Chris Bird
Chris Bird has been in the financial business for over 30 years.   He started his career with a degree in Accounting and a minor in Business Administration.  He also holds the Certified Financial Planner designation (CFP).  Chris was a Senior IRS agent for 16 years. He began conducting courses after leaving the IRS and started his own company, Chris Bird Seminars, Inc.  Chris went on to conduct over 125 seminars a year on accounting, financial planning, wealth building, residential rental property ownership, and tax strategies for the real estate and financial industries nationwide.  He has presented his widely acclaimed courses multiple times at NAR conventions and most recently presented at Howard Brinton's StarPower™ Conference in Orlando, FL. Chris was an adjunct instructor at the University of Illinois in tax law for 20 years.  He is a Certified Instructor and a Senior Faculty Instructor for the Realtors Land Institute.  He currently holds his real estate license in St. Cloud, Minnesota.  Chris has a unique way of making a tough subject (taxes and investments) entertaining and enlightening at the same time.

Sessions: "Solid Investment and Retirement Strategies for REALTORS® in 2010", "2010 Tax Write-off's for the Self-Employed"

Mel Black
Mr. Black is a licensed attorney in North Carolina and the District of Columbia.  He is in the general private practice of law with a focus on representing and advising real estate appraisers, real estate agents, and other professionals throughout North Carolina and other states on a variety of matters, including complaints before their licensing boards. Mr. Black was the Executive Director of the North Carolina Appraisal Board for over 8 years and prior to that served on the staff of the North Carolina Real Estate Commission for 3 years. He was selected as an appraisal subject matter expert to review national appraiser examination items and also selected to provide testimony at a hearing on appraiser qualification criteria before the Appraiser Qualifications Board. In addition to his law practice, Mr. Black is an owner of North Carolina Real Estate Education, Inc.  He teaches appraisal continuing education courses in North Carolina and has personally developed four separate appraisal courses.  He also teaches the National USPAP Courses as an AQB Certified USPAP Instructor.

Sessions: "The Real Estate Broker's ABC's of Appraisal"

Doug Devitre
Doug Devitre is known as being free, cheap, and easy.  Free… meaning the ideas and available technology do not cost any money, cheap… meaning if it does cost then the investment is small, and easy to work with in planning, executing, and creating communication beyond the classroom. In 2006 alone, Doug was named Business Leader of the Year of the Maryland Heights Chamber of Commerce, Top 50 REALTORS® on the Rise by Real Estate Magazine, and Voted Best in Client Satisfaction by St. Louis Magazine.  He has written for or been featured in REALTOR® Magazine, Today’s Buyer’s Representative Hotsheet, Broker Agent News, RealTown online communities and other REALTOR® newsletters and publications. He is the founder of www.YREL.org , Young Real Estate Leaders, an online social networking group that mentors new agents to become leaders in their community. It is easy to catch up with Doug on his Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social media sites as he shares his experiences, photos, videos, and handouts and PowerPoint presentations for FREE.  He has earned 9 designations and 4 certifications of the National Association of REALTORS® and other related groups.

Sessions: "Power Prospecting and Renewing Referrals with Social Media", "Six Ways to Build Your Online Brand"

Bill Gallagher
Bill has built a successful career in real estate through the unique combination of education and entertainment. With more than 23 years of industry experience under his belt, there’s hardly a law, issue, or definition he doesn’t know. Thousands of graduates of Bill’s courses have benefited from his practical advice and proven strategies, shared with an upbeat, engaging style that inspires a passion for the business and a desire for professional excellence. Bill began teaching in 1998, using his extensive knowledge to help jump-start the careers of REALTORS®, brokers and agents across North Carolina. His insight into the industry comes from many years of on-the-job experience. After graduating from Wake Forest University in just three years with a BS in Business from the School of Business and Accountancy, he returned to his native Charlotte to begin his real estate career. Within a few years, he rose in the ranks to become Broker-in-Charge for Merrill Lynch. He next moved to the education side by developing his flair for teaching as President of Career Development at Prudential Carolinas Realty. An entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to help others achieve success led to the foundation of the Bill Gallagher School of Real Estate in 1998, which has evolved into today’s Superior School of Real Estate (established in 2005). Although there are nearly 20 instructors and professionals on staff, Bill remains one of the school’s most sought-after speakers, leading courses for real estate and development groups throughout North Carolina. He is the author of his course textbook, Modern Real Estate, and developed the accompanying tutorial CD. In 2006-07 alone, Bill taught more than 17,000 continuing education students and more than 200 pre-licensing students. Bill’s approach to instruction continues to yield impressive results, as Superior School of Real Estate is one of only nine schools in the state with a passage rate of over 80%. Winner of many awards and recognitions from professional trade organizations and industry peers, Bill continues to focus on the key benefit of his fun, informative approach to professional education: Laugh and Learn.

Sessions: "2010-2011 Mandatory Update Course", "Handling Offers Properly Today", "Real Estate 2010:  Where do we go from here?"

Ed Hatch
As a professional REALTOR®, Ed Hatch holds the CRB, CRS, and GRI designations. Since becoming licensed in 1977, he has excelled in every phase of the profession: … salesperson … manager … and broker owner. Also, he was the 1998 president of the Council of Residential Specialists.

As a trainer, Ed is a senior instructor for the Council of Residential Specialists and as president of Ed Hatch Seminars has spoken to over 100 audiences a year since 1990. He has been a featured speaker at the last 17 consecutive NAR Conventions, ten CRS Sell-a-brations, and has spoken internationally throughout the U.S., Brazil, Canada, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

As an author, Ed has published articles in Real Estate Business, Communiqué, and Relocation & Real Estate Magazines. Also, he co-authored two CRS courses ... Business Development For The Residential Specialist and the new Building An Exceptional Customer Service Referral Business.

Jackie Leavenworth
Jackie Leavenworth, ABR, CRB, CRS, GRI is from the Cleveland, Ohio area and was licensed in 1984. She quickly became her company's top producer and was constantly asked to share the secrets of her success.  In 1988, still selling real estate, Jackie began developing and delivering many courses for the Ohio Association of Realtors®, local boards and real estate companies as well as teaching the GRI and ABR designations. In addition to Jackie's successful sales career, she also managed an office for a large regional firm in Ohio and became the Education Director for Smythe, Cramer Co.  In that role, Jackie designed, developed and delivered timely topics to more than 1,000 agents.  Her courses ranged from newly licensed skill development to advanced skill enhancement for the top agents in the company.  Jackie also trained and recruited managers for the company. She is the owner of "Jackie Leavenworth Seminars," a real estate coach to agents around the United States and has worked her way up to the prestigious title of Senior CRS Instructor.  Jackie's humorous, comfortable and engaging style will awaken the inner you to strive for behavioral change that will make a difference.  Why go along with the crowd when you can enjoy finding your individual points of difference and pathways to excellence that will create a great life, not just a living!

Sessions: "It’s a Price War to the Door", "Negotiations: The Games People Play"

Judith Lindenau, CAE, RCE

• 30 years as Association Executive for the Traverse Area Association of Realtors (Michigan)
• Holds the Certified Association Executive (CAE) and Realtors Certified Association Executive (RCE) designations
• Recipient of the William R Magel Award for Excellence from NAR
• Recipient of the Almon Smith Leadership Award from NAR
• President of JWL Consulting and Personal Coaching since 1995

Recent projects: Revision of the RCE examination and self study course; Revision of the AE Resource “The Answer Book; Consultant for the NAR Game Changers Program (Chicago Association of Realtors 'Heros Welcome Home' Project; Consultant for NAR International Division; Secretary of the Board of the International Real Property Foundation; Vice President of the Board, MLS Domains Association; Frequent speaker, strategic planning consultant

Personal: Lives in Traverse City, Michigan and in the Bahamas; Part-time musician appearing with several Celtic music groups

Sessions: "Fireside Chat"

Zan Monroe
As an inspirational speaker and author, Zan Monroe has helped thousands of people discover their creative passion and live a self-fulfilling life. Zan's Ninja Coaching helps business people raise their production and become more profitable. His Leadership and Management Consulting enables companies to create a clear vision of the future and develop the management skills that turn talent into production. Zan travels the world serving the needs of his clients but his heart is in his hometown of Fayetteville, NC with his wife Laura and their two children, Louisa and Cameron.

Sessions: "Absorption Rate Pricing", "Stories of Uncle Adrian: A Guide to Mastery in Your Life"

Jeanne Robertson, CSP, CPAE
As Miss North Carolina 1963, Jeanne traveled her native state for one year speaking at pageants and addressing civic clubs and corporations. When that time was over, she found that people were willing to pay her to come and address their groups and conventions and loving every laughing minute of it. They wanted Jeanne-not just a title holder-and they wanted her because she made them laugh. At that point, Jeanne still viewed speaking as a way to make a little money while continuing her education. She received her degree at Auburn University and taught physical education in high school and college, a career she enjoyed for nine years. But throughout those years, the requests continued to pour in for her to speak. In 1976, she stopped teaching and entered professional speaking full time. With the flexibility to speak more often, Jeanne’s rise in the speaking profession was nothing short of phenomenal. Clients and speakers alike were quick to recognize her ability. In addition to a full speaking schedule year after year, she has been awarded every top honor and designation in her profession including the Certified Speaking Professional designation (CSP) in 1980 and being inducted in the CPAE Speaker Hall Of Fame in 1981. A member of NSA/Carolinas, she served as President of the National Speakers Association in 1985. In 1989 she became the first woman to receive that association’s most cherished honor, the Cavett Award. The Cavett is awarded annually to one member “whose accomplishments, integrity and reputation are a credit to NSA and the speaking profession.” Toastmasters International named Jeanne the recipient of its 1998 Golden Gavel Award, given annually to one individual for accomplishments in leadership and communications. She is the only female professional speaker who has received this honor. Other recipients include Lowell Thomas, Walter Cronkite, Earl Nightingale, Art Linkletter, Dr. Joyce Brothers, Tom Peters, Mark Russell, Ken Blanchard and Zig Ziglar. In recognition of her professional expertise, experience, and competence, Jeanne was honored by the NCAA Southeastern Conference as Auburn University's Woman Entrepreneur of the Year 2000. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Elon University. The North Carolina Press Association named Jeanne as its 2001 North Carolinian of the Year for "her popularity on the speaking circuit, her award-winning ways, and her representation of North Carolina."  Past recipients include Elizabeth Dole, Rev. Billy Graham, and Dean Smith. The Miss North Carolina Organization named Jeanne as its 2003 Woman of Achievement. She was the first former Miss North Carolina to be so named.

Sessions: Keynote Address: "Humor: A Strategy for Success"

Pat Zaby, CRS, CRB, CCIM
Pat Zaby began his real estate career in 1968 and has been involved in sales, management, commercial, and property management.  He owned and operated a multi-office real estate company. Pat Zaby understands the needs of today’s real estate agent better than any other product developer. He knows what they will use, how they’ll use it, and how much they’ll pay for it. He also knows how to train them. Pat Zaby accumulated a specialized education with a bachelor’s degree in real estate from the University of North Texas and a variety of professional designations including CCIM, Certified Commercial Investment Member, CRB, Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager, CRS, Certified Residential Specialist, and GRI, Graduate of the REALTORS® Institute.

Sessions: "Get Off the Fence", "Leveraging Customer Care", "Systems That Last a Lifetime"