Explore the Future of Real Estate
2026 REBarCamp RDU Committee Members
Join us in shaping the future of real estate at the 2026 Barcamp in Raleigh, NC. Discover innovative ideas and connect with industry leaders.
Meet the 2026 Committee
Our dedicated team is committed to making the 2026 Real Estate BarCamp a success. Get to know the professionals leading this year’s event.
Amy Shair
Exp Realtor
Amy is a respected residential real estate industry leader and Triangle market veteran. As one of the longest tenured members of the REBarCampRDU committee, she has been involved with REBarCampRDU for more than 10 years and plays a key role in hosting the high-impact, agent-driven experience attendees enjoy. Amy was the committee co-chair in 2025 and is the chair for 2026.
Amy has lived in the Triangle area since high school and spent many successful years with RE/MAX, earning multiple production honors, including the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2021, she joined EXP Realty, aligning her business with a cloud-based brokerage model and advanced real estate technology tools designed to better serve today’s homebuyers and home sellers. Amy leverages real estate technology, systems, and data-driven strategies to represent buyers and sellers, with more than 80% of her business coming from repeat clients and referrals. Choosing to stay a solo agent rather than grow a larger team allows Amy to spend time face-to-face with her clients and touch all parts of each transaction.
Her leadership extends beyond production: Amy has served two terms on the Board of Directors for the Durham Regional Association of REALTORS®, is a former Co-Chair and current member of the Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS® Top Producers Council, and has recently joined the Doorify Stakeholders Council in 2026.
Vanessa Mouton
Choice Residential Real Estate
I’ve been part of the REBarCampRDU community for several years now, serving on the committee in 2023 and 2024 and as Co-Chair in 2025. BarCamp is one of those events that feels less like a conference and more like a conversation, and that’s exactly why I love being involved. It brings together curious, generous people who care about learning from each other and raising the bar for our industry.
I’ve been in real estate since 2004, first building a business in Winston-Salem before moving to the Triangle in 2008. Since then, I’ve co-owned a top-producing team in Cary and served twice as Broker-in-Charge. Those experiences have shaped how I show up, with preparation, perspective, and a commitment to doing the work well.
Today, I balance active real estate practice with working as a coaching partner to agents and small brokerages who want to grow with intention and raise the standard of how we serve clients. I’m also the creator of The VM Factor, a weekly publication where I share practical insights, strategy, and real-time reflections for agents navigating a changing market.
Outside of real estate, community matters a lot to me. You’ll often find me volunteering with Green Hope’s Marching Band, exploring local spots around the Triangle, or spending time on the greenway. I’m grateful to be part of an industry and an event like REBarCampRDU that values collaboration, curiosity, and learning together.
Jennifer Jones
Broker, Real Properties / Keller Williams Legacy
I’ve been part of the REBarcampRDU Committee for the last three years, and I love helping to bring this event to our area.
My husband and I moved to Raleigh in 2006. We instantly fell in love with this wonderful city. Our Raleigh family means the world to us, and we are passionate about the relationships we have developed here. I spend my free time with my husband and my two children. Traveling, lounging on the beach, and enjoying the Raleigh foodie scene are three of my favorite activities.
Sincerity and gratitude are at the heart of everything I do, I like being the resource for people who are making the largest financial decision of their lives. I see value in what I can bring to them and in how I can help them. Their appreciation means everything to me. That’s my whole world, in terms of work; being able to help someone.
I started my career in real estate in 2008 after a broker friend of mine suggested I give it a try. I initially resisted, but her persistence prevailed. I joined her firm and have never looked back! After 6 years though, I decided I needed more. I wanted to elevate the value we provide to the client. In 2014, my partner and I opened our own boutique agency.
We really market ourselves as a white-glove service company. We’re less about the numbers as far as hiring brokers, and much more about the quality of the service we provide. I cherish the relationships that I form with clients and those relationships transcend the closing table. Keeping in touch with our past clients is paramount to me. Every holiday I send a card, and every week I’m writing thank you notes and birthday cards. Everything is highly personalized.
Jay Sutton
Realtor Sutton Realty Group - Keller Williams Raleigh
With 18 years of dedicated service in the real estate industry, Jay Sutton is a prominent figure at Sutton Realty Group and Keller Williams Raleigh.
His innovative approach combines high-tech tools with high-touch client interactions, catering to residential, commercial, and investor clients. Jay is not just passionate about transactions; he thrives on educating and empowering clients about homeownership and investing using real estate as a powerful tool for wealth building.
A respected leader, Jay is deeply involved in teaching financial peace seminars based on Dave Ramsey’s principles, mentoring new realtors, and serving as the market center tech trainer in his office. His commitment to professional development and client success makes him a sought-after speaker and mentor.
Nina Gervase
Cary Area Real Estate Exp
If you’re ready for genuine smiles, big hugs and radical honesty, then you’re ready to meet Nina Gervase! Nina has been in real estate since January 2018 and is now the leader for the Cary Area Real Estate team within eXp.
She absolutely loves coaching her clients and fellow agents into making smart decisions for their future. Nina does not think of herself as a real estate agent… she sees herself as a trusted guide leading people to their optimal outcomes!
Outside of real estate, Nina loves spending time with her kids and dogs, long walks, yoga and listening obsessively to podcasts. Oh yeah… and she is currently obsessed with her “master plan” to move to Italy someday! Be sure to say CIAO when you see her!
Carissa Tucker
Branch Leader at Howard Hanna Allen Tate Realtors® Cary
In the ever-evolving landscape of real estate, Carissa Tucker stands as a beacon of innovation, empowerment, and guidance.
As the Branch Leader at Howard Hanna Allen Tate Realtors® Cary office, Carissa leads, coaches, and empowers agents, helping them align their success with their core values.
Beyond her leadership role, Carissa actively volunteers with the Raleigh Regional Association of Realtors®’ Realtor® Giving Network. A dedicated community advocate, she has also proudly served as a Girl Scout Leader for over 12 years. Residing in Fuquay Varina with her family and rescue pets, Carissa enjoys outdoor adventures and creative hobbies.
She believes in the unity of the Realtor® community, fostering a culture of collaboration and support. She is thrilled to be part of the REBarCampRDU Committee!
David Colgan
Regional Director Movement Mortgage
At Movement, we’re in the business of Mortgages That Mean More – more homes, more growth, more value, more support, more schools, more IMPACT.
Any mortgage lender that commits at least 10% of its profits to helping the neighbourhoods it serves is an Impact Lender. By giving borrowers the choice to have profits distributed to do good in communities, lenders can create deeper, more valuable connections.
At Movement, we are Impact Lenders. We give 40%-50% of our profits to making an impact in our communities. For us, purpose and people have always come before profit. And while we’re the first Impact Lender, we hope we’re not the only one. We invite all lenders to be Impact Lenders. NMLS 118435
David has more than 20 years experience in the Mortgage Industry, and is a proven leader.
Steve and Eleanor Thorne
Mortgage Loan Officers Advantage Lending
Steve and Eleanor Thorne are both seasoned mortgage lenders with a passion for fostering connections within the real estate community. Eleanor and Steve were instrumental in organizing the inaugural REBarCampRDU in 2009, bringing a collaborative spirit to the Raleigh area. After a hiatus, they helped revive the event in 2022, ensuring its success. Although they stepped down as Co-Chairs last year, Steve and Eleanor continue to serve on the committee, lending their expertise and enthusiasm to the event’s ongoing impact. NMLS 60596 and NMLS 67179
April Russell
Mortgage Loan Officer
April Russell is a Mortgage Broker with RTP Mortgage, where she helps families, homebuyers, and real estate professionals achieve their goals with confidence. With over 13 years in the mortgage industry, April brings extensive expertise in traditional and specialty loan products, builder partnerships, and business growth strategies for realtors.
She is also the author of The Growth Playbook: A Real Estate Agent’s Daily Success Plan, an Amazon best-seller that provides agents with practical tools to grow their business. As an ambassador and serving on various committees for the Raleigh Regional Association of Realtors, April is deeply involved in the community, hosting events, coaching professionals, and building strong partnerships that strengthen the Triangle area’s housing market.
Beyond her career, April is a proud football mom, a wife, and a mother of three. She often weaves her love for sports, teamwork, and personal growth into her approach to business and leadership. Whether she’s guiding a homebuyer or supporting fellow professionals, April is passionate about creating pathways to generational wealth and sustainable community growth.
Mackenzie Sottini
REALTOR®
Mackenzie Sottini is a REALTOR®, team leader, and mentor known for blending strategy, service, and heart to elevate agents and communities across the Triangle and the NC coast. Since 2018, she has guided countless clients through meaningful real estate journeys, approaching every move with clarity, compassion, and professionalism.
A longtime ReBarCampRDU attendee, Mackenzie has participated as both a guest and a thought leader and now proudly joins the 2026 planning committee. Her passion for this “unconference” stems from the same philosophy that guides her leadership: real growth happens when agents learn from one another, share openly, and show up as their whole selves.
Mackenzie is deeply committed to developing confident, empowered agents. She mentors experienced agents and small team leaders, hosts masterminds and community trainings, and is driven by a servant-led mission to help others build businesses aligned with their values, their goals, and the life they’re creating.
When she’s not leading The Capital & Coastal Crew, you’ll find her walking local trails, participating in community events, or supporting small local businesses (mainly food) from the Triangle to the coast always finding ways to give back and bring people together.
Mary Ann Wilson
Broker/Owner of NextHome Triangle Properties
Mary Ann Wilson is the Broker/Owner of NextHome Triangle Properties and a respected leader and coach in the Triangle real estate community. With a background in business and finance, Mary Ann is passionate about elevating the industry through education, collaboration, and strong leadership.
Mary Ann leads a high-performing brokerage built on best practices, agent-focused systems, and a culture of continuous learning. She is known for her leadership, strong negotiation frameworks, and practical business systems that help agents build sustainable, successful careers.
A high-achieving REALTOR®, Mary Ann serves buyers, sellers, and investors throughout the Triangle and holds several advanced real estate designations, including the CLHMS Guild designation for Luxury Home Sales and the GRI (Graduate, REALTOR® Institute). She is also a speaker and real estate coach committed to empowering agents at all stages of their careers.
Mary Ann has received multiple sales and leadership awards and is especially proud of her office, earning the Diamond Pinnacle Award, the highest office honor awarded by NextHome.