LEADER'S EDGE TRAINING - Key Persons
As an office manager with Royal LePage in the greater Toronto area, Ahmed works in one of the most competitive real estate markets in North America. His industry experience and entrepreneurial background give him a unique understanding of his agents' needs, which has helped him mentor, nurture, and support them into becoming some of the most successful real estate professionals in the area.
Ahmed has an engineering degree and an extensive background in business management. After working as a manager with Canada Packers and Trevelyan, Ahmed opened and operated his own company for 15 years. When he sold it, he decided to go into real estate and opened up a real estate brokerage in partnership.
Even after selling his company, Ahmed hasn't lost his entrepreneurial spirit. He understands the importance of service to a successful business and, as a result, the real estate agents who work with him can count on industry-leading support and what Ahmed calls "7 star" service.
With 20 years of experience in real estate, Allyson Sullivan has established herself as one of the top agents in her Florida market. On top of a strong sales record, she brings 10 years of experience managing, training, and guiding agents to her role as a Leader's Edge Training coach.
Allyson is well known for delivering a great listing presentation, having won the best listing presentation award in Palm Beach County for a large real estate franchise in 2016 and winning the state of Florida that same year. She is an active member of the Realtors Association of the Palm Beaches as well as the National Association of Realtors, and she is a Certified Educator for Florida Realtors.
Allyson grew up in Boston and moved to Florida in 1995, calling it home ever since. She is high energy, relatable, and fun!
With three decades of experience in the real estate industry, Andy Goodman has done it all: salesperson, team leader, trainer, business coach, executive. Most recently in his role as a district vice president for a large brokerage in Texas, Andy led seven branch managers toward growth goals and coached top agents on building their teams and executing their business plans.
Andy's passion is for training agents to achieve their production goals and for guiding brokerage leadership to recruit and retain the best agents. On the agent side, Andy's strengths are in generating leads at little or not cost, time management to increase hourly earnings, world class listing presentations to get the client's signature on the first visit, and a buyers' program that focuses on prospects who are ready to buy.
His book "The Ultimate Playbook for Recruiting and Retaining Real Estate Agents," which is aimed at brokerage leadership, lays out his method for attracting talent and his turn-key system for recruiting in all markets.
Andy believes in bringing a compassionate, straight forward approach to his coaching while providing actionable steps for producing results.
Licensed since 1998, Brad Merritt's focus has always been business growth. He currently serves as the Assistant Manager/Broker for the #1 Coldwell Banker office in the #1 company in Missouri. Prior to moving to the St. Louis area, he was the Principal Broker of a Top Five US Firms office.
Having been licensed in three states, Brad brings a variety of experience in residential sales, rentals and property management, and new construction sales to his understanding of the real estate business. He has earned numerous designations from the National Association of REALTORS and two designations from that National Association of Expert Advisors.
As a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Navy, he built his credentials in teaching and coaching adult learners. Among his achievements are Master Instructor, an Instructor of Technology & Military Science degree, and Certified Technical Trainer by the Chauncy Group International.
Brad is the author of a 10-week coaching program, which is influenced by multiple national coaches and mentors, and his coaching style focuses on scalable systems that grow with your business.
Brandon Rearick comes to coaching with more than 19 years of experience in both real estate and lending, which includes playing a core role in scaling his real estate team to reach the Top 4% worldwide for its brand. He also draws on valuable knowledge from hands-on home building experience after college, an advertising career with Clear Channel and iHeart Media, and work with Lighthouse Lending, Starkey Mortgage, and Caliber Home Loans.
Brandon is driven by a desire to help others thrive and is committed to transparent communication, unwavering honesty, and the highest ethical standards. His coaching centers on motivation and he sees it as a collaborative journey designed to ensure effectiveness and maximize potential in both professional and personal life.
He has a journalism degree with an emphasis on advertising and marketing from the University of Northern Colorado.
Originally from Northern California, Chloe moved to Los Angeles in 2017 to pursue a psychology degree at UCLA where she ultimately discovered her infectious passion and enthusiasm for real estate.
Receiving her license at just 20 years old, Chloe has built her real estate business on the foundation of social media. This decision was inspired by the impact of the pandemic in 2020 when, after a few short months into building her career, the pandemic prevented her from practicing the standard recommendations for prospecting and building relationships with leads.
Today, Chloe attributes much of her success in real estate to building a digital presence. After receiving the International Sterling Society Award in 2021 and being named as a 2022 Top 20 Real Estate Agent on Social Media in Los Angeles, she looks forward to sharing her insights and expertise with top real estate professionals everywhere.
Job Titles:
- Coach
- Human Resources Generalist
Chris Dougherty began her career as a human resources generalist, focusing on growth and development within corporate environments. In workplaces such as KPMG, she honed her skills in developing talent, optimizing compensation structures, and nurturing healthy workplace dynamics. Moving over to the real estate industry about 15 years ago, Chris first worked at Keller Williams onboarding agents before moving over to Coldwell Banker Realty as a field instructor specializing in integrating systems and tools into agents' businesses.
Chris transitioned within Coldwell Banker Realty to being a team business consultant, counselling agents on building teams, working on the foundations of their businesses, and helping them tackle challenges in forming and expanding their teams. "You can't build a business on shifting sands," she says. "Many agents don't understand what they're getting into when building a team. I'm not just helping them fix pain points. When I work with team leaders, it's about identifying their strengths, addressing management issues, and building a strategy." From determining a structure that fits their business to defining brands and optimizing contracts, she guides agents through the team-building journey while integrating key systems and tools.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President, Coaching Division
Chris Mygatt began his real estate career in 1984 as a salesperson and quickly became managing broker of a fast-growing Better Homes & Gardens operation in Northern Colorado. After selling the company to Coldwell Banker in 2000, Chris soon became president of Coldwell Banker's Colorado company and eventually its Texas operations as well. In his leadership role over the next 20 years, he created industry-defining tools such as Listing Concierge, Clients for Life, Core 4, CB2GO and The Freedom Plan, which became national programs for the largest real estate company in America.
For quite some time, Chris has been nationally recognized as a leading figure in industry innovation and for his ability to increase adoption of tools among real estate agents. In his last few years with Coldwell Banker, he developed a national strategic program that drove agent engagement with the company's mortgage and title partners. His infectious enthusiasm and boundless energy are an inspiration to agents, managers, and industry leaders across the country.
Chris lives in Florida with his wife, and just down the street from their daughter and son-in-law who are both top-producing Coldwell Banker agents who have been recognized as national "30 under 30" recipients.
"Get up, dress up, and show up," is what Dave Maynard was taught from a young age and he believes in showing up and being a resource for the agents he coaches.
After discharging from the US Army, Dave had a successful 20-year career working within the juvenile correctional system. While holding many supervisory roles, the later part of his career centered around helping others build strong businesses. He brought this business-minded approach to real estate when he became a REALTOR with Coldwell Banker Realty in 2016.
After joining Coldwell Banker Realty, Dave quickly became a Sales, Development and Education Assistant Manager. He moved up to an Assistant Managing Broker role in an office of 200+ agents and in 2020 he became Managing Broker of a 70-agent Coldwell Banker Realty. In 2021, his team was the #1 growth office in Colorado and were designated as a Colorado Presidents Advisory Council office.
Dave has spoken at state educational events, facilitated statewide educational classes, and presented in multiple offices. Through coaching, his goal is bringing real estate agent businesses to life, assisting in driving production and creating a sustainable and growing referral-based business.
Harry Yazbek has worn many hats since entering the real estate business in 1984: Realtor®, coach, mentor, teacher, speaker, recruiter, manager, association director, education committee chair, and author. Most recently he served as managing broker and branch vice president of a large brokerage in Virginia. It is, however, the time he has spent with real estate agents in guiding their talents and helping them navigate their transactions to successful closings that have made him most proud. "It's important to me that I know each of my agents and encourage them individually. My vision is to always find ways to help agents focus on what they're good at."
Harry brings that same level of commitment and personal engagement to his role as a consultant with Leader's Edge Training. He has been a Certified Real Estate Instructor in numerous U.S. states since 1985 and has trained thousands of agents over the years.
With more than 15 years of experience in real estate, Jason has covered pretty much everything: representing buyers and sellers, investing in property, serving as a sales manager and managing broker, and training for five years. As a salesperson for one of the largest real estate companies in the world, he is consistently in the top 9%. The combination of personal success and deep understanding of how to help others makes him an invaluable part of Leader's Edge Consulting.
Jason co-wrote a 250-page training manual to get agents up and running in 90 days, and he also designed more than 20 courses to help agents achieve greater results in nearly all areas of the business. As a trainer he has helped more than 500 salespeople from beginners to true masters of the craft.
Growing up in a family of blue-collar tradesmen, Jason learned the value of hard work, dedication and perseverance. He received a Bachelor's degree in business with a minor in psychology and he also holds a Master's degree.
Jessica's journey to Leader's Edge Training has seen her transform from a successful Oxford County Realtor® to a highly motivated and knowledgeable trainer. With over a decade of experience in real estate, non-profit organizations and entrepreneurship, Jessica brings a unique skill set to the field of real estate sales training.
With a growing list of accolades and awards earned during her time as a community and business leader, the future is bright for Jessica. She accredits the tools and strategies she learned from the Leader's Edge Training course to making her personal business a success and it is now her dream and goal to share this information and help agents across North America realize the same success.
Having spent more than 30 years in real estate, Kim Collen-Ross brings a wealth of knowledge and experience of market cycles to her work as a consultant. Most recently, Kim was a brokerage manager of the office with top market share in her area of California, and in that role was voted Manager of the Year for the Greater LA Area in 2005, 2011 and 2015. She also twice served as director on the Malibu Board of Realtors.
As brokerage manager, Kim has also been awarded the prestigious President's Council award, year after year, which honors the top 20% of NRT offices in the U.S. She attributes the success of her associates to her unrelenting dedication to personal support and coaching, and a commitment to excellence, professionalism, and integrity in serving their clients. Prior to her real estate career, Kim was a recreational therapist. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from California State University Northridge and graduated Magna Cum Laude.
Melanie Forrest joined the Leader's Edge Training team in the summer of 2012 as the Business Development Coordinator. With her professional background and pragmatic approach she immediately made an impact.
Coming from the world of recruitment and staffing, Melanie knows how to help people figure out what they need no matter what industry they work in. In addition to requiring the flexibility to work across sectors, the recruitment business demands a laser-like focus on meeting targets, finding solutions and producing results.
Melanie brings this same focus to her role in business development for Leader's Edge Training. Her eternally pleasant and professional approach has made Melanie an integral part of the Leader's Edge Training team and its success.
Melissa Kinzley is someone who turns vision into reality. Over 25 years she's been the founder and CEO of three companies: boutique brokerage Sage Realty and Investments, real estate lending company Maximum Loan Funding, and communications firm Sage Marketing Pros. She's also a certified business, life, and DreamLife coach, earning her certifications with a mission to help others achieve success and fulfillment with grace and ease.
Melissa's holistic approach to coaching blends experience, innovation, and genuine passion. She excels in providing straightforward, proven models for success that are rooted in the timeless values of integrity, compassion, and trust.
Natalie embarked on her real estate journey in 2004, founding a thriving boutique brokerage in Boca Raton, Florida that quickly gained recognition for its success in the South Florida area. In 2011, Natalie was recruited to join the prestigious ONE Sotheby's International Realty Brokerage in Miami where she continued to excel and solidified her reputation as a top producer in luxury sales.
Natalie's career reached new heights in 2016 when she assumed the role of Managing Broker for Coldwell Banker Realty in Northern Colorado, where she oversaw two offices and directed the state-wide Global Luxury Membership Program. During her time as managing broker, Natalie achieved numerous milestones and successes.
Coaching and guiding agents, particularly those in the luxury real estate market, has been a long-time, unwavering passion and Natalie is excited for the opportunity to continue the work of championing her agents' successes in role as a Leader's Edge Training coach.
Since the beginning of his training career in 2001, Ron O'Neil has always believed that success is no accident. What it takes is hard work, perseverance, studying, learning from mentors, sacrifice, and - most important of all - passion and love for what you do every day. He brings this same ethos to his role as a real estate trainer, speaker, and coach.
Ron started his real estate career in 2015 as a sales trainer, curriculum developer and recruiter for an Ontario, Canada brokerage with 5 offices and 120 Realtors. In his seven years with that brokerage, he worked with the leadership team to double the number of agents and brokers and double the number offices, with the Leader's Edge Training program being a key part of that growth. The brokerage was recognized in 2021 for its total sales volume of $1.4 billion, making it the 18th largest sales producing brokerage in the world under the brand that has 12,000 offices.
Ron's passion for real estate, his drive toward success, and his ability to connect with audiences have made him a national speaker on topics such as training, curriculum development, recruitment, and real estate analysis. His passion for the industry is evident in his writing, and he provides valuable insights into the latest trends and developments in the ever-changing world of real estate.
Since becoming licensed in 1983, Ruth Papuchis has filled numerous roles across several major real estate brands: top-producing salesperson, managing broker, Regional Vice President, Director of Career and Systems Development, and association board member.
Ruth brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her role as a coach with her primary focus being business building and skill development. She works agents at all stages of their careers to develop their business plans, but also drills down into key areas such as prospecting, listings, and marketing.
Ruth is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. She lives in Florida and proudly serves as the Broward County Chairperson for the Coldwell Banker Cares Foundation.
ShanaLee Thomson started selling real estate in 2016 and immediately made an impact, being awarded the RE/MAX Rising Star award by her brokerage for her exceptional sales, closing more transactions in her first year than many others close in their first two. She spent five consecutive years in the 100% club of the #1 brokerage in the RE/MAX network and along the way she discovered the highest and best use for her passion and skills is teaching others how to better help more clients with an exceptional level of service.
As a real estate trainer, Shana has developed and delivered online, hybrid, workshop, group, and in-person training sessions for more than 1800 people. She has chaired business development programs that directly increased agent profitability in her brokerage by 1300%, and she has coached and mentored groups of 50-150 people at a time in best practices, ethics, compliance, and governance. In 2022, she became an instructor for the National Association of REALTOR's Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABR®) program. Although she formally started her training career in 2021, Shana has spent her entire adult life helping others in her community by working with the Ontario Network for Education and Junior Achievement Ottawa to teach youth financial literacy, workplace readiness and entrepreneurship.
Terry Rittenberg's passions for real estate and for developing talent, combined with his 27 years of experience, make him a great choice to help you take your business to the next level. During his real estate career, Terry practiced commercial and residential real estate in four states (CA, CO, CT and NY) and managed four successful sale offices and over 400 sales associates. Throughout his 12 years as a manager, Terry used his engaging personality, sense of humour, and positive outlook to develop sales associates and help them reach their goals.
He is a certified real estate instructor, a graduate of the Coldwell Banker Management Academy, and has a BSc in Business Administration from Fort Lewis College.
Tina Leader, Chief Operating Officer, joined the Leader's Edge Training team in 2007. A professional accountant by trade, she uses her long background in business administration to make Leader's Edge Training the professionally run organization that it is.
Vicki Gonzales is dedicated to real estate. Having spent more than 43 years in sales, management, lending, and title roles, she is completely passionate about the industry. And she's seen and experienced just about every type of market.
With 26 years as a top producing agent and 11 years as a managing broker, she knows firsthand the fears, tears, and pride that go along with accomplishing your goals, especially when no one else thought they were achievable. Here years in the business have taught her patience and resilience and that there are solutions for every problem and obstacle.