Our instructors

Get to know our top-notch instructors! Read more about each of them before your classes begin.

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Michelle J. Adams, Esq.

Founding Partner
Adams, Morris & Sessing

Kevin Barnaba

Laboratory President
Home Land Labs

Tom Biegler

Vice President
Truist Mortgage

Thom Brockett, GRI, AHWD

Sales Manager
Long & Foster Real Estate
Deirdre Brown Headshot

Deirdre P. Brown, J.D.

President
Lexicon Title Services

Jamica Brown, MBA

Mortgage Advisor
Caliber Home Loans, Inc.
Mary Chieppa Headshot

Mary Chieppa, ABR®, C-RETS, GRI, MRP, PSA, RSPS, SRES®, SRS

Associate Broker, Coldwell Banker;
Owner, Plan2Pass Real Estate School

Christopher B. Darby, Esq.

Founding Member & Co-managing Attorney, Dupont Circle Office
Counselors Title, LLC;
Principal,
Paro & Drazin, LLC

Renee Davis, GRI

Real Estate Instructor
Coldwell Banker Realty

Gregory E. Flynn, Esq.

Founding Member
Flynn Title Group

Amy Goldstein 

Vice President
BMIC Mortgage, Inc.

Dana Hollish Hill, ABR®, GRI

REALTOR®, Broker & Coach
JPAR Stellar
Tara Furges Houston Headshot

Tara Houston, CIPS, AHWD, PSA

Associate Broker
eXp Realty, LLC
Jill Malloy Headshot

Jill Malloy, ABR®, SRS, SRES®, AHWD

National Real Estate Expert
The CE Shop

John G. Nalls, Esq.

Owner & Managing Attorney, Dupont Circle Office
Counselors Title LLC;
Founding Member
Paro & Drazin, LLC
Bob Pettis Headshot

Bob Pettis, ABR®, CRS, GREEN, GRI, AHWD

Associate Broker
Long & Foster Real Estate
Ned Rich Headshot

Ned Rich, CRB, GRI

Associate Broker
Washington Fine Properties
Rob Rothstein Headshot

Rob Rothstein, Esq.

President
Paragon Title
Cris Sgrott Headshot

Cris Sgrott, CPO®, CPO-CD®, SMM-C®

Owner & Founder
Organizing Maniacs®, LLC
Collen Smyth Headshot

Colleen Smyth, Esq.

Owner & Attorney
Counselors Title, LLC
Sandra Stewart Headshot

Sandra Stewart, CRS, GRI, AHWD

Real Estate Expert

JD Teitelman

Mortgage Loan Officer
First Savings Mortgage
Kevin Wheeler Headshot

Kevin Wheeler

Sales Manager
123JUNK
Chanin Wisler Headshot

Chanin Wisler

Senior Loan Officer
First Washington Mortgage

Michelle J. Adams is a founding member of the law firm of Adams, Morris & Sessing. She has practiced law for over 25 years in Maryland and D.C. and has focused on loss mitigation/foreclosure prevention for over 15 years. Michelle has helped thousands of homeowners either modify their loans, fight back against lenders when a home was wrongfully foreclosed or transition from homeownership through a short sale. She is an active member of the Foreclosure Prevention Project, represents pro bono foreclosure and tax clients through Maryland Volunteer Lawyer Services and has been teaching classes on short sales and foreclosure for ten years.

Class:
Foreclosures (3.0 ELECTIVE hours for MD, D.C. and VA licensees)
> Wednesday, June 7, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Mr. Barnaba oversees the day-to-day operations of Home Land Labs, certified by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) for drinking water analysis and the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) for fungal mold analysis. He is a Licensed Environmental Health Specialist with expertise in onsite sewage disposal design and evaluations, environmental water quality and air quality, and is certified by the National Radon Safety Board (NRSB) as a Radon Measurement Specialist. Prior to joining Home Land, Kevin served as Environmental Health Director for the Harford County Health Department where he was employed for 18 years.   Kevin has been a CE instructor for 7 years.

Class:
Mold, Everything You’ve Never Been Taught (1.5 ELECTIVE hours for MD, D.C. and VA licensees)
> Monday, June 5, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

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Tom Biegler has been working to serve those in the real estate industry since 2002 and currently serves as a vice president for Truist Mortgage. During the many years working in the industry, Tom has developed an extensive knowledge in the following areas of real estate lending: conventional, FHA, VA, jumbo, portfolio lending, renovation and construction, as well as commercial and development finance. He has volunteered on multiple REALTOR® associations’ education committees. Tom has enjoyed serving as an instructor in continuing education for over 10 years.

D.C. Fair Housing (3.0 REQUIRED hours for D.C. licensees; NO ELECTIVE CREDITS)
> Monday, June 5, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.

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Thom Brockett is a second-generation REALTOR®, trainer, business coach and photographer. A licensed broker in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., Thom currently serves as the sales manager for Long & Foster’s Park Potomac office. As a life-long trainer and consultant, he trains, coaches and mentors agents at all levels. Thom is an Adjunct Professor at Montgomery College, an Ombudsman for the state of Maryland, a consultant for The CE Shop and an instructor, GCAAR DEI Champion and member of the Professional Standards committee for GCAAR.

Classes:
D.C. Ethics Update (3.0 REQUIRED hours for D.C. licensees; NO ELECTIVE CREDITS)
>Monday, June 5, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
>Tuesday, June 6, 9 a.m. – noon
D.C. Broker Supervision (3.0 REQUIRED hours for D.C. Broker licensees; 3 ELECTIVE hours for D.C. Salesperson licensees)
>Wednesday, June 7, 9 a.m. – noon

Deirdre Brown Headshot

Deirdre P. Brown is the president of Lexicon Title Services. She has over 20 years of experience in the local real estate market. She earned her Juris Doctorate from the David A. Clarke School of Law. She serves on the District of Columbia Association of REALTORS® (DCAR) Public Policy Committee, is a GCAAR DEI Champion and has been instructing at GCAAR for six years.  

Classes:
D.C. Legislative Update (3.0 REQUIRED hours for D.C. licensees; NO ELECTIVE CREDITS)
>Tuesday, June 6, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
>Thursday, June 8, 9 a.m. – noon

 

Jamica Browne is a mortgage advisor with Caliber Home Loans, Inc. where she specializes in residential financing. She has over 17 years of experience in empowering current and potential homeowners with products, tools and strategies that will help achieve sustainable homeownership. For more than 10 years, she has been educating other industry professionals on how to navigate the financing world and all its nuances. She has earned a Master of Business Administration from Grand Canyon University, is a GCAAR DEI Champion and has served on several GCAAR committees over the years.

Class:
Financing Issues Update (3.0 ELECTIVE hours for MD, D.C. and VA licensees)
> Wednesday, June 7, 9 a.m. – noon

 

Mary Chieppa Headshot

Mary Chieppa is an associate broker with Coldwell Banker and the owner of Plan2Pass Real Estate School. With over 30 years of sales, training, coaching and managing, Mary has led training throughout the DMV area. Mary further serves as an instructor for numerous designations and certifications both locally and nationally. In addition, she has written several online CE courses. Mary holds numerous designations and certifications including ABR®, C-RETS, GRI, MRP, PSA, RSPS, SRES® and SRS. 

Classes:
When Price Meets Preparation (2.0 ELECTIVE hours for MD, D.C. and VA licensees)
> Thursday, June 8, 10 a.m. – noon
D.C. Ethics Update (3.0 REQUIRED hours for D.C. licensees; NO ELECTIVE CREDITS)
> Thursday, June 8, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
D.C. Fair Housing (3.0 REQUIRED hours for D.C. licensees; NO ELECTIVE CREDITS)
> Friday, June 9, 9 a.m. – noon

A native of the Washington area, Christopher B. Darby entered into the title business in 1998 after receiving his law degree from the University of South Carolina. He is a member of the District of Columbia and Maryland Bar Associations and enjoys regularly teaching continuing real estate education courses for local REALTORS® as well as a Real Estate Transactions Law class at the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law.

Chris is also an active member of the local real estate community with service to and membership in DC Land Title Association and GCAAR where he has served on the Forms Committee (formerly Contract and Clause Committee) since 2001. Chris was honored by GCAAR as its 2007 Affiliate of the Year for his service to the real estate community and is a GCAAR DEI Champion. He is experienced in residential and commercial real estate transactions and the resolution of contract issues. Licensed to conduct closings in DC, MD and VA, Chris specializes in DC specific matters including; land development, condominium conversions and TOPA.

Class:
D.C. Legislative Update (3.0 REQUIRED hours for D.C. licensees; NO ELECTIVE CREDITS)
> Wednesday, June 7, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Ms. Davis is a Sales Associate licensed in Maryland and the District of Columbia, a trainer with Coldwell Banker, instructor with GCAAR, and an adjunct professor at Montgomery College in Rockville, Maryland. For Renee, it is personal that everyone walks away richer in knowledge after taking one of her classes. She has been a leader and advocate for students seeking to get a real estate license since becoming a pre-licensing instructor in 2009. She has earned her Graduate of Realtor Institute (GRI) credential and has served on the Grievance Committee with GCAAR.

Classes:
Maryland Legislative Update (3.0 REQUIRED hours for D.C. licensees-Topic A, NO ELECTIVE CREDITS)
>Monday, June 5, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

MREC Brokerage Relationships and Disclosures (3.0 REQUIRED hours for MD-Topic H; 3 ELECTIVE hours for D.C. licensees)
> Tuesday, June 6, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

D.C. Property Management (3.0 REQUIRED hours for D.C. Broker and D.C. Salesperson licensees. NO ELECTIVE CREDITS)
> Friday, June 9, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.

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Greg Flynn is a founding member of Flynn Title Group, which handles settlements throughout Maryland, DC and Virginia. He began his legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable James L. Ryan, Judge of the Circuit Court and then became a Senior Litigation Associate with one of the area’s largest law firms before founding Flynn & Rismiller, LLC.

Mr. Flynn is a member of the Maryland Bar Association, the Montgomery County Bar Association, Maryland Trial Lawyers Association, Federal Bar Association, Catholic University Lawyering Skills Program, District Court Mediation Program (State Certified Mediator), Montgomery County Lawyer Referral Service — Past Chairman, Fee Dispute Resolution Committee, Maryland Land Title Association, and the Judicial Selections Panel. Greg regularly instructs for GCAAR and has developed many continuing education classes for REALTORS®. Greg is also active in the GCAAR community having served, and currently serving, on the Forms Committee and is a GCAAR DEI Champion.

Class:
Comparison of Real Estate Sales Contracts (3.0 ELECTIVE hours for MD, D.C. and VA licensees)
> Tuesday, June 6, 9:00 a.m. – noon

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Amy Goldstein is the vice president of BMIC Mortgage, Inc. and has been a mortgage broker for the past 20 years. She specializes in all types of mortgage transactions, including those for first-time, move-up and luxury homebuyers. Amy has been teaching mortgage finance for GCAAR since 2019.

Class:
Mortgage Basics (3.0 ELECTIVE hours for MD and D.C. licensees; 2.0 ELECTIVE hours for VA licensees)
>Tuesday, June 6, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

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Dana Hollish Hill is a REALTOR®, broker and coach at JPAR Stellar Living in Gaithersburg, MD. Dana leads the Hollish Hill Group, which is committed to honesty, integrity and service. She proudly serves the communities in D.C., Maryland and northern Virginia, where she holds her broker license. She has been a full time REALTOR® for over 20 years. Dana has earned her Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®) and Graduate, REALTOR® Institute (GRI) designations, the At Home With Diversity® (AHWD) certification and is a GCAAR DEI Champion. Dana currently serves on GCAAR’s Professional Standards Committee and has served on the Education, Form and Grievance committees as well. She has been instructing for GCAAR since 2014.

Classes:
Maryland Code of Ethics (3.0 REQUIRED hours for MD licensees-Topic D; 3 ELECTIVE hours for D.C. licensees)
> Wednesday, June 7, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Maryland Fair Housing (1.5 REQUIRED hours for MD-Topic C; 1.5 ELECTIVE hours for D.C. licensees.)
> Wednesday, June 7, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

Tara Furges Houston Headshot

Tara Furges Houston is an associate broker with eXp Realty, LLC where she specializes in global luxury real estate. She has over 17 years of experience, including being the founding broker of eXp Realty, D.C. She has earned the Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) and Certified International Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS) designations, as well as the At Home with Diversity® and Pricing Strategy Advisor (PSA) certifications. She serves as an advisor for the Distinguished Women in Leadership Certificate Program at the University of Richmond and was the 2019 President of the Women’s Council of REALTORS® NOVA Metro. She has been instructing for over 20 years, including having served in roles as a college professor and public-school administrator.  

Classes:
Negotiating in Today’s Market (3.0 ELECTIVE hours for MD, D.C. and VA licensees)
>Monday, June 5, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Virginia Mandatory Contracts Review (1.0 REQUIRED hour for VA licensees; 1.0 ELECTIVE hour for D.C. licensees)
> Friday, June 9, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Virginia Agency (1.0 REQUIRED hour for VA licensees; 1.0 ELECTIVE hour for D.C. licensees)
> Friday, June 9, 11:00 a.m. – noon
Virginia Ethics (3.0 REQUIRED hours for VA licensees; 3.0 ELECTIVE hours for D.C. licensees)
> Friday, June 9, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Jill Malloy Headshot

Jill Malloy is the National Real Estate Expert with The CE Shop, where she advises on curriculum development in continuing education, as well as pre-licensing courses. She has over 45 years of experience in real estate sales, management and education. She has earned the Gold Standard Instructor certification from the Real Estate Educators Association and is an approved instructor for several designation and certification courses recognized by the National Association of REALTORS®, including ABR®, SRS, SRES® and At Home With Diversity®. She has been instructing for over 35 years.

Classes:
D.C. Property Management (3.0 REQUIRED hours for D.C. licensees. NO ELECTIVE CREDITS)
> Monday, June 5, 9:00 a.m. – noon
> Wednesday, June 7, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Maryland Legislative Update (3.0 REQUIRED hours for MD licensees-Topic A; 3.0 ELECTIVE hours for D.C. licensees)
> Tuesday, June 6, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.

A practicing attorney for over 33 years, John G. Nalls, Esquire is a founding member of Counselors Title, LLC and the law firm of Pardo & Drazin, LLC. He is also the managing attorney of the Counselors Title Chevy Chase office. Previously, John was a principal in the Law Firm of Ridgway, Griffin, Kestner, Smyth, Stanton and Nalls, where he served as attorney manager for the Bethesda office of Universal Settlements. In addition to being a member of GCAAR, he is a member of the Maryland, D.C. and Virginia Bar Associations and the United States District Courts for Maryland and DC, as well as many other local and state associations.

Classes:
Contract Contingencies (1.5 ELECTIVE hours for MD and D.C. licensees; 1.0 ELECTIVE hours for VA licensees)
> Monday, June 5, 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Maryland Legislative Update (3.0 REQUIRED hours for MD licensees-Topic A; 3.0 ELECTIVE hours for D.C. licensees)
> Friday, June 9, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.

 

Bob Pettis Headshot

Bob Pettis is an associate broker with Long and Foster Real Estate, where he specializes in residential brokerage. He has over 37 years of real estate experience, including over 30 years as a licensed structural engineer in Maryland and several other states. He has earned NAR’s Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), Graduate, REALTOR® Institute (GRI), and GREEN designations and the At Home With Diversity® certification, in addition to being a GCAAR DEI Champion. He is a lifetime member of the Long and Foster Chairman’s Club Hall of Fame, recipient of GCAAR’s Top Producer Award and recently served as a member of Maryland REALTORS®’ Legislative Committee. Bob is licensed in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia and has been instructing for over 15 years.

Classes:
MREC Brokerage Relationships and Disclosures (3 REQUIRED hours for MD licensees-Topic H; 3.0 ELECTIVE hours for D.C. licensees)
> Wednesday, June 7, 9 a.m. – noon
> Thursday, June 8, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.

MREC Required Supervision (3.0 REQUIRED hours for MD-Topic I: All brokers, branch office managers, and team managers; 3.0 ELECTIVE hours for D.C. licensees)
> Thursday, June 8, 9 a.m. – noon

 

Ned Rich Headshot

Ned Rich is an associate broker with Washington Fine Properties. He has over 34 years of experience in residential real estate. Ned’s involvement in real estate extends out into the community. He has served two terms on the GCAAR Board of Directors, sat on the GCAAR Grievance & Professional Standards Committee and was a member of the MRIS SAC Committee. Licensed since 1987, he holds associate brokers’ licenses in D.C., Maryland and Virginia and has earned the Graduate, Realtor® Institute (GRI) and Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager (CRB) designations. Ned has been instructing for over 20 years.

Classes:
Maryland Code of Ethics (3.0 REQUIRED hours for MD-Topic D; 3 ELECTIVE hours for D.C. licensees)
> Monday, June 5, 9 a.m. – noon
> Friday, June 9, 9 a.m. – noon
D.C. Fair Housing (3.0 REQUIRED hours for D.C. licensees; NO ELECTIVE CREDITS)
> Tuesday, June 6, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Rob Rothstein Headshot

Rob Rothstein is an attorney and president of Paragon Title, where he specializes in contract law and real estate settlements. Rob has over 12 years of experience as a leader of Paragon Title and an active GCAAR member. Rob was previously a member of GCAAR’s Young Professionals Network (YPN) and served for three years on GCAAR’s Forms committee. Most recently, Rob completed his term with GCAAR’s Public Policy Committee. He focuses his practice on closings in the DMV and bringing Paragon’s eClosing capabilities to the masses. Rob has been teaching for GCAAR for seven years.

Class:
Avoiding Settlement Pitfalls (1.5 ELECTIVE hours for MD and D.C. licensees; 1.0 ELECTIVE hour for VA licensees)
> Wednesday, June 7, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

Cris Sgrott Headshot

Professional organizer, speaker and author, Cris Sgrott, CPO®, CPO-CD®, SMM-C® came to the organizing profession by accident when she was downsized by the economy fifteen years ago. Searching for an outlet to foster her intuitive nature, embrace her desire to help people, and utilize her natural ability to help clients with brain-based challenges, she founded Organizing Maniacs in 2007. She is a member of CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), NAPO (National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals), and IOCDF (International OCD Foundation). She earned her Master Trainer certification from ICD (Institute for Challenging Disorganization) and was selected to do after-care for the TV show, Hoarders, on A&E.

Collen Smyth Headshot

Colleen Smyth is an owner and attorney with Counselors Title, LLC in the Kentlands office, specializing in real estate settlements. She has been practicing in this area for 30 years and has been instructing continuing education classes for REALTORS® for the last 27 years.  

Class:
Maryland Fair Housing (1.5 REQUIRED hours for MD-Topic C; 1.5 ELECTIVE hours for D.C. licensees)
> Monday, June 5, 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.

Sandra Stewart Headshot

Sandra Stewart is a native Washingtonian and holds a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree from The Catholic University of America. She has over 23 years of real estate experience, has earned the At Home With Diversity® certification, the Certified Residential Specialist and Graduate, REALTOR® Institute designations, and has been recognized by Coldwell Banker’s executive leadership as a Top Performing Manager. Sandra served as a GCAAR Director 2020-2021 and continues to be an active leader in the real estate community.  She currently serves on the Forms Committee for GCAAR, is a member of the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance, NAREB, NAHREP, and the 2023 President for the Women’s Council of REALTORS® – Greater Capital Network, in addition to being a GCAAR DEI Champion.

Classes:
Maryland Fair Housing (1.5 REQUIRED hours for MD-Topic C; 1.5 ELECTIVE hours for D.C. licensees)
> Tuesday, June 6, 10:30 a.m. – noon
Virginia Fair Housing (2.0 REQUIRED hours for VA licensees; 2.0 ELECTIVE hours for D.C. licensees)
> Tuesday, June 6, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Virginia Legal Update (1.0 REQUIRED hour for VA licensees; 1.0 ELECTIVE hour for D.C. licensees)
> Tuesday, June 6, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.

JD Teitelman is a home mortgage loan officer with First Savings Mortgage, where he specializes in first-time homebuyer financing and bridge loans. He has 15+ years of mortgage industry experience. Currently, he is a member of GCAAR Community Service and YPN Committees, in addition to being a GCAAR DEI Champion. When he is not working, he is trying to accomplish his goal of visiting 100 countries and rooting for his Washington Nationals.

Class:
First-time Homebuyers’ Financing (1.5 ELECTIVE hours for MD and D.C. licensees; 1.0 ELECTIVE hour for VA licensees)
> Wednesday, June 7, 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.

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Kevin Wheeler Headshot

Kevin Wheeler is the Sales Manager with 123JUNK. Kevin currently sits on the GCAAR Community Service Committee. He was the 2020 Young Professionals Network (YPN) Chair for GCAAR. He has been teaching the Working with Hoarders course for seven years. He brings his experience working with these types of clients to the class, as it is a regular part of his business.

Class:
Working with Hoarders (1.5 ELECTIVE hours for MD and D.C. licensees; 1.0 ELECTIVE hour for VA licensees)
> Monday, June 5, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.

 

Chanin Wisler Headshot

Chanin Wisler is a licensed loan officer within Maryland, D.C. and Virginia, with 20+ years of experience. Chanin has lived in the Maryland/D.C. metro area her entire life and is a University of Maryland alumna, and active investor. Chanin is recognized as a National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB) Lending Integrity Professional, a certified VA Lending Specialist, has her RSC-D certificate (Divorce Mortgage) and is a GCAAR DEI Champion. She teaches several finance courses for GCAAR, DCAR and MLTA (Maryland Land Title Association). She enjoys sharing her knowledge of the lending process, credit, and guidelines so that REALTORS ® can be even more of an asset to their clients.   

Class:
Understanding Credit Reports, Scoring Models & Improving Your Credit Score (3.0 ELECTIVE hours for MD, D.C. licensees, and 2.0 ELECTIVE hours for VA licensees)
> Thursday, June 8, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.