Lynn Madison joins this week’s episode to preview her upcoming sessions at our Annual Convention & Expo on risk management and client service. Learn what to expect from her sessions, what she’s looking forward to, and why you don’t want to miss out on what she has in store for Ohio REALTORS.

Full Description / Show Notes

• Lynn’s career history and background
• Her two courses she’ll be teaching at convention
• Why client relationships are so important
• What today’s brokers need to be aware of
• What you should be prepared to learn in her classes
• Why she loves teaching and being at conventions
• What she’s most looking forward to at Ohio REALTORS convention

In this episode of Ohio Policy Talks, Anastasia and Veronica sit down with Lima Mayor Sharetta Smith to discuss how the city is taking a proactive approach to housing through its Build-Ready initiative. Mayor Smith shares what makes Lima unique, how housing demand and affordability pressures are affecting the community, and why the city saw an opportunity to make development easier and more predictable. The conversation also explores the connection between housing and economic development, the partnerships helping move this work forward, and what other Ohio communities can learn from Lima’s approach. For REALTOR® members, this episode offers a practical look at how local governments can help remove barriers to housing development and support long-term community growth.

Full Description / Show Notes

• Hear from Lima Mayor Smith about what makes the city unique and how Lima is thinking about its future.
• Learn how housing demand and affordability pressures are showing up in Lima and why the city is taking a proactive approach.
• Dive into Lima’s Build-Ready initiative and how the program is designed to make housing development easier to navigate.
• Explore why housing availability matters for economic development, workforce attraction, and long-term investment.
• Understand how partnerships with local leaders, developers, and community stakeholders are helping move the city’s housing efforts forward.
• Discover what other Ohio communities can learn from Lima’s approach to addressing housing needs.
• See why this conversation matters for REALTOR® members who are watching housing supply, local development, and community growth in their own markets.

In this week’s episode, Jen McAlpine explains how to create clear, compelling brand and marketing messages and how to assess what’s working, and what’s not.

Full Description / Show Notes

• Jen’s career history and background
• What brand clarity is
• How to find and communicate your strengths
• What agents are feeling overwhelmed with right now
• How to use AI to help create your brand
• Best advice for agents in creating their personal brand

Melanie McLane joins this week’s episode to discuss her upcoming course at Ohio REALTORS Convention and shares details about fiduciary duties, the most frequent claims against agents, misrepresentation and fraud, agency, fair housing, escrow and risk reduction.

Full Description / Show Notes

• Melanie’s history and career background
• Fiduciary duties agents owe clients
• Most frequent claims against agents
• Fraud and misrepresentation risks
• Escrow risks
• Agency risks
• Difference between consumers and clients
• What you should be prepared for when attending one of her classes

Michael Tritthart joins this week’s episode to explore a variety of Google tools and platforms that can give your marketing efforts a competitive edge. He also shares practical strategies to help REALTORS improve their search engine optimization (SEO) and increase their online visibility.

Full Description / Show Notes

• Michael’s career history and background
• His hands-on teaching philosophy of “tell, show, do”
• The value of Google Business Profile tools
• The outcome it has had on the agents’ careers
• What attendees can expect to learn in this session
• Transformative results from past trainings

Chris Gavre joins this week’s episode to discuss why mobile homes make for a great investment strategy and shares practical ways for others to replicate this model.

Full Description / Show Notes

• Chris’s career history and background
• Land home packages explained
• Mobile homes as a scalable, affordable housing solution
• Why land home packages can be more predictable than flips
• Pros and cons of the model
• How investors can get started in this space
• What’s next for Chris and his career

Deb Siefkin joins this week’s episode to discuss transparency, data, and how REALTORS® can help consumers navigate today’s ever-changing real estate market.

Full Description / Show Notes

• Deb’s history and career background
• The conversations happening right now around data and transparency
• The importance of buyer consultations
• Her 3-way approach to listing a home
• What consumers are understanding (or misunderstanding) about today’s market
• The difference between visibility and understanding
• What data REALTORS should be focused on
• How to use AI to improve your business

Joey Conner joins this week’s episode to discuss the “Keep It Simple” method—why applying it consistently and intentionally remains one of the most powerful business strategies available, and how you can put it into practice to improve recruiting and retention.

Full Description / Show Notes

• Joey’s career history and background
• What the KISS method is and how it fits into real estate
• Joey’s approach to leadership
• How he’s been able to have successful agent retention
• The importance of consistency
• Why relationship building can be as important (if not more) than lead generation
• Easy ways to build relationships and make people feel good
• Advice for brokers in today’s industry

Melanie Klein joins this week’s episode to share why real estate has become a powerful pathway to financial security for women. From rising homeownership—now 20% of buyers—to growing investment confidence, women are reshaping their financial futures. We discuss how and why real estate makes sense for women, share insights from coaching women REALTORS®, and unpack why the profession can be especially empowering. Plus, we look at practical ways to better support women in building lasting wealth.

Full Description / Show Notes

• Melanie’s career history and background
• How far women have come in the past 50 years
• Women and real estate: why it’s a match made in financial security heaven
• The opportunities that exist for women in today’s real estate world
• Why real estate is an attractive career path for women
• What she’s learned from coaching women (and men) REALTORS®
• The power of collaboration
• How we can best support women and wealth creation

Tatiana Zagorovski joins this week’s episode to discuss where AI technology helps—and where it falls short. Hear real-world examples, potential risks, and how REALTORS® can better educate clients while embracing AI as a tool, not a replacement.

Full Description / Show Notes

• Tatiana’s career history and background
• How AI can be a powerful tool for efficiency—helping with tasks like listing descriptions and research—while cautioning that it should never be treated as a fully reliable or authoritative source without verification.
• Why AI cannot replace real estate professionals, especially when it comes to navigating complex transactions, identifying property issues, and managing unexpected challenges.
• How agents can start using AI effectively, from automating routine tasks to maintaining authenticity and adding a personal touch to AI-generated content.
• Guidance for consumers, emphasizing the risks of relying solely on AI for major financial decisions like buying or selling a home.
• Bottom line: AI is a valuable assistant—but human expertise, relationships, and judgment remain essential in real estate.