2014 BIG e Conference
Thursday, October 23, 2014
9 a.m. – 5:15 p.m
Norris Conference Center – CityCentre
Want to learn how to become an expert in the Houston real estate industry? Look no further than HAR’s one day real estate and technology conference where you will learn from the best what it takes to make it in today’s market.
The BIG e Featured Speakers
Crystal Washington – Opening Keynote
Hired by companies including Google, Microsoft and GE, companies in the USA, Africa and Europe book Crystal Washington when they want their teams to take action online!
Crystal is known for her ability to take complex Web and social media topics and make them easy to understand and accessible for everyday people and small business owners. As the owner of CWM Enterprises and co-founder of Socialtunities, a social media instructional brand aimed at training everyone from Gen Y’s to Baby Boomers in strategically using social media, Crystal educates consumers on the practical applications of social media networks like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Today, Crystal still operates as a marketing strategist and is frequently sought after by brands wanting to leverage unique marketing strategy and companies who want their employees to leverage tools like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to support company goals. Additionally, she is an international keynote speaker and workshop facilitator who has impacted companies, associations and entrepreneurs all over the world.
Crystal describes herself as a fun-loving and eclectic nerd. You may find her reading the newest book on social media, meditating with Buddhist monks, attending a West African Dance class or parasailing.
Terry Watson – VIP Luncheon Keynote
Terry Watson is the “AHA guy”, who makes people, companies and organizations large and small aware of the conscious and unconscious ways they sabotage their businesses and their lives. Terry provides ridiculously effective and easily implementable strategies. In short, Terry gives your organization the tools your people need to get out of their own way while making them laugh till they snort in the process.
Terry is also a CSP, Certified Speaking Professional. The CSP is the speaking profession’s International measure of speaking experience and skill, earned from the National Speakers Association. This is a really big deal since there are less than 600 speakers with the CSP designation in the universe. Fewer than 10 percent of the speakers who belong to the Global Speakers Federation (GSF) hold this professional designation.
Pat Strong
Pat was promoted to one of five National Franchise Directors for Century 21 Real Estate Corporation. Pat was responsible for approximately 800 brokers in seven states. Her main job was coaching and helping offices become profitable, also consulting on recruiting and retention.
For four years Pat managed Century 21 Judge Fite’s office in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area with 65-75 agents. Pat’s office was in the top 10 in the U.S. for two of those years, and top 25 the other two years in closed transactions out of 6600 offices worldwide.
Pat retired from managing and now works as an independent, full time educator and consultant for the past seven years Pat is a senior instructor for Texas REALTORS® University since 1993.
Speaker for both TAR conventions and several National conventions Pat teaches Instructor Training Institute for Texas, which is a mandatory course to be approved to instruct for TAR, and also done National webinars and writes articles for TAR, ABR and various other entities.
Amy Smythe Harris
Amy Smythe Harris, Broker/Owner of Urban Provision REALTORS, has been in the real estate industry for over 17 years and it is still a practicing agent. She is a passionate believer in education and holds numerous professional designations, including GRI, GREEN, E-Pro, CRS, SFR and more.
She has served on the Board of Directors for Houston Association of REALTORS since 2009, serves on the Board of Directors for Texas Association of REALTORS, as well as the Board of Directors for National Association of REALTORS. Amy serves on many local, state and national advisory groups and committees, including Professional Standards , Professional Development and Technology committee.
Amy loves technology and some people call her a Geek or Nerd or the Gadget Girl. She was her state association technology chair in 2011. She is the Vice-Chair of Consumer Communications Committee Services Forum for 2013 for NAR. She is serving on the Presidential Advisory Group for NAR for Consumer Member Services. She has trained agents for 10 years in the art of in utilizing technology and social media in their business practice to become more efficient in their prospecting.
In addition, she has been a featured technology speaker at the Xplode Conference, ReTech South, Inman NY conference, national WCR Conventions, CRS convention, numerous State Conventions, and multiple NAR Conventions.
