Meet Our Speakers
Learn WHY these experts have been selected to teach and share with you!
Jonny Fowler is an expert when it comes to social media algorithms and how to improve and increase your visibility and reach when posting on the main platforms. Jonny has been in the mortgage industry for 2o+ years building businesses all over the country. Jonny has a heart for people and his greatest joy comes from sharing his knowledge of the industry to help others succeed. For the past few years, he has traveled the country teaching business owners how to utilize social media to drastically change their business. With Countless success stories, Jonny continues to spread his knowledge even during these socially distanced times, through virtual and smaller classes.
Jonny is a 2 time best selling Amazon author, his first book "Here's Jonny: Tales of Gratitude from the Oilfield to the Boardroom" his life, from his humble beginnings in Manvel, TX to his Career changes, and some of the great influences in life. His second book "Don't fly the Cubicle" is a collaborative effort between Jonny, his Brother Cory and a few respected friends he's met along the way. This book really encourages the reader to do some soul searching before blaming a job or coworker for hating their job.
Discover the secrets to supercharge your social media presence by leveraging algorithms effectively. Whether you're a realtor or a small business owner, unlock the potential of existing social media tools to propel your brand into the limelight.
Jonny is a 7-time National Mortgage Professional's Most Connected recipient, as he unveils strategies to seize your market share TODAY! Say goodbye to ads, business pages, and hassle – it's all about maximizing your impact effortlessly.
He and Bethany MacLachlan are a dynamic duo.
Jonny and Bethany help sales professionals gain traction on Social Media all over the country. They are constantly asking "what's the next step? " Can you take over my social media? Help me and my company be seen.
Michael LaFido is a real estate consultant and top-producing Realtor with over twenty years of experience in the real estate industry and specializing in Luxury listings as an eXp Realty agent. Michael’s marketing has been the featured cover story in Crain’s Chicago Business and highlighted in Forbes, Chicago Tribune, Mansion Global, Wall Street Journal and FOX News Chicago Business Hour to name a few. He is also the author of the books “Luxury Listing Specialist, “Outside The Box”, and “Marketing Luxury”
Michael, the founder of the Marketing Luxury Group, assisting other real estate agents and affluent home-owners by providing top-tier services including consulting, lifestyle marketing, public relations and coaching to help agents and owners sell their luxury homes; utilizing our proven and reputable strategies.
Michael has created the nationally recognized luxury designation for real estate agents which is known as Luxury Listing Specialist (LUXE). This new designation establishes an in-depth and detailed set of standards for agents that represent luxury homes and is currently offered for Continuing Education (CE) for real estate agents in Texas and Georgia. The trainings are based on the same principles Michael outlines in his book, “Luxury Listing Specialist” that he teaches to agents internationally.
Michael was awarded the 2019 MVP (Most Valued Partner) by “Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate” (www.LuxuryRealEstate.com)
Many agents within the industry are calling Michael’s methods “The New Standard” for marketing luxury homes today.
Margaret Gehr is a multi-award-winning professional Stager and has been focused on the design and merchandising of resale properties since 2005 when she founded Chicagoland Home Staging. Having studied at the Harrington Institute of Interior Design in Chicago, she brings her unique skills and creativity to every project no matter the size.
Margaret is the preferred Luxury Stager for Michael Lafido, creator of the Luxe Marketing Group, LUXE Listing Specialist Course, top Luxury Realtor in Chicago, and provides the quality Luxury staging required for his listings to have them sell at top dollar and in the quickest time based on market conditions.
She has been featured in numerous publications as an expert interview such as LUXE Magazine, Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, Associated Press, MSN, She is included in the "HOME STAGING: The Power That Sells Real Estate"
Featuring Chicagoland Home Staging's Margaret Gehr, is the book, "Home Staging: The Power That Sells Real Estate" which outlines the why behind the best staged homes.
From professional home stagers, this book shows sellers how to get the best price from a property.
Margaret is a recognized industry expert who has been a featured speaker at past IAHSP and RESA conferences.
Blair Hamaty is the co-owner of Setting the Space, a diverse, multi-faceted staging and design company headquartered in Plymouth, MA. Since 2006, they have flourished in home staging and were the first home staging company to open up retail stores to provide their design services and eye for great furnishings to their local community. They now have multiple retail design stores for people from all over the US who want the Setting the Space look in their homes! In addition, they run a Turo car rental business, concierge services for high net-worth clients and movie producers and is an international design curator for high-end clients in places like London and Turks & Caicos.
Blair is a dynamic individual and recognized industry expert. He and his husband, Will, have built this multi award-winning business together - Blair is the business side and Will is the beauty sid, each bringing their unique strengths together in the perfect way to build their brand. They are an example of the only thing holding a business owner back from success is the word, "no." Blair has spoken at many conferences in the US, London, Paris, is an educator who is part of the exclusive Masters-SCALE Course. He enjoys sharing his wisdom and insights on how to build a successful business with other industry entrepreneurs. He was one of the first in his market to launch into Luxury Staging, making the proper investment in the furnishings necessary to provide a next-level experience for buyers.
Currently, Setting the Space proudly maintain an average of around 100 staged properties at any given time, offering unwavering support to realtors across Massachusetts.
Barbara utilizes her diverse business experience working internationally in Fortune 500 and small companies, entrepreneurship, real estate investing, design, and love for travel to create together with her team, a powerhouse partnership for Top Real Estate Producers.
She has been asked to speak and share her industry & business knowledge in running a successful Home Staging Company and her industry knowledge in ROI-driven Staging & Interior Design on local, national, and international stages (Atlanta Home Builders Association, HSRA, The Real Estate Investor Association, IAHSP, RESA, The Las Vegas Furniture Market) and other expert panels.
Barbara and her team collaborate with Top Real Estate Producers and Business Owners. She believes in a 10X mindset and urges her followers and listeners to rise above the norm. Aligning with the right partners, the right teams, and core values are the key. You need to get out there and be uncomfortable, that is when growth happens.
Barbara held leadership positions at industry associations and is serving on the Board of Advisors for HSRA. She masterminds the nation’s best staging and design companies and loves sharing her learnings and best practices as a business owner. She is the author of The Venus Approach to Real-Estate Investing and is part of the best sellers, "Powerful Female Immigrants Who Inspire Greatness." and "Real Women in Real Estate."
Sandra Holmes is the CEO of LUXE Home Staging and Design and has been instrumental in setting the standard for Luxury Staging in the home staging industry. Since 2005, Sandra has been recognized internationally as a leader in the home staging industry and a mentor to stagers. She has spoken at international conferences in Rome and London, as well as multiple conferences in the US. She and her company are multi-award-winners for their exemplary work and are the most credentialed and awarded company in Florida.
She has been described as a "force of nature" by those who are privileged to be in her life, and she has proven herself to be a changemaker and industry champion with her creative ideas and passion for home staging and design. Her company's staging work is second to none when it comes to Luxury, and she has invested in her company furnishings, her team and her client relationships to ensure LUXE Home Staging and Design continues to be the premier examples of luxury staging for professionals around the world.
Serving in multiple leadership roles in the International Association of Home Staging Professionals and Stagedhomes.com, she educates realtors and new home stagers around the world. The co-founder of Luxe, blends her design skills and keen eye for detail to highlight a property’s features and produce higher profits for her clients. With her passion to help sellers, Sandra and her team have staged over $2 billion dollars of real estate in South Florida.
Bethany MacLachlan is Co-Founder of Jonathan Fowler Marketing LLC, helping small Business owners increase their business with social media. She is extremely knowledgeable about social media best practices and works closely with Facebook and Instagram reps who handle the large volume AFN marketing account.
She has helped create the Modern Marketing Courses offered live and online to help business owners transform their marketing strategy to increase Jonny and Bethany help sales professionals gain traction on social media all over the country. They are constantly asking "what's the next step? " Can you take over my social media? Help me and my company be seen.
Whether it is working one-on-one with a coaching client or with Jonny to create courses, promos and strategies, Bethany is instrumental in the branding and creation of their marketing program content, images, and digital content.
Bethany studied health care administration at Texas State University, before finding her groove in the world of marketing and social media. She loves acting and singing, the color hot pink, and has an ability to create connection with their clients, putting them at ease while determining best strategies for success.
Karen Mendenhall is the creative force behind Stage It! Charlotte, the premier home staging and design company serving the greater Charlotte, NC region. In 2004, she was one of the pioneers who helped launch the southern US market for home staging, embarking on a nearly 20-year journey that has been challenging and fulfilling. Karen has grown her company from operating out of her home to storage units to a custom, gorgeous warehouse in Charlotte, complete with a design center where design and renovation clients can meet with her team to plan out their projects.
The Stage It! Charlotte team collaborates on every staging, renovation and interior design project, and each person brings a unique perspective to the table. The result showcases those diverse creative skills. Their unique combination of staging, designing and renovating allows only Stage It! Charlotte to get properties market ready from start to finish.
Karen brings her years of experience as a Realtor®, along with the distinction as an Accredited Staging Professional Master® to each client’s project. Her success in marketing and selling homes has proven to be an invaluable asset in knowing what makes properties sell. She is an educator, having taught thousands of Real Estate Agents and aspiring Home Stagers about the business of home staging, and has mentored many industry colleagues through the years in her leadership roles with IAHSP.
KAT Troulinos is the founder president and visionary for TA DA by KAT next level staging & design. KAT has devoted decades of teaming with award winning builders and designers in the greater Houston area. She has completed 3 master color certifications and hosts a weekly Facebook live…” KAT’s Home Chat” where she showcases experts in their field to join her on Facebook Live every Friday at 10:00 am CST.
KAT’s recent extension of visual art has taken on custom wall art beginning with biophilic design which can be seen in commercial restaurants and offices in Houston as well as showcased in her staging & design projects. Each piece is custom crafted for size, shape color and type of preserved mosses used. “ Bringing the outdoors and feeling of calm and nature to interior spaces with zero “green thumb” talent brings us all closer to source” say KAT.
The planning and design phase is carefully structured to showcase the best features of the property as well as minimize any challenging floor plans through strategic furniture placement to achieve the best flow and feeling for each area and the space in its entirety. With “design to live” it’s all about “function meets form”. “At TA DA we swiftly apply both best design and color elements to what I call “corrective” staging/design.” If we don’t “WOW” you we’re not meeting our goals.”
KAT is not just someone who simply chooses paint colors for walls, but rather a visionary who can manipulate color palettes to evoke specific moods, highlight architectural features, and create a cohesive and inviting atmosphere within a space. Her role goes beyond the surface, as she takes into consideration the psychology of color, lighting, and the unique needs and preferences of her clients. KAT is in process of creating textile pieces with new projects on the horizon. Keep a lookout for “KAT’s eye décor & more.
KAT has continued to up level her training and is very involved in community outreach through Meals on Wheels, Yes to Youth and Houston Furniture bank to name a few.
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JEFF WONG
Featured Speaker
Jeff Wong is the Chief of Operations & Logistics at Ya Yu Publishing for indie writers and authors. He is the Executive producer at Golden Westwinds Production - Entertainment Production Company. He has been an accomplished rock guitarist and musician, and part of the music industry for over three decades. He is an award-winning film producer, most recently recognized for his work on "The 13th Note" featuring musical phenoms that share how music impacts lives.
Jeff came to the US from Taiwan and his love of music began at a young age. He was privileged to play guitar in bands, jamming with other aspiring musicians in Hollywood and Houston. Jeff then used his talents to teach others, and moved into production.
He married Kat Troulinos 1998 and aligned with her passion for design and staging, helping with marketing and sales, business logistics, and acting as a key partner for growth and direction. In 2003, Kat wrote a book called "Finding True and Lasting Love in a Digital World," and Jeff was helping her navigate the publishing process. The formatting and publishing part is complicated enough, and then it has to be combined with the PR and exposure to reach the target audience.
This experience led him to launch YaYu Publishing where he is focused on helping aspiring authors with navigating the self-publishing route from editing, formatting documents to fit with the required templates for online publishers such as Amazon, to connecting authors with podcasters and other media influencers to maximize exposure.
