All GAAR QBs are invited for a free day of education and networking. The curriculum is designed to provide you with advanced training focused on professionalism. Bring your business cards for door prizes!

QBs need to register separately for Lunch and Components of an Ethics Hearing to earn credit.

QB Summit 
Entrepreneurial Excellence in Albuquerque

Friday, February 23rd
8:45 am - 3:00 pm
GAAR Event Center
Free to Attend

Please RSVP for Lunch:

Components of an Ethics Hearing
2CE (Ethics)

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
GAAR Event Center
Instructor: Larry Ashwood
Open to GAAR QBs

This new course will reveal the inner workings of an ethics hearing as defined by NAR. A mock hearing, using a case study, will be performed by the attendees.

QB Summit Schedule

8:45 am:  Registration, Breakfast & Networking
9:30 am:  Welcome with 2024 GAAR President Morgan Cannaday
9:45 am:  NMAR General Counsel, Ashley Strauss-Martin
10:45 am:  Entrepreneurial Excellence in Albuquerque with Guest Panelists
11:40 am:  Lunch 
1:00 pm:  Components of an Ethics Hearing (2CE) with Larry Ashwood
3:15 pm:  Closing & Door Prize Giveaways

Guest Speaker

Ashley Strauss-Martin
Ashley has served as NMAR's General Counsel since 2007. Her responsibilities include NMAR Forms, the Legal Hotline, Legal Updates, and is a contributing writer to the NMAR Voice. In addition, she lobbies bills at the state level and serves as an expert witness before the state legislature on bills she's authored. Strauss-Martin also has a private practice, Real Estate Law Associates, and is the owner of New Mexico Escrow Solutions.

Panelists

Danielle Casey, CEcD, EDFP
Serving as President & CEO of the Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance (AREA), Ms. Casey brings extensive and diverse experience in leadership, public administration, marketing, business development and retention, and strategic planning as the leader of AREA, a nonprofit organization working to create a prosperous and diverse economy for the four-county Albuquerque metro region. She joined the organization in October of 2020. 

Daniel Chavez, Revel 
An Albuquerque native, Daniel has established himself as a highly successful entrepreneur in the concert and live entertainment industry. His company NRG Staging Inc., has expanded rapidly to become a major player in the industry, working with top touring acts like the Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney.

Despite pandemic challenges, Daniel's strategic financial management enabled the successful completion and reopening of the Revel Entertainment Center in 2023, solidifying its reputation as a premier music destination in the southwest. Beyond his business acumen, Daniel is deeply engaged in community service, volunteering with organizations such as the Roadrunner Food Bank and serving on multiple Homeowner Association boards. His diverse talents include a successful acting career with over 40 credited roles, including collaborations with Clint Eastwood, as well as achievements in natural bodybuilding competitions. 

Carlos Garcia, Garcia Automotive 

Debbie Johnson
A well-known trailblazer in both the business world and her community, for more than three decades, she co-owned Rick Johnson & Company, the region's leading advertising agency, alongside her husband. Their dynamic partnership resulted in over 1000 local, national, and international creative awards. Beyond advertising, Debbie's entrepreneurial spirit led her to establish and oversee the Office of Entrepreneurial and Economic Development at CNM. She became a certified Entrepreneurial Mindset Instructor and played a pivotal role in launching CNMI, the country's first community college enterprise arm. Notably, she spearheaded the acquisition of one of the earliest coding boot camps in America offered through a community college.

Currently serving as Vice President of Connections for the Albuquerque Publishing Company, Debbie is instrumental in maintaining one of the nation's few remaining family-owned local newspapers. In addition to her business ventures, Debbie is dedicated to community service and government advisory councils. She made history as the first female Chairman of Affiliated Advertising Agencies International and Albuquerque Economic Development. 

Outside the boardroom, she competed in Track and Field at the National Senior Olympics, placing among the top twelve women over 65 in the 200-meter event. Her adventurous spirit also led her to conquer hikes to the summits of Wheeler Peak and Sandia Peak in the last four years.

Instructor

Larry Ashwood
A seasoned professional with 30 years of real estate experience, Larry has applied his expertise to educating other brokers. Larry's commitment to ethical and professional conduct has been a constant throughout his career and is evident in his longstanding membership with the Professional Standards Committee at both NMAR and GAAR.

 Before venturing into real estate, Larry had careers in both the broadcast industry and as a government contractor through the Department of Defense, where he produced instructional videotapes on fighter aircraft.

 A self-described old hippie, Larry is a talented guitar player who has performed in multiple bands. To get away, he often takes his jeep up into the mountains. Despite his reputation as an old curmudgeon, his daughters and grandkids adore him.