Titans of Industry: Women in Real Estate Brunch - SOLD OUT

Marki Lemons Ryhal is a licensed Managing Broker, REALTOR®, avid volunteer, Major Donor and International Best-Selling Author of The Modern Real Estate Professionals Guide to Success. As a six-time REALTOR® Conference and Expo featured attendee and an INMAN Closing Keynote Speaker, she is dedicated to all things real estate. With over 25 years of marketing experience, Marki has taught over 300,000 REALTORS® how to earn up to a 2682% return on their marketing dollars.

Sarah Ware is no stranger to real estate. Having worked in corporate America for almost 20 years at various real estate related firms, she decided to concentrate on real estate full-time in 2007. Since then, she opened her own boutique brokerage in 2014. In addition to her brokerage, Ware started her consulting firm, Ware Consulting Solutions, where she helps businesses grow by leading with diversity. Ware currently serves on several real estate committees on the local, state and national level, and is currently the President of the Chicago Association of REALTORS®.

A passionate voice for fair housing and antiracism in the real estate industry, Michelle Mills Clement, FASAE, CAE, RCE, is the CEO at the Chicago Association of REALTORS®. Under her leadership, in 2018, the Chicago Association of REALTORS® issued an apology for past actions in promoting inequality and segregation in Chicago. She cohosts the Texts to Table podcast focused on diversity, equity and inclusion with three of her Black association executive peers. She is a 2019 Crain’s Chicago Business “40 Under 40” honoree, the 2020 Chicago Agent Magazine “Association CEO of the Year” and is one of Bisnow Chicago’s Commercial Real Estate “Rising Stars” and “Power Women.” She was recently honored with ASAE’s Key Award, the highest individual honor for association chief staff executives, and Roosevelt University’s Industry Changemaker Award for her efforts to make positive changes in the real estate industry.

Born in Guangdong, China, I was just a young child when I immigrated to the United States with my family in pursuit of a better life.

After college, I became an Emergency Department Scribe and supported ER physicians by transcribing their notes from patient exams. I thought I wanted to attend medical school until I quickly realized the severity of my intolerance to odors. For the next couple of years, I worked in healthcare administration at Northwestern Medicine. When I felt the itch to grow again, I applied to a Master of Science in Social Entrepreneurship program at the University of Southern California. Living in Los Angeles presented a new set of challenges as I worked on
finding my place in the world. It was a time of enthusiasm, freedom, rebellion, and pain.

After earning my degree I moved back to the Chicagoland area to be with family and worked in healthcare technology and then auditing. As a stepping stone to entrepreneurship, my family and I opened a large restaurant. It quickly reminded me of my childhood days at the takeout place, only tenfold. I knew it wasn’t for me long-term, so I obtained my real estate license to have an extra skillset. We were already in the process of selling our restaurant when COVID-19 hit. Once the sale closed, I became a full-fledged REALTOR®. And I guess this is where they say the rest is history.

Keisha, a Realtor with Fulton Grace Realty since 2016, is passionate about working with
buyers, sellers, developers and investors. Dealing in new construction, renovations and existing
homes, she leverages more than 25 years of experience in real estate and mortgage lending to
help achieve successful transactions for all parties involved.

She became interested in real estate while working as a loan processor, regularly
communicating with buyers, attorneys and agents. During the 2008 recession, she saw an
opportunity to try something new after more than a decade in the mortgage industry. She earned
a real estate license and fell in love with the personal interaction aspect of the industry.

Keisha is currently a student of the Chicago Association of Realtors’ Leadership Accelerator as
well as a committee member of the group.

A Vice President with ACO Commercial, Ms. Hattar specializes in the sale of commercial, multifamily assets, and single-family home portfolios throughout the City of Chicago and surrounding suburbs. During her 25-year career she has closed in excess of 400 transactions as a broker and in her role as a real estate paralegal. She is an expert in transaction management from contract to closing, ensuring a superior deal process and high level of certainty of completion for all brokerage assignments.

Linda’s client base ranges from multi-billion-dollar institutions and government organizations to private investors both locally and internationally as well as business owners. Her exceptional attention to detail and follow-through separates her from her peers. She currently serves as Chair of the Chicago Association of Realtors Global Council, and President-Elect of the Women’s Council of Realtors Chicago network.

Sheila lives by the principal, “You make a living by what you get; you make a life by
what you give”. Giving 100% to her clients is her number one priority. Since the start of her career in July 2005, Sheila has closed approximately 120 million dollars’ worth of real estate. She is an award-winning producer with many accolades including Jameson Sotheby’s International Platinum level, Crain’s 2021 Notable Real Estate Brokers (front cover), and the Chicago Association of Realtors Top Producer recognition. Sheila has been featured and quoted as a real estate expert in articles featured in USA Today, Chicago Sun Times, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Realtor Magazine, Michigan Avenue Magazine, Crain’s, and The Real Deal Chicago. She was also a frequent real estate expert on FOX 32 Chicago and did three episodes on HGTV (House Hunters, House Hunter’s Guide to House Hunting, and Good Buy/Bad Buy).

With over 17 years of experience, Sheila Dantzler is committed to her craft by
earning the following designations – Luxury Home Marketing Specialist,
Accredited Buyer Representative, Certified Negotiating Expert, and e-Pro
technology certification. In addition, she serves on many committees of the Chicago Association of Realtors – Chair of the Professional Standards Committee; the 77 Diversity Committee, and the Cook County Assessor’s Office of Presidential Advisory Group.

Since 1997, Amy has enjoyed a fruitful career in the commercial real estate industry, involved in ground up development of master planned communities and enclosed regional shopping centers; established retail real estate leasing and management; and third-party brokerage and property management. As Caton Commercial’s COO, Amy oversees the day-to-day operations and strategic growth of Caton. Prior to joining Caton she led the development and leasing divisions for another commercial real estate firm. Hall has extensive experience in ground up and repositioning of retail assets, commercial real estate transaction negotiations, commercial property management, staff architecture, performance management and optimization, sales and leadership training and development, business line creation, strategic planning, tactical implementation, and budgeting and forecasting.

Professional development and continuing education are Hall’s passions. Since 2005 she has helped to educate, mentor, coach and train hundreds of industry professionals for both employers and industry associations, such as CAR, CCIM, the Goldie Initiative and ICSC. She is a commercial real estate industry thought leader; actively participating in various industry conferences and educational institutes. She currently serves on the board of directors for CCIM IL Chapter, the Goldie Initiative, and the ICSC Foundation.

As an active member of the community and philanthropic supporter, she serves as an officer, and past president, of PEO IL Chapter MV (a women’s philanthropic educational organization), on the fundraising committee for the O’Brien School for the Maasai and served as a board of director for the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra. She actively volunteers with organizations such as PADS, Family Shelter Services, Chicago Help Initiative, The Amos Group of Community Presbyterian Church, Willowbrook Corner, Feed My Starving Children, the Chicago Food Bank and others. Amy holds a Bachelor of Professional Studies in Psychology and Master of Arts in Professional Development.

Dr. Jessica Lautz is Deputy Chief Economist and Vice President of Research at the National Association of REALTORS®. The core of her research focuses on analyzing trends for both NAR members and housing consumers. In 2022, Dr. Lautz was named a RISMedia Newsmaker in the Influencer category. In 2021, she was named one of Housing Wire’s Women of Influence, a list representing 100 of the most influential women in leadership in the housing industry. She also volunteers at Nottingham Trent University as an industry fellow mentoring real estate graduate students.

Jessica received her Doctorate of Real Estate from Nottingham Trent University in the United Kingdom. She also holds a Master’s in Public Policy from American University and undergraduate degrees in Political Science and Law and Justice from Central Washington University.