Meet the Real Estate Coaches and Instructors
Expert instructors will support you through your six-month Real Estate Pre-Licensure journey. Meet these experienced realtors, brokers and mortgage loan officers below and register for the workshop series.
- Tim Jackson
- Heather McNally
- Amy Neumann
- David Pace
- Ty Patillo
- Michael Repasky
- John Ruvolo
- Shirley Stineman
Tim Jackson is a managing director for Integra Realty Resources in the Cleveland office. Jackson is actively engaged in real estate valuation and consulting services since June 2013. Appraisals and consulting services have been performed on various properties, including, but not limited to, single and multi-tenant industrial, single and multi-tenant retail, mixed use facilities, subdivisions, student housing, multi-family apartments and vacant land.
What do you like about your field/industry?
Flexibility, solving problems and working in all the communities within Ohio.
What is one piece of advice you would give someone just starting out?
Link up with a licensed appraiser as they will provide the training you need.
Workshop Series:
As a passionate and experienced real estate agent, Heather McNally brings a wealth of knowledge and practical expertise to the classroom. With a background in real estate and a deep understanding of the industry's dynamics, she is dedicated to preparing the next generation of real estate professionals.
Her career in real estate has allowed her to gain extensive experience in various aspects of the industry, including residential property sales, property management, and real estate investment. This hands-on experience has provided McNally with a rich reservoir of knowledge that she enthusiastically shares with her students.
McNally holds a bachelor’s degree in communication, a master’s degree in education with a focus on sports management and also an MBA, which gives her background to blend industry-specific knowledge with effective teaching methodologies for real estate.
Beyond the sales arena and the classroom, McNally is involved in the real estate community by participating in seminars, workshops and conferences. This engagement not only enhances her own professional development but also allows her to bring fresh perspectives and opportunities for networking to her students. McNally is deeply committed to the success of her students, providing them with the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to excel in the dynamic and challenging world of real estate.
What do you like about your field/industry?
I like the variety of homes and people.
What is one piece of advice you would give someone just starting out?
Do your research about the brokerage that you are joining and don't be afraid to move on if you are dissatisfied.
Workshop Series:
- Art of Staging: Transforming Properties for Maximum Appeal
- Choosing the Right Broker: A Guide for New Real Estate Agents
- Social Media for Real Estate: Building an Online Presence
Real Estate Exam Prep Coach
Amy Neumann is a social impact entrepreneur, keynote speaker, author, trainer, technology strategist, consultant and artist.
Neumann enjoys discovering new social impact applications for technology. With a focus on blockchain and AI, she also founded a startup nonprofit called Resourceful Nonprofit (and its subsidiary, Technology Inclusion) to help nonprofits accomplish their goals more efficiently while being inclusive.
She is also the CEO and principal of the social enterprise consultancy Good Plus Tech, with a focus on leveraging emerging technologies and smart communication strategies to solve global social impact challenges. She often speaks at places like the Dell Social Innovation Conference, Arizona State University’s Sustainability Conference, Blockland Solutions, nonprofit events and universities. She is a contributor to Forbes, an author of PR News’ Crisis Management Guidebook and a columnist for the Huffington Post.
Workshop Series:
David Pace is a 26-year law enforcement veteran, who oversees a local police department UAS (Drone) Unit, where he is responsible for safe and effective drone operations within the highly congested Cleveland airspace. He serves as a member of the FAA's Safety Team, where he educates and aids local public safety forces and the wider community on the safe and lawful drone operation. Pace is also a part-time instructor with Cuyahoga Community College's Public Safety Training Center's Public Safety Drone Academy.
What do you like about your field/industry?
Law enforcement has allowed me to use drones in one of the most heavily affected areas of use. Because the technology is advancing so quickly, I really find it exciting to learn about new tools or features for drones that assist agencies is positive outcomes in emergencies.
What is one piece of advice you would give someone just starting out?
The best advice I can give anyone starting out is to learn about how to properly and effectively operate drones in your chosen field. This will ensure that you are not only safe but legal in what you are doing. The best way to do this is to attend events that are aviation and drone specific. If you are with a public safety agency currently, the best way to build a foundation for a start-up program would be to attend the college's Public Safety Drone Academy.
Workshop Series:
Ty Patillo is a commercial real estate agent with The Robert Weiler Company. Patillo's diverse real estate experience began with retail Shopping Center REIT, Developers Diversified Realty (now SITE Centers) and Mall REIT GLIMCHER (now Washington Prime). Patillo has also served as a franchise advisor for four years with a local franchise consulting firm and has spent time as a small business owner. Patillo also services on the outreach committee for the Urban Land Institute (Cleveland District Council).
What do you like about your field/industry?
My position allows me to help business and property owners achieve their real estate goals.
What is one piece of advice you would give someone just starting out?
Create a 90-day plan and establish goals to grow your business for the first three years as a commercial real estate agent.
Workshop Series:
Michael Repasky currently serves as the CEO and operating principal of Keller Williams Greater Metropolitan. Prior to his career in real estate, he spent a decade working for multi-billion dollar retail companies as a planner, financial analyst and leader. At KWGM, Michael focuses on increasing market share through recruiting and development, overseeing the leadership team and building strong relationships with the top agents in the office — with an emphasis on growing their businesses. In addition to his role in leadership, he has established a successful commercial real estate division within the brokerage. Aside from KWGM, Michael serves on the Board of Directors and Development Chair for Flying Horse Farms, a medical specialty camp that provides healing, transformational experiences for children with serious illnesses and their families at no cost. He has volunteered with FHF since 2015, playing a lead role in providing the intended experience for campers. Michael also serves as a board member and treasurer for The Atlas|Bear 501c3, an incubator and accelerator for small businesses owned and operated by veterans offboarding from active duty. Michael is also an involved alumnus of his fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon, having previously served on local and national boards and task forces.
What do you like about your field/industry?
The unique people I get to meet and their stories!
What is one piece of advice you would give someone just starting out?
The more your treat real estate like a job, the more it will pay you like one.
Workshop Series:
John Ruvolo has 27 years of leadership experience in the mortgage industry. Ruvolo is division president for First Liberty Mortgage, LLC. During his career, he has worked in wholesale, retail and broker portions of the mortgage industry. Ruvolo has been an advocate for his clients and business partners. He makes it a point to educate his clients and business partners and to offer homeowners a great mortgage rate and personalized service during the mortgage loan process. Ruvolo has a history of high satisfaction from his loyal and long-tenured clients. Ruvolo is a graduate of Eastern Oregon University.
What do you like about your field/industry?
The ability to help someone new everyday reach their goal of homeownership.
What is one piece of advice you would give someone just starting out?
Work hard yet have patience. The goal is to help others and the financial gain will come if you are looking out for others first.
Workshop Series:
Shirley Stineman left the corporate world to become a realtor in 2021. She is affiliated with the Crocker Road office of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services and specializes in residential home sales. Previously, she served as executive director of Workforce Communication and Community Engagement for Cuyahoga Community College. In that role, she was responsible for community relations, marketing strategy and communications for the Workforce, Community and Economic Development (WCED) division of the College. WCED is focused on the economic and educational needs of the community, emphasizing programs that have the highest industry demand. Prior to joining Tri-C, Stineman was the director of Marketing and Community Affairs for the Northeast Ohio Media Group (now Advance Ohio) and The Plain Dealer. She directed the overall marketing function and all external affairs. Stineman held various management positions in Human Resources and Marketing for more than 20 years in these media organizations.
Stineman holds two degrees, a bachelor's of business administration and communications from Baldwin Wallace University and a master of arts in psychology from Cleveland State University. She also obtained an Ohio Real Estate license in 2021. She is a 2003 graduate of Leadership Cleveland.
Among other past non-profit board affiliations, Stineman is a former board chair of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and continues to work closely with the organization as a board member of its Real Estate Holding Co. She also assists the American Heart Association with the Go Red for Women movement and was named the 2023 Cleveland Woman of Impact.
What do you like about your field/industry? Every day is different. I love looking at houses and helping people fulfill their dreams of owning a home. I am a problem solver and that's a critical skill needed to work in this industry.
What is one piece of advice you would give someone just starting out? This business can be very complicated and takes time. You get out of it what you put into it. You need to work hard to make connections and be prepared to follow up continuously.
What do you like most about coaching the new realtors for the exam prep course? I enjoy helping prospective agents learn how to navigate a new business. It's gratifying once I hear that they've passed their exam and are ready to start selling.
Real Estate Exam Prep Coach