2024 Speaker Bios
Henry Washington
When Henry married he quickly realized that working 50 hours a week was still not giving him enough income to provide his family with the life they deserve. After a late-night panic attack and some Google searches, Henry found that real estate investing was a powerful tool for building generational wealth. He immediately took action by attending local investor meetups, listening to podcasts, and telling everyone that he was an investor.
Henry closed on his first investment property only 90 days later. Now he's 6 years into his real estate investment journey, has over 100 cash-flowing properties, and flips about 20 houses a year. From the day his first deal closed, Henry has felt a deep responsibility to share this gift with as many people as he can. Henry can be found on Instagram, the BiggerPockets On The Market Podcast, and at various speaking engagements across the country.
Christopher Stout
Christopher Stout is the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of StoutCap. As CEO, Mr. Stout helps define and implement strategic plans designed to further expand all facets of the StoutCap portfolio. With over 20 years of experience in the residential construction industry, he oversees all construction projects within the portfolio and is a ruthless asset manager. Mr. Stout remains involved as a hands-on CEO – fostering relationships with not only our valued investors, lenders, and brokers but also with on-site teams around the country. Chris credits StoutCap’s ability to attract top talent at all levels – often away from leading companies across industries – and boundless opportunities through an entrepreneurial culture as the key to its continued growth. He has taken impossible projects from start to finish and is extremely well-versed in zoning and asset repositioning. Today, Mr. Stout’s firm is composed of experienced real estate professionals who work full time on the management of company properties, allowing him to continue to successfully seek out new investments and effectively grow StoutCap’s outstanding real estate portfolio. Chris enjoys spending time with his 3 beautiful children and has been married to his wife Danielle for 11 years.
Jhanel Wilson
Jhanel Wilson, a Chemical Engineer turned full-time Real Estate Investor, decided to break free from the corporate grind in pursuit of financial freedom.
Twenty years ago, she made the pivotal decision to stop her father's property from being sold at auction. She strategically used a student loan to pay the back taxes. Once she completed the renovations and began renting it out, she was struck by an epiphany—her rental income exceeded her regular paycheck. This revelation ignited her passion for real estate, setting the stage for an incredible journey.
Over the course of two decades, she went on to purchase and renovate more than 100 apartments, employing the "brrrr" strategy. What sets her apart is her hands-on approach; she chose to bypass the traditional route of hiring general contractors and instead took charge of project management herself. She also formed partnerships with affordable housing programs, ensuring a steady income stream while making a positive impact on her community.
Jhanel possesses an incredible superpower – the gift of simplicity. Her unique ability empowers individuals to transform their "I wish I could" dreams into the reality of owning their very first real estate property. With easy-to-follow, actionable steps, she paves the way. Through her guidance, real estate investing becomes not only more accessible but also more achievable than you could have ever envisioned!
Liz Faircloth
I'm Liz. I was born and raised in a middle-class family in New Jersey where my home was filled with love but going out to dinner was a big deal. From an early age, I have always wanted to serve others and even went to a graduate school to become a social worker. While studying to become a social worker, my brother in law, handed me Rich Dad Poor Dad. This changed the trajectory of my life forever. Over the next couple of years, I started learning as much as I could. After a year of taking courses and hundreds of attempts to get an offer accepted, my boyfriend at the time (now husband) purchased our first investment property a duplex with none of our own money since we did not even have the money.
I started in my 20s not knowing anything about investing, business, and no money to invest. Now, 16 years later, our team owns and manages millions of dollars of real estate. What most people don't know is that this evolution came with a lot of lows, loss, heartache, and challenges.
As someone who was not handed anything I have today, I have learned a ton of lessons from not giving up to managing the balancing act of life as a woman. I am constantly working at balancing all the priorities of my life from being a mom of young children to a wife & biz partner with my husband to taking care of myself. It has not been easy so that is why we created our InvestHER® community.
Matt Faircloth
Matt Faircloth has been a full-time investor since 2005. In that time, he has successfully completed projects involving dozens of fix and flips, office buildings, single family homes, and apartment buildings. He commands thousands of multifamily units in partnership with millions in passive investor equity, earning him recognition as a trusted authority, regular contributor and podcast guest on BiggerPockets®.
With an active YouTube channel dedicated to educating investors and a bestselling book, "Raising Private Capital: How to Build Your Real Estate Empire with Other People's Money," Matt offers invaluable insights and strategies to elevate your real estate journey.
Jeff Glover
Jeff Glover is a House Sold Name and has been Michigan’s #1 realtor for nearly 10 years. Born and raised in Michigan, he understands the area and knows how to get top dollar for his clients. When working with Jeff you can expect him and his team to negotiate you top dollar for your property. Their negotiation skills guide every buyer and seller through Real Estate obstacles leading them happily to the closing table. Jeff spends more than any Realtor to market your home, maximizing the exposure of your home to potential buyers.
Respected by his colleagues as a “Mastermind,” Jeff possesses the ability to empower agents and create a collaborative, cooperative team. Continuously stressing the importance of building and maintaining client relationships, he provides agents with market knowledge, technology and resources they require to effectively meet their clients’ needs.
Brett Sikora
Brett Sikora is a highly knowledgeable figure in the real estate industry, with over a decade of experience. From starting as an agent to founding Align Real Estate Solutions, he now serves as CEO, leading one of top producing teams at eXp Realty since 2019. Brett is passionate about coaching and training realtors, maintaining high standards of excellence. He's also a successful real estate investor, managing Airbnb rentals in Florida, Texas, and New Jersey, with over 80 rental units. Brett resides in Somerset County, New Jersey, with his wife and two kids.
Marybeth Olive
Marybeth Olive is a pillar of her community, a dedicated realtor, and a business leader. Since the start of her real estate career in 2004, she has studied, internalized, and exemplified the models, systems, and resources set forth by Keller Williams.
Earning her way up the ladder of success within KW, Marybeth became a multiple-time Circle of Excelle Award recipient, ALC member, and Team Rainmaker. Shifting from sales to leadership, she spent the next 15 years as a certified MAPS coached Team Leader, business consultant, and CEO. Helping build 8 successful market centers, Marybeth was inducted into the KW Team Leader Hall of Fame, meeting the criteria of recruiting 100+ agents per year for 5 consecutive years.
Marybeth’s personal mission is to lead with strength, spirit, and enthusiasm in order to help others meet and exceed their greatest potential. This does not end in real estate. As a pillar of her community, she founded and funded Sheltered Hearts, a local non-profit organization to provide hope and a safe haven for people that otherwise have nowhere else to go for food, shelter, and a helping hand.
Brendan Da Silva
Brendan Da Silva, a native of Northern New Jersey with Brazilian roots, is the Founder and CEO of Da Silva Team, a successful residential real estate team based in Newark, New Jersey. Despite facing challenges early in his career, Brendan's journey is one of redemption and determination.
After graduating with a degree in pastoral ministry from Nyack College in 2016, Brendan found himself serving six-months in jail. Upon his release, he struggled to find suitable employment until he heeded the encouragement of loved ones to pursue a career in real estate, which he embarked upon in April 2017.
Since then, Brendan has spearheaded the growth of The Da Silva Team, which achieved remarkable success, selling over $300,000,000 in volume and assisting in the sale of 800+ homes. Prioritizing investing his profits, he has bought 12 properties, currently owns 20 units and manages approximately 30 Airbnb listings.
An active member and resident of Newark, Brendan is dedicated to leveraging his expertise to educate Newark residents about the war on home ownership. Passionate about community development and marketing, Brendan aims to merge these passions to create a lasting impact through his real estate endeavors, including a recently launched podcast - The Real Lives of Real Estate.
Through his podcast, "Real Lives of Real Estate," Brendan showcases the transformative power of real estate, highlighting stories of individuals whose lives have been empowered and changed through the industry. With a vision to become the top real estate team in New Jersey, Brendan Da Silva continues to turn houses into homes while leaving a positive impact on his community and beyond.
Kyle Kovats
Kyle Kovats is a distinguished figure in the real estate industry, acknowledged for his exceptional achievements and contributions. Recognized by the National Association of Realtors in 2016 as one of their 30 Under 30 honorees, Kyle's prowess extends beyond accolades. He is the owner of the Kovats Real Estate School in NJ, a testament to his commitment to fostering growth and education within the field.
As an astute investor, Kyle has strategically positioned himself as a key principal in over 2,000 multi-family units. His personal dedication to the sector is further emphasized by his significant investment of over $5,000,000 in personal capital into multi-family projects as both a general and limited partner. Additionally, Kyle stands as the proud owner of Kovats Multi-Family and is a general partner of 1,109 multi-family units.
Beyond his entrepreneurial ventures, Kyle Kovats has been an influential voice in the industry, serving on the NAR YPN Advisory Board. With a blend of expertise, leadership, and vision, Kyle continues to shape and redefine the contours of the real estate landscape.
Tyler Smith
Tyler Smith is the Founder and CEO of Alpha Capital. As a dynamic real estate professional with over 7 years of experience, Tyler embarked on his real estate journey at the age of 20, quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with. His success is driven by a multifaceted approach, specializing in wholesale, fix and flip, and apartment investments.
Tyler's portfolio boasts ownership of 200+ doors and the successful completion of over 1,000 deals. His "Big Why" centers around the thrill of the hunt, from tracking down owners to negotiating deals. For Tyler, financial freedom is not just a personal goal; it's a means to give back and help others, a philosophy rooted in his belief that one must help oneself before helping others.
Looking ahead, Tyler envisions reaching 10,000 units and $1 billion in Assets Under Management (AUM) by 2035. Beyond individual success, his career highlight lies in building a thriving team, emphasizing the power of collaboration.
Malikah Wilson-Woody
Malikah Woody works in social services on behalf of persons with disabilities. She discovered the power of real estate years ago through books and infomercials, but did not purchase her first investment property until 2020. She has since acquired approximately 300 units in just two short years, many by partnering with others.
Malikah invests in single family, multifamily, hotels, and more. Her investment focus is to do well while also doing good by providing high quality, affordable housing, as well as economic opportunities, and education. Her strategy for success as an investor is to use conservative underwriting standards, creative financing solutions that are a win for all parties, and a strong network of peers for collaboration. She knows that you don't need a lot of money to get started, just knowledge and action, so she is spreading the word.
Her mission is one of financial freedom and empowerment for all through ownership, stewardship, and giving back.
Kurt & Megan Wubbenhorst
Kurt & Megan Wubbenhorst live their life at the intersection of artistry and commerce. They are co-founders of Blue Flags Network, their real estate team; Purple Lotus Properties, a property flipping company; as well as other ventures in property management, staging, title insurance, and business digital marketing.
Before diving head-first into real estate, Megan spent her early career as a professional modern dancer where she not only performed and toured, but worked in the executive department of various companies managing personnel, contracts, and investors/donors. Meanwhile, Kurt was writing, touring, performing, and recording as a professional musician. He opened his music studio Architekt Music in 2010, and enjoyed success working with artists, most notably earning a GRAMMY nomination with hard rock outfit Sevendust in 2016.
More than just business partners, Kurt & Megan are hilariously co-dependent life partners who are proud parents of two daughters Zoey & Violet. In their free time, they enjoy driving their racecars on track with NASA & other track organizations where Kurt says they “are so co-dependent that we spend most of our time on track on communications with each other.” In both life and business, they are passionate about making an impact thru various charities, most notably thru the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society with Kurt being a recent Leukemia survivor.
Cody Davis
Cody started investing in multifamily real estate properties at age 19. With a capital of less than $3000 and a goal to help his mother retire, he leveraged creative financing approaches and built meaningful connections that eventually helped him acquire 125 multifamily units – and it’s still growing.
Christian Osgood
Christian Osgood is a 31 Year old Real Estate Investor with a 200+ unit portfolio of Multifamily and Hospitality properties (robinhoodvillageresort.com) Based in Washington State and Texas. Christian is the Owner of Kensho Property Management (kenshopm.com) which manages over 200 units across Washington State and Owner of Multifamilystrategy.com an industry leading real estate education platform.
In 2020, Christian left a 4 year sales career at the Costar group to become a full time investor and with $100,000, utilized creative finance to purchase $24,000,000 in real estate assets. He did so without syndication or a single bank loan to acquire a property (though he has refinanced several loans into conventional commercial debt products).
Ray Daneshrad
Ramin Daneshrad is a distinguished figure in the realm of real estate investing, boasting a remarkable 20-year career marked by consistent growth and innovation. As the owner of nearly a dozen properties, Ramin's journey in real estate is a testament to his strategic acumen and dedication to generating significant passive income. His portfolio, a diverse mix of properties, is a clear indicator of his commitment to the long-term growth and sustainability in the field.
Partnering with renowned names like Eric Jon Melnikoff and other esteemed members from the Build It Now community, Ray has ventured into multiple successful fix-and-flip projects. These ventures not only amplify his cash flow but also demonstrate his ability to identify and capitalize on lucrative opportunities. His strategy is both shrewd and sustainable: profits from joint-venture flips are intelligently reinvested to finance future projects, creating a cycle of continuous growth and expansion.
Beyond his personal financial success, Ray holds a deep-seated belief in the power of education and wealth-building. This ethos extends to his family, where he passionately educates his four children about the importance and methods of building wealth from an early age. He understands the profound impact that such knowledge can have, not only for his family but also for the broader community.
Ramin's commitment to real estate extends beyond his immediate network. He is a mentor and educator, sharing his extensive knowledge and experience through various partnerships and teaching engagements. His influence is multifaceted: he not only provides homes for families but also imparts valuable knowledge to aspiring investors, fostering a community of informed, empowered individuals in the real estate domain.
Ramin Daneshrad is not just a real estate investor; he is a visionary, a teacher, and a community builder. His approach to real estate is holistic, encompassing financial success, family values, and community empowerment. With each project and every lesson he shares, Ramin is reshaping the landscape of real estate investing, making it more accessible and impactful for generations to come.
Bill Boswell
Bill Boswell is a passionate entrepreneur and real estate expert who currently owns multiple real estate brokerages, a powerful $100M+ sales team, investment properties, and a title company.
In 2013, he was recognized by Realtor Magazine as one of the Top 30 Agents in the Nation under 30. Bill has also been featured in Fortune Magazine's Top Agents in the Nation list for 2020 and 2021, as well as Forbes Magazine's "The 500 List" of Top Agents in the Nation for 2020, 2021, and 2022. Bill’s success has earned him recognition on the REAL Trends Best Real Estate Agents in America list of NJ's top agents and he has also appeared on national network shows such as NBC's Open House NYC and CBS' Living Large.
Bill is passionate about continuing the path to self-mastery while selflessly committed to teaching and consulting those in his network; including some of northern New Jersey’s top agents.
Eric Jon Melnikoff
In the dynamic world of real estate, few names resonate with the impact and expertise of Eric Jon Melnikoff. With a career spanning two decades, Eric has not only established himself as a real estate broker/salesperson but has also passionately dedicated himself to the art of real estate investment.
Eric’s journey in the real estate sector is marked by his profound commitment to helping people. Each year, he skillfully guides a multitude of clients through the intricate process of real estate transactions, ensuring their dreams of home ownership and investment come to fruition. But his contribution extends far beyond the conventional bounds of real estate deals.
At the heart of Eric's professional ethos is a deep-seated passion for educating and empowering the younger generation. Recognizing a gap in financial literacy among older teens and young adults, he embarked on a mission to enlighten them about the massive potential in real estate investment. His goal is audacious yet inspiring: to equip young individuals with the knowledge and tools to start investing in properties even before they reach the legal drinking age.
What truly sets Eric apart is his innovative approach to investment mentoring. Having personally navigated countless investment deals, he brings a wealth of hands-on experience to the table. Eric's focus on joint venturing with novice investors encapsulates his "earn while you learn" philosophy. By collaborating with those new to the field, he offers them a unique opportunity to gain practical experience, minimize risks, and maximize returns under his expert guidance.
Eric's visionary leadership is perhaps most evident in his creation of 'Built It Now', a community-driven initiative that promises to revolutionize how aspiring investors approach wealth building. This platform is more than just an educational tool; it's a transformative experience designed to rewrite the narrative of his students' lives through strategic real estate investments.
Eric Jon Melnikoff isn’t just a real estate veteran; he’s a trailblazer committed to reshaping the future of real estate investment for the younger generation. His ultimate mission transcends personal success, aiming to instill a legacy of financial wisdom and empowerment that will echo through the lives of young adults for generations to come.
Josh Janus
Josh is on track to sell nearly 200 homes for a total of $25,000,000+ as an investor friendly agent. Josh also funded Janus Development which is focused on purchasing distressed 1-4 units, renovating them and presenting them as turnkey rental properties to in and out of state investors looking for passive cash flow. The business is on track to purchase, renovate and sell around 20 properties totaling over $3,000,000
As an investor Josh purchases buy-and-hold single family and multi family properties, execute BRRRR’s and other strategies in both markets and has a goal of owning 100 units by the end of the year.