Wealth Architect Podcast

Scaling in real estate is tough. Doing it with clarity, connection, and care? That’s next level.

In this week’s episode of The Wealth Architect Podcast, host Emilio DiSpirito welcomes two powerhouse women in real estate who have built empires rooted in both systems and heart.

 Amelie Hennessy, CEO of The Hennessy Group, manages over 5,000 doors and owns more than 400 rental units herself, making her Rhode Island’s largest property manager. She dives into the operational discipline and strategic leadership needed to scale without breaking.

 Gretchen Coley, Founding Principal of Compass North Carolina, leads the #1 Compass team in the Triangle with over $1.5 billion in sales. She shares how authentic relationships, team building, and tactical client care have driven her success—and how she leads in both real life and online.

 Tune in to hear how these two leaders:

• Build businesses that run without running them into the ground

• Balance family, leadership, and rapid growth

• Use systems, service, and strategy to create lasting impact

Whether you manage a team, lead a business, or are building your own real estate path—this one’s for you.

🔗 Guest Links & How to Follow:

Amelie Hennessy🌐 Website: thehennessygrp.com📸 Instagram: @thehennessygroup_ri

Gretchen Coley🌐 Website: gretchencoleyproperties.com📸 Instagram: @gretchencoley🎥 YouTube: Best of Raleigh – Gretchen Coley

💼 Episode Sponsors:

Annie Mac Home Mortgage🌐Website: annie-mac.com📸 Instagram: @anniemac_home_mortgage

John Lapointe – Lapointe Insurance🌐Website: lapointeins.com📸 Instagram: @lapointeinsurance

James Paiva – Elite Auto🌐 Website: eliteautori.com📸 Instagram: @elite_auto_ri

Managing rentals is getting harder—unless you know how to play smarter.

In this episode of The Wealth Architect, we welcome Dana Dunford, CEO of Hemlane, one of the fastest-growing property management platforms in the country.

With 28,000+ units under management and $1B+ in processed payments, Dana is at the forefront of how investors can manage rentals across the country—even from a distance.

She shares:

• What AI means for landlords and rental operations

• How property management has changed post-pandemic

• When to self-manage vs. hire local

• Why your best investment might not be in your backyard

Whether you're managing a handful of units or scaling nationwide, this episode breaks down the future of rental ownership—with real tools, tech, and tips you can apply today.

👤 ABOUT DANA DUNFORD

Dana Dunford is the CEO & Co-founder of Hemlane
🌐 hemlane.com

• 28,000+ rental units on platform

• $1B+ in rental payments processed

• Named one of the top 20 women in CRE tech (2018)

• Former Apple & Nest executive

• MBA from Harvard Business School

• Passionate about technology, remote investing, and building smarter systems

• Avid equestrian, skier, and the first woman to win a calf dressing title at the CA Rodeo

  
  

🔗 Guest Links & How to Follow:

Dana DunfordWebsite: hemlane.comInstagram: @hemlaneLinkedIn: Dana Dunford

💼 Episode Sponsors:

Annie Mac Home Mortgage🌐 annie-mac.com📸 @anniemac_home_mortgage

Nexus Property Management🌐 nexri.com📸 @nexuspropertymanagement

Matt Bates – Movement Mortgage🌐 https://movement.com/lo/matt-bates📸 @therimortgageguy

Rhode Island is growing, but is housing keeping up?

In this episode of The Wealth Architect, we sit down with Tim Eden, Founder & Managing Director of Starr Capital, to uncover the future of housing in Rhode Island and beyond.

With over 1,200 residential units and 100,000+ square feet of neighborhood retail in development at the Centre of New England, Tim brings firsthand insights into:

• What’s driving demand in the RI housing market

• How policy and demographic trends are shaping supply

• The biggest risks developers face

• What it really takes to lead one of the largest real estate projects in New England

With 38+ years of experience in real estate finance, development, and urban planning, including high-profile projects like One Loudoun and National Gateway, Tim Eden provides a strategic look at where housing is headed, and how you can stay ahead.

 For developers, investors, and anyone watching the future of New England real estate, this is a must-listen.

Guest Links & How to Follow:

Tim Eden
 Website: starrcapital.com
 LinkedIn: Tim Eden – Starr Capital 

Episode Sponsors:⁠ ⁠

Annie Mac Home Mortgage
 Website: annie-mac.com
 Instagram: @anniemac_home_mortgage

Melissa D’Ellena – D’Ellena Law Office
 Website: dellenalaw.com
 Instagram: @dellenalaw

George Metz – Metz Moving 

Website: metzmoving.com 

Instagram: @metzmoving

Episode 11: What Does It Really Take to Build a Real Estate Empire?
In this power-packed episode, host Emilio DiSpirito sits down with two real estate titans:

🏗️ Scott Choppin, CEO of Urban Pacific, breaks down how to build wealth from the ground up through real estate development — from land acquisition to lease-up, while managing risk and creating long-term community impact. Discover how his innovative Urban Town House (UTH) model has generated over 23% IRR and transformed workforce housing in California.

🏘️ Paul Benson, License Partner of Engel & Völkers Gestalt Group, shares how he scaled from top-producing agent to building one of the most prestigious real estate empires across the western U.S. with $2.8 billion in closed sales. Paul opens up about networking, high-end client service, and the grit it takes to lead 55 luxury real estate offices across seven states.

Whether you’re a developer, investor, or broker—this episode offers blueprints for building your own legacy in real estate.

🔗 Guest Links & How to Follow:

Scott Choppin🌐 Website: urbanpacific.com📸 Instagram: @urbanpacific

Paul Benson🌐 Website: paulbenson.evrealestate.com📸 Instagram: @paulbenson.ev

🤝 EPISODE SPONSORS

Thank you to our sponsors who make this show possible:

• John Lapointe – Lapointe Insurance

• AnnieMac Home Mortgage – Trusted lending partner

• James Paiva – Elite Auto Group, your premier luxury vehicle connection

In this deeply insightful solo episode of The Wealth Architect Podcast, host Emilio DiSpirito sits down with John McNellis — seasoned developer, attorney, and author of the industry-standard Making it in Real Estate — to unpack the most valuable mistakes he’s made over his decades-long career.

John shares candid stories of failure, the lessons baked within, and how mistakes shaped both his character and his empire. If you're in real estate, development, or entrepreneurship, this conversation is a blueprint for learning how to fall forward.

🎯 Topics Covered:

• The mistake that taught him the most

• Whether he makes fewer mistakes today

• What young professionals get wrong

• The key to long-term sustainability in business

🔑 It's not about perfection. It's about progress.

Follow our guest:

John McNellis: @john.mcnellis

🤝 This Episode is Sponsored By:

• Matt Bates – Your loan officer, backed by Movement Mortgage's teams and resources, your perception of the homebuying process will be changed for the better.
  https://movement.com/lo/matt-bates/about-me

• AnnieMac Home Mortgage – Lending peace of mind with personalized financing solutions.
  https://annie-mac.com/lo/jeffswiderski/

• G Metz Moving – Your Trusted Moving Solutions
  https://www.gmetzmoving.com/

In Episode 9 of The Wealth Architect Podcast, we unlock two sides of success: internal wellness and external wealth with powerhouse guests Meg O’Rourke and John Eric.

🔹 Meg Marie O’Rourke, Registered Dietitian and founder of Harmony With Food, joins us in studio to unpack how what we eat directly affects how we feel, perform, and show up in our lives. With clinical experience in trauma, oncology, cardiac health, and more—plus her own syndicated radio show—Meg brings a no-fluff approach to functional nutrition, gut health, and sustainable weight loss. If you’re trying to elevate your energy and mindset, this segment is your spark.

🔹 John Eric, Executive VP and Co-Managing Partner of The Luxury Collective DC and UK, breaks down what it takes to serve ultra-high-net-worth clients in the nation’s capital—and how he’s translating that success abroad. From high-powered political figures to media elites, John shares insights into the global real estate mindset, why more Americans are eyeing international investments, and how the meaning of “home” is evolving in the luxury space.

🎧 Tune in for a high-value conversation on building the life—and the lifestyle—you love.

🔗 Follow Our Guests:

• Meg O’Rourke
  Instagram: @harmonywithfood
  Website: www.harmonywithfood.com

• John Eric
  Instagram: @johnerichome
  Website: www.theluxurycollectiveuk.co.uk

🤝 This Episode is Sponsored By:

• Melissa D’Ellena – Trusted Rhode Island real estate attorney specializing in smooth closings and expert guidance.

• AnnieMac Home Mortgage – Lending peace of mind with personalized financing solutions.
  https://annie-mac.com/lo/richbrandariz/?associate=true

• Ted Topouzis – Topouzis & Associates, P.C. – Real estate attorney and title expert dedicated to protecting your investment.
  https://www.taclosinglaw.com/

In Episode 8 of The Wealth Architect Podcast, we're joined by two real estate powerhouses:

🔹 Gregory Rice, President of Nexus Property Management™, shares his insights on what it takes to build a successful franchise model from the ground up. From navigating the complexities of property management to creating a scalable business, Greg breaks down the real-world systems that allowed him to build a brand that’s redefining industry standards.

🔹 Kyle Seyboth, Broker/Owner of Century 21 Limitless and one of the most trusted and top-selling realtors in Rhode Island, reveals the principles behind his unprecedented sales record and success. Named #1 Realtor Nationwide by Wall Street Journal/Real Trends (2019), Kyle discusses portfolio building, market expertise, and what it takes to maintain peak performance in both residential and commercial sectors.

🎧 Whether you're an investor, aspiring franchise owner, or seasoned realtor—this episode is packed with real tactics and inspiration to build your empire.

🔗 Follow Our Guests:

• Gregory Rice
  Instagram: @nexuspropertymanagement
  Website: www.nexri.com

• Kyle Seyboth
  Instagram: @theseybothteam
  Website: www.theseybothteam.com

In this powerful episode of The Wealth Architect Podcast, host Emilio DiSpirito sits down with two inspiring guests who are helping people build wealth—from the inside out.

 Benjamin Blackett is a transformational storyteller and certified Life Mastery Consultant through the Brave Thinking Institute. As founder of A Creative Healing Place, Benjamin helps clients push past fear and unlock the life they truly desire through vision-driven success, possibility thinking, and heart-centered action. Learn how to start living a life by design rather than by default.

 Tatiana Pimentel, a seasoned real estate advisor with nearly a decade of experience, specializes in working with investors to build profitable real estate portfolios. She breaks down the mindset, strategy, and step-by-step actions new investors need to take to start building generational wealth through real estate.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to craft a compelling life vision and take aligned action

• What’s holding most people back from their “next level”

• How to start investing in real estate—without feeling overwhelmed

• Systems and tips to create your first real estate portfolio

In this episode of The Wealth Architect Podcast, host Emilio DiSpirito sits down with marketing visionary and entrepreneur Tom Canterino, Founder & Principal of LevelUP Digital Solutions.

Tom breaks down why profit is in the follow-up, how to scale your business using smart, digital-first systems, and what most companies get wrong when it comes to customer engagement. With over a decade of experience, 5+ companies founded, and over $500M in attributed revenue generated through digital marketing, Tom brings insights you don’t want to miss.

He also shares lessons from his time at Hasbro, launching non-profits, and how meaningful community service has shaped his career. From Forbes 30 Under 30 to mentoring youth and supporting critical causes—Tom is the definition of a purpose-driven leader in business.

Key Takeaways:

• How to create a growth system for your business

• The secret behind digital follow-up that converts

• The power of intentional branding in today’s market

• Giving back while building forward

  
  

  🔗 Follow Our Guest – Tom Canterino

• Instagram: @tomcanterino

• Website: LevelUP Digital Solutions

• LinkedIn: Tom Canterino

In this episode of The Wealth Architect, we dive into the future of luxury real estate and high-performance entrepreneurship with two powerhouse leaders: Julie Faupel and Bridget Ramey. From innovation and mindset to client strategy and intentional growth, this conversation offers a blueprint for success in today’s evolving market.

🔹 First, we’re joined by Julie Faupel, founder and CEO of Realm Global — a cutting-edge platform connecting elite real estate professionals through data, collaboration, and shared values. Julie shares her journey as a visionary entrepreneur and discusses how energetic alignment, technology, and trust are shaping the next era of real estate leadership.

🔹 Bridget Ramey, one of the nation’s top-producing luxury real estate agents, reflects on the discipline and mindset that have defined her career. She shares real-world insights on relationship building, navigating competitive markets, and staying grounded while scaling a high-impact business.

🔗 Connect with our Guests

Julie Faupel

Website | Instagram | Linkedin

Bridget Ramey

Website | Instagram | Linkedin

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