Presenters
Mel Black
Mel Black has been a real estate appraiser since 1991 and currently holds a Certified Residential appraiser license in North Carolina. His teaching style is an engaging combination of wit, expertise, and student discovery. Mel specializes in USPAP and case law classes. Mel is an attorney and former Executive Director of the NC Appraisal Board.
Kathy Carpenter
With 38 years of residential real estate experience, Kathy Carpenter is a respected leader in the Greensboro community and beyond. She holds key designations, including CRS, C2EX, SRES, and ABR, and is a graduate of the NC REALTORS® Leadership Academy. Kathy has been honored as GRRA REALTOR® of the Year, received the GRRA Ronald J. Smith President’s Award twice, and was the 2020 NCR Region 5 Service Award recipient.
Her leadership roles include serving as GRRA President (2006 & 2019), Chair of Triad MLS (2022), and on the Board of Directors for Affordable Housing Management, Inc. since 2008. At the state and national levels, she has chaired the NC REALTORS® Annual Convention and contributed to committees for the North Carolina and National Associations of REALTORS®.
Kathy’s long-standing dedication to the industry and her community makes her a trusted and influential figure in real estate.
Gloria Chan Packer
Speaker
Recalibrate
Gloria is an international mental health and wellness speaker, TED Editor’s Pick speaker, and founder of Recalibrate, a workplace mental wellness company helping organizations build healthier, more sustainable approaches to work and leadership. Through Recalibrate’s modern, science-backed approach to mental wellness education, Gloria has supported more than 30,000 employees worldwide.
Her TED Editor’s Pick TED Talk became one of TED’s most-viewed talks of 2022, earning more than 5 million views across TED’s platforms. Gloria has spoken for organizations including Bank of America, Microsoft, Meta, Chevron, and Whole Foods Market, and has shared stages with leading voices such as Brené Brown, Esther Perel, and Dr. Becky Kennedy.
Before founding Recalibrate in 2018, Gloria worked in management consulting, leading technology strategy initiatives for Fortune 500 companies. Following a personal experience with burnout and a major medical battle, she shifted her focus toward helping professionals approach mental wellness with practical, realistic, and research-driven strategies.
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Marcella Coley
Coley Appraisal Company
Abbie Currens
Business Recruitment Manager
Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC)
Abbie Currens is a Business Recruitment Manager with the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC), where she recruits companies to establish operations in the state, creating jobs for North Carolinians. Based in Raleigh, she manages projects across all industries, sizes and for the full state. Her work has contributed to projects representing 18,729 projected new jobs and $5.99 billion in capital investment in the state. Prior to joining EDPNC, Abbie was a technology consultant at Ernst & Young, advising financial services firms on technology and business challenges. A graduate of NC State University, she is passionate about helping companies discover the opportunities and resources available to grow and invest in North Carolina.
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LinkedIn
Jon Fletcher
Jon Fletcher is a REALTOR® with RE/MAX United, serving the Triangle area of North Carolina. He is an active leader in the REALTOR® organization, having served in numerous local and state leadership roles, including President of the Durham Regional Association of REALTORS®, Region 4 Vice President, and currently Chair of the NC REALTORS® Residential Forms Committee and the DRAR New Member Orientation Committee. Jon is passionate about professionalism, education, and helping fellow REALTORS® succeed.
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Peter Gallo
Peter Gallo is a broker associate with Premier Sotheby’s International Realty and a certified residential appraiser in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and New York. He founded HomeSight Appraisal, which grew into Charlotte’s largest residential appraisal firm, and has extensive experience valuing luxury, historic, and complex residential properties. Peter has held leadership roles with the National Association of REALTORS®, NC REALTORS®, and Canopy REALTOR® Association, including chairing NAR’s Real Property Valuation Committee and Forum.
Craig Grant
The Real Estate Technology Institute
As the lead Subject Matter Expert (SME) of NAR’s upcoming rebuild of ePro, 2023 RIS Media Newsmaker as an Industry Futurist, over 150 in-person & virtual speaking engagements around the world each year, including sessions for NAR, several state conventions, franchises, CRS, & other key industry events, Craig Grant is considered one of the most sought-after technology, marketing & cybersecurity speakers around.
Whether it be at an industry event, in the classroom, or online via Zoom or the RETI.us portal, one thing that fuels Craig is to help today’s real estate professionals embrace and get over their fear of technology so that it can work for them and not against them.
As his motto, “Advanced Real Estate Technology & Marketing Instructed at a Pre-K Level” states, Craig is able to take extremely complicated topics & present them in a way that the average non-technical person not only understands but is able to apply & improve their business.
In addition to being the CEO of the Real Estate Technology Institute and RETI.us, the Real Estate Industry’s Home for Online Technology Education, Craig Grant is an avid sports fan & music lover who can be found watching and/or participating in events and concerts with friends.
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Tony Harrington
With over 25 years in the industry, Tony is a dynamic speaker emphasizing professionalism and advocacy. His leadership roles, including President for Cape Fear REALTORS® and NC REALTORS® Regional Vice President, bring a wealth of experience. As a Platinum R President Circle Hall of Fame member, Tony invests in state association priorities, focusing on elevating member engagement and advocating for private property rights. His insights into defining REALTORS®’ value and fostering growth make him a valuable speaker for programs on industry opportunities and challenges.
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Brenda Hayden
Brenda Hayden serves as the 2026 President of NC REALTORS®, bringing decades of experience and a deep commitment to the real estate profession. Throughout her career, Brenda has been a champion for fair housing, professionalism, and innovation, working tirelessly to enhance opportunities for REALTORS® and the communities they serve.
Her leadership journey includes significant contributions at the local, state, and national levels. Within Canopy REALTOR® Association, Brenda was honored as the 2022 REALTOR® of the Year and served as the 2019 President of the Association, MLS, and Housing Opportunity Foundation. She has also led initiatives to expand housing opportunities, earning recognition as the 2017 Housing Opportunity Foundation Chairperson of the Year.
At NC REALTORS®, Brenda has been a dedicated leader, serving on the Executive Committee, as Regional Vice President, and on key committees focused on advocacy and industry advancement. Her national contributions include serving as a Director for the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), participating in the Leading Edge Advisory Committee, and advocating for critical housing policies on various NAR committees.
Joshua Hearst
Joshua Hearst is a proud North Carolina native from Jacksonville who has also lived and/or worked in Greenville, Chapel Hill, Winston-Salem, and Sneads Ferry. After a decade away, he returned to his hometown in late 2019. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Hospitality Management from East Carolina University and brings years of client-focused, cross-functional management experience—including but not limited to, a strong background in real estate. He is a 2024 graduate of the William C. Bass NCR Leadership Academy.
In addition to his work as an NC Realtor, Joshua serves as vice chair of the North Carolina Realtors® Young Professionals Network (YPN) committee, chair of Jacksonville’s YPN committee, and sits on the boards of the Jacksonville Board of Realtors®, the Jacksonville-Onslow Chamber of Commerce, and Aspire: Reaching Beyond the Obvious, a children’s mentorship nonprofit. He also volunteers as a youth football coach & on the Chamber’s Business Diversity Counsil.
When he isn’t working or serving the community, Joshua enjoys self-development and exploring the deeper meaning behind life’s big questions.
Brandon Johnson
Brandon Johnson is a high-energy speaker, real estate leader, and growth strategist who helps agents, brokers, and owners build thriving businesses through smart marketing, leadership, and recruiting. Known for his humorous storytelling and engaging presence, he inspires audiences with actionable strategies that lead to big results.
Since earning his real estate license in 2013, Brandon and his wife, Abby, have grown their brokerage from a single location to six offices, generating over $5.6 million in GCI and earning a spot on the Inc. 5000 list. As CEO of the #1 Coldwell Banker affiliate in Minnesota, his leadership is driven by a mission to “Impact Lives Through Real Estate.”
Brandon has spoken at events like TriplePlay, Florida Realtors, and Coldwell Banker Leadership Summit. A former local association president and NAR committee member, he brings real-world insights on growth, leadership, and navigating the evolving real estate landscape. When he’s not on stage or leading his company, he enjoys making memories on the lake with his wife and four children.
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Katherine Kirchner
Owner/Lead Instructor
That’s My Instructor
Katherine Kirchner is a dedicated real estate educator with roots across North Carolina that stretch back to 1985, when she first moved to Wilmington. Beginning as a high school English teacher, Katherine transitioned to real estate in 2015 and, shortly thereafter, briefly joined the North Carolina Real Estate Commission to redesign and deliver the 12-hour Broker-In-Charge course. From there, Katherine began writing electives for other states while teaching Pre- and Post-licensing classes, before starting her own school, That’s My Instructor, in 2023. Since that time, she has been teaching virtually, and crossing the state to bring Updates, REALTORS’ courses, and her own exclusive North Carolina Electives to the brokers who need them. Now, she is excited to bring that expertise back to her first hometown in North Carolina.
Sheila Knight
Sheila Knight is a commercial real estate and economic development professional with more than 30 years of experience. After owning successful residential and commercial brokerage firms, she served as Economic Developer for Jacksonville and Onslow County for a decade. She is the founder of SK Strategies LLC, specializing in economic development and commercial real estate consulting across North Carolina.
Sheila serves on the Board of Directors for the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, where she chairs the Advocacy Committee, and has held numerous leadership roles within the REALTOR® organization. She is also a North Carolina Real Estate Commission-approved instructor and teaches her self-authored course, The Impact of Economic Development.
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Vic Knight
Vic Knight is an NC Certified General Appraiser, issued on December 22, 2009, with his previous Certified Residential Appraisal License issued on July 10, 1992. Vic was the 2005 Past-President of the NC Association of REALTORS®, the founding chair of the NCAR Appraisal Section, a Past-Chair of the National Association of REALTORS® Appraisal Committee, and a previous member of the Board of Trustees of The Appraisal Foundation. Vic has been an active real estate Broker since July 1983. Vic is a graduate of the National Association of REALTORS® Instructor Training Institute and a DREI Candidate. Vic has authored and taught numerous real estate brokerage CE courses since 1998 and teaches Pre-licensing and Post-licensing classes. Vic holds a BS in Civil Engineering Construction Management from NC State University and was a practicing professional engineer with the Bechtel Corporation, prior to entering the real estate industry. Vic was a Governor’s appointee to the NC Real Estate Commission in 2009 and served as Chairman from 2013 through 2014. Vic recently served a 6-year term on the NC State Bar’s Board of Legal Specialization.
Stephen Long
Stephen is a 15-year veteran of real estate. Over the years, he has added a Property Management Division to his company and co-founded The Carolina Crew, Inc. a real estate team affiliated with Keller Williams Realty Elite in Winston-Salem, NC.
Stephen teaches Pre & Post License, CE, and owns his own real estate school, Crew Academy of Real Estate (CARE). With a renewed love for education, Stephen spends many days of the year teaching and speaking, all the while nursing sales and putting out property management fires.
Kelly Marks
Juanita McDowell
Owner
Juanita McDowell Seminars
Juanita is a former Electrical Engineer and Georgia Tech graduate with a wealth of experience from General Motors and AT&T, where she led teams in Engineering, Operations, and Sales. Today, she leverages these experiences to inspire thousands, delivering keynotes on Achievement and Communication across the globe.
Juanita has been interviewed by Fast Company magazine, The Investor’s Business Daily, and she was featured on the Australian podcast “5 Minutes for Me.” As an Achievement Researcher, she was invited to contribute to an industry study in Munich, Germany, which explored the link between distinct personalities and goal achievement.
Juanita is a YouTube Partner with over 3.5 million views on her videos, and she’s a proud member of the National Speakers Association. Juanita volunteers with 21st Century Leaders, a nonprofit that grooms high schoolers for leadership, and she reserves time for her passion project: The Fayette Samaritans food bank and clothes closet.
You can find Juanita on:
Shannon McKinstrie
Social Media Mentor & Strategist
Shannon McKinstrie is a social media strategist, mentor, speaker, and host of the Social with Shannon podcast, known for helping business owners simplify content creation and market their businesses with confidence. With a community of nearly 350,000 followers on Instagram, Shannon has built a trusted online presence by sharing practical, relatable strategies that make social media feel more approachable and sustainable. Through her down-to-earth teaching style, she empowers entrepreneurs to create engaging content, connect authentically with their audience, and grow their business online without burnout.
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Jonathan Moore
Jonathan “JT” Moore is a REALTOR® with Water Street Real Estate Group, serving Northeast North Carolina and the Outer Banks. He’s built his business on strong relationships, community involvement, and a commitment to helping clients navigate every step of the buying and selling process with confidence and clarity.
JT currently serves as Legislative Committee Chair for the Albemarle Area Association of REALTORS® and as an RPAC Trustee for Region 1, where he works to strengthen local housing opportunities and support policies that protect homeowners and small businesses. He also serves as Vice Chair of Membership for the Elizabeth City Area Chamber of Commerce, helping foster growth and engagement among local business leaders.
Known for his practical, people-focused approach, JT combines local knowledge with a genuine passion for connecting others—whether that’s through real estate, community projects, or professional development within the REALTOR® organization.
John Poltrock
A Top Producer for almost two decades, John Poltrock has been voted the Cherokee Scout Reader’s Choice “Best Real Estate Agent” Award twelve times, and the Poltrock Team has been voted “Best Real Estate Company” four times. He and the team have also received RE/MAX International’s Pinnacle Award four times and the Diamond Award six times, putting them in the top 1% of Realtors in RE/MAX. John spearheads The Poltrock Team, a dynamic fifteen-member team that is a dominant real estate market force.
When John has some downtime, he takes every opportunity to get outdoors, and he especially enjoys hiking, camping, riding ATV’s, and more. John and his wife Jessica have been married since 2005, and they have two wonderful children, Katie and Collin.
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David Reitzel
David is President of Community Bank Real Estate Solutions, a Federally Regulated Appraisal Management company headquartered in Hickory, NC. CBRES does appraisal work in 32 states, with a focus on the Southeastern United States, serving over 100 community banks and credit unions. He also serves as President of Real Estate Advisory Services, a full-service appraisal company headquartered in Hickory, NC and President of PB Holdings Inc., headquartered in Newton, NC. David is also a State Certified Appraiser and has been involved in the valuation field since 1985.
David was a member of the North Carolina Appraisal Board from 2013-2022, serving as Chair and Vice Chair, and has testified before the United States Congressional House Financial Services Committee, the NC House and Senate on Appraisal issues. He also served as Chair of the NCAR Appraisal Section in 2001-2003, 2009, and 2011-2012, the NCAR Investment Committee 2005-2008, and a member of the NCAR Legislative Committee 2017-2019.
David is currently a member of the North Carolina Association of REALTORS®, North Carolina Bankers Association, and the Carolinas Mortgage Bankers Association. He also serves on various philanthropic organizations in Catawba County, advisory boards, and a parochial school board.
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Valerie Rivers
Vice President of Training and Programs
Realtors Property Resource® (RPR®)
Valerie Rivers is RPR®’s Vice President of Training and Programs. She has been with RPR® since 2012. Her team is responsible for creating, maintaining, and delivering an extensive suite of RPR® classes offered to members across the country. The team also manages the RPR® Certified Trainer program, which provides trainers with resources to educate members on the vast array of tools available within the RPR® platform.
A Maryland native, Valerie was previously the Chief Executive Officer at the Frederick County Association of REALTORS®. Prior to that, she worked as the Professional Services Director for the Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® and as the Marketing Manager the Metropolitan Regional Information Systems (MRIS.)
She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Frostburg State University and a Master of Science degree from the University of Baltimore.
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Russell Smith
Branch Partner
ALCOVA Mortgage
Russell Smith, known as “The Mortgage Strategist,” is a Branch Partner with ALCOVA Mortgage and has more than 32 years of experience in the mortgage industry. Licensed in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, Russell specializes in creative financing strategies and helping clients, business partners, and real estate professionals achieve their goals. A UNC Wilmington graduate, he is a lifelong learner, business builder, and professional problem-solver who believes in working hard, treating people right, and building relationships that last.
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Meg Sparks
Meg Sparks is a dedicated REALTOR® who is passionate about leadership, professional growth, and strengthening the real estate industry. She is honored to serve as Chair of the NC REALTORS® Young Professionals Network (YPN) Committee this year, where she looks forward to empowering the next generation of REALTORS®, creating meaningful connections, and advocating for continued professional development. Meg believes in leading with purpose, building relationships, and giving back to the industry and the communities she serves.
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John Wait
General Counsel
NC REALTORS®
John Wait joined NC REALTORS® in 2015. He previously worked solo at his own firm and clerked for several judges at the North Carolina Court of Appeals. When he’s not answering Hotline questions, he practices law at Martin & Gifford and enjoys playing soccer, mountain biking, road cycling, triathlons, and spending time with his family.
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Nykia Wright
Chief Executive Officer
National Association of REALTORS®
Nykia Wright is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of REALTORS®. Before assuming the role in November 2023, she served as CEO of the Chicago Sun-Times, where she led the newspaper through a major digital transformation and merger with WBEZ, Chicago Public Media.
Nykia brings more than 15 years of experience in strategy, business transformation, organizational growth, and operational improvement. She has advised leading institutions and Fortune 500 companies, including MIT, Duke University, Dartmouth College, McDonald’s, Tyson Foods, and Toll Brothers. She also co-founded SonicMESSENGER, a software-as-a-service startup focused on audience engagement and measurement.
Nykia serves on the boards of the American Cancer Society and the Better Government Association and is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business. She holds a B.S. in Business Administration and Finance from Carnegie Mellon University and an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.
You can connect with the National Association of REALTORS® on:
