:: The Real Estate Apprentice Grants ::

Aliso Viejo , Calif. February 16 th, 2005 – It is with great satisfaction and honor that The Real Estate Apprentice Foundation today announces that Kendra Shearer, the Marietta, Georgia mother of three, has been crowned the Grand Prize Winner and The Real Estate Apprentice. Mrs. Shearer was chosen from over 1,500 applicants in the 1 st Season of the 2004 Real Estate Apprentice Grant program. She will receive $75,000 in real estate education, products and services to launch her new real estate career. Kendra took her licensing courses at Barney Fletcher RealtyU® in Georgia.

When asked about the quality of grant applications, Stefan Swanepoel, Founder and Executive Director of the Real Estate Apprentice Foundation, said: “The quality and caliber of applicants was far above what we expected. If this is representative of the next generation of real estate agents, the future of our industry is in good hands.”

In demonstrating her winning attitude, and possibly spurred on by the disability of one of her own daughters, Kendra became a registered nurse. After steadily working her way up through the ranks of the nursing profession, she eventually became Vice President of Nursing. Kendra’s daughter Shannon was born with Spina Bifida, is confined to a wheelchair, and has had 46 operations while under Kendra’s care. Although Kendra doesn’t like to characterize Shannon’s disability as an adversity, she admits that it was challenging not to sink into despair, anger, and bitterness. “I think that life is about how we handle things, and I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.”

According to Stephen C. Roney, President and Chief Executive Officer of First American Residential Group and one of the judges, “It was a remarkable field of candidates with tremendously varying backgrounds. Kendra is a fantastic candidate and I’m confident she and the other finalists will all be successful because each one has a unique experience set that will compliment a certain segment of consumers,” he said.

When asked what life experiences make her especially well-suited for real estate, Kendra said: “First, I married my best friend a long time ago. We know each other’s strengths and each other’s weaknesses, and complement each other well. I will be able to use the strengths of this partnership to build a strong business unit within the firm. Second, being the mother of a handicapped child brings a lot of joy and sorrow. I have learned to accept both. Third, I have learned many things about my shortcomings. I have made mistakes but try really hard not to repeat errors.”

The level of dedication, focus and excellence demonstrated by Kendra’s application and essay answers contributed to her high ranking by a panel of 12 judges based on salesmanship, communication skills, entrepreneurial spirit, integrity, creativity and uniqueness.

First Runner-Up: Andy Bearden from Texas was Vice President of Sales and Marketing for a national homebuilder. He received a BA in Social Work and an MBA from the University of Texas before taking his real estate licensing course with Champions Real Estate School, a RealtyU® Affiliate.

Second Runner-Up: Sheena Jones of Chicago earned a BA in Economics from Illinois Wesleyan University and an MBA in International Marketing in London before taking her real estate licensing courses with REALTORS® Real Estate School, a RealtyU® Affiliate.

4th - Veronica Manderson of Arizona received a BA and an MA in Child and Language Development, and has remodeled and sold her own residential properties (educated by Hogan Real Estate School, a RealtyU® Affiliate).
5th - Diane Goodnow of Georgia received a BA in Finance from University of Florida, and an MBA from Georgia State. Her most recent corporate role was Global Acct Manager at AT&T Wireless (educated by Barney Fletcher RealtyU® ).
6th - Monica Palmer is a certified project manager and new practicing real estate agent in North Carolina. She and her husband are currently managing ValuePlus Properties LLC (educated by Howard Perry & Walston Real Estate School. Howard Perry and Walston is a Coldwell Banker franchise and the school is affiliated with RealtyU®).
7th - Angela Smith of Georgia received a BS in Electrical Engineering and was a Senior Manager of Network Lease Administration at Cingular Wireless (educated by Barney Fletcher RealtyU®).
8th - Sara Nguyen of Texas received a BBA in Finance and Management, holds a securities license and has worked as a Director of Investment Operations (educated by Champions Real Estate School, a RealtyU® Affiliate).
9th - Mary Finley of Colorado received a BA in Psychology. Her career has consisted of various positions in Corporate Human Resources with an emphasis in recruiting (educated by Armbrust Real Estate School, a RealtyU® Affiliate).
10th - Daniel Fahey of Maine was a restaurant manager with Red Lobster, Romano's Macaroni Grill, On The Border and The Ground Round. He entered Real Estate in order to have more time with his family (educated by RealtyU® Affiliate Arthur Gary Real Estate School).

Honorable Mentions

The Real Estate Apprentice™ Foundation also honored the following semi-finalists:

Carlos Rodriguez (educated by IFREC Real Estate School in Florida), Terry Stirling (educated by Armbrust Real Estate Institute in Colorado), Starr Osborne (educated by Polley Associates Real Estate School in Pennsylvania), Vicki Heimerman (educated by Career Education Systems in Kansas), Donald Helphrey (educated by Hogan School of Real Estate in Arizona) and Kristina Heavican (educated by Randall School of Real Estate in Nebraska).

When asked about the purpose, mission and methods of the Real Estate Apprentice Grant, the Foundation’s Deputy Director Dr. Martin Oliver said: “The Apprentice mission is to assist newly licensed agents entering the real estate industry to overcome their fears and obstacles and to facilitate the creation of top producing sales people by providing quality guidance, education, products and services to expedite a successful fast track to profitability. We hope in our small way to help raise the standards and levels of professionalism for real estate agents in general.” The Real Estate Apprentice Foundation awards 20 bi-annual grants totaling $250,000/year. Finalists are selected through essays and are judged by a panel of industry leaders, authors, business professionals and top producers.

Real Estate Apprentice Grant products and services are provided by corporate sponsorship. When asked to comment on sponsorship, Don Hobbs, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of Hobbs/Herder, said: “Hobbs/Herder is proud to be a Platinum Sponsor of the Real Estate Apprentice program. This is a wonderful way for tomorrow’s most promising real estate professionals to get on the right path toward a rewarding career.”

Real Estate Apprentice Grand Prize Winner Kendra Shearer will receive the following:

First American Residential Group will be providing Kendra with the following : An integrated set of technology tools used during all phases of a real estate transaction, from listing to closing, including: Document management and storage; smart task management including auto-calculation of due dates; collaboration with transaction participants; vendor management; messaging and activity log and a form letter wizard with mail merge.
Hobbs/Herder will provide Kendra with the following : A comprehensive personal identity and marketing package including: custom personal logo and a stationary package with the design and printing of business cards, letterheads and envelopes: customized personal marketing campaign including the design and printing of custom personal brochure; custom personal PowerKards®; and the design and building of a custom personal website.
Thomson Learning will be providing Kendra with the following: A comprehensive set of real estate books on topics such as: Business planning; Marketing; Prospecting; Internet technology; Branding; Team building; Communication; Financial planning; and Legal issues.
Success Strategies Institute (SSI) will provide Kendra with the following : A one-year membership in a Personal Coaching System which evaluates strengths, weaknesses, goals and desires; Design of a success plan; Skill-building training focusing on lead generation strategies, listing presentations, objection handling, marketing; Mastermind Meetings for brainstorming/goal setting; CD’s on lead generation and time management system.
McLean International will provide Kendra with the following : Hands-on technology and business systems consulting set up; Coordination of business vision and plan; Coordination of marketing plan; Office setup for maximum functionality and efficiency ; selection and set up of electronic signatures, voice messaging, buyer and seller file set up, management of calls, email, paperwork and the daily organizing and prioritization of tasks and projects.
iSucceed will provide Kendra with the following: Unlimited access to the nation’s leading real estate mentoring program, including weekly counseling calls hundreds of business tips, tools, money-making systems and marketing strategies for two years, including a Home Sellers Workbook and a Home Buyers Workbook.
RealtyU® Real Estate Schools will be providing Kendra with the following: Reimbursement of fees for licensing course, examination and state license fees; Unlimited attendance to any real estate course for one year to obtain any real estate designation or to even complete future continuing education credits in advance. Courses can be taken online or at any of the 120 RealtyU® real estate campuses across the USA.

Other sponsors include companies such as The Real Estate Cyberspace Society, Broker Agent News and RIS Media. They will, among other things, be providing a laptop computer, printer, cell phone, personal digital assistant, business service for one year, membership for one year to the Real Estate Cyberspace Society and a one-year subscription to Broker Agent News, National Relocation & Real Estate and The Real Estate Professional magazine.

The Real Estate Apprentice Foundation will also provide the Grand Prize Winner with a cash allowance to cover annual membership dues for their local, state and the National Association of REALTORS®, MLS fees and other small business expenses not covered elsewhere. Former NAR Chief Economist and one of the judges, Dr. John Tuccillo, remarked, "Excellence in real estate practice is key in today's market. By giving new agents a leg up in increasing their competence, the Real Estate Apprentice Program is doing the real estate industry a major service."