Speakers

Dr. Jennifer Golbeck is a computer scientist, Director of the Social Intelligence Lab, and a professor in the College of Information Studies at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Her research focuses on analyzing and computing with social media and creating usable privacy and security systems. She writes for Slate and The Atlantic and frequently appears on NPR, including as a regular guest host for The Kojo Nnamdi Show. Her TED talk was named one of the most powerful talks of 2014. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, a Bachelor of Science degree, a Master of Science degree in Computer Science at the University of Chicago, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Computer Science from the University of Maryland, College Park.Her research focuses on analyzing and computing with social media and creating usable privacy and security systems. She writes for Slate and The Atlantic and frequently appears on NPR, including as a regular guest host for The Kojo Nnamdi Show. Her TED talk was named one of the most powerful talks of 2014. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, a Bachelor of Science degree, a Master of Science degree in Computer Science at the University of Chicago, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Computer Science from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Eric Sain (GRI, CIPS, ePRO, PMN) is the president of Florida REALTORS® (the largest trade association in the state of Florida) and district sales manager of Illustrated Properties Palm Beach. A 2010 Florida REALTOR® Associate of the Year, Eric’s volunteer leadership and service led to his NAR positions as the 2018 RPAC Disbursement Liaison (one of the largest political action committees in the country) and currently serving 2019 Vice Chair of C2EX.  His political savvy and commitment to excellence propel him into being a sought after speaker coast to coast in the Political and Professionalism arenas. Eric has been emceeing conferences, conventions and installations for years with timely interviews, industry discussions and humorous analogies. As the 2019 President of Florida REALTORS®, and volunteer leader of the National Association of REALTORS®, Eric advocates for property rights at the local, state, and national association levels. His passion is to sell real estate, buy real estate and help others do the same. He is a graduate of The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Radio, Television and Motion Picture Broadcasting.

Barb Canaday, GRI, ABR, MRP, ePro, SRES, PSA, is a Principal Real Estate Broker with 25 years of industry experience in sales, property management, and business development, and was in the top 10% of Pacific Northwest REALTORS® from 2002-2008. She is a certified Instructor for the Oregon Association of REALTORS® and teaches extensively throughout the state. Barb holds a cum laude Bachelor’s degree in Communications with minors in Marketing and Management from the University of Portland, and has designed and implemented regional communication vehicles and marketing campaigns for the Department of Energy’s Bonneville Power Administration.

Barb currently develops and manages affordable multifamily housing for veterans and other underserved communities and has managed a portfolio of as many as 850 doors. Barb is a two-time cancer survivor, and has been married for 32 years. The Canadays have three amazing adult children and a well-loved golden retriever.

Born and raised on an island in the Puget Sound, Karen is a Washingtonian transplant to Oregon. She came to Oregon on a track scholarship to attend the University of Oregon later going on to run for both Nike and Reebok. Karen spent 18 years as a public school teacher writing curriculum, negotiating teacher contracts, and developing district wide curriculum. She became a REALTOR® in 2006 working her way up from a successful Buyer’s Agent to a top producing Principal Broker running her own team. Karen has taught and coached other agents not only as the Education Principal Broker at RE/MAX Integrity, but as a Principal Broker at Windermere and a CEO at Keller Williams. Karen is a top producer whose goal is to help other brokers to succeed by listening to their needs and going above and beyond in helping them achieve their goals. Karen was 2018 REALTOR® of the Year and a past President of the Eugene Association of REALTORS®. Karen is currently co-chair of the Business Issues Committee for the Oregon Association of REALTORS®. Most important to Karen are her honor, integrity, and her belief in creating relationships that are built on trust, which is the backbone to running a highly successful business.

At the national level, John has served NAR in numerous capacities, most recently as the 2017 Vice Chair of the Finance Committee. He was the 2013 Vice President for Region VII, comprised of Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. John has been a member of the NAR Board of Directors since 2010. He was appointed to several NAR committees and work groups including the Strategic Planning committee, NAR’s Membership Structural Review PAG, and NAR’s Advocacy Work Group. The Wisconsin REALTORS® Association (WRA) elected John their Treasurer in 2008 followed by Chairman-Elect and Chairman of the Board in 2010. John was named Wisconsin’s REALTOR® of the Year in 2010, as recognition for his years of service to the membership. His local association, the REALTORS® Association of Northwest Wisconsin (RANWW), elected John their president in 2009. John has served on the RANWW Board of Directors since 2002 and still sits on the board today. He was honored with the RANWW REALTOR® of the Year award in 2009.

Rick Harris (ABR®, CRS, GRI, SRS, e-PRO®, SFR®) is the Owner/Principal Broker of Coldwell Banker Pro West Ashland, with over 30 years of hands-on, in-the-trenches experience in residential, multi-family and commercial brokerage.

Throughout his career, Rick has volunteered in REALTOR® and MLS leadership at the local, state and national level, including: State President, long-time National Director, NAR Regional Vice President, Federal Political Coordinator, and Chair of NAR’s MLS Issues and Policy Committee and MLS Technology & Emerging Issues Advisory Board.

Rick is also a program specialist for Dynamic Directions, an international real estate training and strategic facilitation firm. Rick provides REALTOR® education, strategic planning and leadership training for real estate associations, MLSs and brokerages nationwide. He speaks regularly for the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council, the Real Estate Business Institute, for ARELLO, AEI, Council of Multiple Listing Services, Inman and for GRI programs in Northwest.

Rick’s broad industry experience gives him a unique perspective on what makes businesses run, how agents and consumers tick, and how to build great organizations that keeps REALTORS® relevant and prosperous.

Charlie Lee joined NAR in 2018. He has ten (10) years of association law and governance experience. Prior to joining NAR, Charlie was with the Appraisal Institute since 2008, where he served as Associate Counsel and as the primary legal counsel to 90 chapters, and subsidiaries which included for-profits, charitable and insurance organizations. Charlie’s focus included trade association, corporate governance, not-for-profit taxation, cybersecurity, contracts, intellectual property, advertisement, employment and antitrust matters. He also has professional experience in commercial and employment litigation, intellectual property, and serving as an Illinois state’s attorney appellate prosecutor.

He received his B.S. degree in Business Administration and Management of Information Systems from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and graduated cum laude from the John Marshall Law School. Charlie is admitted to the state bar of Illinois and is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and the U.S. Supreme Court. He is a member of the American and Chicago Bar Associations, ASAE, and the Association of Corporate Counsel.

Jeff Madl has a history of being a top producer and leader in the field of Software as a Service (SaaS). He possesses a deep understanding of the real estate industry through unconventional means. Jeff has been a practicing Real Estate Investor in the Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX area for over 10 years and loves to flip houses without burning a homeowners’ equity in the process. Currently, Jeff serves as the Director of Sales & Business Development at Amarki. He is also a class member of the REACH® Class of 2019. His position involves networking, meeting, and building relationships with Residential Real Estate experts every day. He had met and done demos of the Amarki platform with well over 600 brokers since August 1, 2018, when he joined Amarki. The incites from those conversations have quickly made him an expert in what REALTORS® and Brokers alike are looking for to lead, build, and help their organizations grow through technology.

Jeff was a President’s club member at Solutionreach all three years that it was available while he was with that organization. He qualified as a Sales Representative, a Manager, and for Retention. Jeff has also finished SixSigma certifications and is an accomplished vocal performer, with his education in vocal performance at Baylor University. His number one priority and the most important aspect of his life is his beautiful wife and three amazing daughters.

Lori Palermo is the Principal Broker and co-owner of Palermo Real Estate, located in beautiful Springfield, Oregon. She has lived in Springfield most of her life and is a 1978 graduate of Springfield High School. Lori has been in the real estate business since 1993 and is a second-generation REALTOR®. Her parents, L.R. “Pete” and Mary Palermo have owned Fairway Real Estate for many years and are lifelong residents of Springfield as well. They work exclusively in the Property Management area of real estate. Lori is active in the community serving on the Springfield Board of REALTORS® Board of Directors since 1994, President in 2000, 2004, and 2007, and is currently serving as Principal Broker Director. She is a charter member and Past-President of the Lane County Chapter of Women’s Council of REALTORS®, served on the Mayor’s Business Advancement Team and the Springfield Housing Summit, sits on the Executive Board of the Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS) as well as the Executive Committee of the Oregon Association of REALTORS®, having been elected as President-Elect 2019. Lori was honored as the Springfield Board of REALTORS®, REALTOR® of the Year in 1999, 2013, and 2018, and WCR Businesswoman of the Year in 2005. She continues to volunteer her time with Springfield High School Athletics Programs and Food for Lane County and volunteers at the local, state, and national levels of the REALTOR® organization advocating for the rights of homeowners both locally and across the nation.

John, a second-generation REALTOR®, has been in the industry for nearly 40 years. He is a broker at Edina Realty, where he specializes in residential real estate. John is a member of the Minnesota Association of REALTORS® (MNAR), and has held numerous leadership positions there. John was the RPAC chair from 2013 to 2015 as well as the RPAC Trustees chair in 2014. In 2013, John received the Ed Anderson Political Achievement Award and in 2014, MNAR named him their REALTOR® of the Year.