2023 Convention Speakers
OPENING KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Daymond John
Founder/CEO of FUBU
Daymond John is the founder and CEO of FUBU, a global fashion brand which, to date, has amassed 6 billion dollars in retail sales! A World-renowned entrepreneur, he is known for achieving remarkable success in many different arenas. You’ve seen him star on ABC’s five-time Emmy Award winning series, “Shark Tank,” for 14 seasons. He is a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship, appointed by the Obama Administration, and he is known around the world as “The People’s Shark.”
In addition, he is a 3X New York Times best-selling Author, who has written SIX hit books, including his latest NYT best-seller and first children's book, Little Daymond Learns to Earn, released in March 2023. The book addresses the current void of educating children about entrepreneurship and financial literacy in a fun and engaging story for parents and kids to connect.
In Daymond’s keynote presentation, he will share his unique goal-setting and achievement strategies, empowering audience members to make positive changes in their lives.
CLOSING KEYNOTE
Shannon Miller
Seven-Time Olympic Medalist
Shannon Miller competed in two Olympic Games, earning seven Olympic medals. After 25 years, her record as the United States Most Decorated Olympic Gymnast was only recently tied by Simone Biles. She is the only female athlete to be inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame twice. At the 1996 Games, she led the “Magnificent Seven” to the U.S. Women’s first ever team gold and for the first time for any American gymnast, she captured gold on the balance beam. After retiring from Olympic competition, Shannon received her undergraduate degrees in marketing and entrepreneurship from the University of Houston and her law degree from Boston College.
In 2010, Shannon launched her company devoted to helping women make their health a priority. She continues to travel the country as a highly sought-after motivational speaker on topics ranging from The Gold Medal Mindset to cancer and survivorship to the importance of health and fitness. In January of 2011, Shannon was diagnosed with a rare form of ovarian cancer. She had the baseball-sized tumor removed successfully and followed up with an aggressive chemotherapy regimen. Shannon has remained open and public about her diagnosis and treatment and continues to empower women to make their health a priority. Shannon is currently cancer-free and continues to be a strong advocate for early detection, awareness, research and survivorship. Shannon’s passion is to help encourage and empower others to break through and overcome their own personal challenges with the Gold Medal Mindset, a mindset that we can all attain.
Shannon is a mother of two, cancer survivor, author and sports analyst but she will forever be remembered for her focus, determination and as the leader of the Magnificent Seven!
Brian Copeland
SESSION 1: Ted Lasso Leadership
SESSION 2: The Nine Essential Prices of Every Home
Brian Copeland is the founder and CEO of Doorbell Real Estate in Nashville, Tennessee. He has appeared on numerous television shows and served as one of Facebook’s Global Community Leadership Council members. Brian is not only a sales leader and industry influencer, he gives tirelessly in the REALTOR® leadership arena. In 2019, he served as the Vice President for Association of Affairs for the National Association of REALTORS®. He was the 2017 President of Tennessee REALTORS® and was the state’s REALTOR® of the Year in 2022. Brian founded and runs one of the largest technology camps in the nation each spring in Nashville, attracting more than 1,500 real estate professionals from 30 states and three continents.
Marguerite Crespillo
SESSION 1: Run Your Business Like a Business, Not a Hobby
SESSION 2: Goal Setting to Prioritize Your Life & Get Real Results
Marguerite began her career in 1993 and has helped over 3,000 families in her 20+ year career as a top producing real estate agent. In addition she has coached, trained, and mentored hundreds of people in the real estate industry throughout her career. She has developed a series of training classes and boot camps that are focused on what is happening in the current economy. As someone who is in the “trenches” just like you, she is constantly evolving, learning, and experimenting the best ways to approach whatever is happening in the market so that she can bring to you the very best tools to be your own version of success in any real estate market. Her unfiltered, straight forward approach to training will give you the right amount of “kick-in-the-rear” along with the tools you need to be a true success in ANY real estate market.
Trista Curzydlo, J.D.
SESSION 1: Real Estate Karma: Unethical, Illegal, or Just Plain Rude?
SESSION 2: Data Security in a Virtual Environment
Trista is a graduate of Washburn University and Washburn University, School of Law, where she was a member of the Washburn Law Journal. After serving as Assistant Legal Counsel to Kansas Governor Bill Graves, Trista joined the office of the District Attorney for the Eighteenth Judicial District of Kansas as an Assistant District Attorney assigned to the Consumer Fraud division. From 2004 to January of 2010, Trista was the Government Affairs Director and Legal Counsel for the Wichita Area Association of REALTORS® and the South Central Kansas MLS, in Wichita, Kansas. Trista is now the principal member of C4 Consulting, L.L.C. and is devoting her time to offering excellent educational opportunities for real estate licensees across the country.
John Formica
If Disney Ran Your Business What Would it Look Like? Secrets to Create a Disney-like Successful Culture and Magical REALTOR® Experience Today!
John Formica, (The “Ex-Disney Guy”), is a leading authority on tourism, hospitality and service industries alike, while fast becoming a highly sought after internationally known keynote speaker, business and team trainer and small business consultant. John has inspired audiences across the globe with over 3,000 keynotes and seminars to associations, business communities, health care professionals, colleges and students, showing them how to create a Disney-like culture, positive leadership, team relationships, small business growth and transforming any existing service level into a Magical customer experience.
Watch a video preview from John himself!
(NOTE: He will be speaking in a closed session for Virginia Leadership Academy members only.)
Marki Lemons Ryhal
SESSION 1: Using AI-Powered Tools & Technologies
SESSION 2: It’s Not You, It’s New!
Marki Lemons Ryhal has been selected to speak at the REALTOR® Conference & Expo nine times and has been an INMAN Closing Keynote Speaker. Marki Lemons Ryhal is a licensed Managing Broker, REALTOR®, avid volunteer, Major Donor, and 6x International Best-Selling Author. Marki Lemons-Ryhal is dedicated to all things real estate. With 30+ years of marketing experience, Marki has taught over 500,000 people (face-to-face and virtually) how to earn up to a 2,682% return on their marketing dollars. Marki holds a Bachelor of Science in Management from Chicago State University, a Master’s in Business Administration from Saint Xavier University, and sixty-four real estate-related licenses, certifications, and designations.
Michael Walker
Negotiation Today
As the former CEO and National Director of the Real Estate Negotiation Institute with 21+ years of real estate experience, Mike has been a consultant for some of the largest real estate groups in theUS. Since 2009, he has been a key advisor to multiple national brands and worked with 10,000+agents, across 31 states. He recently served as a negotiation consultant for the City of Philadelphia, and he regularly contributes to the curriculum of several universities and educational institutes.
Jon Haley
Legal Updates
As Associate General Counsel for Virginia REALTORS®, Jon is involved in every aspect of the association’s legal responsibilities. He works with the rest of the legal team to teach, create podcasts and legal videos, and draft legal briefs for the Supreme Court of Virginia. Jon graduated from the College of William and Mary and the University of Richmond School of Law, then clerked for a judge before starting at a large claims administration law firm. After spending several years with Virginia REALTORS®, he worked at a settlement company in the Fredericksburg area and gained valuable experience before coming back to VAR. He likes to cook and play music in his spare time, which is a rare commodity with two sons running around his house. He and his wife, Mandy, reside with their boys in Mechanicsville.
Laura M. Murray
Broker Updates, Trends, and Resources
Virginia REALTORS® General Counsel Laura M. Murray started working at Northern Virginia Association of REALTORS® (NVAR) as a legal intern the summer between her second and third year of law school. After graduation, she accepted a full-time position as an attorney at NVAR. Three years later, an opportunity opened up at Virginia REALTOR® that would allow her to use the Regulatory Law Certificate she had earned in law school; she applied and was hired! Just over three years and three promotions later, she was made General Counsel.
Ryan Price
Housing and the Economy in Virginia
For more than a decade, Ryan has honed his knowledge of Virginia’s housing market. Before stepping into his current role of Virginia REALTORS® Chief Economist, Ryan served as the association’s Deputy Chief Economist. Prior to joining our team, he served as the President of the research consulting firm LSA Planning, as an Urban Planner for the City of Alexandria, and as part of the research team at the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason University. Even before joining VAR full time, Ryan spent years contributing to our research, including the monthly Virginia Home Sales Report and our quarterly regional market reports. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from James Madison University and a master’s degree in urban planning from Virginia Tech.
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