Ms. Barletta & Mr. Shepherd: An Officer and a Gentleman

Aliso Viejo, Calif. August 26^th, 2005 – (Part 5 of 5) According to the Real Estate Apprentice™ Foundation the ninth and tenth Grant Finalists for Season II are Tina Barletta and Troy Shepherd. Barletta is a full time agent with RE/MAX Classic Realty, Clayton North Carolina, and Shepherd is a full time agent with Century 21 Triad in Mocksville, North Carolina. Both Barletta and Shepherd will receive $5,000 worth of real estate education products, education, books and services from the Foundation, courtesy of the various leading companies that sponsor the only national grant competition program helping new agents become more successful.

These two Finalists respectively took their real estate licensing courses at Howard Perry and Walston Real Estate School – a RealtyU^® Network Affiliate – in Raleigh North Carolina, and Dan Mohr Real Estate School, in North Carolina. Grants are sponsored by First American Residential Group, Hobbs/Herder Advertising & Design, iSucceed Online Real Estate Mentoring, Success Strategies Institute, McLean International, Thomson Learning, Calculated Industries, The Real Estate CyberSpace Society, Broker Agent News, RIS Media and RealtyU^®.

When Tina’s Broker/Owner Tony McKinney heard that Tina has become a top 10 Finalist for the Apprentice Grant he had this to say: “I believe that Tina has all the qualities that successful real estate agents have. The level of professionalism and customer service as a seasoned professional working in different industries and technology, particularly in pharmaceuticals, is transferable to real estate.” One of the things that real estate often forgets is that this is a customer-oriented service industry. Tina has listed seven properties in the last 45 days and has four offers under contract.

Tina added: “I am thankful to have been chosen to be among the top 10 Finalist. We are very fortunate as freshman in this profession to have the Apprentice Foundation help us build a solid foundation to launch our careers. As each day goes by I grow a little more passionate about being a Realtor® and fulfilling my role in helping my clients achieve their dreams.”

Barletta was a US Army Military Intelligence Officer for nine years, culminating as a Company Commander in Germany. She then spent 10+ years in corporate America with positions including Vice-President, Sales and Marketing, as well as Senior Director of Marketing, National Sales Manager and National Trainer. She began her sales and marketing career as a sales representative selling surgical devices to surgeons. “I am a trained warrior with a specialty in intelligence which comes in handy now and again searching out, identifying, and then meeting my clients needs” she said. Tina earned her bachelors degrees in Political Science and French from the University of Connecticut graduating Summa cum Laude. She has a master’s degree in Strategic Intelligence from the Defense Intelligence College, Washington, DC where she earned the Honor Graduate (highest overall performance) recognition. Foremost in her approach to work and life is the incorporation of the Fish Philosophy, which focuses on the enjoyment of work and appreciation of those around her. She is an ardent believer in this philosophy and incorporates it into her daily life and her interaction with clients.

Finalist #10, Troy Shepherd grew up in a small town in Southern Ohio. He graduated from high school and attended a small Christian college in Parkersburg, West Virginia where he received his Bachelors in Elementary Education. Because of his love for music, during college he sang with a six member a-cappella music group that traveled around the East Coast performing over 100 concerts a year. He met his wife, Danielle, during his first year in college and married her four years later. They moved to North Carolina after college, started as a sales trainer while his wife taught 2^nd grade at a local elementary school. Just recently, they both took on the challenges of a career change. Danielle took the position as the Center Director for Sylvan Learning Center and Troy decided to use his sales training in a field that would allow for more opportunities and greater freedom, Real Estate. After receiving his license in February of 2005, Troy has become the Top New Agent at Century 21 Triad, closing five deals and obtaining seven new listings in his first quarter.

“As for me, a 25-year veteran and one of the owners of the company”, Kathi Wall, Broker/Owner, Century 21 Triad, in Mocksville, North Carolina said “Troy is one of the hardest working, nicest people that we have ever had working in our office. He is highly dedicated to his work, has a genuine love for people and is completely fair. Troy is certainly a natural at selling real estate, and also has tremendous computer skills. He combines his great personality with his technological knowledge, which I believe will assure him of great success in the real estate industry.”

Troy added: “Regarding the Real Estate Apprentice, I have been extremely impressed and thrilled to be part of it. I was especially interested in the Sponsors, particularly in Hobbs/Herder for my advertising and marketing needs. Numerous agents in my office are going through the Hobbs/Herder courses and that is what really intrigued me. My entire goal is to advertise differently, so that I might stand out as someone special and not just another face in the phone book. My goal is to communicate to my clients that I am someone worth working with in real estate. I am looking forward to a lifelong journey and career in the industry,” Shepherd said.

Barletta and Shepherd are the 9^th and 10^th Real Estate Apprentice Grant Finalists announced for Season II. On Wednesday August 31st the Grand Prize Grant Winner will be revealed as well as the honorable mentions. The overall winner will receive $75,000 of real estate products and services.

According to Dr. Martin Oliver, Deputy Executive Director of The Apprentice Foundation, Season III of the Apprentice competition opened July 1^st, 2005 and will run through December 31^st, 2005. Real estate students who have taken or will be taking their new agent pre-licensing class during the Season III time-frame or 90 days prior, or those who were newly licensed for the first time as an agent during that same time frame can enter the grant program by simply applying online at www.RealEstateApprentice.com. Companies interested in providing their products or services as part of the Grant Sponsorship program should contact Dr. Oliver at Dr.Oliver@ReApprentice.com or by phone at 949-349-9394 ext 107.

# # #

More about the Real Estate Apprentice™ Foundation

The Real Estate Apprentice™ Foundation is a non-profit venture and was formed in 2004 to assist new licensed agents entering the real estate industry, to overcome their fears and obstacles and to facilitate them to become top producing sales people by providing quality guidance, education, products and services and to help guide them on a successful fast track to profitability. 20 bi-annual grants, totaling $250,000 are awarded with no strings attached. Grants are sponsored by various leading real estate companies, service providers and industry leaders. Visit www.RealEstateApprentice.com for more information.