THE BEST OF THE BEST IN INVESTMENT REAL ESTATE

Read up on the REIcon 2024 presenters by clicking them below.

Alfonso Cuadra

Alfonso Cuadra

Coming soon.

Patrick Francey

Patrick Francey

Coming soon.

Samuel Li

Patrick Francey

Coming soon.

Steve Tsonev

Patrick Francey

Coming soon.

Zorya Belanger

Patrick Francey

Coming soon.

Calvin Hexter

Patrick Francey

Coming soon.

Tim Tsai

Tim Tsai

Coming soon.

Michael Ponte

Tim Tsai

Coming soon.

Keaton Kirkwood

Tim Tsai

Coming soon.

Steffany Hanlen

Tim Tsai

Coming soon.

Jason Watson

Tim Tsai

Coming soon.

Wayne Hillier

Tim Tsai

Coming soon.

Shane Unruh

Tim Tsai

Coming soon.

Garnet Coria

Tim Tsai

Coming soon.

Eva Neufeld

Tim Tsai

Coming soon.

View Presenter Bios

Calvin Hexter

Calvin Realty Owner

Main Stage - Breakout

Calvin Realty

Calvin Hexter is a seasoned real estate professional and the founder of one of a highly recognized real estate team within Exp Realty, and Consumer Choice Award Winning Team for Northen Alberta.

With no prior background in the industry, Calvin quickly turned his passion for real estate into a thriving career, His journey began when he recognized real estate as a powerful vehicle for financial growth and personal development, offering limitless opportunities. Through the challenges and successes he’s faced, Calvin has gained invaluable experience, enabling him to guide others toward their real estate goals while helping them avoid common pitfalls. Real estate has profoundly changed Calvin’s life, and he is committed to helping others achieve the same transformation.

Patrick Francey

CEO, CANADIAN REAL ESTATE INVESTOR, BUSINESS OWNER, EDUCATOR, COACH.

Main Stage - Breakout

REIN Canada

Patrick Francey is considered a luminary in real estate investment education, entrepreneurship, and personal and professional development. He is a gifted speaker and coach dedicated to enriching lives through personal and professional growth. As CEO of the Real Estate Investment Network (REIN) and a multi-business owner, Patrick brings over 40 years of expertise, guiding individuals toward their financial and business goals. 

With a profound commitment to holistic growth, Patrick resonates with Canadian investors and entrepreneurs. His journey from humble beginnings to a Canadian-based real estate investor, educator, and speaker inspires a global audience. Through engaging speaking events, educational programs, and his pioneering podcast “The Everyday Millionaire, ” Patrick’s approachable style motivates action by his followers.

Patrick’s influence extends to well-being with a foundational philosophy of creating a context for your life, intentionally, mindfully, and with purpose. He and his wife, Steffany Hanlen-Francey, are inspired to support the success of others. Patrick’s dedication to his vision for success, paired with his holistic lifestyle, embodies a well-rounded approach. His enduring impact in entrepreneurship and real estate investment is an unwavering beacon of guidance, proving his principles invaluable for those seeking to be their greatest self and live their best life, by design.

Wayne Hillier

Main Stage - Breakout

REI Masters

Wayne Hillier, a seasoned veteran in real estate investing with nearly 15 years of industry experience, embarked on a transformative journey in 2020, transitioning from a successful career in Oil and Gas to pursue full-time real estate investing, all before the age of 35.

Renowned for his mastery of creative seller financing strategies, Wayne generously shares his expertise by coaching aspiring real estate investors, empowering them to leverage these strategies for financial freedom, echoing his own path to success.

As the visionary founder of multiple six-figure real estate enterprises, Wayne seamlessly blends profound industry knowledge with entrepreneurial spirit in every pursuit he undertakes.

With the freedom created through real estate investing, Wayne now focuses solely on only fulfilling endeavors, including raising his daughter, building new businesses and also inspiring and guiding new real estate investors to follow their dreams and find fulfilment in their own lives.

Alfonso Cuadra

"The Godfather of Real Estate"

Main Stage - Breakout

Wealth Genius

Alfonso is an Award Winning Real Estate Entrepreneur, Speaker, and Author of the 2012 book “From the Ground Up!”, who has been seen in Readers Digest, Ottawa Sun, Vancouver Sun, Rogers TV, New York Times and many more. Born in El Salvador during the civil war, his mother, the head of the newspaper, was arrested for reporting the truth about the corrupt government in power. After escaping to Canada and being raised in poverty, at 17 years old, he started a small company that quickly grew to multiple locations across Canada.

He is now the President/CEO of The Cuadra Group of Companies and WealthGenius Inc. with an extensive background in business and real estate management, investing, and development. Alfonso is dedicated to showing others how to overcome their obstacles and become high performers. He has shared his story with thousands of audiences around the world. He is a dynamic leader that is passionate about sharing his story and inspiring others to create the life they want and to never give up on their dreams. He truly is in the business of changing lives and has a special gift in his ability to connect with people and move them forward.

Adam Tassone

Breakout

Skyward Homes

I started my own home-building company back in 2016 out of a desire to do more than just meet the minimum standards set out in the building code. Prior to that I had spent over 10 years working in real estate, property management and construction. When it came to the building industry, I wasn’t really satisfied with the quality of work that was often put out there. I wanted to build higher quality, unique, and creative projects, and from there Skyward Homes was born! Skyward Homes is a small-shop infill builder that is committed to helping people live healthy, connected, urban lifestyles by building inspiring properties they can trust, whether that be their dream home or a revenue property. To accomplish this I work closely with my clients to co-create unique, high quality projects that bring them benefit, and also contribute to the revitalization of our communities. I care deeply about creating homes, personal or rental, my clients love and trust, and as a small company I’m there every step of the way as the owner, project manager, and client consultant. My core values center around elevating urban life and building positive relationships through: Collaboration with clients – I understand that your project should reflect your goals, style, and preferences. Quality – Striving for excellence beyond normal standards. Integrity – Choosing what is right over what is quick or easy. Personal Responsibility – If I run into a challenge, it’s on me to find a solution. Uniqueness – Recognizing that every project is one of-a-kind. More recently Skyward has focused on multi-family projects, building for a variety of investors and partnerships across the country, some of which I’m personally a part of. While profitability is paramount to any successful business there’s also a focus on providing quality, affordable, sustainable and innovative housing.

Keaton Kirkwood

Main Stage - Breakout

KB Mortgages

Keaton Kirkwood is a real estate investor and a mortgage broker at Kirkwood & Brennan Mortgage Group. With a focus on working with real estate investors and the goal of creating long term success for investors by creating a plan, reducing costs and maximizing an investors ability to adapt to market changes. Kirkwood & Brennan Mortgage Group is based in Western Canada with Keaton living in Edmonton and Scott Brennan in Vancouver.

Garnet Coria

CEO of AG Property Services

Breakout

AG Property Services

Garnet has been a partner with AG Property Services since 2016, a full service residential property management company that serves Edmonton and surrounding areas. A real estate investor himself, he understands the importance of maintaining good relationships with tenants, which ultimately leads to longer term tenants. Starting in the collection industry, Garnet has a wealth of knowledge on properly screening tenants, and how to reduce your risk of a bad tenant as a real estate investor.

Here’s why Garnet and his team stand out:

  • Over 600+ Units under management
  • High Tenant Retention
  • Streamlined processes, and great customer service

Richard Bell

Breakout

BARR LLP

Richard joined the firm in 2020 after acting as managing partner of a small boutique law firm in Edmonton for over 20 years.

His practice focus is on residential Real Estate transactions, Commercial Real Estate matters and Corporate matters where he has represented numerous investor clients, developers, and individuals buying or selling a home in which they live. In an effort to have transactions completed “on time” and “stress free”, Richard pays particular attention to open and frequent communication to all the parties involved and spends the time needed to provide instruction on the documentation required.

With his Real Estate Investor clients, Richard has worked on and is aware of a number of investor strategies including Joint Ventures, Rent to Own, Agreements for Sale, Fix and Flip, Long Term Rental and is also comfortable advising his clients on the use of Corporations in these and other transactions.

In addition, he has spoken at a number of Real Estate conferences on these and other topics in the field of Real Estate.

Outside of his professional life Richard enjoys travel, the outdoors and spending time with his wife of 30 years, their two sons, and their three English Labrador Retrievers.

Michael Ponte

Founder of Savvy Investor

Main Stage - Breakout

The Savvy Investor

Michael Ponte is the Founder of Savvy Investor & his real estate investng company Prosperity Real Estate Investments Ltd. His real estate investment company was established in 2002 with a focus on both commercial and residential properties. Prosperity Real Estate Investments currently manages a robust portfolio of over 275 units valued at more than $30 million across diverse Canadian markets.

Recognized for his exceptional expertise and achievements, Michael Ponte and Prosperity Real Estate Investments have garnered prestigious accolades from renowned industry associations such as REIN, Canada Real Estate Investment Club, and Canadian Real Estate Wealth Magazine. These accolades include Top Player of the Year (2008-2015) and Multi-Family Investor of the Year from REIN, as well as the Michael Millenaar Leadership Award and Top Interprovincial Investor from Canadian Real Estate Wealth Magazine.

In addition to his successful investing ventures, Michael Ponte is passionate about sharing his knowledge and empowering others in the real estate industry. As part of this commitment, he founded Savvy Investor, a thriving community where like-minded real estate enthusiasts gather to exchange insights, support one another, and learn from collective experiences.

Michael Ponte is also an accomplished public speaker and educator. He launched Elevate Academy, a premier training program dedicated to teaching and mentoring aspiring investors, equipping them with the skills and strategies needed to excel in the dynamic world of real estate investing.

While overseeing his real estate portfolio, leading Savvy Investor, and guiding students through Elevate Academy, Michael Ponte remains devoted to his ultimate priority—creating cherished moments with his beloved wife and two children. His initial drive to enter the real estate industry stemmed from his unwavering desire to prioritize family and spend quality time with them.

Andrew Crowe

Main Stage - Breakout

Trust Your Talent

A Serial Entrepreneur born and raised by a loving family in the great City of Toronto, Andrew has always had a strong passion for business. As a young child, he started several small ventures including setting up stands to sell ‘Kool-Aid beverages, and a ‘business’ to repair Yo-yo’s for other kids in his neighborhood. In his teenage years he continued with his entrepreneurial spirit by forming a mobile audio production studio to create song recordings for local bands, a live events company focused on showcasing musical acts, all while continuing high school and holding a part-time job from the age of 14. Andrew went on to pursue post-secondary education by attending University and obtaining a degree before entering the workforce, where he excelled as a Sales Consultant Team Lead & Account Manager. Even while achieving success through his career in B2B sales, he continued to create new business models, highlighted by a sports gear personalization company that ran for several years before being sold at the beginning of the pandemic.

Despite the successes of his previous ventures, Andrew had always been intrigued by real estate and the fact that so many successful people had used it as a vehicle to create long term wealth, allowing them to live life on their own terms. In 2019, he took action and attended his first real estate investing seminar to learn how he-to could create a legacy of time freedom for him and his family – from that moment, and for those reasons, he was hooked!

Andrew continues to be a lifelong learner while investing in real estate. He is passionate about working with others to share the various strategies of real estate investing can make an impact in so many positive ways. He believes that we can all live the life we have always wanted by taking action using the right steps as we work towards our goals. His wife, son, and family continue to create his WHY, because, as he likes to reference, “You can have all of the wealth and cash-flowing properties in the world, but without family and friends, it’s just brick and mortar.”

Samuel Li

Licensed Property Manager, Full Time Real Estate Investor

Breakout

Block 31

Owner of Propfit Inc., a property management company dedicated to seamlessly matching great landlords with good tenants. 



With investing in real estate spanning over a decade, he owns and operates a mix of Single Family Homes and Multifamily Buildings with Joint Venture Partners, specializes in Edmonton and Central Alberta’s market.

Samuel Li believes in the power of open communication. He has mastered the art of proactive tenant management and creating win-win tenant and landlord relationships, by prioritizing transparent and honest interactions.

Brian Persson

Breakout

Weekend Wealth

Meet Brian, a seasoned real estate investor who is also a Licensed Dealing Representative in the Private Equities market, providing access to exclusive investment opportunities. As a Certified Real Estate Investment Advisor, Brian possesses a deep understanding of wealth creation through real estate.

Steve Tsonev

Managing Partner at Finngo Bookkeeping and Tax

Breakout

Finngō

Steve serves as the Managing Partner at Finngo Bookkeeping and Tax, where he combines his expertise in finance with his passion for real estate investment. A seasoned investor since 2014, Steve has built a robust portfolio in both residential and commercial properties across British Columbia and Alberta. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to data-driven decision-making, Steve excels at separating emotion from investing, ensuring each acquisition is backed by thorough analysis.

Deanna Boyden

Mainstage - Panel

Deanna is an accomplished Business Executive and Certified Real Estate Investment Advisor with 20+ years investing experience in 3 countries. She has vast experience building & leading teams plus coaching instructors, professionals and investors. Deanna has been recognized by ISSA International with their Leadership Award for her work with empowering women.

Deanna’s real estate experience includes everything from single family homes, student rentals, Rent to Own and historic properties to participating in large scale land development projects & helping found a private REIT. She has an affinity for vacation rentals and creating spaces where special memories are created.

Deanna’s motto is “Building for Tomorrow while Living for Today” so whether there is one tenant or hundreds in the largest projects she’s involved in, Deanna believes in providing clean, safe housing to each one of her tenants and value to her partners while living her own Lifestyle by Design.

Zorya & Patrick Belanger

Breakout

BREI

Zorya and Patrick Belanger are full-time real estate investors and rental housing providers based in Edmonton, Alberta. Since 2013, they have grown BREI Properties into a diverse portfolio of single family homes, half duplexes, garage suites, and small new-build multifamily developments. Together, they bring a unique blend of analytical thinking, operational excellence, and boots-on-the-ground experience to their real estate business.

Both former engineers, Zorya and Patrick apply a practical, systems-driven approach to everything from acquisitions and asset management to renovations and tenant relations. Patrick is focused on growing their Edmonton-based portfolio with partners, while Zorya is actively involved in a 144-unit value-add multifamily project in Houston, Texas. Across Canada and the U.S., they oversee nearly $27M in Assets Under Management.

Passionate about helping others succeed in real estate, they created The Multifamily Makeover—a 12-week immersive program designed to empower investors to take action, gain clarity, and build confidence. Their honest, risk-mitigating coaching style resonates with active investors who are ready to grow.

Outside of real estate, Zorya and Patrick enjoy traveling and spending time with their two young kids. Zorya is an active leader in the Edmonton investing community—co-hosting the meetup WE Invest: Women of Edmonton Investing in Real Estate, and serving on the board of the Edmonton Real Estate Investors Association (EREIA).

Gabby Hillier

Main Stage - Podacast

REI Masters

Gabby Hillier is Alberta’s leading landlord and property management expert. Based in Edmonton, she has over a decade of experience managing rental properties and coaching Canadian landlords how to build profitable, stress-free rental businesses.

As the co-founder of Real Estate Investing Masters and co-host of The Real Estate Investing Morning Show, Gabby shares practical, no-nonsense advice on tenant management, landlord systems, and real estate operations. Her mission is to help landlords across Canada succeed with confidence and clarity.

Gustavo Garcia-Herreros

Main Stage - Breakout

Originally born in Colombia. I migrated to Canada in the winter of 2003. I came with little to no English. One piece of luggage, and a huge sack of dreams. The purpose was to find a stream path to richness. I was willing to sacrifice my family and friends for the lifestyle I wanted in exchange for my dreams. The goal was clear to me. The way for me to achieve it is not so much. I knew one thing; I was not going to sit on the sidelines to wait for things to happen. Of course, I had to start from the bottom and find my way up. That involved me getting out of my comfort zone and start behaving in a different way. Especially in a new country where everything was so different from what I knew. Learning new skills and the language was a must.

I had many odd jobs at once, even after securing a more established one, as a Teller at one of the big banks in Canada. It didn’t take too long before I began climbing on the corporate ladder to become Senior Manager at that same bank. A role that offered me a clear sense of the financial market in Canada. Managing a team of more than 30 individuals helped me improve my leadership and people management skills. My ability to set priorities, goals, create processes and procedures, hire new staff and I also saw the need to fire others. Which gave me transferable skills that I use every day in my real estate investing career.

My job also taught me how to invest in the stock market. I became good at it, and I was able to build capital quickly allowing me to achieve one of my goals, buying a home. I pulled all my invested money and used it as a down payment fop my Lakeview condo in Downtown Toronto. Despite the excitement I felt at that time though, I was also afraid of such commitment, and the ongoing cost this would involve. It didn’t take long for me to realize that although I now own my home, I was living paycheck to paycheck still. I understood I needed to do something different to continue pursuing my dreams. I have a passion for helping people achieve their financial dreams. I want to be of service, I offer you my knowledge, skills, and experience to give you a hand in reaching your goals and dreams. Trust Your Talent is the perfect space to nourish your success!

Jennifer Champion

Breakout

The JC Group is a real estate firm led by Jennifer Champion and Christine Traynor, specializing in mortgages and property acquisitions. With strong backgrounds as real estate investors, Jennifer and Christine bring a strategic, goal-oriented approach to mortgage brokering—helping clients make financing decisions that support long-term wealth and portfolio growth. Their unique expertise bridges the gap between traditional mortgage services and investor-focused advising. Whether guiding clients through residential purchases, income property acquisitions, or complex refinancing strategies, The JC Group offers tailored solutions that align with each client’s real estate and financial goals. At The JC Group, it’s not just about securing a mortgage—it’s about building a future. From first-time buyers to experienced investors, Jennifer and Christine are committed to delivering clarity, confidence, and results at every stage of the journey.

Jennifer brings her strong construction and business background to the team. She started her real estate investing by building a portfolio in New Brunswick while living in British Columbia. From there she moved into building custom homes and multifamily townhouse projects. Jennifer is also a commercial mortgage broker and Mom to two young kids. Christine’s passion for real estate formed early in her career. She started as a real estate appraiser in 2002, growing her three appraisal firms on Vancouver Island to seven figures. Her current portfolio includes new construction multifamily development in Edmonton, AB where she has built a dream team around her. Christine is also a commercial mortgage broker and Mom to two amazing teenagers.

Matt Leger

Breakout & Wholesaler Panelist

I am a born-and-raised Canadian and a devoted parent to my boys and little girl. My passion for real estate has driven me for many years, and I am dedicated to helping homeowners tackle their real estate challenges. For a long time, many sellers in Calgary and the surrounding areas felt their only options were to list their property, attempt to sell it themselves, or simply hold on in hopes that their issues would resolve. At Leger Home Buyers, I offer alternative solutions for property owners who prefer not to (or cannot) sell through traditional real estate agents.

Ryan Carr

Breakout

Ryan is a professional investor with extensive experience in both real estate and private equity. He specializes in value-add multi-family investment properties and infills, which give him the opportunity to utilize the BRRRR Strategy (Buy, Renovate, Rent, Refinance & Repeat) & Creative Financing Techniques in order to provide quality housing for Canadians.

This has allowed Ryan, along with his beautiful wife Shefali and trusted investors to scale out a portfolio of 200 plus doors across multiple provinces in under 5 years.

Life has provided Ryan with multiple reminders that time truly is our biggest asset and as a result he pushed to help scale his business quickly, retiring both his wife and himself inside of those 5 years, replacing $430,000 household income through a passive cash flowing portfolio of real estate, paper assets and private lending.

Ryan has expert understanding of the income approach of valuing commercial residential assets (5+ units), building a team of top-notch professionals (lawyers, accountants, realtors, brokers, etc.) and raising capital thanks to his emotional intelligence and ability to build relationships stemming from 15+ years of business-to-business sales.

This has allowed him to raise over $12 Million in capital over his career to make the strategic acquisitions that now make up the approximate $26 Million in assets under management within his real estate investment business.

Recognizing you are your biggest asset, he constantly reinvests in himself, having spent over $200,000 since graduating from Wilfrid Laurier University with a Bachelor of Business Administration & Communication Studies. Personal development seminars, mentors, high performance coaches, personal trainers, conferences and books are all a part of Ryan’s continual path of improvement.

Now living the entrepreneurial life full time, Ryan has diversified his experience into development, flipping distressed properties and more private-equity investments. Having made over a 600% return on his first private equity venture, Ryan sees the opportunity in critically evaluating business ventures using similar underwriting and due diligence as real estate to make massive potential gains.

He has a passion for fast cars, world travel, great food & wine (especially Italian) which he shares with his family (wife Shefali, son Xavier and daughter Lily). The same family he hopes to set up for generations to come, while making a massive impact in this world.

As an instructor and award-winning mentor with Trust Your Talent Academy, Ryan feels honoured and privileged to help others reach financial independence, firing their bosses and coming to live life on their own terms. Manifesting lives they had only previously dreamt of.

Ryan Day

Breakout

Calvert Home Mortgage is an alternative Albertan lender offering fast, flexible short-term financing to real estate investors in Alberta and Ontario. With over 50 years of experience and more than $2.2 billion funded, Calvert provides loans up to one year in length—primarily for fix & flips, BRRRRs, and bridge financing. They work with both first-time investors and those with sizable portfolios. Known for their speed and investor-first approach, Calvert can fund deals in as little as 24-48 hours. Ryan and Kaelan, part of the Calvert team, have collectively sourced over $250 million in mortgage originations.

Santhosh & Anthony

Breakout

Santhosh is an Investor-Focused Licensed Realtor and co-founder of the Calgary Real Estate Investor Hub. His passion in real estate investing started in 2018 after researching ways to grow his income. Since then, he has expanded to several units made up of suited properties, duplexes and small multi-family properties. From DIYing his own renovations in the beginning to now tackling larger multifamily projects with partners. Now he enjoys helping other investors grow their portfolio in the Calgary region.

Anthony is an Investor-Focused Licensed Realtor and co-founder of the Calgary Real Estate Investor Hub. He grew up in Trois Rivières, Québec and moved to Calgary, Alberta when he was 19. He began his career in tech but ended up finding a passion for real estate. Anthony now owns several units made up of semi-detached and detached suited properties, backyard suites, 6-plex, and is currently working on a 64 units re-development project.

Teanna Clark

Main Stage & Wholesaler Panelist

Director, JPL HomeBuyers – Social Media Strategist 10+ years

With a decade of hands-on experience in sales, marketing and social media strategy – this savvy (and sassy) serial entrepreneur has all the secret recipes for how to reinvent your online presence, leverage your influence with digital currency and help you create an irresistible offer that will funnel your viewers into paying repeat clients.

Teanna has been internationally published in 14 magazines for her work – proving that social media marketing is not just her passion, it’s her powerhouse. Having previously directed for television ( TSC, QVC ) and featured on platforms such as Kickstarter, her creative vision and hard work ethic moved her up the industry ladder from a young age.

 In the aftermath of the pandemic, Teanna saw a nationwide need for better housing solutions. Pivoting her business focus to real estate, she co-founded JPL HomeBuyers and quickly became a trusted name in wholesale investing. Having built a network of over 1100 investors with her team, Teanna is actively disrupting how Canadians view and approach their real estate portfolios. Just last year she was nominated by Dale Carnegie University to present and demonstrate her team leadership and business innovation and won the prestigious Dale Carnegie Leadership and Innovation Award after sharing her visionary insights on solving Canada’s housing affordability and shortage crises. 

Teanna takes the main stage on Sunday morning to share the importance of playing big in today’s fast paced, ai digital age. and she’ll even guide attendees through successful calls to action, cross-traffic posting strategies and how knowing her audience helped her create an online presence that pays her a six-figure income –  all from her phone.

Teanna is also currently writing her first book, Monetize, and will be joining the Wholesalers Panel on Saturday evening to share off-market deals and creative investment strategies.

Brendan Skilton-Douglas

Wholesaler Panelist

Professional Wholesaler & Real Estate Investor since 2016. • Owner of Ashton Fisher Real Estate. A professional investment firm where partners can use Joint Ventures and discounted properties to grow their wealth. • Over 200 off market deals successfully completed. • Successfully manage a local portfolio with rentals old and new. • Builder and Developer of 16 brand new dwellings • Professional member of the Infill Development of Edmonton Assoc. of Edmonton • Speaker. I’ve been asked to speak for a number of large western Canadian stages, podcasts and R.E. associations. • Mentor. I’ve been training others in their real estate investing journey through the No Fluff Wholesaling Program. • All the deals. None of the fluff.

Cesar Amaya

Cesar Amaya is the founder of CityPlans, a Calgary-based company redefining the pre-construction experience for residential and multifamily development across Alberta. With over 20 years of architectural design experience, Cesar launched CityPlans to serve as a one-stop hub for inner-city development, offering services that span land acquisition, architectural design, permitting, and builder connections. CityPlans is built on the belief that great projects start long before construction begins. Through curated land opportunities, a full library of customizable plans, and deep expertise in zoning and municipal approvals, CityPlans helps clients—from first-time infill developers to seasoned builders—navigate the complexity of pre-construction with clarity and confidence. By combining design expertise, real estate insight, and construction partnerships, Cesar has positioned CityPlans as Alberta’s go-to resource for efficient, well-designed, and profitable small-scale urban development.

Layne Walters

Breakout

Layne Walters is co-founder of Your Mortgage Team and a Senior Associate at Indi Mortgage.
A real estate investor since 2005, he owns over 30 doors—primarily single-family homes with suites and duplexes—located in prime redevelopment areas already re-zoned for higher density.

Layne believes land is the overlooked key to long-term real estate wealth. While cash flow is important, prioritizing land value over building value can deliver greater long-term gains.

Working exclusively with investors, Layne draws on both his own portfolio experience and insights from hundreds of client transactions. He understands the risks and rewards of various strategies—flipping, infill building, developing, condo investing—and how to hedge downside risk while pursuing aggressive growth. His focus is on helping clients avoid costly mistakes, it’s not like selling a stock position, mistakes in real estate cost $30,000–$40,000 to reverse.

An advocate of buy-and-hold investing, Layne tailors sub-strategies to each client—whether the goal is to hold indefinitely, sell to a developer, or eventually develop the property themselves.

Whether you’re looking to refine your investment plan, confirm your financing strategy, or explore opportunities, Layne is happy to share his expertise and connections in real estate financing and investing.

Wes Rosso

Wes has been a life long entrepreneur and avid real estate investor. Having been involved with real estate investing for the last 25 years. Wes is also a mortgage broker, expert in private lending, RRSP mortgages, Rent to Own properties, and an exempt market dealer which allows him to work with investors for development projects. Having been involved with several types of residential real estate deals and also with an industrial development. Wes has now expanded his horizons to international opportunities with a fully managed Airbnb condo development project in Puerto Vallarta Mexico.

Natasha Phipps

Breakout

Natasha Phipps is a passionate real estate professional and investment specialist. Earning her Realtor® license in 2008 and holding a Degree in Marketing, she has built a nationally recognized reputation in the investment sector. As a top-producing team leader and property manager at CIR Realty, Natasha remains committed to continuous learning and investment in real estate. Now, as CEO of WealthShare, she is dedicated to empowering others to take control of their financial futures through real estate.

Eva Neufeld

Mortgage Tailors

Eva Neufeld, Mortgage Broker and Investor specializes in showing clients how to be mortgage-free in 10 years and teaches how to take control of your financial situation with the power of Cash Damming.

Steffany Hanlen

Elevate Your Performance with Steffany Hanlen-Francey: Unleash Your Potential in Sport and Business

Embark on a journey of unprecedented achievement and transformation with Steffany Hanlen-Francey, an Olympic and world-class athletic and business mental performance coach. With over 30 years of pioneering expertise, Steffany is a beacon for business owners, entrepreneurs, and driven individuals seeking to scale their personal and professional growth.

As a trailblazer in both sports and business, Steffany’s legacy encompasses unmatched accomplishments. With a history of impacting NHL teams and players, three Winter Olympic Games, and 18 World Championships, she’s the visionary behind Quantum Speed High Performance Skating Systems and the Skatetech Group of Companies. Her global reach extends to the Ice Academy of Montreal, where she empowers ice dancers worldwide to excel.

Steffany’s signature lies in her ability to transcend boundaries, enabling clients to design futures that eclipse sport or business limitations. Her unique journey marries sport and business mental performance expertise, culminating in success stories that redefine potential.

For business owners, entrepreneurs, and those yearning for growth, Steffany Hanlen-Francey stands as a testament to what’s achievable when mental performance becomes a driving force. Elevate your trajectory, harness untapped potential, and sculpt an exceptional future under the guidance of a true visionary.

Jason Watson

The Money Depot

In June 1999 Jason first started out as a realtor in Calgary. In 2005 he opened and owned a real estate brokerage that peaked at 205 agents which he went on to sell the brokerage in July of 2007. During the 2006-2007 Alberta real estate boom he started lending money to homeowners and real estate investors. Following, the boom his primary focus went to private mortgage lending and has since grown into multiple millions lent. As a real estate investor and former realtor his knowledge of how diverse real estate markets effect values provides a strong base for lending and approving alternative mortgages. Whether it is flipping, construction, buy and hold, rentals or homeowners with a new purchase or simply looking to refinance. His independent brokerage is known for providing same day approvals along with ability to fund quick closings.

Shane Unruh

XS Asset Management

Founder and CEO of XS Asset Management

Shane Unruh is the Founder and CEO of XS Asset Management, a rapidly expanding real estate investment firm. Starting his journey in mobile home park investments, Shane shifted focus in 2020, moving to Edmonton and pivoting to multifamily properties. Under his leadership, XS Asset Management has successfully acquired, owned, and operated nearly 400 units, with assets exceeding $70 million. Shane is also the host of the Scaling Up Podcast, where he shares insights and strategies for business, real estate growth and investment.

Tim Tsai

International Real Estate Investor

Trust Your Talent

After retiring himself at the age of 30, Tim began to pursue another goal and passion of his – helping others who are committed to achieving financial independence do the same.

To this day, Tim continues to be an active investor in real estate and other industries as he believes investing to be a “lead by example” venture and truly enjoys the journey.

Tim began his pursuit of time and money freedom with financial education in January 2010. With the help of financial education leveraging real estate investing initially, Tim successfully became financially free in 25 months. His strong desire to create mental and physical relief from ‘money problems’ originated from having had 3 heart attacks at a young age, a major depression and living with 7 autoimmune disorders. The ability to thrive beyond a lucrative yet all-around draining corporate career has solidified his mission to “create financial independence one person at a time” through Trust Your Talent Academy today.

In the past few years, Tim has built cashflowing businesses and portfolios in Canada, US and the UK, using a variety of investing strategies – income properties, lease options (both residential and commercial), creative financing, flip, wholesale, infill development, serviced accommodations and mobile home parks, etc. While real estate investing is an amazing income and wealth generating tool, he continues to believe that financial education is the root and path to true financial success in any asset class.

Globally, Tim has been featured and quoted in multiple publications and appeared on countless podcasts and stages related to real estate investing, entrepreneurship, building a business from scratch and financial education – to name a few. You are sure to take home valuable insights and action steps whenever you attend one of Tim’s talks these days.

J.P. Langlois

With 36 years of comprehensive experience in the construction industry, I am a dynamic and results-driven CEO known for my visionary leadership and strategic acumen. Throughout my tenure as President & CEO of Teknicon Construction Services since January 2014, I have led a team of 32 employees with a focus on driving operational efficiency and fostering a culture of collaboration. Under my leadership, Teknicon has experienced significant growth, achieving a 60% increase in annual revenue year-over-year through strategic business development efforts and streamlined processes. Prior to this role, as President of Renovexel Inc., I transformed a small renovation business into a thriving company with over 60 employees, demonstrating my ability to lead teams towards efficient operations and cost-effective work habits. My journey in the industry began as an electrician, plumber, and carpenter, providing me with invaluable hands-on experience and insights that I continue to leverage in my role as a strategic leader.