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Complete Results
for the Real Estate Apprentice Grant Winners
Season V (Jul - Dec 2006)
Overall Winner
First Runner Up
Second Runner Up
Other Top 10 Finalist
Top Semi-Finalist
| Tameka Goldsborough of Pennsylvania |
| Christopher Davison of Pennsylvania |
| Renee Buckhoff of Texas |
| Jeff Pinson of Missouri |
| Marisol Lezcano of Pennsylvania |
| Regina Randall of Missouri |
| Tiffany Nalepa-Pons of Texas |
| Pamela Marut of Texas |
| Ron Reed of Wisconsin |
| Nilay Bobby Jhaveri of Georgia |
Honorable Mentions
| Holly Genz of Wisconsin |
| Leslie Martin of Florida |
| Kari Wimmer of Colorado |
| Maggie Ben-Tchavtchavadze of Texas |
| Adeola Adedokun of Missouri |
| Fonda McConnell of Texas |
| Frank Schroeter of California |
| Deneen Thomas of Pennsylvania |
| Linda Peace of Texas |
| Dave Figueroa of Georgia |
Bio's of Top 10 Finalists
Listed below in the order that the Finalists were first announced
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Anna Northcutt
Anna Northcutt joined Prudential Realty Center after a career in federal law enforcement and corporate security. Prior to beginning her real estate career she served as a Special Agent in the FBI and later as an executive in several national companies. She has written for national publications, authored a book on selecting safe childcare and brings to her real estate career the reputation of being a person of integrity with a willingness to provide extraordinary service. She has lived throughout the United States and chose to live and work in Chattanooga, Tennessee, which she describes as the "greatest place to live". She received her licensing courses from Tennessee Real Estate School, a RealtyU® Real Estate School located in Chattanooga. |
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Cindy Newman
Prior to entering the real estate profession, Cindy Newman was a police officer for 23 years. She spent a short amount of time as a road patrol officer, however the bulk of her career was spent working with at-risk and disadvantaged youth within the elementary/middle/high school settings. Newman was a teacher, counselor, mentor and friend to students of all ages/races and ethnicities. Her ability to connect and really make a difference in young peoples' lives was something very important and fulfilling to her personally. "I knew I couldn't save them all, but I know my compassion and involvement saved quite a few," Newman says. She received her licensing courses from Tri-State Real Estate School, also a RealtyU School, located in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. |
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Holly Olson
Holly Olson's professional background includes more than 12 years of managerial experience working from the ground up in the construction and real estate industries, including the founding of Transaction Savvy, a real estate virtual assistance company designed to assist Realtors nationwide with transaction management, marketing and day-to-day operations. When asked to explain why she will succeed in real estate where others around her may fail Olson responded by saying: "I pondered that question for six years because I wanted to ensure my success rate as much as possible. My conclusion — Old-fashioned Customer Service! I've implemented a Service For Life program with the goal of building a business, not just doing sales. Based on feedback from my clients and friends I think I'm on the right track. I'm building a business that is sustainable, dynamic, and adds value to my clients and my fellow colleagues. Being involved in my local association also allows me to glean wisdom and build relationships with fellow agents to carry me forward." |
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J.J. Leininger
J.J. Leininger of Kauai, Hawaii, is a rookie agent working full time with Makai Properties LLC. Leininger, who received her real estate education at Vitousek School of Real Estate in Hawaii, was first licensed in September of 2006, Leininger dove in head first as a full time agent. She is working daily to achieve her goal of consistently closing at least $10,000,000 per year in transactions. JJ currently has six active listings for a total of over $3,500,0000, has closed 3 sales prior and has 2 more in escrow. In January of 2007, she joined Makai Properties, who is the lead broker on an exciting new subdivision consisting of 70 luxury homes on Kiahuna Golf Course at Poipu Beach, Kauai. "I have never seen an agent who has started as quickly, who is so hungry, and who strives to achieve excellence with such dedication and single mindedness as J.J. Leininger," said Roberta Charles, Broker and Partner of Makai Properties. Leininger's husband Don was in a horrible accident in 2001 that left him disabled with a missing leg. Although he has a prosthetic leg, constant pain makes using it difficult. "Adversity like this can either be a downfall or create an opportunity to become stronger through adapting and overcoming it". Today Don is helping J.J. with her new career seven days a week. |
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Angelina Ferre
Angelina Ferre worked as a flight attendant and learned how to work with the most discerning and the most irate of passengers. This is also where she developed her diplomatic problem solving skills. "I had a fear of flying which I overcame and became a flight attendant and excelled in the flight training program. I also studied business management, business math and became a detail oriented woman with strong people skills," said Ferre. Ferre also ran a business for 12 years and was a manager for an outpatient medical facility where she oversaw all aspects of the business; from cleaning, laundry, inventory, to working with doctors, attorneys, insurance companies and patients. Part of her normal work routine was performing evaluations, setting up treatment protocols and overseeing patients. Ferre was also assigned the task of following up with doctors on patients' progress, recovering old delinquent payments and developing marketing and business strategies. She received her licensing courses through the Chicago Association Realtors School, a RealtyU Affiliate School. |
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Julie Wulfekuhle
Julie Wulfekuhle, a former assistant manager and personal trainer for PowerHouse Gym, earned a B.A Degree in Human Service with a minor in Human Development and is a translator for Spanish speakers. She is certified in tour management from the International Tour Management Institute of Boston. Wulfekuhle believes that this training and background will help her with customer service and communication in real estate. Her sales experience also includes work as an Account Executive for Air Tell Wireless Cellular Phones and a part-time counselor for abused children at the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch. These experiences have strengthened her communication skills and shown her how to develop a trusting, professional relationship with diverse kinds of clientele. These skills will not only help her in her real estate career but also facilitate a substantial referral base. She received her licensing courses through Connole/Morton School of Real Estate, located in Missoula, Montana. Wulfekuhle works as a rookie agent for T & E Realty in Billings, Montana. |
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Susan Falzone
Susan Falzone received an AS in Chemistry, a BS in Human Biology, a Master of Science in Higher Education and a Doctor of Chiropractic. She also is a home stager and interior re-design specialist. It was odd that Susan found herself enthralled with the world of real estate given a lifetime (15 years) spent in health care followed by another lifetime (20 years) in higher education. Who knew she would have such a love for homes and the promise of real estate? However, love it she has since her first dabbling in the early 1980s. She has finally come "home to homes" full-time now, working as a Realtor and Home Stager for Keller Williams Realty Downtown Denver and she states, "I'm buying my joy on the installment plan – one day at a time in the wonderful world of real estate!" Like with nearly everyone, adversities have occurred in Falzone's life – loss of her Mother at an early age (10), failure in business, health crises, etc. "Suffice it to say I've had as many adversities as everyone else. You can wallow in your pain, or adapt and then get over it. Adversity has never deterred me, but instead it has made me more determined to succeed," she said. Falzone received her real estate education and pre-license training through Armbrust Real Estate Institute, a RealtyU Affiliate in Greenwood Village, Colorado, and works for Keller Williams Realty Downtown Denver. |
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Jennifer Martin
Jennifer Martin grew up sitting on a stool at the Green Shingle Truck Stop. Due to financial hardships that most single moms go through, her mother was forced to move sometimes two to three times per year; no stability existed in her youth; 27 different schools can be counted. "I have been homeless literally; going days without eating, getting a full time job at 13 so my little brother would have a Christmas and dealing with the endless teasing due to my dirty, hole ridden hand-me downs. I moved out on my own at the age of 16 and worked two jobs while attending high school. I got married at 18 and had a baby at 19; he was an abusive man and at the age of 21 I joined the Army. I graduated with honors in leadership and physical fitness. I remarried 13 years ago to the man who raised my son and we now have two other children. Martin is 14 months into a Bachelors Degree with a major in Small Business Management. Her customer service skills are her biggest asset, along with her above average web design, internet and software skills. She received her real estate education training through the Real Estate Certification Program in Bloomington, Indiana, a RealtyU Affiliate. Appropriately enough, Jennifer Martin works for American Dream Realty in Dale Indiana. In addition, if you wanted a perfect ending, you got it … Jennifer Martin now lives with her husband and children in Christmas Lake Village in Santa Claus Indiana. |
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Nayeli Garcia-Selvaraj
Nayeli Garcia-Selvaraj, was welcomed into this world by cockroaches in an apartment on the "bad" side of town. Her parents were poor immigrants who spoke no English, and her father was a house painter who struggled financially. She helped her father during the summers with his house-painting business and learned the valuable lessons of perseverance and entrepreneurship. Today, because of her background, Nayeli has a passionate desire to help low-income families, first-time homeowners and limited-English families become homeowners. She became a first generation college graduate who earned a B.S. in Psychology (summa cum laude) and a M.Ed. in School Counseling (summa cum laude) from the University of Maryland, College Park. If that is not enough, she also graduated as valedictorian. Garcia-Selvaraj received her real estate training through Career WebSchool in Atlanta and has become an affiliate with Long & Foster in Leesburg, VA. |
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Nina Chen
Nina Chen, was born and raised in the Greater Philadelphia. Her father is elderly, her mother has polio and is paralyzed from the waist down, and they were a very low-income family that at one point were supported by welfare. "When I was younger, I believed that this was all that I would get out of life. It wasn't until a few years ago that my eyes were opened to the opportunities around me. It was then that I realized that if I put my mind to it, set my goals and applied my 'plan of action,' I too could live the American Dream." After graduating from college with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Ceramics from Pennsylvania State University, Chen joined Shirley Hsi at RE/MAX Centre Realty and is currently working as a Buyer's Agent. In less than two months in the business, she had one listing and two closed transactions. Nina Chen received her real estate training through Polley Associates in Pennsylvania. When asked to explain why she would succeed in real estate when others around her may fail she said: "You are what you eat! And that same principle applies to those with whom you associate. As the old adage says, 'success breeds success.' I truly believe this and I strive to surround myself with prosperous individuals. Not only do I enjoy their company but I also rub their tummies for good luck!" |
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