E3 Podcast with Melissa Johnson

Jenny DuFresne is the CEO/Founder, Leaders Transform, a leadership training platform with the purpose to build Better Leaders for a Better World. Jenny and her team support senior executives and mid-level managers to build great teams, reduce employee turnover, and build vibrant company culture.  Jenny’s 10-year service as a United States Marine forms her leadership foundation. As a trailblazing leader, she applied these leadership lessons to found the only all-male public charter elementary school in Washington, DC and the only all-male early childhood program in the Nation. She is the international bestselling author of the book, From Empty to Overflow. In the book, Jenny highlights five radical actions women leaders need to create happy, harmonious, and joyful lives. She holds degrees from Harvard University and George Mason University.

Lisa is the founder of Lisahylton.com and real estate investment company that provides opportunities for entrepreneurs and business owners to invest in tax-efficient real estate investments. Lisa is also the host of The Level Up REI podcast which airs every Tuesday and the first Thursday of each month for Conversations with Passive Investors. Lisa Hylton is a CPA with approximately 10 years of audit experience from PwC and 4 ½ years as a controller on private equity real estate funds at a Los Angeles Investment Firm, Ares Management.  Her current mission is to provide podcast episodes and investment opportunities for entrepreneurs and business owners to level up their businesses and real estate investing to build long-term wealth and financial freedom.

I currently reside in Madison, WI.  I got started in real estate investing when I bought my first home and rented out the 2 other rooms to friends.  I've always worked in sales for a day job but saw how you could put your hard earned capital to work for you on the side.  When I moved from my first home, I turned the house into a straight rental property.  Meanwhile, my oldest brother started doing the same and we were both hooked.  We started to see the power of setting up passive income streams firsthand.  So, we started an investment company, Westmorland Investments, and are looking for our next purchase to enter into the mid-level multi-family investment space.

I've always had an entrepreneurial spirit and sales is about as close as you can get while working in a W2 job.  It can be tough managing both at times but I like to follow what lights me up and real estate investing is without a doubt one of those things.

Denise Bocanegra's Bio

Denise has established herself in the industry as a powerful advocate for my clients in both residential and commercial real estate. As her client base has grown, she is now growing a team to provide our incredible level of fiduciary service to even more clients! Originally from San Antonio she is definitely a market expert. Raised in a family of entrepreneurs, her mother is also a Real Estate agent, she has been around this industry a long time. She truly finds joy in helping others achieve their goals in homeownership. Expanding her business into commercial real estate is also something she is working on.

Marissa Rodriguez Bio

She was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas by two hardworking and selfless parents. She is the oldest of four children. Her parents worked hard so that my siblings and I could have better than they did. Could have the opportunities that they did not and there was nothing that we lacked. I did not come from a wealthy or well-connected family, but I do have a strong and loving family. They taught me to have an unwavering faith in God at a very young age and he and I have been friends ever since. My faith in God has pulled me through many challenging times in my life. From completing college while pregnant, graduating from law school, divorce, and recently fighting cancer. I am blessed to have been surrounded by strong Latina women since birth. My mother, aunts, and grandmothers paved the way before me. My grandmother told me that I am just like her because we have the blood of a lion running through our veins. Each time I fall, I get back up and enjoy giving life a run for its money. I am a happy and proud mother of a smart and beautiful 15-year-old daughter. I am a cancer survivor, the only Hispanic attorney in the firm that I work for, on the board of directors for a nonprofit and a true believer that God blesses us so that we may be a blessing to others. I have an unquenchable desire for knowledge and learning. Every day is a blessing and I still feel as if I am just getting started. I am excited to see what more this life has for me.

Christina grew up in Europe and moved to the United States to attend college.  She obtained a B.S. in Computer Science and an MBA in High Technology Marketing & MIS from Rensselaer Polytechnic, both of which served her well in her 20+ year Telecommunications & Technology Marketing career.  Recruited by large corporations like AT&T/Concert and GTE/Verizon, Christina gained diverse experience in Sales, Marketing, Global Product Management and new Enterprise Business Development.    Responsible for a $1 Billion global P&L and for continuous innovations, Christina managed and grew Verizon’s second largest product portfolio from ideation to business case and funding, to implementation and lifecycle mgmt. She feels privileged to have recruited and led a tremendous team of seasoned professionals who grew revenues and Verizon’s presence to 120+ countries around the globe.    Over the last 3+ years, she and her husband, James, have grown a full-service REI company and an awesome multinational team that drives results hard and has fun together!  James & Christina are part of key nationwide investor circles like Investor Fuel, Flipnerd and Investor Machine which help grow their knowledge and energize their REI mindset.  Christina’s tenacity and focus are on acquisitions and on building all aspects of a successful REI business.  Outside of work, she enjoys mentoring young professionals, helping those in need, volunteering at church, traveling, cooking, and spending time with family & friends.

Sarah Hosman is a seasoned Client Journey Guide and is known as the Business Mom for her Rules For Business You Didn't Know Your Mom Taught You.

She, and her husband Clint, own LongShip Systems, where they specialize in helping business owners Define, Design, and Build their client journey from Marketing to Sales to Fulfillment and EVERYTHING in between.

Alex Breshears is a private money lender, educator, limited partner in multi-familysyndication and community builder who partners with real estate investors, syndicators, and military spouses to grow their financial independence, knowledge, and professional network. Alex started a private lending company, Infinite Road Investments, in April of 2020, funding 1st lien and 2nd lien positions for residential property in the Hampton Roads, Virginia area. She also started an educational Facebook group called Private Lending Lessons which offers weekly educational lessons, daily posts for discussion, and opportunities to network with other investors about  private lending, and various projects that may need funding. Alex is passionate  about financial education and independence for female investors Alex has  worked as a hard money loan broker and a conventional mortgage broker for  several years. She is currently a chemistry professor, teaching for a four year  school online and leading biweekly educational series about real estate  investing in her Facebook group. She is a limited partner for 16 units in  Newport News, VA.

LinkedIn Profile:

www.linkedin.com/in/infiniteroadinvestments

Facebook Group Link:

Private Lending Lessons

www.facebook.com/groups/privatelendinglessons/

Website:

www.infiniteroadinvestments.com

Email:

[email protected]

Susan Harper is a partner and business coach for Sharper Business Solutions. Susan worked in the not-for-profit sector for over 20 years managing teams and integrating systems and processes on a daily basis. Her attention to detail and analytical mind provide crucial insights into the nuances of day-to-day operations of a business. Known by many as “The Process Mapping Queen", Susan has the incredible ability to take complicated issues and break them down into simple, actionable steps.

Misty Flanagan is a full-time real estate investor and REI & Mindset Coach for women real estate investors.  She is Co-Founder and Head of Human Resources and Marketing of Elevated Development, LLC, Co-Founder of Guideway Investment Partners, LLC, Co-Founder of Level Up Remodeling, LLC, Co-Founder of HER Mindset Matters REI Group, and Co-Founder of the Women’s Real Estate Investor Alliance (WREIA).   All companies are Houston based but Misty has coached women all over the country.  Misty has experience in new construction, development, wholesaling, flips, rentals, and private money lending.

Misty is from a small town in Nebraska but always had dreams to leave her small town and live in the “big city”.  She moved from Nebraska to Los Angeles, CA one month after graduating high school and has never looked back.  Misty graduated from Cal-State Fullerton in 2009 with a degree in Communications, with an emphasis in Public Relations and Marketing.  She worked as a Human Resources Manager and Business Specialist for Kiewit, Fortune 500 General Contractor, before joining her boyfriend of 17+ years, Jason Hassenstab, in the journey to build their own company in Texas.  She began investing in real estate in 2016 in Austin, TX.  Her and Jason moved to Houston, TX in 2017 where both currently reside and are active in the residential and commercial space as well as a private lender.  Misty is a member of the Real Estate Investor Association (REIA) of Texas, Greater Houston Builders Association (GHBA), and Commercial Real Estate Millennial Misses (CREMM).

Misty’s passions are helping people (sellers and other investors build their businesses) and building teams.  She is lucky enough to get to accomplish both while building her businesses in real estate and that is her true “Why?”.  The last 5 years have been the hardest 5 years of her life, but they have also been the most amazing 5 years of her life.  She has accomplished and overcome things she never thought she could ever do.  Misty came from very humble beginnings and had to work very hard for everything she wanted, even at a very young age, but this has prepared her for the trials and tribulations of entrepreneurship without her even knowing it until now.  She credits much of her journey and constant perseverance to her coaches and mentors and of course the incredible support and work ethic of her mother and stepfather and partner in life and business, Jason.

Although the last 5 years may feel like an eternity some days (lol), Misty knows this is only the beginning and can’t wait to see where these businesses in real estate and coaching take her next.  She welcomes anyone with the same drive and determination to join in her journey and has always said doing it alone is not possible and simply no fun, so she is beyond excited to share her story with anyone interested and would love to hear the stories of others to see how to unite and take over this crazy world of real estate together!

Favorite Quote: “Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more.” – Tony Robbins

MeiLani, and her husband Michael, are the parents of five beautiful children under 11. They are her world! But she recognized that she was a much better mom when she was also embracing her inner entrepreneur.

When MeiLani’s two-year-old son was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2014, it was the wakeup call she needed in life. She realized it was time to stop making excuses of all the reasons she couldn’t do things, and instead just jump in and DO. Instead of focusing on the “Why Me?” situations she learned to develop a “Why NOT Me?” attitude when dealing with challenges and attacking life’s big goals.

She jumped into her lifelong dream of becoming a real estate investor. Since 2013, MeiLani has been flipping homes, building new construction, buying short and long-term rentals, and much more. After years of watching Airbnb’s growth and wanting a piece of the action, she acted on her “Why NOT Me?” mantra and opened her first four Airbnbs within the next four months and hasn’t stopped since.

MeiLani’s passion is helping people to stop just talking and dreaming about the life they want to have, and actually take action and start living it! In addition to coaching people on how to launch and scale their own Airbnb Hosting business, MeiLani also coaches individuals, corporations, and large audiences on how to Stop Dreaming and Start Doing. She loves to travel and play with her husband and kids. MeiLani is based in Cary, NC.

You can follow her on Instagram or listen to her podcast “Why NOT Me? Academy”.