Description

The Suncoast Global Council presents the 12th Annual Global Symposium!

Our area is HOT for selling Tampa Bay, globally! The Tampa Bay area ranked 3rd in Florida for real estate transactions involving foreigners according to NAR's 2021 Profile of International Residential Transactions in Florida. There are added layers to guiding international customers through the real estate process in the U.S. and this exciting event will provide info on how to best serve this market.

We'll focus on:

• Why our area is attractive to people from around the globe.
• Benefits and resources available to help you work with foreign customers.
• Tools to be the go-to resource for those who desire to be a part of our local landscape.

We will hear a variety of perspectives thanks to this unique group of experts:

• Michael Bishop - Pasco EDC's Director of Stakeholder Engagement
• Nathan Paredes - Coinflip's Senior VP and GM of Digital
• Bethsy Sachs - National Association of REALTORS® Manager of Global Alliances

Our Global Experience Panel will discuss "Selling Globally, Acting Locally" and "Building Your Dream Team": Kelly Lee McFrederick, Corina Silva, Marlene Cambronero, Kristina Williams, Ana Smith

Our Florida REALTORS® Panel will discuss "Benefits and Support from FR Opportunities: Gonzalo Mejia, Carlos Alleyne and Maria Gurlich

Speakers

Mike Bishop graduated from the University of South Florida with a B.S. in Finance in 2006 and started his career in financial services as a financial advisor, obtaining his Series 7, 66, and 31 as well as his Series 220 for general insurance. After a successful run in the financial industry, Mike founded Big Storm Brewing Co. in 2012, the first craft brewery in Pasco County. Big Storm grew exponentially over the years, garnishing several awards including Best Beer in Florida 2016, and employing over 50 people. Mike was instrumental in the leadership of the business, building experience in all facets of starting and growing a manufacturing facility, including obtaining his degree in Brewing Sciences from the esteemed Siebel Institute of Brewing. After selling his business in 2019, Mike joined the staff at the Pasco Economic Development Council as the Director of Stakeholder Engagement. He is responsible for stakeholder relations, a community-facing role that strives to enhance the Pasco EDC and County’s relationships amongst business leaders. He also oversees local, national, and international event coordination and logistics, while serving as an enthusiastic spokesperson for the Pasco EDC.  Mike is a strong community advocate in Pasco County, and currently sits on the following boards: Pasco County Government Tourism Development Council, Pasco County Sheriff’s Safety Town, and Sunrise of Pasco (Board Chair). He is a graduate of Leadership Pasco Class of 2017, Pasco County Citizen’s Academy, and is a Rotarian with the New Port Richey Rotary. He currently resides in Land O Lakes, FL with his wife Erin and three children.

Nathan Paredes SVP and GM of Digital for Coinflip 

Nathan Paredes is the SVP and GM of Digital for Coinflip, the world’s leading bitcoin ATM operator, and manages the P&L for the digital expansion of the company, its customer experience team including physical experience centers, and the Digital Asset Advisory group. Nathan has spent the last 8 years in payments, including retail cash management and credit card payments, with experiencing selling into and partnering with several Fortune 50 retailers. He has a passion for Cyrptocurrency, Blockchain, and the general normalization of the technology and its use cases. In his free time and when not an ice rink with his twin mite travel hockey stars (bias), he is an avid seeker of physical and mental pain via endurance racing events.

Bethsy Sachs NAR Manager of Global Alliances

As Manager for Global Business & Alliances | Engagement, Bethsy oversees the communications with NAR’s 7,000 International REALTOR® Members in more than 72 countries and provides support to the 100 cooperating associations in 72 countries that have strategic partnerships with NAR. She is the main point of contact for all bilateral partner leadership teams, builds relationships with senior-executives and staff and is responsible for ensuring global partners’ needs are addressed.

Bethsy is the staff liaison to NAR’s 11 Cooperating Associations in LATAM and works closely with implementation of NAR’s initiatives in those countries. She is also responsible for welcoming International Delegates to NAR’s annual Conference & Expo and coordination of Global events during the conference. Bethsy is responsible with the implementation of NAR’s initiatives in Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Brazil, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Trinidad & Tobago.

Bethsy joined NAR in 1998 and is based at NAR’s Headquarters in Chicago. Bilingual in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, she enjoys working with all of NAR’s Bilateral partners and REALTORS® who are interested in NAR’s Global programs.

Gonzalo Mejia is a 18year veteran of the real estate industry. He has been an agent, broker associate, managing broker and now team leader of the Dream Home Team in Jacksonville, FL where they are one of the top producing teams in their market. One of their specialties is global business, and have worked with customer from all over the world. Gonzalo has a background in financial controlling and used to work for multinational companies in USA and South America. With over 25 years of experience as an instructor and speaker, Gonzalo is a licensed real estate instructor in Florida and an approved instructor for REBAC, RRC, REBI and Florida Realtors. He has been a featured speaker at several national and international events.

Carlos Alleyne, a native of Barbados, is an accomplished financial professional with more than 20 years’ experience on wall street. Client testimonials elude to the fact that he gets results, is a dedicated professional and lives passionately. Carlos was awarded the Rising Star Award and Global Realtor® of the Year Award by the Broward, Palm Beaches, and St. Lucie Realtors®. Carlos has been serving as a Florida Realtors® Director since 2018. He is the 2023 Chair of Florida Realtors Investment/Treasury Management committee, The Vice Chair of Audit Committee and will be serving on the Florida Realtors Finance committee. He just completed a spectacular year as 2022Florida Realtors Global Business Committee Chair. At the National level, Carlos serves as a National Director, a member of the Global Business alliances committee and the Public policy Committee. He is a 2021 graduate from the NAR Mentor Mentee Program and isa recent graduate of the 2022 Class of the NAR Leadership Academy. I don’t know where he finds time to sell Luxury Real Estate, but he does and does so quite well. Carlos was recognized as an AREAA A-Lister and was in the Top 25 in the nation by the Asian Real Estate Association -AREAA Usually, you can follow him on Facebook as he travels to 12-13 countries a year. Fresh off his 26 hour flight from Asia it is my pleasure to introduce to you, Mr. Global himself  Carlos Alleyne.

Maria Grulich serves as Director of Global Business for the Florida Association of Realtors, overseeing and developing global initiatives and programs for Florida, advising and supporting Realtor® members and association/board staff on global matters and markets at the local, state and federal levels, strengthening relationships and cooperation with international organizations. She manages activities such as international expos, conferences, trade missions, as well as serving as the team liaison to the National Association of Realtors. Maria is the Florida Realtors Liaison to the Global Business Committee, Global Business Exchange and Diversity Committee. Maria is involved in many community efforts including FIABCI USA as Region 2 Director, Enterprise Florida-Florida International Trade Partnership, FEDC (Florida Economic Development Council) Board , AREAA ( Asian Realtors ) Advisory Board, National Association of Hispanic Realtors , and Realists active member. She was named Consul General of Canada’s Global Business Leader and featured at the I-4 awards for women March 2019. June 2021 Ms. Grulich received The Maple Leaf Award from Consulate General of Canada-Miami for her contribution to the Canada-Florida relationship. She secured the relationship with CILA (Federation of Latin Real Estate Associations) who has 1million members. Florida is the only State in the nation with this partnership. Her background includes Economic Development and International Tourism Business Development. She worked on the recruitment of many industries teaming with the Enterprise Florida and the Governor’s office. Maria has also led several trade missions to recruit international investors and students. She successful brought home to Florida the NAR Diamond Award for Global Achievement . Florida is the first State in the nation to receive this prestigious award. Maria is a multi-lingual Cuban/American and resides in Celebration, Florida. She is a graduate of the University of South Florida. 

Brent Barkway joined the staff of Pinellas County Economic Development in August 2014, as a Business Development Manager specializing in Export Development, Foreign Direct Investment, Foreign Trade Zone management and expansion/relocation projects.  Brent’s focus is helping local companies explore international markets by leveraging available resources on a global scale.   In past years, Brent has led successful trade missions to markets throughout Central and South America and has conducted Foreign Direct Investment missions to Europe and Canada.   In 2014, Brent collaborated with regional partners to launch Global Tampa Bay, the trade and investment collaborative that brings together the resources of Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties to promote the region internationally.