Pacific NW Housing Summit

Ben Kaufman to join the Panelist Break Out Sessions

Ben is the Founder and Designated Broker of GreenWorks Realty managing over $60 Million in real estate transactions.  Ben uses his vision and passion to promote GreenWorks Realty's mission to improve the livability and sustainability of our community.

Ben holds a BA in Urban Planning from the University of Washington, a Professional Commercial Real Estate Certificate from the University of Washington, a Permaculture Design Certificate from Crystal Waters, Australia, and a Certified New Home Sales Professional Certificate.  Prior to founding Greenworks, Ben co-founded Co-Opportunities Northwest, a 2001 conference to identify and advance emerging trends in sustainable community development in Puget Sound and participated in the Governor's Sustainability Roundtable in 2002.

Ben has been active in low impact land development and marketing and selling real estate for 15 years, is the Board Chair of the King and Snohomish County Built Green program, a board member of the King and Snohomish County Master Builders Association and was the recent Treasurer of the Northwest Eco-Building Guild. 

Ben's recent achievements include drafting the Environmental Certification check-box additions to his local MLS and authoring the first study using MLS data to compare certified homes to non-certified homes in the United States.  Ben also helped develop GreenWorks Realty 14 clock-hour state approved class, Green Agent Essentials, for local Real Estate Agents.  The Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish County recently awarded Ben with a "Built Green Pioneer Award" at the 2009 Built Green Conference in Seattle.

Ben's other passions are ski mountaineering, rock climbing, and enjoying tracking with his wife Heather.

A Preview of the Pacific Northwest Housing Summit: Afternoon Sessions

The morning of the Pacific Northwest Housing Summit features many great panelist and break out sessions.  We covered it in detail on our last post, where we left off at lunch.   (By the way, if you have not yet pre-registered, please do so we can be sure to order enough lunch for everyone).

After you select your box lunch from Gretchens of Course, you will travel to the Olympic Room where you will hear from Lt. Governor Brad Owen discuss Washington State in the global economy from 12:15 - 12:45 pm.

As with the morning panel, each industry expert will take around 15 minutes to discuss their topic.  The afternoon panel features:

• Patti Maddux- who will discuss new legislation/regulations regarding escrow closers, RESPA issues and disclosures of new forms.  Short sales and foreclosure escrow issues.
• Stan Sidor- addresses the appraisal outlook for 2010, the future impact of AMC's and the banks current role in values.  Including hidden inventory of properties (bank owned).
• Spencer Rascoff- will talk about the online real estate landscape; where it started and a look at the road ahead and marketing to a new generation of clients.
• J. Lennox Scott- will provide an owner's outlook on the regional real estate marketplace that includes home price stabilization, the return of appreciation and the impact of rising mortgage rates on the housing recovery.
• Ohan Antebian- discusses the early adapters, the present day utilization and the future of technology and online marketing in the real estate industry.

Brian Stevens will provide his summary of the afternoon panel and time permitting, will take questions from the audience.

All of this should be complete around 2:30 (whew! That's a lot of content!!) and then we move into the afternoon break-out sessions with the panelist from 2:45 - 4:15 pm.

Break Out Session 1:  Spencer Rascoff, J. Lennox Scott and Ohan Antebian

Break Out Session 2:  Frank Garay, Brian Stevens and Marc Savitt

Frank Garay and Brian Stevens of Think Big Work Small, will provide an event summary...which I'm sure will be interesting and entertaining!   With Craig Goebbell providing the closing presentation.

Real estate agents, appraisers and LPO's will need to meet with representatives from Evergreen Professional Training for their clock hour credits.

A Preview of the Pacific Northwest Housing Summit: Morning Session

Just next Thursday, the Pacific Northwest Housing Summit will be taking place at the Seattle Center.  If you've been following this site from the beginning, you know we've been announcing our panelist as we've been lining them up and dripping the details as they become available.   It's very exciting to be this close to the actual event and to see everything come together!

Here's a hint of what the morning of Thursday, March 18, 2010 should look like.

Registration:  7:30 - 8:45 am  (Coffee is available!)

Those who have pre-registered (paid and registered prior to March 18) will be able to take advantage of the Express Line.  Others may want to show up a little earlier so they can complete their registration.

Craig Goebbel, President of the Washington Association of Mortgage Professionals, will serve as our Masters of Ceremony and has promised to keep us on schedule.   There will be two sets of panels: morning and afternoon.   Each panelist will speak around 15 minutes with a summary at the end of the morning and afternoon panel.  Following each panel will be a break-out session where attendees will have a chance to "get closer" to the panelist.   

The morning panel will feature:

• Bret Bertolin - discussing the regional economic outlook for 2010 including revenue, employment and taxes for the 2010 economy.
• Ken Reid- addressing the role of the mortgage insurance industry is playing in this economy.  What the effects are on lending polices and what he forsees.
• Brenda Rawlins - will cover title insurance regulations and rules that affect market conduct of all real estate professionals. 
• Marc Savitt- informs on the market impact of HVCC, MDIA, GFE and what is coming next!
• David Horn - will share information on ID theft and fraud as well as loan modifications and how they impact the consumer, and compliance issues.

Frank Garay will provide a summary of what is discussed during the morning panel and, time permitting, will take questions from the gallery.

All of this should be wrapped up by 10:30 am.  Then from 10:40 - Noon, you will have the opportunity to attend a break out session with the panelist. 

Break Out Session 1:  Bret Bertolin, Ken Reid and Stan Sidor  PLUS NEW ADDITION:  Ben Kaufman

Break Out Session 2: Brenda Rawlins, David Horn and Patti Maddux

After the Break Out Sessions... you will have a choice from serveral delish gourmet boxed lunches from Gretchens of Course and....

....click here for a preview of the afternoon agenda.

Featured Panelist: J. Lennox Scott

We are less than two weeks away from the Pacific NW Housing Summit and STILL adding panelist to this extraordinary event.  We are pleased to announce that J. Lennox Scott will be joining our impressive group of industry experts.

J. Lennox Scott is the Chairman and CEO of John L. Scott Real Estate. He started as company president in 1980, transitioning to Chairman and CEO in 2002. Lennox is the third generation to run the family business, which was founded by his grandfather in 1931. Lennox’s grandfather believed that central to any real estate transaction is the personal relationship between the client and their real estate agent. In the age of technology, many companies have left that personal relationship behind in exchange for speed of transaction and automated processes. Lennox has worked diligently to find ways to use technology not only to streamline processes, but also to enhance relationships with our clients, and to provide higher quality information to consumers. For this, Lennox has earned wide spread national recognition including three nods as one of the 25 most influential people in real estate by Realtor Magazine.  

Lennox is a member of the National Association of Realtors, the National Association of Home Builders, the Young President's Alumni Organization, Rotary International, and Leading Real Estate Companies of the World. He also holds a Certified Residential Broker (CRB) designation and a business degree from the University of Washington. Because of his intense interest and leadership in technology, Lennox is often asked to speak at events across the nation about John L. Scott Real Estate’s award-winning website, the internet, and the future of real estate.

Lennox is actively involved in the John L. Scott Foundation, which supports local Children's Hospitals and children's health care throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Featured Panelist: Patti Maddux

We are pleased to announce that Patti Maddux will be joining our amazing group of panelist at the Pacific Northwest Housing Summit on March 18, 2010 in Seattle. 

Patti has had numerous years in the title insurance and escrow fields, working in both independent escrow companies and title company escrow departments.  She is currently working as an Escrow Officer/LPO with Rainier Title Company in Kent, Washington.  Patti has also owned her own company, Escrow Relief, which provided support to escrow and title companies when needed and has worked for an independent escrow company prior to joining Rainier Title.

She is currently an Escrow Commissioner for the State of Washington's Department of Financial Institutions.  She is past president and currently a Director of the South Sound Escrow Association and President-Elect of the Escrow Association of Washington.  Patti is also currently a member of the South King County Women's Council of Realtors and a member of the South Sound Washington Association of Mortgage Professionals.

Featured Panelist: Ken Reid

We are pleased to announce that Ken Reid will be joining our panelist representing another important factor of the housing industry: private mortgage insurance. 

Ken is an Account Manager for Genworth Mortgage Insurance based in Seattle.  His territory covers Washington, Montana and North Idaho.  He began his career with General Electric Mortgage Insurance in 1989.  Prior to joining GE, Ken spent 19 years with University Federal Savings Bank starting as a management trainee in 1970 and working his way up to Regional Vice President. 

Ken was President of the Seattle Mortgage Bankers Association in 1989 and is a past board member of Washington Mortgage Lenders.  

Ken is a Seattle native and received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Washington.

Featured Panelist: Stan Sidor, Chairman of the Appraisal Coalition of Washington

We are pleased to announce that Stan Sidor, Chairman of the Appraisal Coalition of Washington and Vice President, Branch Manager of GVA Kidder Matthews will be joining our other esteemed panelist at the Pacific NW Housing Summit on March 18, 2010 in Seattle.

Stan has 30 years of combined real estate and banking experience, including 16 years as a real estate appraiser.  In addition to valuation analysis and consulting, Stan has experience in property and asset management, leasing, sales, loan underwriting and credit approval.

Stan attended all courses in the Masters of Science in Real Estate Appraisal program at the University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis, MN and received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Washington.

Featured Panelist: Lieutenant Governor Brad Owen

Brad Owen was elected as Washington State's 15th lieutenant governor in 1996 and re-elected in 2000, 2004 and 2008.  Lieutenant Governor Owen serves the state as president of the Senate, and is the acting governor in the absence of the governor.  Prior to his election as lieutenant governor, Owen served as Shelton finance commissioner from 1976-1979, as a member of the Washington State House of Representatives from 1976-1982, and in the Washington State Senate from 1983-1996.

Lieutenant Governor Owen hs dedicated his term of service to providing leadership in the field of public health and safety, with an emphasis on substance abuse and prevention.  He is the co-chair of Washington State Mentors, as well as the chair of the Legislative Committee on Economic Development and International Relations.  He serves on the advisory board for the Drug Free America Foundation.  He has conducted many foreign trade and goodwill missions and promotes stronger ties among Washington State's economic and international communities.

As a result of his work on projects in Washington in association with Spain, Lt. Governor Owen was awarded the decoration Order of Isabella the Catholic, a medal of knighthood, from the King of Spain in 2007.  Additionally as founder and president of a non-profit organization called Strategies for Youth, he develops and delivers positive messages about substance abuse and bullying awareness to youth as well as the community at large.  He received Washington State Mentor's highest award, Champion of Mentoring in 2007.  In 2002, he received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters (Humanities) from Walla Walla College for his years of public service and work with kids and communities.

Lieutenant Governor Owen is an avid outdoors-man, hunter and fisherman, and enjoys playing a variety of musical instruments including the guitar, drums and sax.  Mr. Owen and his wife live in Shelton.  They have six children and 17 grandchildren.

Featured Panelist: Bret Bertolin with the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council

Bret Bertolin has been with the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council (ERFC) since its inception in 1984.  The ERFC is charged with preparing economic analyses and revenue forecasts for the Governor and the Legislature.  Bret is well known within the government and outside as an expert on the state's economy.   He is highly regarded by his colleagues.

Prior to joining the Forecast Council, he worked as an Economist with Seattle-First National Bank. 

When not crunching numbers, Bret enjoys hanging out on his sailboat with his wife and daughter.

Bret received both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in economics from Yale University.

Featured Panelist: David Horn of the Federal Trade Commission

David Horn was appointed Assistant Regional Director of the Federal Trade Commission's Northwest Regional Office in Seattle in 2009.  With the FTC sine 2005, he enforces federal consumer protection and antitrust laws.  Dave also teaches ID Theft to the Washington Criminal Justice Training Commission's advanced detective class and speaks regularly on ID theft and related topics.

From 1986-2005, Dave was an Assistant Attorney General and later Senior Counsel with the Washington State Attorney General's Office, focusing most of that time on Consumer Protection enforcement and legislation, especially with respect to mortgage brokers and charitable solicitors.  He worked with WAMB, DFI and other stakeholders to develop the original mortgage broker licensing laws that were enacted in 1993 and 1994 and served as an ex officio member of the original Washington State Mortgage Broker Commission.  Later, Dave served as policy aide and legislative representative for Attorney General Gregoire from 2000 to 2004.  During his AG career, Dave also served in the Antitrust Division, acted as Risk Manager, enforced the state Criminal Profiteering Act in narcotics cases.

In 2000, Dave won NAAG's Marvin Award for outstanding leadership, expertise and achievement in advancing the goals of the National Association of Attorneys General.  He has served on numerous bar association and nonprofit boards and committees.

From 1983-85, Dave practiced law at Foster, Pepper & Riviera in Seattle.

A native of Tacoma, Washington, Dave graduated from Whitman College and Harvard Law School.