Speakers


Keynote
Brittany Hodak headshot

Brittany Hodak

Customer Experience Speaker & Author

Brittany Hodak is an award-winning author, entrepreneur, and customer experience expert who helps businesses turn customers into superfans. Her SUPER Model™ framework has empowered thousands of organizations’ employees to transform customers’ apathy into advocacy.

When her debut book, Creating Superfans, was released, Forbes declared: “If you have customers, you need this book. Period.” A recognized authority on customer experience, Brittany has authored more than 350 articles for top media outlets, including Success, Adweek, and Inc.

As an entrepreneur, Brittany founded and scaled an entertainment agency to eight figures, collaborating with global icons including KISS, Taylor Swift, and Dolly Parton. She created 250 unique collectibles, which collectively sold over 10 million copies worldwide and won dozens of awards. Her work even landed her on Shark Tank, where she received four investment offers.

Brittany’s agency clients included Walmart, Disney, Amazon, and Johnson & Johnson, among other Fortune 100 brands. She was the first Chief Experience Officer at Experience.com and previously led marketing initiatives at Sony Music.

Brittany’s high-energy keynotes blend research-backed insights, compelling storytelling, and real-world applications to inspire attendees at every level of an organization to leverage customer experience as their ultimate competitive advantage.

Her deep pre-event customization and interactive delivery ensure that no two keynotes are alike—yet every one is memorable, actionable, and fun. That’s why organizations including American Express, Keller Williams, Mathnasium, PURE Insurance, and PrimeLending have invited her back to speak time and time again.

You can find Brittany on:


Presenters

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.

You can find Gloria on:

Craig Grant headshot

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.

You can find Craig on:

Brandon Johnson headshot

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.

You can find Brandon on:

Katherine Kirchner headshot

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.

Vic Knight headshot

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.

Juanita McDowell headshot

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 headshot

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.

You can find Shannon on:

Jonathan Moore headshot

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 Wait headshot

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.

You can find John on:

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