2025 Broker Summit x Fair Housing Summit

Christopher M. Germain

2025 Michigan Realtors® President

Christopher M. Germain is a lifelong resident of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. In 2004, he attended Holloway Institute to then go on and receive his real estate license. Since then, he has taken a very active role in the real estate community. He is a past director on the Delta County MLS Committee, past president of the Upper Peninsula REALTORS®, and has served on various PAGs. In addition, he was selected to take part in the Inaugural Leadership Academy class for the Michigan REALTORS® and then went on to facilitate the academy for the following two years. He occasionally speaks on real estate and various business topics around the country. He has served his community as Captain of the Ford River Township Volunteer Fire Department. He is a past president of the Delta County Jaycees, Past Master of Delta Lodge 195 of Free and Accepted Masons, past secretary of the Delta County Fire Chiefs Association, past director of the Delta County Fire Training Council, and a past committee member of Delta County Relay for Life.

• 9:00 - 9:10 AM, Apr 8, 2025 Banquet Rooms 5-8

  Opening Remarks

Brad Ward

Vice President, Public Policy & Legal Affairs

Michigan Realtors®

Brad Ward serves as Vice President of Public Policy & Legal Affairs for the Michigan Realtors®. He has worked for the Michigan Realtors since 2001, starting as director of legal affairs and a liaison to local Realtor® associations in mid and northern Michigan. Since 2013, Ward has been the association's head lobbyist.

• 1:05 - 1:55 PM, Apr 8, 2025 Banquet Rooms 5-8

  Policy Matters LIVE! - CE Marketplace Certified 1.0L hr

• 12:05 - 1:00 PM, Apr 8, 2025 Banquet Rooms 1-4

  Lunch & Legislation

Aric Nesbitt

Senate Republican Leader Aric Nesbitt

• 12:05 - 1:00 PM, Apr 8, 2025 Banquet Rooms 1-4

  Lunch & Legislation

Ranjeev Puri

House Democratic Leader Ranjeev Puri

• 12:05 - 1:00 PM, Apr 8, 2025 Banquet Rooms 1-4

  Lunch & Legislation

Derek Taylor

T3 Sixty

Derek Taylor is a seasoned real estate professional and visionary, leveraging Artificial Intelligence and cutting-edge technology to reshape the industry. As a sought-after consultant at T3 Sixty, he collaborates with leading proptech firms and startups, guiding them in effective AI implementation and strategies for agents and brokerages. An MIT-certified AI developer, Derek brings deep technical understanding to enhance client outcomes, from content generation and marketing to predictive analytics for informed decision-making.

His passion for innovation extends beyond AI, encompassing blockchain for real estate transparency and the fusion of smart technologies with SaaS platforms. A frequent speaker on the international stage, Derek's insights on AI and real estate have earned him recognition and leadership positions within prestigious organizations such as the Texas Association of REALTORS® and North Texas Real Estate Information Systems.

• 9:10 - 10:00 AM, Apr 8, 2025 Banquet Rooms 5-8

  Opening Keynote: The Real Estate Technology Landscape - Sponsored by Rate - CE Marketplace Certified 1.0E hr

Shawon Cecil

Public Policy Field Director

Michigan Realtors

• 1:05 - 1:55 PM, Apr 8, 2025 Banquet Rooms 5-8

  Policy Matters LIVE! - CE Marketplace Certified 1.0L hr

Rebecca Berke

Director of Legal Education

Michigan Realtors®

Becky Berke serves as the Director of Legal Education for Michigan Realtors® . She began her role in 2016 after acting as a legislative and legal intern for the Michigan State Senate. Becky earned her undergraduate degree from Michigan Technological University and her law degree from the Michigan State University College of Law. In her role at Michigan Realtors® , Becky conducts legal and legislative research on issues that affect the real estate industry. She also assists in developing content for legal continuing education. As an advocate of Fair Housing education and outreach, Becky also serves as the staff liaison to the Fair Housing Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

• 11:15 AM - 12:05 PM, Apr 8, 2025 Banquet Rooms 5-8

  Legal Hotline Unplugged: Your Top Questions Answered - CE Marketplace Certified 1.0L hr

• 2:10 - 3:00 PM, Apr 8, 2025 Banquet Rooms 5-8

  Broker Best Practices - Sponsored by Michigan Movers Association - CE Marketplace Certified 1.0L hr

• 1:40 - 2:30 PM, Apr 9, 2025 Banquet Rooms 5-8

  Fireside Chat: What's Next for Fair Housing - CE Marketplace Certified 1.0F hr

Brian Westrin

General Counsel

Michigan Realtors®

Brian Westrin is General Counsel for the Michigan Realtors®. He helps facilitate both the Public Policy Committee & Legal Action Committee. He regularly presents on legal and policy issues, often working directly with local associations on emerging concerns. Brian is a graduate of Louisiana State University and Michigan State University College of Law.

• 11:15 AM - 12:05 PM, Apr 8, 2025 Banquet Rooms 5-8

  Legal Hotline Unplugged: Your Top Questions Answered - CE Marketplace Certified 1.0L hr

Bernie Ballesteros

Legal Hotline

Michigan Realtors

• 11:15 AM - 12:05 PM, Apr 8, 2025 Banquet Rooms 5-8

  Legal Hotline Unplugged: Your Top Questions Answered - CE Marketplace Certified 1.0L hr

Rich Adgate

Owner

Eagle Realty

• 10:00 - 10:50 AM, Apr 8, 2025 Banquet Rooms 5-8

  Building a Thriving Brokerage: HR Strategies for Retention & Growth - CE Marketplace Certified 1.0E hr

Brian Westrin

General Counsel

Michigan Realtors®

Brian Westrin is General Counsel for the Michigan Realtors®. He helps facilitate both the Public Policy Committee & Legal Action Committee. He regularly presents on legal and policy issues, often working directly with local associations on emerging concerns. Brian is a graduate of Louisiana State University and Michigan State University College of Law.

• 10:00 - 10:50 AM, Apr 8, 2025 Banquet Rooms 5-8

  Building a Thriving Brokerage: HR Strategies for Retention & Growth - CE Marketplace Certified 1.0E hr

• 2:10 - 3:00 PM, Apr 8, 2025 Banquet Rooms 5-8

  Broker Best Practices - Sponsored by Michigan Movers Association - CE Marketplace Certified 1.0L hr

Jonathan Lum

Exit Realty Home Partners

EXIT Realty Home Partners offers a supportive environment for its Realtors®, providing hands-on training, mentoring, and coaching to assist new agents in launching their businesses and enhancing the productivity of experienced agents. The company focuses on helping agents establish their personal brands and develop sustainable businesses. Supported by EXIT Realty International's cutting-edge technology, the office maintains a culture of openness and industry best practices, ensuring that agents' careers, businesses, and retirements are all backed by the EXIT Formula.

In the realm of residential real estate, Jonathan navigates clients through the intricacies of property transactions. By educating clients on the current real estate market and trends, he empowers them to make well-informed decisions with confidence. Entrusted with negotiating what is often deemed the most significant purchase in clients’ lives, Jonathan recognizes the uniqueness of each situation, tailoring resources to best suit the needs of individual clients.

Jonathan loves Lansing - as a region and the city! As a grassroots placemaker, he advocates for context sensitive development, supports adaptive reuse and historic preservation to strengthen the communities in urban cores. He strongly believes in the importance of inclusive collaboration among all stakeholders, promoting deep partnerships and strong leaders who advance unified land use, transportation, and tax policies across the region. The ultimate measure of success lies in attracting people to stay in this region where they choose to live, work, and play.

• 10:00 - 10:50 AM, Apr 8, 2025 Banquet Rooms 5-8

  Building a Thriving Brokerage: HR Strategies for Retention & Growth - CE Marketplace Certified 1.0E hr

Jaye Sanders

• 10:00 - 10:50 AM, Apr 8, 2025 Banquet Rooms 5-8

  Building a Thriving Brokerage: HR Strategies for Retention & Growth - CE Marketplace Certified 1.0E hr

• 9:00 - 9:10 AM, Apr 9, 2025 Banquet Rooms 5-8

  Opening Remarks

Robert Campau

CEO

Michigan Realtors®

Robert Campau, Esq. is a veteran lobbyist who joined Michigan Realtors® in February of 1996. He serves as Chief Executive Officer. Prior to joining Michigan Realtors®, he was Director of Environmental Affairs for the Michigan Manufacturers Association. He received a BA in communications from Michigan State University and Jurist Doctor from Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

• 9:00 - 9:10 AM, Apr 8, 2025 Banquet Rooms 5-8

  Opening Remarks

Ed Tillett serves as the Director of the Multicultural Business Programs (MBP) at Michigan State University (MSU) where he leads a talented team to strategically guide student success programming, and recruitment efforts rooted in advocating for and supporting the multicultural undergraduate student populations within the Broad College of Business. His commitment to innovation and driving change within the college has led to a variety of new initiatives, and the growth of the MBP team. In addition to this he ensures maintaining corporate, alumni, and community relationships to enhance programming and develop fundraising efforts.

Before becoming the Director of MBP, Ed Tillett served as the Diversity Initiatives Coordinator for the Career Services Network at MSU. Prior to that he was a Career Consultant for both the College of Nursing and Lyman Briggs College at the same time, a role he took on after working at the University of Texas at Austin as an Area Manager overseeing all of the operations of 4 residence halls.

Ed is an alumnus of Michigan State University (MSU), where he received his Bachelor of Science in Physiology through Lyman Briggs, and his Master of Arts in Health Communications with a specialization in International Development.

For fun, Ed spends his spare time volunteering in the community, mentoring, going to live concerts, traveling, playing sports recreationally, and most importantly spending time with his wife and three sons.

• 10:20 - 11:30 AM, Apr 9, 2025 Banquet Rooms 5-8

  Bridging Cultures: Strategies for Effective Cross-Cultural Collaboration - CE Marketplace Certified 1.0F hr

Michael Akinwumi

Chief AI Officer

National Fair Housing Alliance

Dr. Michael Akinwumi is a dedicated advocate for fair housing and civil rights, leveraging technology to drive transformative change that advances equity and justice. His work is rooted in the belief that technological innovation must be intentionally designed to promote diversity, inclusivity, and equity, particularly in housing and financial systems. By using housing as a guiding framework, he lives to ensure that emerging technologies do not reinforce historical inequities but instead serve as tools for expanding opportunity and access while fostering greater social and economic justice.

As a trusted senior leader, Michael upholds the highest standards of security, safety, and trust in technology initiatives, ensuring they protect and enable communities that have historically been marginalized. He is an active voice in the policy and innovation space, working closely with policymakers, industry leaders, and community stakeholders to shape a future where computer- and data-driven solutions strengthen fair housing and civil rights protections. In addition to his leadership in responsible use of technology, he serves as a Rita Allen Civic Science Fellow at Rutgers University, where he has developed an AI-powered policy tool to support state-level policymaking. He also advises frontier AI companies on strategies to align their innovations with social responsibility principles. Guided by his enduring belief that "only a life lived for others is worth living," Dr. Akinwumi remains deeply committed to leveraging technology as a force for lasting societal impact.

• 9:10 - 10:00 AM, Apr 9, 2025 Banquet Rooms 5-8

  Opening Keynote - AI in Real Estate: Power, Profit, and Pitfalls - CE Marketplace Certified 1.0F hr

Alexia Smokler

Director of Fair Housing Policy & Programs

National Association of Realtors

Alexia Smokler represents NAR’s positions on fair housing to Congress and federal agencies and leads NAR’s ACT! initiative, which emphasizes Accountability, Culture Change, and Training to advance fair housing in the industry. She led the development of Fairhaven: A Fair Housing Simulation, and Bias Override: Overcoming Barriers to Fair Housing. Alexia also oversees NAR’s discrimination self-testing program for real estate brokerages, NAR’s fair housing real estate licensure reform efforts, and other projects aimed at closing racial and ethnic homeownership gaps. Alexia serves as staff executive to NAR’s Fair Housing Policy Committee and writes and speaks regularly on fair housing issues to audiences around the country. Her 2021 cover story for REALTOR® Magazine, Repairers of the Breach, won several awards for excellence in business-to-business journalism.

Before joining NAR, Alexia worked in fair housing enforcement at HUD, on the staff of Congressman John Conyers, Jr., and with nonprofit civil rights organizations. She is admitted to practice law in Maryland and holds a law degree from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law; a master's degree in public affairs from Princeton University's School of Public and International Affairs; and a bachelor's degree in government from Smith College. She lives in Alexandria, Virginia.

• 1:40 - 2:30 PM, Apr 9, 2025 Banquet Rooms 5-8

  Fireside Chat: What's Next for Fair Housing - CE Marketplace Certified 1.0F hr

Steve Tomkowiak

Executive Director

Fair Housing Center of Metropolitan Detroit

Mr. Tomkowiak is the Executive Director of the Fair Housing Center of Metropolitan Detroit (a non-profit enforcement agency, engaged in fair housing outreach and education, complaint intake and investigation, and enforcement proceedings in the Metropolitan Detroit area). The FHC serves the counties of Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb, comprising approximately forty percent of Michigan’s population.
Mr. Tomkowiak is an experienced trial attorney. He specializes in fair housing and fair lending, mortgage lending and financing, predatory lending claims, landlord/tenant, title and insurance, and foreclosure defense. He has served as lead counsel of record for a variety of clients, ranging from large lenders to small businesses, property management companies, real estate appraisers, churches and individuals. He has served as lead counsel in numerous fair housing and fair lending claims, involving discrimination based on race, color, disability, sex, age, national origin, familial status, and other protected class categories. He is approved by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to conduct fair housing training for apartment complex as required under a federal court consent judgment. He also serves as an independent cooperating attorney for various fair housing organizations.

• 12:30 - 1:20 PM, Apr 9, 2025 Banquet Rooms 5-8

  Fair Housing at the Source: Protecting Income-Based Access