The Real Estate Investment Network
R4 CONFERENCE
Regions, Rates, Recessions and Real Estate
February 24 & 25, 2023
Live Online 2-Day Event
MEET YOUR SPEAKERS
Tim Hudak - CEO
Ontario Real Estate Association
Tim Hudak is the CEO of the Ontario Real Estate Association, Canada’s largest provincial real estate industry association representing 81,000 REALTORS®. He joined OREA in 2016. With a passion and voice for championing the dream of home ownership, Tim came to OREA following a distinguished 21-year career in politics, including five years as Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. In his role, Tim has focused on transforming OREA into Ontario’s most cutting-edge professional association at the forefront of advocacy on behalf of REALTORS® and consumers, and providing world-class conferences, standard forms, leadership training and professional guidance to its Members. Under his leadership, the Association has attracted some of the most influential people to speak at their conferences, had historic wins in advocacy, including the passage of the Trust in Real Estate Services Act (TRESA) in 2020, and demonstrated strong thought leadership in the real estate industry. As part of his work at OREA, Tim was named one of the most powerful people in North American residential real estate by Swanepoel Power 200 for the last five years. In 2021, he was also named to the Government of Ontario’s new Housing Affordability Taskforce, which will explore measures to address housing affordability and job creation. Tim is married to Deb Hutton, and together they have two daughters, Miller and Maitland. In his spare time, Tim enjoys trails less taken on his mountain bike or hiking shoes as well as grilling outdoors.
Lisa Sweet - Director, Business & Investment Attraction
Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo Economic Development & Tourism
Lisa brings more than 20 years of business development and leadership experience to her role as Director of Business & Investment Attraction for Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo Economic Development & Tourism. Her work in economic development spans over the areas of business retention & expansion, labour, rural economic development, business & investment attraction, and business & economic recovery. Today, Lisa plays a critical role in attracting new investment to Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo. Prior to moving to Fort McMurray to pursue a career in economic development, Lisa supported the business community in a commercial financing capacity by leading the Commercial Credit department for Newfoundland and Labrador Credit Union.
Natasha Phipps - Investment Specialist Realtor
Phipps Real Estate Group - CIR Realty
Natasha is an investment specialist Realtor supporting her clients through educational events and content, finding the best opportunities for her investors is her passion. In the next stage of her career, she has joined CIR Realty and started the Phipps Real Estate Group – a specialized group of specialized investment Realtors focused on providing education relevant to her local market and finding creative opportunities! In recent years Natasha was named REIN's Realtor of the year for 2019, achieved number top producer status repeatedly and is looking forward to expanding upon her experience through collaboration and public speaking.
Chris Westrop - Chartered Insurance Professional
Park Insurance
Over 30 years experience in the insurance industry and involved with providing insurance solutions for REIN members for over 10 years (REIN Real Estate Professional of the year in 2016 & 2017). Proud husband to Angela, father to 7 and grandfather to 3. Captain with the Chilliwack River Valley Fire Department.
Cathy Su - Assistant Vice President of Commercial Lines
Park Insurance
Throughout her 15 years in the insurance industry, Cathy has built up a strong knowledge of the insurance business. She started doing auto insurance, then personal lines and has spent the last eleven years in the commercial insurance department at Park Insurance. She believes in being a life-long learner and has earned her CAIB (Canadian Accredited Insurance Broker) and CIP (Chartered Insurance Professional) designations, and is constantly learning about new coverages and changes in the industry.
Simon Yu - Mayor
City of Prince George
Mayor Simon Yu has been an active member of the Prince George Community for nearly 50 years.
Mayor Yu's scope of work and community involvement includes:
Director for University of Northern British Columbia
Director for the Prince George Airport Authority
Founding committee member of Woodwords Initiative
Mayor Yu is a professional engineer who has taught engineering at College of New Caledonia and he had an active consulting engineering business servicing the Northern B.C. region prior to becoming the Mayor of Prince George.
Bruce Livingstone - Economic Development Manager
City of Abbotsford
Bruce Livingstone is the new Economic Development Manager for the City of Abbotsford where his portfolio includes business retention and expansion, business attraction, film and corporate sponsorship. Bruce was previously the Business Retention and Expansion Officer at the City of Maple Ridge.
Bruce is a certified Economic Development professional and holds a BBA with a specialization in entrepreneurship. Prior to working in economic development, Bruce worked in marketing communications for both Kwantlen Polytechnic University and Douglas College. He is a long-time resident of Abbotsford and is excited to be contributing to the growth and development of his hometown—the economic and cultural hub of the Fraser Valley.
Ben Young - Director, Investment Attraction
Economic Development Lethbridge
Ben is the Director of Investment Attraction with Economic Development Lethbridge. His work includes leading Economic Development Lethbridge’s’ investment attraction strategies and driving collaboration with regional partners on key initiatives like Canada’s Premier Food Corridor, Canada’s Western Gateway and the Southern Alberta Investment and Trade Initiative to name just a few. He completed his bachelor’s degree in political science at the University of Lethbridge and has completed a project management certificate through the Project Management Institute. He is passionate about helping to support and grow businesses in Southern Alberta and has worked in economic development in the region for more than a decade. He is also a current Board member of Economic Developers Alberta, Community Futures Chinook and the Lethbridge Badminton Club.
Christa Sanders - Economic Development Officer
Airdrie Economic Development
A long-time Airdrie resident, Christa has 15 years experience in the corporate legal industry and spent over 10 years in residential real estate gaining experience in internal governance, sales, and operations with prominent residential land developers and home builders. She has a technical Diploma from SAIT, a Diploma in Urban Land Economics from UBC, and a Certificate in Economic Development from the University of Waterloo. She currently serves on the BILD Calgary Region Foundation Board of Governors and a number of other BILD committees. She is passionate about continuous improvement, economic development and Airdrie.
Jackie Clayton - Mayor
City of Grande Prairie
Jackie Clayton truly believes in Grande Prairie and its people. She is business minded and future-focused and believes together, we can build an even better community at an affordable cost. Jackie is always ready to contribute, not afraid of hard work and committed to Grande Prairie today and in the future. As a community supporter and an entrepreneur, she believes
Grande Prairie’s entrepreneurial spirit is second to none.
Stephannie Schlichter - Director, Economic & Creative Development
Invest Barrie
Stephannie Schlichter is the City of Barrie’s Director of Business and Creative Development. She is responsible for driving business innovation, collaboration and excellence within Barrie, which is poised for another period of high growth. In her role, Stephannie oversees a suite of programs and services designed to ignite economic growth and support local businesses. During her tenure, Barrie and the wider Simcoe region have become home to a series of leading industry hubs, including in the medtech, data, technology, and automation and precision manufacturing sectors. She believes that a strong economy is a home-grown affair and that it begins with a combination of local community supports and big-picture thinking.
Ryan Kuffner - VP of Sales and Business Development
Economic Development Winnipeg
Economic Development Winnipeg Inc. (EDW) is the city’s lead economic development agency and champion for local growth. Ryan is the Vice-President of Sales and Business Development and leads the YES! Winnipeg team, for EDW. It promotes Winnipeg as the ideal location for new business, expansion, investment and top talent, through a suite of specialized services, market intelligence and business connections. Prior to EDW, Ryan was a career diplomat and trade commissioner with the Canadian Foreign Service for nearly 15years, holding a diverse number of senior assignments in Canada and abroad. He has represented Canada in trade negotiations; advised and supported Canadian companies on international business development; helped attract and retain foreign investment to Canada and supported Canadian investors to support job creation and job development. Ryan is a husband and father and speaks English, French and Spanish.
Kyle Agro - Senior Associate, Private Capital Markets
Equiton Partners Inc.
Kyle Agro is a Senior Associate at Equiton. Passionate, Driven and Knowledgeable are a few words his investors say best describe him. With over a decade of experience in the fast-paced financial industry, he’s established himself as an innovative leader and advisor. In his role as a Senior Associate, Kyle consistently finds success, managing a portfolio with a market value of over $10M, through effective communication skills and his unique ability to navigate the details. He works with a wide range of investors on a daily basis to help them find the right investment solutions. Whether it’s preparing for retirement, saving enough to put their kids through school, or just trying to upgrade their current lifestyle, he has solutions to assist each investor accomplish their financial goals. Kyle wants to help everyone reap the benefits of private real estate investing without the hassles and headaches that come with being a landlord.
Patrick Gergen and Madeleine (Ficaccio) Gergen
AmeriCan Multifamily Alliance Group
Madeleine and Patrick Gergen have owned and operated over 1,000 units consisting mostly of multifamily buildings in the US and Canada. They reside in Calgary, Alberta and Dallas, Texas. Together they have over 50 years of combined expertise in all areas of real estate including negotiations, property analysis, acquisitions, marketing, management, and stabilization of both residential and commercial properties. After more than a decade of extremely successful projects in Dallas, Texas, they have recently launched AMAG Opportunity Fund I … a $25M fund purchasing three apartment communities in Dallas with a strong value-add component and a mission for social impact which in turn increases investor returns. Through the years, they have built a strong investor following boasting returns of over 20% IRR and more than doubling investors money in a 5 year period.
Simeon Papailias - Co-Founder And Managing Partner
REC Canada
Simeon Papailias is a proud co-founder of REC Canada. He’s not only a highly respected serial entrepreneur but one of the nation’s top real estate thought-leaders and influencers. Fifteen years ago, he committed to having an unmatched work ethic and unwavering integrity in the field, which resulted in Simeon Leading his team to the Chairman Award at Royal LePage for a decade while expanding his network to include the country’s most reputable builders and investors. He loves empowering the community by sharing his knowledge and insights with other industry professionals whenever possible.
Keith Uthe - Mortgage Broker
Mortgage Alliance - Enrich Mortgage Group
As a multiple award-winning independent Mortgage Broker with Mortgage Alliance-Enrich Mortgage Group, Keith Uthe able to work with clients on mortgages across Canada, and he believes his role is a key part of causing and creating future wealth for you and your family. As a Smith Manoeuvre Certified Mortgage Professional (a process he has used himself since 2005), Real Estate Investor, Real Estate Investment Advisor, and Certified Financial Life Professional, he wants to understand your goals and relationship to money, wealth, and worth so that he may advise you in the way that makes the most sense for you and your values.
Michelle Fong - Business Development Associate
Real Property Management LP
Michelle Fong’s main focus with Real Property Management Canada is to work with emerging and existing offices to equip them with the tools to build a thriving Property Management business. Education and collaboration are her true superpowers. You will often find her hosting events for both of their offices as well as real estate investors who want to embrace entrepreneurship and start managing properties. Whether you have one property or hundreds Michelle has tips she can offer you due to the vast experience she has in this industry. Her passion and positive energy are infectious! When she is not in a conversation about real estate investing you will find her dining out at the latest restaurants in Calgary, AB.
Jordan Spitters - Partner
Eximus Real Estate Team
Born and raised in the Fraser Valley, Jordan Spitters grew up on a commercial broiler chicken farm. It was there that he learned the values of hard work and dedication. With a background in sales, construction, and finance, he studied Business Administration. He had the opportunity to return to the family farm and assist in its transition into the largest certified organic chicken farm in Canada. During this time, he cemented his belief in ethical business practices and bringing integrity to every aspect of his career.
Randy Dyck - President
Eximus Real Estate Team
Randy has been a top producing realtor for over 27 years in the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board, involved in ownership, sales, investing, and most importantly, client care. Over the past 18 years, he has developed and led one of the most successful real estate teams in Canada with averaging more than 300 transactions per year. Under the leadership of Randy Dyck, The Eximus Real Estate Team has achieved many outstanding awards in the FVREB, eXp Realty, RE/MAX Canada, and RE/MAX International including eXp ICON award, Top 6 RE/MAX Teams in Canada, and Top 50 Worldwide. Multiple years earning the FVREB Team President's award, RE/MAX Lifetime Achievement, RE/MAX Circle of Legends and most recently named one of the top 200 agents in Canada. Randy's passion, knowledge, commitment, and desire to provide exceptional professional client care has driven him to advance professionalism within the industry.
Dalia Barsoum - President & Principal Broker
Streetwise Mortgages
Dalia Barsoum is the founder of Streetwise Wealth, a boutique real estate wealth advisory firm and Streetwise Mortgages, a multi-award winning brokerage specializing in income property financing. Streetwise Mortgages is known as Canada's #1 small markets broker (AKA rental markets) as ranked by Canadian Mortgage Professionals. The team at Streetwise Mortgages has funded over 1 billion dollars of mortgage volume and over 2700 of mortgage transactions ranging from residential, multi family, mixed use and other construction projects.
George Dube - Partner
Canadian Tax
“Go and talk to the guy wearing the bow tie.” It’s safe to say that George isn’t your average tax accountant or real estate investor. His high-profile sense of style is perfectly paired with a love of “jumping up on stage” to give presentations, which is just part of what’s made him so sought-after through all his years in the business. George has a unique set of skills and qualifications he’s learned and earned over a lifetime of experience as a Chartered Professional Accountant. Investors seek him out to co-found real estate projects; others look to participate in deals George helps put together. But what’s his specialty? The answer lies in his mission statement: To help people build and protect their real estate portfolio and businesses so they can do wonderful things for their families and their causes.
Barry McGuire - Real Estate Lawyer, Investor, Author & Teacher
A lawyer for more than 47 years, Barry McGuire's practice has been focused exclusively on real estate for the last 44 years. His popular ‘Tales From The Trenches’, real life stories of investor legal land mines, teach through example. Barry is the best-selling co-author of ‘97 Tips For Canadian Real Estate Investors’. This book provides insights, strategies and success stories to help you build wealth faster and save time and money. He has been extensively involved with the Alberta Real Estate Association in preparing and teaching credit courses for real estate agents. The Law Society of Alberta has also enjoyed Barry’s help in teaching courses to articling students in the bar admission program.
Patrick Francey - Chief Executive Officer
The Real Estate Investment Network & Host of The Everyday Millionaire Podcast
Patrick Francey is the real deal. An authentic and effective educator and speaker, charismatic host of The Everyday Millionaire podcast, established Canadian-based real estate investor and Chief Executive Officer of the Real Estate Investment Network. His longevity and success as a business owner contributes to Patrick’s significant role in contributing to the vision, development and growth of Real Estate Investment Network. He is a genuine, driving force behind the business and development that supports the Real Estate Investment Network Team’s foundational belief that every Canadian deserves financial freedom by design and can achieve it through investing in real estate. Proud husband, father and grandfather, Patrick’s motto says it best: Success is SIMPLE.
JG Francoeur - Chief Growth Officer
The Real Estate Investment Network & CEO of Visture Property Group
Jean-Guy (JG) Francoeur is the Chief Growth Officer at the Real Estate Investment Network and CEO of Visture Property Group (www.visture.ca). He is the bestselling author of Messy Manager and has written hundreds of articles for international business publications. A serial entrepreneur, JG has built several companies from start-up and his personal mission is to shape future generations through real estate investing. JG is an experienced investor with an extensive property investment portfolio. He has the ability to develop a long-term vision, which is exactly what he is doing at the Real Estate Investment Network, where he is building the futurization of real estate.
Nick Banks - VP of Technology
The Real Estate Investment Network
Nick Banks is your solutions guy. As VP of Technology, he is well-suited for his role. Nick is amazingly talented at integrating systems into scalable operations and delights in designing strategic plans and developing innovative and imaginative solutions for all levels of business, from established companies managing multi-million-dollar sales to start-ups bootstrapping themselves from an idea. First and foremost an entrepreneur, Nick has been in the real estate business for over 20 years and has more than 25 years of business management experience as a senior executive and as a trusted consultant. Nick is a life long learner and enjoys the challenge of turning around existing businesses or building new ones. The world’s #1 Dad, Nick’s passion and joy is his daughter Somer and he loves nothing more than to spend his daughter, preferably outdoors.
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