FRANK MEARS knows sales. He began his sales career in 1966 as a debit agent with one of America’s largest life and health insurance companies. From there he moved into newspaper advertising sales and then entertainment booking before entering the real estate profession as a sales associate in 1977. Frank obtained his broker license in 1984 and has sold real estate in Georgia, South Carolina and California.

A nationally recognized speaker on agency, negotiations, and sales skills, Frank delivers over 200 presentations a year in the US and Canada and has trained thousands of sales associates from coast to coast.

Frank is also certified to teach nationally accredited ABR, PMN, SFR, SRES, SRS, GREEN courses, and is an approved GRI instructor in Georgia and South Carolina. Frank was awarded the distinguished Partners in Education 2002 “Instructor of the Year” by the Georgia REALTORS® and is a 2005 inductee into the Real Estate Buyers Agency Hall of Fame. Frank has earned the “Certified Speaking Professional (CSP)” designation conferred by the National Speakers Association (NSA) and the International Federation of Professional Speakers (IFPS).

JOE KENNEDY , ASR, ABR, C-CREC, CBR, has been involved in real estate education since 1977. During his real estate career, he has served as director of several of Georgia’s prominent real estate education providers. Joe is a Past President of the Georgia Real Estate Educators Association, as well as the Region 5 Past President of the National Real Estate Educators Association. He remains active in both his real estate practice and in education and firmly believes, “One must be active in the industry to become not only an effective educator, but an effective mentor.” Joe holds numerous professional designations and is the founder of the Accredited Seller Representative (ASR) designation.

KRISTY SERKEDAKIS obtained her real estate license in 1973 and has been involved in all phases of real estate — listing, selling, recruiting, managing, relocation, training and coaching. She has been a prelicense, postlicense and continuing education instructor for over 35 years. Kristy co-owned Century 21 Across Atlanta, a multi-office company in north Atlanta, for more than 30 years. In 2009, her company merged with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers, a 25-office company covering Metro Atlanta and North Georgia. Kristy is on the Metro Brokers’ corporate staff and serves as the VP of Career Development. She is active in the Cobb Association of REALTORS®, served as its President for two consecutive terms and was the recipient of their Lifetime Achievement Award. The Georgia Real Estate Educators Association honored Kristy as their 2012 “Instructor of the Year.” Kristy graduated from the University of Georgia with a BBA in Banking and Finance. She is an avid college football fan and rarely misses seeing the UGA Bulldogs play!

SERENA HENRY has over 12 years of experience in the real estate industry. She has been a managing broker, and, before that, she was an Associate Broker, who continuously produced top results.

Beyond the closing table, Ms. Henry was, and continues to be, deeply immersed in the legislative aspect of real estate. She is an active of member of the Atlanta REALTORS® Association (ARA), Women’s Council of REALTORS® (WCR) and Georgia REALTORS® (GAR). The ARA® presented her with the Five Star Circle of Excellence Award in 2010 and the Captain of Industry Award in 2015. Ms. Henry became President of the Women’s Council of REALTORS®-Atlanta in 2011. Women’s Council of REALTORS® is a nearly 80-year-old national organization that empowers women to become leaders in the real estate community.) WCR®-Atlanta’s membership doubled during her term. In recognition of her many accomplishments, the Chapter received the 2011 WCR®-State of Georgia Membership Retention Award and the 2011 National Women’s Council of REALTORS® Gold Award, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual Chapter for its leadership and governance.

Ms. Henry has served as GAR’s Alternate Federal Political Coordinator for Congressman John Lewis; has been a member of the Professional Development Committee which serves the State of Georgia; is a Real Estate Instructor; and has served as a Director of the Georgia Real Estate Educator’s Association. Government involvement is not new to her. While she was Chief of Staff for Atlanta City Council, Post 1 At-Large, she worked diligently to support all Council member constituent initiatives.