REALTOR® Broker Summit Speakers

A nationally recognized leader in the self-directed IRA industry, Jason Craig has authored numerous articles and been featured in publications like the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, RISMedia, and REALTOR.com. He regularly shares his expertise as a speaker for the NAR Center for REALTOR® Financial Wellness.

Currently President of IRAR Trust Company, a leading self-directed IRA custodian, Jason empowers real estate agents to build wealth through real estate investments within their IRAs. Leveraging his 25+ years of experience in financial services and his status as a Certified IRA Services Professional (CISP), Jason has presented to countless real estate professionals and their clients. He is also a real estate IRA investor himself, a member of the Forbes Financial Council, and a strong advocate for the benefits of self-directed IRAs.

Jeremy Empol has extensive work experience in the public affairs and government relations field. Jeremy is currently the Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Industry Outreach at the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco. Prior to that, they held various senior-level positions at the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues, including Senior Vice President of Federal Government Affairs and Vice President of Federal Government Affairs. Before joining the credit union leagues, Jeremy worked in the U.S. House of Representatives as a Legislative Assistant and Legislative Correspondent for different representatives. Jeremy also served as a Staff Assistant in the California State Assembly.

Shay Hata is an Ivy League grad, mom and residential REALTOR®. She moved to Chicago in 2012 and jumped into real estate in a brand-new city where she didn't know anyone and was new to real estate. Now 10 years later she has a small team consisting of 2 other agents and 4 assistants and she averages 150 transactions a year in Chicago and $75M in transaction volume. In 2020 Shay moved to Denver so Shay now splits her time between Denver and Chicago and sells real estate in both markets. Shay is passionate about animal rescue as well as making sure every child has access to a quality education, therefore, she donates a portion of each commission to local animal rescue groups and local schools.

Katie Johnson is the Chief Legal Officer and Chief Member Experience Officer, National Association of REALTORS®, the nation’s largest trade association representing more than 1.5 million members involved in all aspects of the real estate industry.

As the daughter of two REALTORS®, Katie takes great pride in her role at NAR. As General Counsel, she is responsible for assuring that the programs, policies and activities of NAR are in compliance with the law. She also is responsible for defending the association against legal challenges and initiating litigation to protect and preserve association assets and policies. As NAR’s Chief Member Experience Officer, she leads initiatives to enhance member engagement and satisfaction through delivery of relevant resources and experiences for our commercial, global, association leadership, professional standards, and MLS stakeholders. Katie lives in Chicago with her husband and three children.

One of 100 speakers selected out of over 1,300 to speak at the REALTOR® Conference & Expo ten times (face-to-face and virtually) with high program evaluations and an INMAN Closing Keynote Speaker. Marki Lemons Ryhal is a licensed Managing Broker, REALTOR®, avid volunteer, Major Investor, President's Circle, Federal Political Coordinator, Podcast Host of Drive with NAR & Social Selling Made Simple, 30 times published author, and 6X International Best-Selling Author. Marki Lemons-Ryhal is dedicated to all things real estate. With 30+ years of marketing and education experience, Marki has taught over 1,000,000 people (face-to-face and virtually) since 1993.

Marki holds a Bachelor of Science in Management from Chicago State University, a Master's in Business Administration from Saint Xavier University, and sixty-four real estate-related licenses, certifications, and designations.

Lynn is the owner of Lynn Madison Seminars, a full-service training and development company devoted to the advancement of professionalism in real estate.

Formerly Lynn was Vice President and Director of Career Development for The Prudential Preferred Properties in Chicago, a 25-office firm with over 900 associates, where she authored and trained their New Agent Institute. Before that she held the same position with First United REALTORS®, a local independent with 28 offices. She was manager of two different offices for First United. Prior to that, she was an award winning salesperson – receiving their Salesperson of the Year honors.

Lynn speaks annually at the NAR conventions and is an ABR, BPOR, GRI, SFR, SRES, and SRS instructor and has conducted classes in over 30 states. Lynn's involvement with REBAC goes beyond instructing. She conducts the trainer recertification program for REBAC instructors annually and has authored or co-authored the SFR, ABR and BPOR courses.

At the National level, Lynn currently serves on the NAR Professional Development Committee the RPAC Participation Council and has served on Equal Opportunity and Cultural Diversity as well as Professional Standards and Risk Management. Lynn has been honored with two NAR Hall of Fame memberships - RPAC and REBAC.

Lynn is ITI certified, a member of the Real Estate Educators Association, was a National Educator of the Year award winner, has received the Educator of the Year award from AIREE, the Illinois real estate educator of the year and REALTOR® of the Year honors from her local association in 2003 and was named the Illinois Association REALTOR® of the Year for 2011.

Eric Sain (GRI, CIPS, C2EX, AHWD, ePRO), a REALTOR® from West Palm Beach, Florida, is 2024 Vice President of Association Affairs for the National Association of REALTORS®.

Eric, an accomplished 25-year industry veteran, is a district sales manager in Palm Beach Gardens with the Keyes Co., Florida’s largest independent brokerage.

A proud graduate of NAR Leadership Academy 2012, Eric has held a variety of leadership roles at the national level: 2016 REALTOR® Party Fundraising Trustee, 2018 REALTOR® Party Disbursements Liaison, 2017 Public Policy Coordinating Committee Chair, 2020 C2EX Chair and 2022 Meetings & Conference Committee Co-Chair. Most recently, he served as 2023 Regional Vice President for Region 5, composed of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Eric has also served at the state and local levels. At Florida REALTORS®, he served as 2019 president, RPAC Trustee and Chairman and Public Policy Chair. He’s also served on countless other PAGs and committees. Eric served as the 2008-09 president of what is now Broward Palm Beaches and St. Lucie REALTORS®, where he started their local Young Professionals Network in 2008.

Eric has earned many awards, including being named Florida REALTORS® REALTOR® of the Year in 2020 and REALTOR® Associate of the Year in 2010. In 2021, he was awarded the TrailBlazer of the Year for his local association and their REALTOR® of the Year in 2010.   

A multi-talented professional, Eric is a productivity and accountability coach in his role as district sales manager as well as an entertaining emcee and speaker. He previously worked in the entertainment industry as a featured performer in videos, television specials, live theatre and touring companies. He’s fortunate to have worked with some of the industry's leading artists, including Shania Twain, Dolly Parton, Billy Ray Cyrus, Reba McEntire, the Mandrell Sisters, Lee Greenwood, Willie Nelson, Lucy Arnaz, Gregory Hines and many more.

Eric and his partner, John, live in downtown West Palm Beach and enjoy traveling to our country’s national parks, riding their motorcycles along the coast, Airstreaming, fun times at the beach and being entertained by their dog, Selma.

Kevin Sears (AHWD, C2EX), a REALTOR® from Springfield, Mass., is 2024 president of the National Association of REALTORS®. He is Broker/Partner of Sears Real Estate, specializing in single-family brokerage and property management. He has served NAR in numerous capacities, including as a President’s Liaison in 2019 and as NAR Vice President of Government Affairs in 2017.

Kevin has been recognized as an RPAC Major Investor since 2004 and has been a “Golden R” investor and member of the President’s Circle since 2007. He has twice been inducted into NAR’s RPAC Hall of Fame. He also served as the long-time Federal Political Coordinator to Bay State Congressman Richard Neal (D-Springfield).

Kevin chaired an RPAC Disbursements Presidential Advisory Group in 2021. In addition, he served as Chair of the NAR RPAC Trustees in 2011 and 2015 and Chair of the REALTOR® Party Trustees for State and Local Campaign Services Committee in 2013. In 2016, he chaired the REALTOR® Party of the Future Strategic Planning Work Group. Also in 2016, he was NAR’s Vice President for Region 1, comprised of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® elected Kevin President in 2010. In addition to serving in leadership, Kevin has been a member or an alternate of the MAR Board of Directors since 2000. In 2006, MAR named him REALTOR® of the Year and in 2015 he received the Milton H. Shaw Distinguished Service Award.

The REALTOR® Association of Pioneer Valley (Mass.) elected Kevin their president in 2005. He has chaired a number of the association’s committees and in 2006, the association named him their REALTOR® of the Year.

Kevin is also a champion for his community. In 2011, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick appointed him as Chairman of the Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons (the state’s real estate commission), a position he was reappointed to in 2016 by Gov. Charlie Baker.

In his hometown of Springfield, Kevin has been involved with the Rental Housing Association of Greater Springfield, the Forest Park Civic Association, the Springfield Rotary Club, the Cathedral High School Board of Trustees, the Chamber of Commerce, and was a Trustee of the Mason Wright Retirement Community.

Kevin received a B.A. in History from Providence College and earned his MBA from Western New England University.