McCubbin recently was honored by the Marin Council of Boy Scouts of America as its 2007 Distinguished Citizen.

His lifelong devotion to scouting made him a logical choice. He is an example of the many Boy Scouts who have remained involved with the group as adults.

We would like to take this opportunity to also commend and thank McCubbin, who founded Orion in 1994, for his involvement in many important causes in Marin. In addition to his business leadership (he served as president of the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the Marin Economic Commission) he has been on the boards of the Marin Symphony, Marin Forum, Marin County American Heart Association and North Bay Council. He has held numerous leadership roles in the Rotary and been involved with North Bay Children's Center at Hamilton, to name a few.

Congratulations, Bill. Thanks for doing your part to make Marin a better place.