Inside The Canopy Files

The Charlotte region’s growth continues to make it a hub for business, attracting domestic and foreign investment, in both residential and commercial real estate, prompting Canopy Realtor® Association to launch Canopy Global. Join Charisma Southerland, Association President and host of Inside the Canopy Files as she talks with Stephanie Aker, Global Council Engagement & Development Manager from the National Association of Realtors® and Canopy Global Committee Chair, Kristie Ferguson about the launch of Canopy Global and programming to encourage, educate and provide resources for Realtor® members interested in expanding, exploring and developing international real estate business.

Inside the Canopy Files podcast passes the mic to guest host, Eric Thomas, retired Chief Meteorologist for WBTV-TV, board of director at Home Again Foundation, and 2024 Grand Marshal of the 8th annual Strides for Shelter 5K. Eric and his guest, Rick Gilbert, Executive Director of the Home Again Foundation, discuss the work they’re doing to stem the tide of homelessness in the Charlotte region and how this year’s Strides for Shelter 5K will fund the construction of a one-bedroom cottage for a homeless veteran.

PRIDE Month is an essential observance dedicated to recognizing and affirming the dignity, equality, and rights of LGBTQ+ individuals. Beyond the parades and celebrations, the month serves as a critical reminder of the struggles and achievements of a community that has historically faced discrimination, violence, and marginalization.

Inside the Canopy Files guest host Eric Norman, Realtor®/ Broker and president of the NC Chapter of LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance, talks with Alex Cruz, National Director of Education and Professional Services for the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance, about the history of PRIDE, the need for allies and the urgent need for advocacy and protection of LGBTQ community.

Visit https://realestatealliance.org/ for more information.

Charisma Southerland, 2024 president of Canopy Realtor® Association and Canopy MLS is back again for another special edition of Inside the Canopy Files recorded live from the 2024 Canopy Realtors EXPO. Listen in as Charisma has a conversation with Juanita McDowell, national speaker, tech enthusiast, consultant, marketing guru and CEO of InMotion Consulting. Juanita delivered a fantastic EXPO education speaker session, and spoke with Charisma on this podcast about using short form video content to produce real lead generation.

Anne Marie DeCatsye, CEO of  Canopy Realtor® Association and Canopy MLS is back as guest host on this edition of Inside the Canopy Files and talks with Dr. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist of the National Association of Realtors® and Dr. Yongqiang Chu, Distinguished Professor of Real Estate and Urban Economics at UNC Charlotte’s Childress Klein Center for Real Estate about the 2024 Housing Market and Outlook.

Charisma Southerland, 2024 president of Canopy Realtor® Association and Canopy MLS, is back hosting this episode of Inside the Canopy Files. Today, Charisma speaks with Lynn Madison, owner of Lynn Madison Seminars, a full-service training and development company devoted to the advancement of professionalism in real estate. Together they address how agents can navigate the new normal.

May is recognized as Asian American Pacific Islander Month, a time honoring the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, customs, values, and unique contributions of Asian Americans.  As a part of the second installment of the Inside the Canopy Files series delving into diversity, Canopy Realtor® Association president, Charisma Southerland talks with Linda Goss, fellow Realtor® and Broker, who serves as the president of the Charlotte Chapter of the Asian Real Estate Association of America or AREAA, and Dr. John Chen, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Carolinas Asian American Chamber of Commerce. Listen as they talk about key issues in real estate and the impact their organizations have on the local Asian American business community.

Buying a home is a big undertaking – from picking a REALTOR®, to touring homes, to financing the purchase, each step presents its own set of challenges. For disabled homebuyers, those challenges are often bigger and trickier to navigate. Inside the Canopy Files talks with Mia Ives-Rublee, Director of Disability Justice Initiative at American Progress about her work advocating for disability justice and inclusion and what Realtors® can do to further the independence and dream of homeownership for those living with disabilities. Broker Relations Manager, Bryan Perkins joins the conversation to discuss how the MLS helps agents assist clients with disabilities. 

Inside the Canopy Files salutes Women’s History Month with guest host, Anne Marie DeCatsye, CEO of Canopy Realtor® Association and Canopy MLS. She and her guests, Maren Brisson Kuester and Brenda Hayden - both past presidents and industry pros - discuss paths to leadership, sharing advice and inspiration and celebrating women who are leading the change.

Realtors® across the U.S. and here at home in Charlotte faced a challenging 2022 and 2023. Last year in particular, agents navigated an inventory-depleted market, with buyers and sellers that pulled back from the housing market due in large part to rising interest rates. In this episode of Inside the Canopy Files, 2024 Association/Canopy MLS president Charisma Southerland, talks lead generation with special guest, and Managing Broker/Realtor® Marki Lemons-Ryhal. Listen in as they discuss building a customer relationship management system and leads to sustain your real estate business in 2024.