About Keller Williams

Dennis Russell is the Regional Director for the North Central region at Keller Williams, a position he has held after a successful career in real estate that began in 2010. A graduate of Howard University with a B.S. in Chemistry, Dennis served as a Captain in the Army, flying UH-1 helicopters and C-12 airplanes before transitioning to real estate. He quickly rose to become one of the top five individual agents in his office within 18 months and later took on the role of Team Leader, significantly increasing owner profits by over 900%. As a BOLD Coach, he has launched more than 40 BOLD programs and has developed a MAPS Fast Track course while serving as a KWU Approved Trainer.

Jay Papasan is the Vice President of Strategic Content for Keller Williams Realty International, the largest real estate company in the world. A bestselling author, he co-authored The Millionaire Real Estate Agent, which has sold over a million copies, and The ONE Thing, which has achieved more than 3 million sales globally and has been translated into 41 languages. Originally from Memphis, TN, Jay graduated from the University of Memphis before moving to Paris for several years. He later earned a degree from New York University’s graduate writing program and began his publishing career at HarperCollins, where he contributed to several bestselling titles. After relocating to Austin, he joined Keller Williams and has since played a pivotal role in shaping the company's educational content and resources.

Jen Davis has been a prominent figure in the real estate industry since 2008, joining Keller Williams in 2012 where she initially excelled as a Buyer Specialist, closing 50 transactions in her first year. Over the years, she successfully built her team at Holt Homes Group, consistently selling over 225 properties annually and achieving over 500 closed homes per year with a strong profitability margin. In June 2022, Jen was appointed Vice President of KW MAPS Coaching, where she leads top coaches to help Keller Williams associates grow their businesses and achieve their goals. Her journey reflects her dedication to mastering her craft and empowering others in the real estate field.

Julia Lashay is a prominent figure in the real estate industry with a distinguished 23-year career, serving as a broker, trainer, speaker, author, and advisor. As the Head of Inclusion and Belonging at Keller Williams Realty International, she leads initiatives focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion, implementing innovative strategies to create an inclusive work environment. Licensed in Minnesota and Texas, Julia has educated over 23,000 agents through her industry courses, including "The Agent of Distinction" and "The Color of Real Estate." Her dynamic speaking engagements have earned her recognition at major events like the 2022 REALTOR® Conference & Expo. Additionally, Julia co-hosts the podcast "The Color of Money" and contributes to Inman News, where she shares insights on industry trends while advocating for Black and historically marginalized communities. Her contributions have been acknowledged with multiple awards, including the 2020 Exceptional Service Award and recognition as one of Texas's Top 100 Most Influential People to Watch in 2022.

Meredith Maples brings over a decade of experience in the learning and development industry to her role as Senior Director of Keller Williams University. Before joining Keller Williams, she held various positions focused on teaching, training, instructional design, and leadership across higher education, non-profit organizations, and government contracts. In her current position, Meredith is responsible for overseeing the creation and delivery of exceptional learning experiences for real estate agents and franchise leaders, guiding the development of Keller Williams' proprietary learning platform. She is dedicated to ensuring that all Keller Williams associates have the flexibility to learn at their own pace and according to their individual needs, empowering them to achieve their personal and professional goals.

Molly de Mattos became a licensed real estate agent in North Carolina in 2006 and co-founded The Matt & Molly Team, LLC in 2011, which has consistently ranked among the top five teams in the Asheville area. As a Keller Williams University Trainer and BOLD Coach through MAPS Coaching, she serves as the Dean of KSCORE and KW Prep, where she is dedicated to fostering passion, joy, and accountability in real estate education. Molly has significantly impacted thousands of agents across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Portugal, Poland, South Africa, and beyond, empowering them to achieve their personal and professional goals through her engaging training programs.