2024 Global Summit Biographies
Stephanie Aker
Manager of Global Council Engagement and Development
National Association of REALTORS
Stephanie Aker, Manager of Global Council Engagement and Development for the National Association of REALTORS®
Stephanie Aker is a dedicated and dynamic professional in the real estate industry, renowned for her expertise in building and nurturing global relationships. With extensive experience working with some of the top brands in the industry, both as a licensed professional and in corporate leadership roles, Stephanie offers a unique and valuable perspective on the real estate sector. Currently, she serves as the Manager of Global Council Engagement and Development for the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).
In her role, Stephanie excels as a global relationship builder, adeptly navigating the complexities and challenges faced by international real estate professionals. Her extensive experience in lead generation, global operations, and global mobility has endowed her with a deep understanding of the importance of fostering a global outlook. She leverages cross-cultural insights to drive innovation, implement best practices, and create business opportunities on a global scale. Stephanie’s enthusiasm for meeting new people, exploring different cultures, and forging genuine, lasting relationships has enabled her to cultivate a vast network of contacts across various continents, cultures, and industries. This network facilitates fruitful collaborations between industry professionals, members, and organizations worldwide.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Stephanie's passion for global relationship building extends into her community involvement. She actively participates on several local boards in Chicago and volunteers with various community organizations. Her commitment to service is further demonstrated through her membership in Rotary International, the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA), the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP), and as an Ally member of the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance. Through these roles, Stephanie continues to contribute to the development and growth of opportunities for REALTORS®, both locally and globally.
Jacqueline Cheou
Escrow Manager
Champion Escrow, Inc.
Jacqueline Cheou is the owner of Champion Escrow, Inc., located in Temple City. She has been in the escrow business for over 24 years. In her escrow career, she has closed many different types of escrows, including residential, commercial, short sales, refinance, new subdivisions, and transfers of businesses such as local family restaurants, liquor stores, laundry service, various franchises for the food industry, gas stations and car wash. Jacqueline maintains the highest level of integrity in her work and perpetually strives to deliver superb customer service. She currently serves on the Board of the Escrow Institute of California and its National Affairs Committee. She has also served on the Board of the Escrow Associates of San Gabriel Valley from 2009 to 2012 and the Chinese American Real Estate Professionals Association from 2002 to 2008. Jacqueline runs her escrow company with her wonderful husband. She has two lovely children in college. If she is not working or spending time with her family, you can definitely find her on the golf course.
Russell Riggs
Director of Environmental and Sustainability Policy
National Association of REALTORS
Russell Riggs is Director of Environmental and Sustainability Policy for the National Association of Realtors in Washington, DC. For the past 27 years, Russell has advocated on behalf of Realtors on environment, property rights, visas and natural resource issues before Congress and federal regulatory agencies.
Russell also serves as the Advocacy Liaison to the Realtors Land Institute and the NAR's Global and Business Affairs Group.
Prior to his position with NAR, Russell held positions with the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Governors Association and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
Russell holds a Bachelor’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, and Master’s Degrees from Tufts University and New York University.
Alina Chu
Escrow Officer
Glen Oaks Escrow
A veritable fixture in the real estate community, Alina Chu bring nearly three decades of escrow experience to her position as Escrow Officer for Glen Oaks Escrow. Her dedication and love of the business led to the opening of her own escrow company in 1986 which she operated with her sister and two other partners until it was sold to Land America. She joined Glen Oaks Escrow’s San Marino office in 2010.
“I love the escrow business because I’m helping people attain something important in their lives,” Alina offered. “Glen Oaks Escrow supports my efforts by delivering the best possible customer service and professionalism.” Her extensive knowledge not only ensures clients have access to valuable information, but it also enables her to anticipate challenges that often come with more complex transactions. Alina’s commitment to excellence has gained a loyal following of sales agents, rokers and home buyers alike. She handles commercial, residential, tract homes, REOs and short sales within the local community and is fluent in Spanish and Cantonese.
When she’s not in the office, Alina divides her time between traveling, playing golf and supporting the Lending Hope Foundation, an international organization that provides micro loans to poverty-level entrepreneurs.
Oscar Wei
Deputy Chief Economist
California Association of REALTORS
Oscar Wei is the deputy chief economist at the California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.), a
statewide trade organization of real estate professionals with more than 200,000 members. He co-manages the Research and Economic Department and oversees the operation of data analytics and survey research within the division. As an economist at C.A.R., Oscar provides regular updates on the economy, state and regional housing markets, consumer behaviors, and public policy issues.
He has written articles and reports on subjects including housing supply, affordability, mortgage finance, homeownership, tax reform, and other topics related to the real estate industry. He contributes frequently to C.A.R.’s weekly housing market update newsletter, Housing Matters Podcast, and Housing Perspective. His work has been quoted in the Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Kiplinger’s, NPR, KFI, as well as other media outlets.
Oscar has been with C.A.R. since 2003. Before that, he worked for a toy company as an analyst to conduct research on identifying kids’ trends and evaluate their global implications on the toy industry. Oscar has a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of California, Berkeley and a master’s degree in economics from the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
Joseph Haggerty
Account Executive
Orange Coast Title of Southern California
Joe Haggerty is a San Gabriel Valley Native and has worked in the title industry since 2003. His experience and knowledge as a title rep comes from working various positions within title companies prior to going into sales in 2013. He enjoys basketball with friends during weeknights, playing guitar and cooking to no end at home. Joe has two sons, one in middle school and the other in high school. His kids are his WHY in terms of his success and he believes in making sure consumers are treated with the utmost respect and fairness.
Derek Talbird
Founder & CEO
Bird Eyes Management Services
Derek Talbird is a seasoned AI consultant specializing in content creation and marketing strategies. With over three years of hands-on experience, Derek has mastered the utilization of AI tools such as ChatGPT and RunwayML to elevate communication tactics and optimize marketing campaigns.
Originally pursuing a Communications Major at the University of Tennessee at Martin, Derek's fascination with innovation led him to explore the convergence of AI and media. Since 2016, Derek has immersed himself in videography, refining his skills in visual storytelling and multimedia production.
As a consultant, Derek shares his diverse expertise and practical insights with clients, offering invaluable guidance on integrating AI into their creative processes and strategic initiatives. Through personalized consultations and tailored solutions, Derek empowers clients to leverage AI technologies effectively in achieving their goals.
With a dedication to staying abreast of the latest advancements in AI, Derek continues to explore emerging tools and methodologies, ensuring that his clients receive cutting-edge strategies and solutions to meet their evolving needs.
Annie Fan
Vice President
Chicago Title
As Vice President for Chicago title, Annie Fan is known for being a super connector and resource for her clients in residential, commercial, and subdivision builder business.
She is fluent in three languages (English, Taiwanese, Chinese) and ranked Top 10% within her profession. Annie graduated from ASU with MBA focus in marketing. No matter if you are a new agent, or experienced veterans in the business, she has the tools available to make you more productive. She is a team player who you can rely on every day.
Annie Fan is currently living with her family in Arcadia. She is a board member for Kids Reading To Success for 9 years and love to give back to the community.