The YPN Lounge is written by a team of young real estate pros from across the country. Are you interested in joining our blogging team? Send an e-mail to Melissa Kandel, REALTOR® Magazine’s Contributing Editor, at melissarealtormag@gmail.com, with a short bio about your involvement in the real estate business and why you would like to blog for the YPN Lounge.

Dolores Esanu

DOLORES ESANU is a REALTOR® and executive assistant for Hot Springs Realty in Hot Springs Ark. She is a native of Romania and immigrated to the U.S. as a child. At 26, she already has eight years of real estate experience varying from internships to assisting to sales. Along with holding a certification in interior design, Esanu’s international influence has helped her establish a unique sense of style and charisma when approaching different aspects of real estate. She is also working as a local real estate board director, is active on two board committees, and is currently seeking to establish the first YPN network in the state of Arkansas. Connect with her at: @doeesanu, www.hotspringsrealty.com, or doloresesanu@gmail.com.

Michelle Flaherty Philbrook

MICHELLE FLAHERTY PHILBROOK is an associate broker with Prudential Northeast Properties, serving Greater Portland, Maine.  She currently serves on the boards of directors for the Maine Association of REALTORS® and Greater Portland Association of REALTORS® and also as president of the Westbrook Community Chamber of Commerce.  Visit her Web site at www.michelleflaherty.com.

Trisha Ocona Francis

TRISHA OCONA FRANCIS is a salesperson with Prominent Properties Sotheby’s International Realty in Northern New Jersey and is the broker-owner of realestateOCONA, LLC in New York City. Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., Francis began her career in real estate in 1999 when she managed a city hall real estate law firm and property management company. Realizing real estate was her  calling, Francis left her position to developing  her expertise and discover her passion. Her practice concentrates on luxury, residential, and commercial real estate. She is an appointed member of the New York Department of State’s Real Estate Board, tasked with regulatory duties for the Division of Licensing Services and setting rules and regulations for New York State. In addition, Francis is the real estate instructor at Medgar Evers College. She is a real estate blogger for the Huffington Post’s Business section, has written for other numerous real estate news columns, and has been featured on numerous radio shows and news publications. Active in her community, Francis often organizes, hosts, and/or speaks at community and professional events.  Connect with her online at www.trishaocona.com or follow her on Twitter @realestateOCONA.

Subhi J. Gharbieh

SUBHI J. GHARBIEH is the broker/owner at Gharbieh & Associates in Dallas, and chair of the Young Professionals Network at the MetroTex Association of REALTORS® in Dallas. Subhi became a licensed real estate salesperson at the age of 18, and began his career as a REALTOR® at a large Keller Williams Realty office in North Dallas. He graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a B.S. in business administration and marketing at the age of 19. Shortly after, he founded Gharbieh & Associates Real Estate Brokerage; a boutique brokerage focusing on architecturally unique homes. Subhi is now one of the youngest real estate brokers in the country at the age of 23. Connect with him at www.Gharbieh.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/subhig, or on Twitter @subhig.

Marianne Guenther Bornhoft

MARIANNE GUENTHER BORNHOFT is a broker at Windermere Manito in Spokane, Wash. She the founding member of the Spokane Young Professionals Network at the Spokane Association of REALTORS® and is their current board adviser. She won Rookie of the Year at the age of 28.  Marianne also serves on the board of directors for the Washington State Association of REALTORS® and is the 2013 president for the Spokane Association of REALTORS®. Connect with her at www.SpokaneHouse.com , on Facebook at www.facebook.com/marianneguentherbornhoft or on Twitter @spokanehouse or www.linkedin.com/in/marianneguentherbornhoft.

Stefanie Hahn

STEFANIE HAHN is the education director for Coldwell Banker Hearthside, REALTORS® in Malvern, Pa. A veteran of two internet start-ups during the early 2000s, Stefanie stayed at the forefront of Internet technology when her career moved into real estate in 2002.  In addition to the traditional duties of managing the education needs for the company, her primary focus now is helping agents become more productive by leveraging the power of social media and new technologies while also providing guidance and coaching on new real estate technology services and internet resources. Visit her Web site: www.StefanieHahn.com.

Hilary Hale Brown

HILARY HALE BROWN is a REALTOR® in Midland, Texas.  She worked in 2011 as a buyers agent and has gone out on her own in 2012.  She is the chairman of the Young Professionals Network for the Permian Basin and serves as a member of the TREPAC committee.  Hilary is civically involved as a member of the Junior League of Midland and participates in fundraising for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Midland, The Museum of the Southwest, SPCA, and other local charities.  She is actively seeking to grow YPN at both the local and state level.  Hilary was also named, “Rookie of the Year” in 2011 by the Permian Basin Board of REALTORS®. Connect with her online at hilaryhale.yourkwagent.com.

Nobu Hata

NOBU HATA, ePro, is the National Association of REALTORS® Director of Digital Engagement.  An industry veteran since 1996, Nobu is a student of marketing, communications trends, social media, and technology in the real estate industry, having implemented and adapted various new-school techniques to his successful brick and mortar business in Minneapolis, Minn., for Edina Realty until July 2012.  A speaker, instructor, and volunteer member leader since 2009 (NAR YPN, Communications, Equal Opportunity/Diversity, Strategic Planning Committees), Nobu’s skill-set brings insight and context to NAR of agent, brokerage, and association issues. He delivers value-added information to REALTORS®, both in-person and through the digital domain.  Connect with Nobu online at  about.me/nobuhata or @nobuhata.

Jared James

As a REALTOR®, JARED JAMES built one of the largest and fastest growing teams in the country. He was inducted into the International Hall of Fame for the world’s largest real estate company, wrote a book, and was even voted REALTOR® Magazine’s Web Choice Award winner among the “30 Under 30” class of 2009. Currently, Jared is the CEO and founder of Jared James Enterprises (JJE) and travels around North America speaking to and coaching REALTORS® on how to increase their incomes while still decreasing the amount of time it takes to do so. He is a featured coach for RE/MAX International’s Coaching Hall of Fame Series alongside Brian Buffini and Richard Robbins and runs regular webinars and training for nationally-known organizations such as CRS and NAR, as well as ActiveRain.com. JJE is best known for supplying REALTORS® with a systematic approach to their business and a tangible model to follow. Connect with Jared at www.jaredjamestoday.com, on Facebook/jaredjamestoday, or follow him on Twitter @jaredjamestoday.

Jennifer Klein

As a Northern California native, JENNIFER A. KLEIN’s experiences are rooted in short sales, investments, and property management. After weathering the Las Vegas real estate storm, she returned home and applied those lessons at Coldwell Banker Sun Ridge in Roseville, Calif.  Her inherent passion for social media has kept her ahead of the curve and she often finds agents coming to her for advice. In 2010, Jennifer played an integral part in the creation of the local Placer County Association of REALTORS® YPN and soon became chair thereafter.  She is also a PCAR Masters Club member. Find Jen at: RosevilleAndRocklin.com • JenKlein.com • @JenKleinSac

Melissa Krchnak

MELISSA KRCHNAK is the team leader for Keller Williams Realty in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. Melissa was born and raised in Texas and brings that southern hospitality to her real estate world. She currently serves on the Citrus Valley and California Association of REALTORS® where she serves as the vice-chair of YPN. Get in touch with Melissa at • Kwrancho.com • @MKrchnak • 

Alex Milshteyn

ALEX MILSHTEYN, GRI, ABR, is a REALTOR® in Ann Arbor, Mich., who runs a real estate team of five professionals called Alex Milshteyn Real Estate Associates. Milshteyn was honored by REALTOR® Magazine as a member of the 2011 class of 30 Under 30. He has more than 10 years of experience in real estate, and for the past seven years he has achieved over $20 million in annual sales. Milshteyn previously served as the president of the Ann Arbor Area Board of REALTOR®. In addition to being the No. 1 producer in his company for the past two years, and a top REALTOR® in the Ann Arbor area, Milshteyn was residential sales manager of two branch offices for his company in 2006-2008. Connect with Milshteyn at www.alexmi.com.

Lynn Minnick

LYNN MINNICK has been a REALTOR® in Connecticut since 2000.  She is the author of the popular blog TheGreenCTRealtor and is often known for being international, organic, and as reading toomany design and travel blogs.  Fluent in French, Lynn is a Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) (one of only 23 agents with this designation in Connecticut), and is a founding member of the Young Professionals Network at the Greater Hartford Association of REALTORS®.  Lynn can be found through her blog, Web site www.lynnminnick.com or on Twitter @LynnMinnick.

Maura Neill

MAURA NEILL is a second-generation REALTOR® and works with RE/MAX Around Atlanta, actively representing buyers and sellers on a day-to-day basis. The founder and editor of 365Atlanta.com, Maura has transformed her business through blogging and hyper-local social media efforts, allowing her to become an integral part of the Atlanta community and a resource for newcomers and natives alike. She is also an active real estate speaker and instructor, which combines her love for the industry with her passion for education; she speaks on subjects such as real estate technology, building your business via social media, and client services and retention strategies, and is also an NAR-approved e-PRO instructor®. Maura can be found online through her blog, her websites www.BuySellLiveAtlanta.com and www.MauraNeill.com, or on Twitter @MauraNeill.

Scott Newman

SCOTT NEWMAN is the broker-owner of Newman Realty, a boutique brokerage in Chicago focusing on short sales, foreclosures, and buyer representation. Scott has been a top-producing REALTOR® in Chicago since 2008 and is also vice chair of the Education Sub-Committee for the Chicago Association of REALTORS®. He is a founding member of the Young Real Estate Professionals (YPN – Chicago) Board. For more information on Chicago real estate or Newman Realty, visit www.newmanknowschicago.com or @newmanRealty.

Jason O'Neil

JASON O’NEIL is an associate broker with Encore Sotheby’s International Realty in Indianapolis. His business was built on leveraging a unique balance of traditional marketing practices and modern technology. This balance has allowed him to maximize exposure for his listings and position himself as the real estate expert in Indianapolis. He earned his bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship and management from Ball State University and his master’s degree in communication and management, also from Ball State. O’Neil is dually licensed as an Indiana and Florida real estate broker. Visit his Web site: jasononeilrealtor.com.

Anand Patel

ANAND PATEL is a broker licensed in FL, GA, TN, and MS and the founder/president of Pangea Realty Group based in Tampa, FL  He is also a real estate investor and developer currently working on his CCIM designation. Believing there is a very thin line delineating a REALTORS®’s personal and professional life, he strongly feels that self-improvement inevitably leads to professional improvement. Outside of real estate, Anand enjoys Toastmasters, dragon boating (Google it!), and spending time with his family and friends. You can connect with Anand on Twitter: @anand_tampa; Facebook: www.facebook.com/prgtampa; LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/anandpatel1 or on the Web at www.anandsblog.com.

Dave Robison

DAVE ROBISON, known as “Utah Dave,” is the creator/coach of “The All the Right Steps for your Success Experience.” As agent/broker of UtahDave.com Neighborhood Experts he went from $20k in gross commissions a year to more than $1.25 million in approximately three years. Visit his Web site: www.utahdave.com.

Derek Sandoval

DEREK SANDOVAL, a Sacramento native, attended California Polytechnic State University where he graduated with a degree in business management with an emphasis in human resources. He completed his senior project in real estate.  Sandoval has worked for Keller Williams Realty in Roseville, Calif., since graduating in 2009, and he specializes in residential, REO, and short sales. Derek is the 2013 chair of Placer County Association of REALTORS® YPN. His passion for making his clients comfortable with the home buying and selling process is evident in his unwavering commitment to customer service.  Derek has a pleasant and energetic personality with a straightforward, honest, and objective approach to managing his clients’ real estate purchasing goals. Find Derek at www.dereksellshomes.com and dereksellshomes.featuredblog.com.

Brooke Wolford

BROOKE WOLFORD is a real estate pro with Coldwell Banker Burnet in Woodbury, Minn. She began her real estate career in the closing side of the business, then obtained her license in 2006 and began assisting before going on her own in 2007. Brooke is known in the industry for sharing her experiences. Brooke recently formed her own Company, Organamx, a company devoted to helping real estate professionals streamline their marketing efforts. She has been active in the real estate industry and serves on several boards and committees. She has dedicated herself to helping her peers in the industry. You van visit her blog at www.thehousingword.com where she and other agents share their experiences in the industry.

Wade Corbett

WADE CORBETT is a REALTOR® with RE/MAX Southland Realty, serving Raleigh, North Carolina, and the surrounding areas. Wade started his career when he was only 20 years old and is still among the youngest real estate brokers in the country at the age of 23. He is the Chair of the Young Professionals Network at the Johnston County Association of REALTORS®. Wade is also a proud Graduate of the REALTOR® Institute (GRI). In addition, he holds designations as a Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) and Short Sale Foreclosure Expert (SFR). You can connect with Wade at www.facebook.com/WadeCorbettInc or via email at Wade@WadeCorbett.com.