Complete Results for the Real Estate Apprentice® Grant Winners
Season I (July – Dec. 2004)

Overall Winner

First Runner Up

Second Runner Up

Other Top 10 Finalist

Honorable Mentions

Bio's of Top 10 Finalists are listed below in the order of that the Finalists were first announced:

MONICA PALMER
	Monica is a certified project manager and new practicing real estate agent in the state of North Carolina. She and her husband are currently managing the day-to-day operations of ValuePlus Properties LLC, a technology savvy real estate brokerage. Monica has over 15 years of experience working in positions of significant responsibility within Fortune 500 and entrepreneurial firms both domestically and internationally. She has generated more than $150 million of value in industries spanning telecommunications, financial, and consumer services at companies such as GTE, Nortel, and Knight Trading Group. Monica has led and managed successful strategic business initiatives and projects in marketing and sales, large scale software development, business intelligence, and e-business. Monica has hired, inspired and coached cross-functional teams of over 50 professionals to achieve business success. She holds an MS in Engineering Management from Stanford University and a BS in Aerospace Engineering from Arizona State University. Monica took her real estate licensing course at Howard Perry & Walston Real Estate School, a RealtyU® Affiliate.
DANIEL FAHEY
	Daniel grew up in the small town of Scarborough, Maine with its coastal beaches and marshes. Daniel spent a lot of time outdoors playing sports and attended private high school in Portland, mostly paid for by working in restaurants. It was at these restaurants that he developed a love for cooking and in 1986 Daniel was accepted at Johnson and Wales University Culinary Arts Program. After receiving his degree in 1988, he returned for two more years as a teaching assistant and finished his four-year degree cum laude after receiving a scholarship. Daniel started out as a restaurant manager with Red Lobster Restaurants and quickly became a general manager. He was also a general manager for Romano's Macaroni Grill, On The Border Mexican Cafe, and The Ground Round. Daniel entered the real estate industry because he wanted a challenging career with some flexibility. He is married and the couple has two young sons. His family is the number one reason that he decided to pursue a career in real estate. Daniel took his real estate licensing course at Arthur Gary School of Real Estate, a RealtyU® Affiliate.

SHEENA JONES
	Sheena was born in Chicago and attended Rich Central High School. She spent her junior year in college at the University of Sheffield, in Sheffield, England, and graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University with a B.A. in Economics. Sheena also received an MBA in International Marketing from the American International University in London. During the MBA program she wrote a marketing plan for a small company launching a new cosmetics line. This plan resulted in their partnering company granting them an $8.5 million marketing budget. She began in insurance sales and won numerous awards and was quickly advanced to Field Sales Trainer. Sheena has had articles written about her in company magazines and has taught marketing classes for a couple of years at a local community college. Recently Sheena published a book called Get A Life! In the City: Chicago, The Ultimate Guide to Classes, Sports, Social Clubs and Volunteer Opportunities in the City and Suburbs. The main reason she decided to enter the real estate industry is to help empower individuals, families and businesses through the complicated real estate transactions. Sheena took her real estate licensing course at REALTORS® Real Estate School, a RealtyU® Affiliate.
VERONICA MANDERSON
	For Veronica real estate has been a family legacy. She was raised in Southern California, fell in love with the sheer beauty of the state and found herself drawn to the real estate industry. For the past 12 years Veronica has developed and sold her own residential properties. She is known for finding inexpensive and common materials and using them in uncommon ways, turning each home into something magical. Veronica received a BA from Long Beach State in Child and Language Development, graduating Cum Laude, and subsequently attained an MA. She also received a 2-year Fellowship as Director of the Children’s Language Clinic, and was the undergraduate instructor during her Masters study before deciding to become a real estate professional. Veronica took her real estate licensing course at Hogan School of Real Estate, a RealtyU® Affiliate.

KENDRA SHEARER
	Kendra, a Georgia girl whose parents are natives of the state, is married to Paul Shearer. They have three children, one of whom was born with Spina Bifida. As a result of Kendra’s encouragement and despite her being in a wheelchair and undergoing 46 operations, the daughter achieved a certification in Early Childhood Development. Kendra’s other two married children are both preparing to take their real estate license examination. Kendra’s dream is to one day work together as a family in the real estate business. Spurred on by her own daughter’s need, Kendra has worked in the healthcare industry since 1977 as a registered nurse in the acute care and long term care setting and later as VP and Administrator. Kendra has also been a consultant, a field surveyor with the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, and a risk manager, assisting organizations with risk reduction strategies. Her goal is to develop a Senior Services Division within the real estate firm where she recently started working. Kendra took her real estate licensing course at Barney Fletcher RealtyU®.
MARY FINLEY
	Mary grew up in a suburb of Minneapolis/St. Paul as part of a large family of six. Upon graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Minnesota, Mary moved to Denver to be near the mountains so she could ski, hike and camp. Her career path has consisted of positions within Corporate Human Resources with an emphasis in recruiting, as well as a position as Direct Marketing Coordinator for small executive consulting firm targeting individuals at the Vice President level. She has been very active with United Way, having co-chaired a corporate United Way committee for eight years. This position involved planning and executing fund raising events. Mary’s numerous awards include a Chairperson of the Year award from Mile High United Way, as well as the Spirit of Hope award. In her free time, she enjoys investing in the stock market, political discussions, reading and traveling. Mary took her real estate licensing course at Armbrust Real Estate Institute, a RealtyU® Affiliate.

ANDY BEARDEN
	Before entering real estate Andy was Vice President of Sales and Marketing for a national homebuilder in the Dallas area. Prior to that position, he served as Regional Marketing Associate for Greystone Development, managing several assisted living communities across the nation. Mr. Bearden was promoted to this position after serving as senior living counselor at Edgemere, one of Greystone's life care retirement communities in Dallas. As senior living counselor, he oversaw the community’s outreach programs, and conducted seminars and presentations on a variety of topics of interest to seniors and their families. In earlier years Andy was a case worker with the Texas Baptist Children’s home, where he oversaw a pilot program that provided family counseling through public schools. Andy holds a degree in Social Work from the University of Texas with an emphasis in gerontology, and received his MBA. at the University of Texas. He lives in Fort Worth, Texas with his wife, Ellen, and their three children. Andy received his real estate license in October 2004 and has already listed and sold homes. Andy took his real estate licensing course at Champions Real Estate School, a RealtyU® Affiliate.
DIANE GOODNOW
	Diane was born in Heidelberg Germany to a young American couple stationed overseas. Her father’s thirty-year career as an Army officer provided opportunities to travel and live in many different locations around the world. Numerous military assignments allowed Diane to experience lifestyles, cultures and real estate of many different parts of the United States and abroad, as far away as South Korea. She attended the University of Florida and received a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a MBA from Georgia State University. Diane started her career at AT&T selling telephone systems to small to mid-size businesses. Over twenty years, she had many sales and marketing positions focusing on solution selling, with her last position as a Global Account Manager at AT&T Wireless. She was responsible for some of the largest national and international accounts. Diane’s educational interest includes work on a second master’s degree in psychology. She lives in Georgia with her daughter and is engaged to be married. Diane took her real estate licensing course at Barney Fletcher RealtyU®.
ANGELA SMITH
	Angela was born in Memphis, Tennessee to a single-mom who attended and completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Tennessee while raising Angela, working two jobs. When Angela was age six her mother married an engineer who worked for General Electric. Angela's Dad encouraged her to become versatile, assisting in everything from learning to play the flute at an early age to becoming athletically active in competitive level tennis. Angela graduated from high school with a 3.0+ average, entered Howard University, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. She started her career working for AT&T as a Power Engineer, and then was promoted to Technical Subject Matter Expert and Leasing Manager. Angela went on to become the Senior Account Executive for the Florida Power Company and most recently the Senior Manager of Network Lease Administration position at Cingular Wireless. She is married with three children and has traveled extensively on work-related assignments. Her personal goal is to touch as many people as possible and share the blessings that have been bestowed on her though a new career in real estate. Angela took her real estate licensing course at Barney Fletcher RealtyU®.
SARA NGUYEN
	Sara grew up in the small town of Rockport-Fulton, Texas. She graduated from high school with Honors, including being a member of the Texas All State Choir her senior year. Sara continued on to the University of Houston where she graduated Cum Laude with a BBA in Finance and Management. While at the University she was active in several business and honor societies. After graduation, she worked as the Director of Investment Operations and currently holds both the Series 7 & 66 securities licenses. Sara specialized in the design and administration of 401(k) pension plans for mutual fund companies and oversaw the compliance aspect of the day to day investment operations of accounts. Sara is married, the proud mother of one and spends a great deal of time volunteering in her community. She is the Chair for one of the Community Councils for the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center and is also an advocate for women in crisis pregnancies. Sara recently changed her career path and has now entered into the real estate field. Sara took his real estate licensing course at Champions Real Estate School, a RealtyU® Affiliate.