SPEAKERS

Edwin Acevedo began his real estate career in 2008. After 6 years of real estate sales, he began a new venture called Lotus Group Real Estate with several partners, which became the fastest-growing real estate brokerage in the city of Downey for 2016. Entering 2022, Lotus Group Real Estate is affiliated with Century 21 and is now called Century 21 LOTUS, solely owned by Edwin and his wife Claudia Acevedo. It now consists of over 60 agents that span over two different locations, Downey and Ventura. He prides himself as an entrepreneur and his focus is on strategic business building.

Gary Acosta is the Co-Founder & CEO of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals® (NAHREP®). NAHREP is the nation's largest Hispanic business organization with over 40,000 real estate professionals and 100 local chapters. In his capacity as CEO of NAHREP, he created the Hispanic Wealth Project, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a strategic plan to triple Hispanic household wealth by 2024. In 2018, Mr. Acosta co-founded L'ATTITUDE, a mega-event that celebrates the achievements of the Latino community in business, entertainment, technology, and politics.

Rene Acosta has been in mortgage lending since the late 90s. In 2003, Mr. Acosta joined NOVA Home Loans, and now has his team that includes four Loan Officer Associates. Mr. Acosta's team is known for customer service and helping the Latino community in AZ and CA. He is also known as one of the hardest loan originators in the business and someone who will make certain your loan will close. Mr. Acosta is dedicated to helping his Latino Community in making the “American Dream” come true by making them homeowners.

Nora Aguirre is an associate with Century 21 Americana. She has been in the real estate profession for 16 years, rapidly growing her business to become one of the top agents in the country. As a first-generation immigrant from Mexico, she is passionate about educating buyers about real estate and helping them find their next forever home. Ms. Aguirre has grown her business to more than 200 transactions per year resulting in an average of $1.5 million in gross commissions.

Samuel Alba sparked his love of real estate with the purchase of his first rental property around 2006. When the market crashed in 2008, he realized the importance of purchasing and rehabbing distressed properties to provide suitable houses for the community. Alba became a REALTOR® in 2010 and started his own real estate team in 2014, which continues to serve the community today. In 2018 he started what would become the NAHREP Providence chapter. In 2020, Samuel opened a RE/MAX franchise. With his passion for real estate and helping others, Samuel brings great knowledge and energy to UMRA.

AT Almeida is a top producer REALTOR® in Dallas/Fort Worth. He is Past President for NAHREP Dallas. AT is passionate and focused on advancing sustainable Hispanic homeownership for Latinos in Texas. AT Almeida was born and raised in Brazil and migrated to the U. S. in 2006 as an undocumented immigrant aspiring for the American Dream. As a newcomer to the U. S. with no English experience he relentlessly worked as a dishwasher, pizza delivery, and a professional bullrider to eventually become a top producing REALTOR in the first three years of his real estate career.

As a CPA and MBA, Rick Altizer worked for McDonald's for 14 years leading two US Regions. Mr. Altizer was VP of Operations for Midas and President of Jiffy Lube before becoming VP for North American Fuels Marketing at Shell. After Shell, Rick Altizer served as CEO for a startup and as President of a private equity portfolio company before taking the role of SVP of Fuel Sales and Marketing for BP in downtown Chicago. In February 2019, Mr. Altizer joined Earnnest as CEO. He has raised $ 12M in capital, increased revenue 100x and grown staff by 4x since joining Earnnest.

Hector is a 20-year veteran of the mortgage industry who has worked in several capacities in several mortgage companies. Today, Hector is President and CEO of Americana Home Loans, a Mortgage Banking firm whose mission is to develop the best lending professionals in the mortgage industry to better serve their communities. In 2021, Hector Amendola received his CMB designation, the industry standard of professional success which symbolizes respect, credibility, ethics, and achievement within real estate finance.

Julissa Arce is a writer, activist, and social changemaker. She is the best-selling author of You Sound Like a White Girl. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, TIME Magazine, Vogue, and more. Before becoming an author and activist, Julissa built a successful career on Wall Street working for Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch. She was undocumented for 15 years and co-founded the Ascend Educational Fund, a scholarship program for immigrant students. Julissa was named one of People en Español's 25 Most Powerful Women of 2017 and 2022, and 2018's Woman of the Year by the City of Los Angeles.

Luis Arellano was raised on the Southern Arizona border (Nogales), which equipped him with a unique knowledge of different cultures, people, environments, and the issues that they face by living them every day. He feels blessed for having learned two languages while growing up in a bicultural region. Currently, Luis is the Co-Founder, Partner & President of MPM Latin at MPM Partners Inc. At MPM, Luis builds and cultivates relationships- from new talent to artists and creators- while leading the company’s Latin Entertainment division.

Gerardo "Jerry" Ascencio is the former chairman of the NAHREP Foundation, dba Hispanic Wealth Project, and broker-owner of San Fernando Realty. A 30-year veteran of real estate, he is also the 2012 President of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals® (NAHREP®). A sought-out public speaker, motivator and trainer, Mr. Ascencio is widely recognized as one of the most charismatic speakers in the real estate industry today. A native of Michoacán, Mexico, Mr. Ascencio's own immigrant experience has made him an impassioned advocate for homeownership and economic empowerment for all Americans.

Anna Atencio, CEO of Propy Title and Escrow Agency Inc. The world’s 1st Blockchain-Enabled title company, closing Crypto, NFTs, and traditional transactions. With over 23 years of experience, owning and operating several agencies, Anna now oversees the entire operation at Propy Title. Propy Title helps parties in real estate transactions determine their rights and interests and ensure that land transfers are expeditious and secure. The real estate industry is suffering a myriad of challenges including the establishment of trust, adding security, and the adequacy of automation processes. Blockchain’s inherent system of trust is the ideal technology for the real estate transaction process.

As executive vice president, capital markets for Guild Mortgage, David Battany oversees all secondary market execution. He is responsible for Guild's credit policy, shipping, product development functions, and manages investor relationships. In his 30+ year career, Mr. Battany has served as chief product strategist for Penny Mac, managing the product development group and its relationships with GSEs, government agencies and mortgage insurance companies. He served as the director of single-family business for Fannie Mae and belongs to the Mortgage Bankers Association, co-chairing the Affordable Homeownership Advisory Council, the Residential Board of Governors, and the National Housing Conference Black Homeownership Collaborative.

With over 15 years of experience in the mortgage industry, Luisa Bedoya recognizes that Hispanics are the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population and has built her career capitalizing on this untapped market of homeownership. Luisa engages the Hispanic community by educating and developing alternative ways to qualify for a home loan. Ms. Bedoya is the first Latino and bilingual loan officer to be hired at MSA Mortgage, winning multiple awards for her performance. She is a past board member of the NAHREP ® Boston Chapter and is actively involved in project water for the Indigenous Communities of Colombia.

Raquel Borras started out in the mortgage industry in 2015 and has been a member of NAHREP since 2016, serving on both the NAHREP Northern Virginia and NAHREP Maryland chapter boards. Ms. Borras exited the mortgage industry in January 2020 to start her own consulting business for personal branding. During that time, she has appeared as a guest on numerous podcasts and livestreams globally, speaking on topics like mental health, mindful social media and personal branding. Ms. Borras is now back in the mortgage industry as the Marketing Manager for New American Funding's Mid-Atlantic Region.

Erika Borunda Ahajanian is a top-producing luxury broker and owner of Exude Luxury Group in San Diego, CA. At Exude Luxury Group, Erika has agents with the expertise and ambition to help a discerning clientele succeed in any market. Her recognition for her advancements includes features on KUSI, CNBC, and Bravo’s “Million Dollar Listing.” Her practical mindset and insights into the San Diego region, passion for delivering high-touch client service, and keen ability to think outside the box to create unique solutions have helped her rank in the top 1% of San Diego real estate professionals and amass more than $100 million in career sales.

Jenny Brosseau is senior vice president and head of Diverse Customer Segments for Wells Fargo Consumer and Small Business Banking. In her role, Jenny and her team are focused on understanding the needs of diverse markets to guide strategies to support diverse customers. Jenny has been with Wells Fargo for 19 years. She’s held key roles across the organization, including leadership positions in Wells Fargo Advisors (WFA) and Home Lending. She has an extensive background in enterprise partnership and leading various segment-focused initiatives. Jenny serves on the Enterprise Hispanic/Latino Diversity Council. She holds a bachelor's degree from Texas State University.

Stephen is a passionate and proven leader with almost two decades of experience in the mortgage industry. Stephen and his team have helped over 12,000 families with their financing needs, lending an estimated 3 billion in loan volume. His ability to analyze complex tax returns and financial situations creates a niche with self-employed borrows. In his own words, “With a strong background in finance and accounting and the mentality that a relationship is more important than a loan, I always knew I could level the playing field for the consumer in a world where there is a lack of education about managing our finances.”

Joe Castillo is a second generation REALTOR® following in the footsteps of Maria and Jose Castillo, co-founders of Mi Casa Real Estate, Inc. He grew up in the business that he now loves, talking real estate at the kitchen table and spending many summers at the office helping out. Mr. Castillo obtained his real estate license at the age of 21 while continuing his studies, graduating from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

RAFAEL CEBRIÁN is a Spanish-born actor who was recently seen starring in Apple TV+'s bi-lingual comedy series, ACAPULCO, where he played the memorable, fan-favorite poolside attendant, “Hector.” The show was nominated for “Best Foreign Language Series” at the 2021 Critics Choice Award and will return for its anticipated second season on October 21, 2022. Additionally, Cebrian will have a recurring role in David E. Kelley’s upcoming Peacock crime drama “The Calling,” out this Fall. The multitalented Cebrián was classically trained in London and a graduate of Brown University.

Irving Cham is a thorough and professional real estate professional who is ready to assist you with your real estate needs. He proudly offers exceptional residential/commercial real estate services to the people of New Jersey. Awards and accolades have come naturally to Irving throughout his career in real estate. He is consistently ranked in the top quintile of realtors and was selected to lead his peers as a Regional Growth Manager. Irving has driven operational excellence and shared his proven client service techniques while continuing to run his own successful business. He is happy to assist all types of professionals whether you are new to the business or just looking for guidance and direction.

Rob Chevez is the CEO of the CAZA Group, a real estate team that consistently sells over 100,000,000 in volume and one of the top real estate teams within the Keller Williams Franchise. In 2019, Mr. Chevez was interviewed by Gary Keller in front of 10,000 of his peers on his "ZONE Methodology " where he discussed how he has grown and expanded his business. Mr. Chevez is also the Founder of the GRID Investor Network, the largest real estate investment network in the DC Metro area with 12 local chapters and 13,000 members.

Cristian Correa is the Senior Vice President for Caliber Home Loans. Mr. Correa is committed to ensuring Caliber Home Loans has the offerings to support responsible lending, provide sustainable homeownership, and improve access to credit for all borrowers. Mr. Correa supports the organization to develop and execute strategies for meeting affordable lending and community outreach goals. A veteran of 25 years in the mortgage industry. Mr. Correa joined Caliber Home Loans in 2017 and has held positions of leadership in sales origination, production and in a variety of areas including multicultural and low to moderate income segments.

A superstar whose popularity transcends boxing, Oscar De La Hoya is known globally not only as one of the best fighters of his era, but as an elite promoter, Grammy-nominated singer, astute businessman, and active philanthropist whose been recognized by lawmakers in Washington, DC, California, and locally in Los Angeles for his contributions to the Mexican-American community. He's an Olympic gold medalist boxer and 10-time world champion in six divisions. Since retiring from the ring, Oscar's focused on building his company, Golden Boy Promotions, into one of the world's most successful boxing promotion companies. He's the first American of Mexican descent to own a national boxing promotional firm.

With 18+ years of industry experience, Manny’s commitment, and passion in creating the ultimate home loan experience for his clients comes flawlessly. Manny joined PrimeLending as a Branch Manager in Northern California in February 2021. Joining PrimeLending’s powerhouse has allowed Manny to embrace its modern technology, sales tools, product offerings, and best of all, its “ONE TEAM, ONE PURPOSE” philosophy. Manny is an honored member of several organizations which includes NAHREP, NAREB, and AREAA. He is also an active board member of Neighborworks Sacramento.

Richard DeMerchant has been involved with technology and the real estate industry for over 20 years focusing on next-gen product development, franchise development, real estate management, and sales. He fully understands what it takes for a brokerage or an individual agent to always be the expert in the room and reach the highest level of success in their market through using a powerful and intelligent lead generation tool like geniusprice.

Michelle Denogean is the CMO at Side where she leads marketing, insights and education. She is a highly sought-after strategist, helping businesses achieve scalable success. She is a keynote speaker, thought leader and growth expert with 20+ years in the technology sector. Ms. Denogean has recently returned to real estate where she started her career at Move.com. She spent the past 17 years in automotive, supporting the growth of community-based car dealerships across the country. Michelle Denogean was the CMO at Edmunds.com and Roadster, where she built the brand and go-to-market strategy, scaling the company from 15 to 250+ employees.

Tomas Diaz, originally from Mexico City, is a Digital Marketing Strategist with nearly a decade of experience in the real estate technology space. Diaz worked his way up from unpaid intern to the Senior Leadership table at dotloop where he leads the marketing department, which is responsible for generating over 70% of the company's yearly revenue. Throughout his career at dotloop, Tomas Diaz has developed and supported numerous successful campaigns and worked alongside industry leaders from top producing agents and real estate coaches to tech gurus and founders.

Mark Dimas is the Broker Owner of Mark Dimas Properties, central to the Greater Houston area with strong roots in Dallas-Forth Worth and San Antonio real estate as well. Mr. Dimas is well-respected not only for his professional track record, but even more in his relentless pursuit to grow opportunities in real estate. Mark Dimas Properties operates at over 90% referrals and repeat business and has upheld excellence in real estate service. Mr. Dimas won #1 U.S. Latino Real Estate Agent in 2017 and # U.S. Latino Real Estate Team in 2020 in the NAHREP Top 250 Agents.

Latonia Donaldson joined PrimeLending in February 2012 and serves as Vice President, National Director Multicultural Community Lending. She is responsible for creating mortgage opportunities within multicultural segments and underserved markets by providing homeownership education and financial literacy to potential homebuyers. Donaldson also provides training to PrimeLending loan officers on various down payment assistance and affordable housing programs, as well as coordinates educational events for homebuyers and real estate agents. Donaldson is an industry veteran with over 20 years of experience in the areas of mortgage banking, management, and community development.

A polished, versatile talent with over 15 years of broadcast experience, Beto Duran has been a fixture of both professional and collegiate sports. He currently fills a variety of roles from play-by-play to host to reporter. Duran began his professional broadcasting career at ESPN Radio covering all SoCal sports as both a host and update anchor. During his time at ESPN Radio he covered the championship runs of the Lakers during the 2009 and 2010 seasons. Duran provides coverage for all boxing and combat sports from a wide range of promotions and MMA disciplines in addition to collegiate basketball as well as the South Bay Lakers G-League team affiliate.

As the Hispanic Segment Lead for Wells Fargo Home Lending, Valeria L. Esparza-Chavez partners across the business, and with external stakeholders, advocacy groups, and industry trade associations to increase lending opportunities to Hispanic families across all income segments. In her role, Ms. Esparza-Chavez is responsible for developing and executing strategy focused on the Hispanic consumer demographic consistent with Wells Fargo strategy and goals. Ms. Esparza-Chavez has spent most of her 16-year financial services career in consumer lending and has deep experience in developing and executing strategies to meet the needs of ethnically diverse families.

Michelle Fermin is a partner/owner at Century 21 Northeast and the founder of The Fermin Group. The Fermin Group has continuously ranked number one in the country for all Century 21 teams, last year ranking number one in the world for small teams. Ms. Fermin is also the President of the MSM Investment Group and Fermin Family Trust which focus on the acquisition, renovation, and resale of distressed assets. Before entering the real estate industry, Ms. Fermin demonstrated a great entrepreneurial spirit by starting her first business at the age of 16 to help support her family.

Veronica Figueroa is a highly sought-out speaker known for her vivacious personality and unique leadership abilities. Veronica is the Team Leader of The Figueroa Team, an internationally recognized team serving Central Florida. Her contributions to the industry have led her to become a thought leader in motivation, building teams, and real estate innovation. Veronica regularly engages with other team leaders across the country to share unique techniques that fuel her team’s success. Veronica’s true passion is to inspire and help others with directional wisdom to follow their dreams.

Frank Fuentes helps lead New American Funding’s efforts to increase homeownership within the Hispanic and other underserved markets. That includes the work of the company’s Latino Focus initiative, which works to address challenges Hispanic consumers face in their pursuit of homeownership. In addition to being a staunch advocate throughout the housing industry for increasing Hispanic homeownership, Fuentes is helping New American Funding build a diverse workforce that is well-suited to help minority borrowers.

Jona Gamboa is a Team Lead and REALTOR®️ with the Gamboa Real Estate Group serving homebuyers and sellers as they navigate the real estate market. As a 16-year veteran of the housing industry, Jona is passionate about serving his clients transactional needs, as well as empowering them through educational mentorship programs, radio talk shows and classroom instruction. As a real estate investor and developer, Jona brings a wealth of knowledge to his clients and colleagues that go far beyond the residential transaction, including market analysis, investment vehicles, and personal finance.

Born and raised in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood, Hipolito Garcia has been in the mortgage banking industry for 20 years. As of January 2018, Mr. Garcia has been with Caliber Home Loans as an Area Manager. Mr. Garcia was the 2019 President for NAHREP Chicago (2019 Chapter of the Year) and 2019 - 2020 board director with the Chicago Association of Realtors. He is currently one of NAHREP's Midwest Regional Corporate Governors, a NAHREP Coach, and a NAHREP 10 Certified Speaker. He is a board director with the Illinois Mortgage Bankers Association and Chair for the Affordable Lending Committee.

Victoria Garcia DeLuca is Guild’s first vice president of marketplace diversity strategy, leading the company’s long-term initiatives promoting minority homeownership and sustaining diversity, equity and inclusion in lending. Victoria’s responsibilities include recruiting and retention of minority loan officers, developing new products for minority markets and serving as a liaison with Government Sponsored Enterprises, such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. A Chicago native of Mexican and Honduran descent, Victoria is bilingual in English and Spanish. She has over 20 years’ experience in the mortgage industry creating programs for underserved markets in the Midwest and South.

Alex Garza is the VP of Business Development with Century 21 Americana. Under his leadership, he oversees Salesforce effectiveness and implement improvement functions. Alex Garza is a seasoned business executive with 20+ years of management and development experience in various sectors. Recognized for demonstrating a natural aptitude for developing effective training and instructional materials, as well as for managing both non-profit & corporate businesses and evaluating internal processes, Mr. Garza has a history of contributing to company growth throughout his career. Professional focal points include real estate, education, non-profit & corporate management, recruitment and retention, sales and marketing, relationship management, government and corporate training.

Abel Gilbert's fascination with real estate has led him through various aspects of the business starting from real estate agent to now leader of Miami's #1 Team owned brokerage. Throughout his career Abel and his team have helped thousands of families buy and sell homes. He has also single handedly purchased and sold 100+ fix and flip opportunities, handled the acquisition and disposition of over 30 million dollars in non-performing loans, and has also successfully developed construction projects.

Anand Giridharadas is the author of, most recently, "Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World, " published by Knopf in 2018. His other books are "The True American: Murder and Mercy in Texas, " about a Muslim immigrant's campaign to spare from Death Row the white supremacist who tried to kill him (optioned for movie adaption by Annapurna Pictures); and "India Calling: An Intimate Portrait of a Nation's Remaking, " about returning to the India his parents left. Giridharadas is an editor-at-large for TIME, an on-air political analyst for MSNBC, and a visiting scholar at the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute at New York University.

Fanny Grande is a Venezuelan-American award-winning filmmaker, actor, and director with more than 20 years of experience in entertainment. She's Co-Founder and CEO of Avenida Productions, a production firm specializing in empowering independent media creators with a focus on diversity. Grande's a three-time Imagen Award nominee, one of eight fellows selected by Geena Davis for her See It, Be It fellowship, and recently a member of the Stanford LBAN business accelerator. Grande served as Vice Chair of Nosotros, the oldest Latino Non-Profit in entertainment. In March 2022, Avenida launched 'Support Our Story', a crowdfunding platform for creatives. Her feature documentary, My DACA Life, will be released in 2022.

Award-winning journalist, Lisa Guerrero, is one of the most popular and hard-working personalities on television. As the chief investigative correspondent for Inside Edition, America’s top rated syndicated news-magazine show, she travels the country covering crimes, scams, cold cases and consumer reports. Her brand of tough, confrontational reporting has made her a fan favorite and she has won over thirty five national investigative journalism awards including eight National Headliner Awards, twice for "Best Consumer Reporting,” five times for “Best Investigative Report” and once for Best In Show beating CNN’s Anderson Cooper among notable others.

Jennifer Hedgepeth serves as Chief Operating Officer at DHI Mortgage (DHIM). With over 30 years of experience, Jennifer’s guidance over operations, insights into risk management, coaching and mentoring skills, and servant leadership have been true assets. A champion of DHIM’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, her approach to team-building promotes inclusivity within DHIM, but her focus extends beyond. Jennifer is proud to serve on NAHREP’s Corporate Board of Governors. Additionally, she serves as a Visionary Ambassador in the National Association of Minority Mortgage Bankers of America, and is on the Mortgage Bankers Association’s DEI Advisory Board

Marc Hernandez is the President of Alterra Home Loans. He oversees sales, operations and marketing and is responsible for the company’s strategic growth, vision, and performance. As a Certified Mortgage Banker (CMB) with over 17 years of industry experience, he is known for driving growth, optimizing efficiency, and inspiring personal productivity while delivering financial performance. He was recently recognized by HousingWire’s Rising Star program for his leadership and contribution to housing economy. Marc has a passion for empowering Hispanic real estate and mortgage professionals. He has been a member of NAHREP since 2009 and was elected Chapter President of the Chicago Chapter in 2014 and 2015.

Oralia Herrera is Broker/Owner of Century 21 TK Realty Inc. She came to this country as a child from La Purisima Durango Mexico with her parents and five siblings. Her family established in Franklin Park where she attended school and has raised three children together with her husband. On her 21st birthday, Ms. Herrera became a real estate agent and made it her profession and passion. With over 25 years of experience in real estate, she has made a mark in her community with professionalism, integrity and care.

Christopher Holliday has served some of the most important people and organizations in the world including President Obama and President Joe Biden. Holliday is a former campaign and White House veteran who traveled all over the world with both President Barack Obama and President Joe Biden. He is the founder and managing partner of Swing State Strategies, LLC, based out of Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco. Swing State Strategy is a strategic public engagement and social responsibility firm specializing in production and scaling for start-ups, international non-profits, athlete development, and creative partnerships.

Brian Hurley is the president and co-owner of Gradus Management, Inc., a San Diego-based management firm focused on operating affiliated business entities for residential real estate brokerages. Collectively, Gradus-managed companies (including escrow and title) close one out of every seven residential sale transactions in San Diego County. Prior to co-founding Gradus Management, Hurley founded a residential real estate investment fund that acquired and managed an REO-to-rental portfolio. During the nation’s housing crisis, Hurley served as the president of New Vista Asset Management, a leading REO asset management firm, and previously served as the president of Stewart Title of California, the fourth largest title insurance company in the US.

Caroline Isern is responsible for building, implementing and ensuring the execution of New American Funding's strategic plan and goals to increase and enable homeownership in our local communities across the U.S. In this capacity, through the implementation of creative solutions like the Buyer Accepted Program, New American Funding is laser-focused in helping our clients overcome some of the biggest barriers to homeownership, bridging the inventory gap by providing tools to our real estate partners to win in today's market.

Angie Javier has built a reputation as a premier real estate marketing strategist and advisor in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. From highly-effective sales tactics to traditional and digital marketing best practices, she has amassed a wealth of knowledge that she now shares as part of the extensive Realtor.com curriculum. Ms. Javier presents to real estate professionals nationwide, sharing her insights and expertise on three critical keys to successful marketing: lead generation and conversion, increased online reputation and exposure, and the building of a strong personal brand.

Justine Jimenez Garcia is the Broker/Owner of Countywide Properties, Inc, which she founded in 1998. Justine and her family immigrated from Cuba fleeing Castro's communism in 1970. More recently, Justine Jimenez Garcia was recognized as one of the Top 250 Latino Real Estate Agents by the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals for three consecutive years (2015-2017) and was the first woman president for NAHREP's South Florida chapter.

Leonard (Len) Kiefer is an economist who helps people understand what’s going on in the economy, housing, and mortgage markets. Len joined Freddie Mac in 2009 and has served as Deputy Chief Economist since December 2012. Len is responsible for primary and secondary mortgage market analysis and research, macroeconomic analysis, and forecasting. Prior to joining Freddie Mac, Len was an assistant professor at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas where he conducted research on macroeconomics and monetary policy. He has also taught economics at The Ohio State University and finance at George Mason University.

Nick Kreager is the Region Vice President for Change Home Mortgage for TX, CO, AZ, NM, and TX. As a producing manager, he understands the nuances that both the client and loan officer go through in order to make a loan happen and continuously helps to smooth that process. Prior to mortgage lending, Nick was a successful oil and gas options and derivative trader in the Houston area. Using unique macroeconomic viewpoints and strategies utilized in dynamic hedging is how Nick's team structures loans and continuously grow and service their clients.

Voltaire Lepe is a born and raised native San Diegan. He grew up in Logan Heights and has been in the real estate industry for 20 years. He started in real estate right out of high school and has grown to own his own property management company and brokerage. Mr. Lepe has made it his purpose over the years to give back to his community by volunteering his time and donating over $100K. While he is quite busy with work he always finds time for balance and knows the importance of enjoying his time with extended family.

Adam Levitt is a prominent Renovation Financing Expert, with more than 20 years of experience under his belt. He has originated, trained, built, and developed several Renovation Financing Programs at various lending institutions and is constantly leading efforts to overcome many myths and misconceptions about renovation lending in general. He has been a speaker at several state and local events as well. Adam built his resume and reputation by helping loan originators and their referral partners foster strategic partnerships and relationships to maximize the bottom-line results and growth of their business.

Lexi Lopez is the Senior Manager of Awards & Recognition with Century 21 Real Estate LLC (Anywhere brand) where she assists brokers and agents with reports and tools to track transaction production and manages the system's customer satisfaction survey program. She also serves as an Advisor to the C21 Growth Markets team, assisting in executing various diversity and inclusion programs for the brand. Ms. Lopez is a NAHREP 10 Certified Trainer and earned the 2020 NAHREP 10 Trainer of the Year! She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Cornerstone Family Programs & Morristown Neighborhood House.

Daisy Lopez-Cid is the 2018 President for the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP) and Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Premier Properties in Kissimmee, Florida. Originally from Brooklyn with a background in immigration law, Ms. Lopez-Cid has been a force in Central Florida real estate for the past 17 years. Entering the real estate market in 2001, she is now owner of what is ranked as the most successful RE/MAX franchise in Osceola County since 2013. Ms. Lopez-Cid has served on the NAHREP National Board of Directors since 2013, and is a Past President of NAHREP Central Florida.

Peter Luft oversees franchise expansion across the U.S. for the RE/MAX network. His role includes leading the franchise sales team to help top-performing real estate professionals grow their businesses with the RE/MAX brand. As Vice President, Franchise Sales, Mr. Luft is responsible for strategic sales initiatives and operations, growth plans, mergers and acquisitions, conversions and startups.

Mr. Lutz was elected to the Pico Rivera City Council in November 2020. He proudly serves as chairman of the Pico Rivera Community Safety Ad Hoc Committee, a representative for the Pico Rivera Chamber of Commerce. Professionally, Councilman Lutz has been a Real Estate Broker for over 15 years. He owns and operates his real estate firm providing residential and commercial services. He serves as the 2021 president of the NAHREP, Los Angeles chapter. Councilman Lutz's homeownership advocacy began in 2009 while working with the California Department of Real Estate to develop Public Service Announcements for distressed homeowners during the economic downturn.

Imelda Manzo is the Broker Owner of Premier One REALTORS® and has been an active and successful real estate practitioner since 2004. She is a very passionate member of The National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals® (NAHREP®). Ms. Manzo is a founding director of the NAHREP Temecula Valley Chapter where she had the honor to serve as President in 2019 and currently serves as the Emeritus Director. Ms. Manzo is a proud ambassador for NAHREP's Hispanic Wealth Project and is a regional director for NAHREP' s National Advocacy Committee.

Debbie Marques has been interacting with and helping real estate professionals for the past 25+ years with a focus on products, operations, and technology services of the industry. She has a keen understanding of what brokers and agents find important, tools and functionality, helping them stay in touch with their clients, developing marketing activities, and creating successful lead generation, just to name a few areas of focus. Ms. Marques has experience helping agents be the most proficient and is a valued part of the homegenius team.

Juan Martinez is the Broker/Owner of Century 21 Martinez & Associates. A leading figure within the real estate industry, Mr. Martinez has been pushing the boundaries of production over the course of his 13 year career. He concluded his successful sales career with over 4,000 closed transactions (with 584 closed transactions in his last year of production), resulting in $16 million in commissions. Since then, Mr. Martinez has laser-focused his efforts towards building an innovative company devoted entirely to training and coaching real estate agents.

Tony Martinez is the Co-Founder and CEO of negozee, a Spanish-language social learning platform for Latino entrepreneurs nationwide. In 2004, Mr. Martinez received a full-ride scholarship to Berkeley where he studied engineering and joined the Latino fraternity Gamma Zeta Alpha. Upon graduation, Tony Martinez joined Latino Tax Pros as VP of Business Development where he helped grow the organization to 10,000 members nationwide. Tony's current startup, negozee, aims to help undocumented ITIN Latino immigrants launch, organize, and scale businesses in the U.S.

Lenny McNeill is currently EVP National Managing Director – Strategic Markets and Consumer Lending at U.S. Bank Home Mortgage. McNeill is a 30-year veteran of the mortgage industry holding several key senior leadership roles during his tenure. Including his current role Lenny's resume consist of the following positions: Senior Vice President and Managing Director, National Strategic Markets; Head of Mortgage Retail Lending & Consumer Direct; Area, Divisional, & Regional Sales Manager; National Director of Multicultural Initiatives & Affordable Lending, and National Director of Strategic Alliances for Caliber Home Loans, Washington Mutual, Bank of America, and Chase. He has served on the Board of Directors or Corporate Board of Governors for NAHREP, NAREB, AREAA, and LANHS.

Gabe Mendez is the CEO of a top 1% producing team in San Diego, going on his seventh year in real estate with over 100 homes in 2021. Mendez was recently awarded Grand Centurion, the highest accolade in his company, and was designated #1 San Diego Real Estate Agent on Social Media in San Diego by Property Spark. Mendez ranked at #50 in the nation in the 2022 NAHREP Top 250 Latino Agents Report. With over 10,000+ followers on Facebook, 135,000+ followers on Instagram, 70,000 subscribers on YouTube, and multiple viral videos, he's blazing a trail.

As a real estate industry leader with over 18 years of experience, Carmen is passionate about connecting industry professionals with resources and tools to help them growth their business and increase homeownership rates for underserved communities. Carmen's commitment to the housing and affordable lending industry stems from her experience in the real estate industry, working directly with consumers, leading a national non-for-profit trade organization, influencing industry professionals, and building a network of individuals that are passionate about housing and finance issue.

Jorge Montoya is a father, husband, and dad to twins. Mr. Montoya has been in the mortgage industry for over 15 years and is passionate about helping families succeed in homeownership. This passion has led to being recognized as NAHREPS #1 Latino Mortgage Originator in the state of Nevada for the last eight years and Ranked Number 9 in the nation for the 2022 year.

Gaby Natale is the first Latina to win 3 Daytime Emmys® back-to-back (as host and executive producer of her own show), and the first Hispanic author to be published by HarperCollins’ Leadership division. A sought-after thought leader and motivational speaker, Gaby has shared her inspirational message in Fortune 500 corporations, the United Nations, and in her own TEDx talk encouraging underrepresented minorities to pioneer and be what they cannot (yet) see in the world. Natale is also the founder of AGANARmedia, a marketing company with a focus on Hispanic audiences that serves Fortune 500 companies such as Hilton Worldwide, Sprint, AT&T, eBay, Intuit and Amazon.

Jesus is an 18-year mortgage veteran who has helped thousands of Latinos with passion and purpose. His mission of restoring equity and creating stability in Latino communities has been fueled by pioneering and piloting loan programs such as “The Best Loan”, “Your Path" and “Finally Home”. Jesus is a NAHREP Top 250 recipient, Presidents Circle recipient, and was named AT&T’s most influential Latino leader in Chicago. His passion to help the Latino community originates from his mother, a first-generation immigrant who became an Immigration Attorney and Community Advocate. Jesus' most recent endeavor is leading Alterra Home Loans' marketing team as Creative Director.

Joseph Nery is one of the members of Nery & Richardson LLC and his practice is focused in four areas: real estate, corporate and business law, estate planning and commercial and civil litigation. Mr. Nery represents individuals and companies in litigation matters such as foreclosure prosecution, consumer protection, breach of contract and landlord/tenant disputes. Prior to establishing his own law practice, Mr. Nery was a transactional attorney with two of Chicago's most prominent law firms.

Barack H. Obama is the 44th President of the United States. He was born in Hawaii to a mother from Kansas and a father from Kenya. He became the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review, then taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago and served in the Illinois State Senate and the U.S. Senate. On November 4, 2008, Barack Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States, winning more votes than any candidate in history. In times of great challenge and change, President Obama’s leadership ushered in a stronger economy and a more equal society.

Nancy Obando is the Senior Vice President at Mountain West Financial with a lead role in shaping the Mountain West Financial brand, driving growth and visibility to the company by overseeing Specialty Product Development for both retail and wholesale. Ms. Obando has 20 years of experience in the Corporate Banking Industry ranging from business development, strategic planning, negotiations, community and government relations, event planning, revenue generation, mortgage originations, diverse market segments, and overall sales. Her extensive knowledge combined with her strong communication and strategic planning talents, has made her into a well-rounded professional and effective leader, well suited for today's volatile industry.

Benjamin Odell is President of 3Pas Studios, co-founded with Eugenio Derbez. He has developed and produced films aimed at the Hispanic market in the U.S., Mexico, and Latin America while running production Lionsgate’s Latin division, Pantelion. He has produced such movies as Spare Parts with Jamie Lee Curtis and Marisa Tomei and How to be a Latin Lover with Derbez, Salma Hayek, Kristin Bell and Rob Lowe, both for Lionsgate as well as Overboard with Derbez and Anna Faris for MGM / Lionsgate and The Valet starring Derbez for Hulu.

Luis C. Padilla is the Co-Owner of RE/MAX Oceanside Realty along with his wife Debbie. He emigrated from Cuba to Miami, Florida in 1973 and has been a part of the real estate industry for 33 years. His financial background began at St. Thomas University, where he obtained a bachelor's degree in finance, and a minor in business. He has worked in various sectors of real estate, including commercial and residential lending, REO listing agent, numerous real estate businesses and traditional real estate sales.

With over 21 years of experience in the San Diego real estate market, Mauricio Perez leads an office of over 140 agents in Chula Vista and has prior experience managing over 220 REALTORS® at the KW La Jolla Market Center. Mr. Perez has ranked on the NAHREP Top 250 Latino Agents for three years in a row and was recently recognized as Broker of the Year for both of the local REALTOR® Associations in San Diego County.

Camila Perez currently stars as the female lead of the AppleTV+ comedy series, ACAPULCO, alongside Eugenio Derbez. The show was just nominated for a Critic's Choice Award. Most recently, Camila recurred alongside Kate Mara and Nick Robinson in the FX/Hulu limited series, A TEACHER, produced by the Duplass brothers. Prior to that, she was perhaps best known for her work on Fox’s Batman prequel series, GOTHAM, playing the role of ‘Firefly’. Camila's other TV credits include guest spots on Jenji Kohan’s Netflix series SOCIAL DISTANCE, THE BLACKLIST, POWER, THE PATH (opp Hugh Dancy and Melanie Griffith), LAW & ORDER: SVU, and BLUE BLOODS.

Eddy Perez, CMB, is Co-Founder and CEO of Equity Prime Mortgage (EPM) based in Atlanta, Georgia where he oversees overall sales, growing diversity initiative, retail and wholesale channels, strategy, technology, and professional and business development. As co-founder of Equity Prime Mortgage, recognized as part of the Inc. 5000, he has excelled within the mortgage industry being named one of the nation’s top mortgage bankers, recognized in National Mortgage Professionals Magazine’s “40 Most Influential Mortgage Professionals under 40. ”

Adriana Perezchica has been working in real estate since 2005, and brings with her a proven sales and closing track record. Clients and real estate professionals alike seek out Ms. Perez because of her commitment to excellence and knowledge of the real estate industry. Her depth of understanding around market trends and impressive negotiation skills quickly propelled her to her status as one of the top producing brokers in the greater Seattle area. Adriana sees every transaction as an opportunity to create a new future for her clients, while protecting their interests above all.

Monica Pizano has made real estate her career for the past 19 years and is the first Latina to own and operate her own real estate brokerage in the county of Kankakee, IL. Monica comes from humble beginnings and from a hard-working family of migrant farm workers. Monica is an award-winning real estate agent and has won awards for Best of the Best Realtors in her county, is in the Top 1.5% of 1.4 million real estate agents in the United States, named to NAHREP’s Top 250 Latino Agents in the U.S. for 4 years in a row and has won Homesnap's Top 5% award.

Peggy Pratt Calle didn't let the pandemic stop her from doing what she loves, selling homes. Calle, a broker with Century 21 North East, sold the highest-priced piece of real estate in her 24-year career this year: a $1.7 million five-unit building in East Boston. Remarkably, she closed more transactions in 2020 than the previous year. "Real estate has given me the flexibility to be present, involved and set a good example for my children that hard work does pay off," Calle says.

Christopher Rivas is an actor, author, podcaster, and storyteller best known for his on-screen work on the Fox series, CALL ME KAT. In addition, he hosts two podcasts on SiriusXM's Stitcher: Rubirosa, a limited series about the life of Porfirio Rubirosa, and a weekly show, Brown Enough (premieres September 28, 2022). Rivas is simultaneously authoring a book, BROWN ENOUGH, that Row House Publishing is slated to release on October 11, 2022. He is a Ph.D. Candidate in Expressive Arts for Global Health & Peace Building from The European Graduate School and a Rothschild Social Impact fellow. Rivas resides in Los Angeles, CA.

Jason Riveiro serves as Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining NAHREP, Jason served as Sr. Director of Industry Relations at Notarize and held notable roles at Realogy including Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Vice-President of Global Affiliate Service. Riveiro has served on several boards including the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland's Business Advisory Board, U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, iHeart Radio's Community Advisory Board, and the Pittsburgh Pirates Diversity Advisory Board.

Nuria Rivera sits on the National Board of Directors and serves as a chapter coach for NAHREP. She is a millennial entrepreneur and launched a title and escrow company in 2015, Novation Title Insurance Agency, of which she is CEO. Although it is a newer company, Novation Title has received Utah's "Best of State" award for four years in a row since in 2016, which was a very humbling experience for Ms. Rivera and her team. Ms. Rivera came to the United States when she was 11 years old and learned a new language and culture.

Sara Rodriguez is the CEO/Owner of Titan Title and a partner at Mendez Rodriguez, PLC. Her practice specializes on all matters related to residential and commercial real estate transactions. She served as 2016 President of NAHREP Northern Virginia and has served on the chapter's board of directors since 2013 in various leadership roles. Since 2005, Mrs. Rodriguez has taught DPOR approved courses through various state-licensed schools in both English and Spanish. She also teaches Continuing Legal Education (CLE) for the National Business Institute in Virginia.

Eva Angelina Romero is the current Broker/Owner of EvaCo Properties and co-owner of Solace Oral Surgery and SOMOSS. She has devoted most of her life to service through leadership – in her profession and in her community as an educator, mentor and philanthropist. Ms. Romero was the founding president of the NAHREP Nashville Chapter launched in 2016. She currently serves on the board of the American Red Cross, TLACC (Tennessee Latin American Chamber of Commerce), HOLA (Hispanic Leaders and Achievers), ELLA (Entrepreneur Latina Leaders of America) and is the current president of the HDSA (Huntington's Disease of America) Tennessee Chapter.

Javier Ruiz grew up in a real estate family. Early in his career, his father introduced the mortgage banking and real estate industry to him. Javier Ruiz has been in the mortgage and real estate industry since 1985 and has deep roots in the southern California real estate market. Mr. Ruiz now focuses on team building, recruitment, branch development, loan origination, and lender/agent collaboration for Change Home Mortgage.

Trina Scott is Executive Vice President for Rocket Companies. She has over 15 years of experience in the auditing space, and many of her previous roles also focused on creating a collaborative, inclusive and socially responsible culture within the real estate industry, most notably as the Chief Diversity Officer for Rocket Companies. She currently serves on a variety of boards, including the Mortgage Bankers Association Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Inforum, Oakland University Board of Trustees, Rocket Giving Fund and the Midnight Golf Program.

Diana Sifuentes is co-owner of Berkshire Hathaway HSA Action office located in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex. Born in a small town in Tamaulipas, Sifuentes has flourished without formal marketing education, simply relying on referrals from friends, family, and previous customers. Her inspiring customer service has contributed to her success resulting in recognition as one of the NAHREP Top 250 Latino Agents in the USA. Sifuentes served as Chapter President of NAHREP Texas Plano/Garland from 2019 to 2020 and currently serves as the Regional Co-chair for the NAHREP Mountain Region.

Neily Soto joined the real estate industry 17 years ago to help the Hispanic community achieve their dream of homeownership. Shortly after September 11, she was laid off from managing a hydroelectric plant in Methuen, MA and decided she wanted to connect more with her community. Ms. Soto focused on making connections with local officials and helped develop the down-payment assistance programs currently in use to help low- to moderate-income families buy their first home. Ms. Soto was the Founding Chapter President for NAHREP Boston and currently sits on the board for the largest CAP agencies in Massachusetts.

Josué Soto is the CEO of Soto Legacy Group / Powered by eXp Realty. He is a REALTOR® with over 14 years of experience in the Central Florida market. Mr. Soto has been a member of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals® (NAHREP®) for many years. Mr. Soto believes in NAHREP and its mission and as a result, he became involved in leadership in 2015. In 2017 he became President of NAHREP Central Florida, leading the chapter to achieve NAHREP's Chapter of the Year.

Rodrigo is a Financial Advisor at the Morgan Stanley Global Headquarters in Purchase, New York. He belongs to a wealth advisory practice that works with publicly traded companies, philanthropic organizations, and high net worth individuals with an entrepreneurial spirit. Rodrigo joined the team in 2017 and has assisted in several roles. Rodrigo evaluates the various asset allocation techniques when creating client portfolios that are specifically tailored to each client. In addition to portfolio management, he interprets needs and goals of clients to create comprehensive financial plans. He also oversees the maintenance of client accounts and operational support within the practice.

Armando Tam is Senior Vice President, Chapter Development at NAHREP. Tam has extensive experience as a mortgage broker and owned a successful real estate company. He is primarily known for his extensive understanding of All Things Latino. His diverse and eclectic background includes stints in the food scene and Latin music industry as a performer and a producer. Tam's artistic vision led to the creation of NAHREP's weekly webcast, Esta Semana en NAHREP, which enjoyed a 100-episode run.

L.A. Press Club Best News Anchor Gabriela Teissier serves as news anchor and host of Univision LA's morning news at 5A and 6A, and morning daily talk show Tu Voz en Los Angeles on Univision Radio. She has been recognized by the Mexican government for empowering the lives of Mexican nationals and by the California Senate for her contributions to the betterment of her community. She is passionate about reporting environmental, educational and social issues. Teissier has served on the board of the American Heart Association and the board of directors of Autism Care Today.

With over 15 years in technology and real estate industries, Neil Terc took his experience to create real estate platform SuCasa.com. The platform helps educate, prepare and connect thousands of monthly registered clients with the company's network of partner lenders and referral agents that can serve them throughout the country. In the last 5 years more than 85,000 prospective clients have been assisted by SuCasa's network of agents and lenders throughout the country for a path to homeownership and long-term wealth.

Lisette Torres is the Director of State Government and External Affairs at Rocket Companies. In her role, she manages community and stakeholder relations that forward the mission of the organization. She brings 15+ years’ experience working in the financial sector and is passionate about increasing equal access to wealth vehicles for marginalized communities. Through her work, Lisette has spearheaded alternative lending experiences for multicultural segments and helped establish Fair Housing and DEI programs at the California Association of REALTORS®. Her goal is to continue empowering communities by bridging resources, technology and people.

Wisdom, experience, leadership and a genuine love for people: Vinnie Tracey's the real deal and after 40 years in real estate, he's become one of the most prominent and respected figures in our industry, passionate about changing the real estate industry for the better. Mr. Tracey travels frequently working to grow Realty ONE Group around the world, ONE office and ONE real estate professional at a time. He's also the ultimate family man, devoted to his loving wife, three children and seven grandchildren.

Michael Valdes brings more than 25 years of expertise in global real estate and finance to eXp Realty. Most recently, he was Senior Vice President of Global Servicing for all Realogy Corporation brands, including Better Homes & Gardens, Century 21, Coldwell Banker, Corcoran, ERA and Sotheby’s International Realty. In his role, he oversaw the international servicing platform for all Realogy brands across more than 100 countries and opened more than 70 countries during his tenure.

Ulises Vega has been running his own office for over 6 years with almost 18 years in the industry. In 2019, The Vega Team finished finished the year with 63 closings and just under $24 million in real estate sold. In 2020, The Vega Team closed at just under $22 million in real estate sold, while closing over 50 transactions. Mr. Vega is also heavily involved in the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP) and served as NAHREP SoCal Inland Empire 2021 Chapter President. In his nearly 18 years of selling real estate, he's closed over 1175 transactions.

As Retail Diverse Segments leader, Maria is responsible for leading and executing affordable lending programs across Distributed Retail, working to enable Wells Fargo to do more to help low-moderate income and minority customers achieve sustainable home ownership. Maria drive industry partnerships and works closely with Distributed Retail Managers and other internal partners to ensure Wells Fargo offers the products, service and support needed to drive diverse homeownership.

Leticia Vu is an esteemed real estate professional in Houston, Texas. With over 26 years of finance and real estate experience, Ms. Vu is a real estate agent with Keller Williams Metropolitan where she helps people reach the ultimate dream of homeownership. Ms. Vu has spent the past two decades dedicated to helping, coaching, motivating, and inspiring others. She has been heavily involved in the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP) and served as 2014 President of NAHREP Houston. She is presently a National Coach and helps chapters build success by providing value to their members and sponsors.

Montell Watson currently leads Movement Mortgages Diversity Lending which strives to grow generation wealth within diverse communities through financial empowerment and awareness. He is an integral part of Movement’s Grab The Key and Comunidad initiatives that focus on getting into the communities that we are serving and having a workforce that mirrors who we serve. In his 6 years at Movement, Watson has also helped lead and implement several corporate initiatives and verticals within the organization, including Movement’s consumer direct channel and servicing retention channel. Watson started his career in mortgage originations in 2008 at Wells Fargo and RBC Bank.

With over 25 years of Executive Management experience, I have a proven history of success in the mortgage and banking industries. My experience includes working with retail, correspondent, wholesale and call center organizations. I have played significant roles in mergers and acquisitions of retail branches, recruiting, and call center creation, with a special focus in establishing new divisions and rejuvenating lesser performing divisions. Using my positive and energetic personality, I am able to lead teams past their goals on a consistent basis. My keen ability to connect and communicate has significantly contributed to my success.