PWAR

PWAR Instructors

 

Become a PWAR Instructor

Thank you for your interest in becoming an instructor at PWAR. Our mission is to provide outstanding services, programs and communications to our members and that’s where we need qualified instructors like yourself to maintain this vision.

How to Qualify

To be considered as an instructor for Continuing Education or Post Licensing courses, you must meet the following application criteria:

  • Hold an active Virginia real estate salesperson license with at least four (4) years of real estate experience
  • Hold an active, primary membership in good standing with PWAR
  • Have a minimum of one (1) year teaching experience

Applications are subject to audit and evaluation of presentation skills.

How to Apply

If you meet the criteria set forth above and would like to be considered as a PWAR instructor, please email Brandy Winston at brandy@pwar.com 

Please note PWAR cannot guarantee a certain number of hours or a specific schedule of classes. Approval of any instructor is at the sole discretion of PWAR, including scheduling. PWAR reserves the right to contact any non-members to facilitate classes should a gap in course offerings occur from members.

 

Affiliate Classes

If you are a PWAR Affiliate member and have CE or SPLE courses approved through DPOR, please contact Brandy Winston at brandy@pwar.com or 703.565.0036 to further discuss. We require real estate related businesses interested in teaching to join as a PWAR Affiliate member. Click here to learn more about our Affiliate membership. PWAR reserves the right to approve and schedule Affiliate courses based upon current class calendar and offerings.

 

Meet Your PWAR Instructors

 

 

Classes: Broker Pre-Licensure Series & Principles of Real Estate

Tara Furges Houston is the Founder and CEO of Houston Consulting Group & Associates, LLC, a consulting practice with a mission of helping others build their legacies. She practices real estate with EXP Realty as the current Associate Broker (Former State Managing Broker) in DC and MD and (Former Compliance Broker) in VA. Alongside her husband, Michael, she serves as a leader and ambassador for the brokerage. Tara and Michael train, mentor, and coach their personal agent group (Legacy Builders Global of eXp Realty) consisting of close to 90 REALTORS (spanning nine different states) to build successful real estate businesses.

The 2018 President-Elect of Women’s Council NOVA Metro, Tara has co-authored two books – The Confident Woman (chapter titled “Eagles Don’t Need Parachutes”) and Overcoming the Good Little Girl Syndrome (chapter titled “Saying No without Guilt).  Prior to becoming a full-time entrepreneur, Tara served as an educator for over 21 years in roles such as Teacher, Principal, and College Professor.  She has a documented success of using creative teaching methods to ensure participants leave her classes and workshops energized and empowered with knowledge. Tara teaches Broker and Salesperson Pre-licensing and CE courses for DC, MD, and VA. She has her At Home with Diversity (AHWD) and Professional Management Network (PMN) designations.

 

 

Classes: Distressed Properties, Top Contract Mistakes, 1031 Exchange Basics and Estates Anatomy of a Split closing, Till Death do us part

Heidi Marine is an associate with the firm of Leggett, Simon, Freemyers, and Lyon, PLC and is counsel to Ekko Title, LLC.  Her practice is concentrated in residential real estate transactions, title defects and title insurance issues.  In addition to her practice at Ekko Title, Ms. Marine is a Qualified Trainer for VHDA’s Homeownership Education Program. She teaches the loan closing portion of VHDA’s first time home buyer course covering all aspects of the closing process including the documents that are signed at closing, different ways to hold title, surveys, title issues, and title insurance.

Ms. Marine graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in 2005 with a B.A. in Psychology and received her law degree from George Mason University, School of Law in 2008.  She has been licensed to practice law in Virginia since 2008.  Ms. Marine is a member of the Virginia Bar Association Real Property Practice Area.

Prior to entering real estate practice, Ms. Marine practiced civil and criminal litigation in Fairfax, Virginia where she focused on domestic relations and criminal defense.

 

Classes: Agency, Escrow Requirements

Fatima Pereira-Shepherd licensed Realtor in Virginia since 2004, received her broker’s license in 2010. She excelled not only in real estate, but in training/mentoring agents—which secured her the position as sales manager in 2012 in the Manassas & Gainesville Long & Foster Real Estate Inc. office, which lead her to earning the managing broker of the Annandale position in 2015. Fatima was recently promoted to the Area Training Manager position with Long & Foster in February of 2018 of the Northern Virginia, West Virginia, District of Columbia and Montgomery County Regions.

Fatima prides herself in her strong work ethics, professionalism and reputation. She strives in building long lasting relationships with clients/agents. She became a licensed real estate instructor. Fatima has served on PWAR’s Board of Directors from 2011-2015, holding the position of Vice President in 2015, and serves on PWAR Professional Standards & Arbitration committee. Fatima held several leadership positions with the Women’s Council of Realtors from 2010-2013. She serves on several committees with Virginia Realtors and other organizations. She’s a graduate of the 2015 Virginia Leadership Academy, serves on the VLA Alumni Board and a 2015 Virginia Honor Society recipient. Fatima is a supporter of RPAC, and a past Sterling “R” member.

 

 

 

Classes: PSA Certification, MRP Certification, ABR Designation

Michael Straley is an active REALTOR® top producing sales agent who has a passion to share success and uplift professionalism in our industry.  Michael seeks to learn from the best and share!   Within the year Michael will be one of a few agents Nationwide that will receive a Master’s Degree in Real Estate from REALTOR Universtity®. After several years of study, Michael carries a 3.9 GPA and is willing to bring his experience, education and personal stories to the classroom – making it fun for ALL Learning Styles.  His background as SR VP and prior COO of secondary mortgage technology companies bring a unique presentation style that attendees can quote and mimic building their statistical successes to the public; providing concierge service and strategies to clients. Michael Straley brings an interactive and fun education style that creates competition and team environment in every class.  Michael Straley has achieved CRS/RCC Instructor Candidate Status and named Fredericksburg Association Good Neighbor in 2014 and Virginia Women’s Council Member of the Year in 2015.

Rebecca Straley has a lifetime career as a professional full-time REALTOR® and has been licensed as a broker and retired appraiser over past decades.  She has seen many upticks and downturns through multiple real estate cycles bringing an excitement to the future of real estate based on experience and education.  Growth is her DNA.   Her passion reveals your unique talent and strength.  As a broker of boutique, franchise and cloud brokerages she understands the variety of learning styles and demonstrates to attendees how best to communicate this knowledge in your business increasing life balance, longevity, and productivity in the industry.  Rebecca carries the ABR, PSA, MRP, SFR, AHWD, PMN, CRS, ePRO certifications and designations.  Rebecca has been selected as a CRS/RCC Instructor Candidate and received recognition as Virginia Educator of the Year in 2015 and is the recipient of the Code of Ethics, Educator, and Manager of the Year Recognition through Prince William Association of REALTORS®.  Rebecca Straley’s goal is to demonstrate work can be fun & bring fulfillment to your life.

 

Classes: No Down Payment Assistance, Essentials of Mortgage Lending

Laura Triplett has been a mortgage loan officer since 1993 and a resident of Prince William County since 1972. She is currently a Vice President, Branch Manager for Atlantic Coast Mortgage LLC. Laura has been a course instructor for the Prince William Association of Realtors since 1993. Laura has had many courses approved by DPOR, to include VHDA/State and County Down Payment assistance and Basic Mortgage Finance. Laura has been recognized as a top producer by VHDA since 2001 and currently serves on their lender advisory board. Laura has also been recognized by Mortgage Originator Magazine as one of the top 200 lenders nationwide for FHA loans. Laura is a member of the Virginia Mortgage Lenders Association and the Mortgage Bankers Association and serves as a consulting member for these organizations. Laura is a member of the Housing advisory board for Prince William County office of housing and provides information to the Prince William County board of supervisors as needed in making local decisions for housing. Laura provides training to volunteer housing counselors for the Virginia Cooperative Extension semiannually. Laura currently teaches the No Down Payment Assistance course at PWAR.

 

 

Classes: NAR Code of Ethics, MRP Certification, ABR Designation, PSA Certification, Essentials of Mortgage Lending

Mark is an experienced and professional instructor with effective communication skills and the ability to connect with REALTORS® from the newly licensed to the most seasoned practitioner. He was PWAR’s Educator of the Year in 2010. Mark currently teaches Code of Ethics, MRP Certification and Broker Pre-Licensing at PWAR.

EDUCATION
1973 To 1977 – Bachelor of Science, United States Naval Academy

EXPERIENCE

  • 2000-2013 : Broker/Owner Confidence Realty
  • 2013-2015 : Managing Broker/Owner/Partner Crossroads REALTORS®
  • 2015-Present : Managing Broker Fathom Realty
  • 2016-Present : National Association of REALTORS® approved instructor for the Accredited Buyer’s Representative, Military Relocation Professional and Pricing Strategy Advisor courses
  • 2004-Present : Licensed instructor in Virginia
    • Principles of Real Estate instructor for 2 major brokerages as well as Prince William Association of REALTORS
    • Instructor for the Brokerage and Real Estate Law modules for the Dulles Area Association of REALTORS®
    • Instructor for various CE and PLE classes
    • Fair Housing instructor
  • 2004-Present –  REALTOR® Code of Ethics Instructor
  • 1995-2000 – United States Soccer Federation Certified Instructor
    • Instructed adults and youth alike in the laws of soccer and certification as referees
  • 1979-1991 – Various posts in the U.S. Navy
    • Instructed varied classes from equal opportunity through military specialty subjects over three separate postings.

 

Tim Fisher

Classes: Environmental Issues in Virginia, Radon for the Real Estate Professional