Meet Your Instructor Team

amy.klingensmith@kaplan.com

Born and raised in North Carolina, Amy has a love of the beach and the outdoors. 

After obtaining her real estate license in 2004, Amy quickly realized she loved real estate. After working in the industry for many years, she became a BIC of her own firm. 

Amy holds a Bachelor in Business Administration from The University of Mount Olive. 

In 2014, Amy received her real estate instructor license, and her love of teaching began, especially in the area of Exam Prep. In 2019, Amy became the Regional School Manager for Kaplan in North Carolina and South Carolina. 

amber.gongidi@kaplan.com

Amber is a North Carolina native and has been a licensed Realtor since 2013. Her passion for helping others is what led her into teaching. She is currently the East Coast Faculty Manager for Kaplan Education's Real Estate Program. 

She loves coaching both students and instructors to help them develop themselves. She believes in learning something from every experience and still gets something from everyone she observes and every class she attends. Amber is the proud mother to four boys and a dedicated Tarheel fan. 

charles.lee@kaplan.com

Charles was licensed and began his real estate career in 2016 in Durham, NC. He has always strived to leverage technology to organize complicated real estate transactions and save his clients their most valuable resources - time and energy.

Today, Charles can be found coaching countless agents into successful real estate careers. This love for helping people launch rewarding real estate careers is what drives Charles to teach. His classes can be described as being insightful and engaging. He teaches with purpose and energy, and has a knack for using real-life examples to make big concepts bite-sized.

Charles and his family have called Durham home for over fifteen years and he is proud to have served as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors at Housing for New Hope for three years. Prior to his real estate career, Charles worked as an Operations Manager in the hospitality industry, where he developed a love for problem-solving and finding creative solutions. When the opportunity came to use his expertise to help others navigate the Triangle real estate market, he jumped right in. 

sabrina.blase@kaplan.com

Meet Sabrina Blase, a dedicated and experienced member of the Kaplan team, proudly serving as your Student Advisor. With over five years as a licensed North Carolina Real Estate Agent, she brings a wealth of practical industry knowledge to the table. Her journey with Kaplan spans over three years, during which she] has made significant contributions as an instructor, moderator, and proctor.

Now, as a Student Advisor, Sabrina is excited to focus on ensuring the success of all students. Her commitment to education and personal growth is evident not only in her professional achievements but also in her role as a personal development coach for over a decade. She has a passion for helping individuals unlock their potential and achieve their goals.

Sabrina's diverse experience and dedication make her an invaluable resource and guide for students navigating the path to becoming successful real estate professionals. She is committed to providing support, knowledge, and encouragement every step of the way.

philip.armel@kaplan.com

Originally from Stephens City, Va (located in the northern Shenandoah Valley), Jay brings over 35 years of real-world experience not only as a Real Estate Broker but also as a small business owner and educator who understands the subtle intricacies and nuances needed to be successful in both the classroom and in real-life practice. He also has written several North Carolina Real Estate Commission-approved continuing education courses. 

Jay obtained his bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Milligan College near Johnson City, TN.  He followed that by completing a Master's degree in Business Ethics and Leadership from Duquesne University (Pittsburgh, Pa) and has a doctoral degree from the University of Southern California (USC) in Leadership and Organizational Change, where his dissertation focused on "The Role of Spirituality in the Workplace.".  

He believes that to be successful in both life and the classroom, one must connect with all three aspects of a person's being (mind, body, and soul).  To that end, he is not a lecturer but rather a facilitator of knowledge and guides individual growth of his students.

Outside of teaching, he enjoys the Carolina coastline, a serene round of golf, a freshly brewed White Chocolate Mocha (extra hot), college football (Fight On!), and a lively discussion.

Deborah.Bass@kaplan.com

Deborah is a seasoned Real Estate Professional with more than twenty years in the industry. She holds a Brokers license in North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.  Her experience in the real estate profession includes Residential, Commercial, and Land Brokerage Management of a Firm, Marketing and Sales Director, Custom Home Community, and Real Estate Education Instructor.

Deborah has achieved the following designations and awards: ABR (Accredited Buyers Representative), REPRO (Real Estate Professional), ALC (Agent Leadership Committee), Century 21 Gold Pacesetter (Southern Region), as well as Life Member of The Million Dollar Club.

Her passion is to serve others, and real estate affords her the opportunity to blend her passion and profession.  

Growing up and marrying into a military family, Deborah understands diversity, adaptability, and inclusion. She believes in embracing people from all walks of life and is eager to assist and educate them on achieving their goal of becoming a real estate licensee or a homeowner. She truly enjoys and loves real estate. 

In her spare time, she loves to travel. Deborah has two amazing adult children.

lauren.ciccone@kaplan.edu

Lauren, a Massachusetts native, now embraces North Carolina's charm. She relocated from Boston to Mooresville in 2005, drawn to the allure of Lake Norman and Charlotte. Recently, she settled in Statesville to relish mountain views and open spaces.

Lauren acquired her NC real estate license in 2016, but her journey began earlier. From 2013 to 2016, she managed a startup real estate firm, mastering the industry's intricacies. In the past 8 years, she's worked with diverse clients, fueling her ambition to excel. In 2019, she elevated her career as a Broker-In-Charge and real estate instructor.

Joining Kaplan in 2022, Lauren's passion for teaching shone. She blends tradition with innovation, tailoring her approach to diverse learners. With lectures, interactive activities, and humor, she makes learning entertaining and memorable. Lauren's commitment to student success led to accolades.

As an active real estate broker, REALTOR®, and instructor, Lauren understands the challenges of starting in real estate without proper support. She's candid about her own journey, empathizing with the intense learning curve and challenging exams.

With Lauren, you gain more than online classes – access to Google resources, one-on-one and group tutoring, and a transformative learning experience. Expect varied teaching methods, from games and videos to group discussions and practical applications. Lauren equips you with all you need to pass the exam and excel in your career.

Don't just take our word for it – experience success with Lauren today!

Tarron.Coalson@kaplan.com

Tarron has been a licensed real estate broker since February of 2006 and is an approved Real Estate Instructor through the NCREC. Tarron has served on two occasions as a Broker in Charge and remains BIC Eligible. Tarron has experience in residential sales, foreclosures, property management, and commercial leasing.   

Tarron has also been awarded the Strong Award from the Jerry Long Family YMCA for his work in their youth sports program. He and his wife Michele operate the Triad Martial Arts & Wrestling Academy in Lewisville, NC, where they have trained State and National Champions. 

Suzanne.Cranford@kaplan.com

In 2015, Suzanne retired from IBM as a Vice President, Senior Project Executive with 33+ years of experience. Her specific expertise included “fixing” troubled accounts in financials and customer satisfaction. 

In March of 2016, she became a certified Real Estate Realtor. In 2018, she formed her own Real Estate company. In July of 2019, she became a certified Real Estate Instructor with JY Monk. Her experience and expertise is in property management and residential sales.

Suzanne holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics, a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, a Master’s Certificate in Project Management from George Washington University, and a Real Estate Instructor’s license with the NCREC.  

Her hobbies include sports, wakeboarding, and reading, and she is also a private pilot.

Michele.Dew@kaplan.com

Michele graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1982 and has worked in some capacity in real estate ever since.  

Her career began as an office manager in a land sales company, where she handled transactions from contract to closing and was responsible for the trust account. Michele worked in apartment leasing and vacation rentals before jumping into sales full-time in 1988.  

During her real estate sales career, Michele served as president of the local chapter of the Women's Council of Realtors, served on the Professional Standards Committee, and was named Realtor of the Year.

Michele became an approved instructor in 2017 and enjoys sharing her experience and expertise with her students. She is approved for Prelicensing, Postlicensing, and Continuing Education.

Rebekah.Edens@kaplan.com

Rebekah earned her B.S. in Psychology in 2010 and Master's of Science from Campbell University in 2013. Because of her love to help others, she is currently an adjunct professor at Campbell, a lecturer at Kaplan, and an active Realtor. 

North Carolina is a wonderful and unique place to live from the mountains to the coast. Rebekah and her family reside in the awesome small town of Buies Creek. Being a proud Navy mom, she has a special interest in serving the military population. Rebekah serves on the Alumni Board of Directors for Campbell University.

She enjoys spending time with her husband and their three children cooking, playing sports, or just being outdoors.  

laurie.gardner@kaplan.edu

After growing up in Eastern NC and moving around to different areas of the state, Laurie Ann was drawn back east by her love for the beach and Wilmington’s relaxed, coastal lifestyle. Her passion for real estate was born out of many years of property management, buying and selling houses, and home renovations. 

She graduated from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and earned an MBA from Duke University. Before obtaining her real estate license, Laurie Ann specialized in marketing communications for over 20 years. She decided to apply this knowledge and experience to her real estate business and to teaching pre-licensing, post-licensing, and continuing education across North Carolina. 

Laurie Ann is an active real estate broker assisting both buyers and sellers in the Wilmington area. She loves working with people and strives to provide the highest level of personal customer service to her clients and students. In addition to teaching, Laurie Ann uses her expertise to write and develop material for real estate classes. She loves calling the Wilmington area home and enjoys all it offers. 

dawnetta.hooper@kaplan.edu

Dawnetta has been in the Real Estate business for almost 7 years, gaining experience working with first time home buyers, military buyers, and low income buyers.  As a seasoned Realtor, she is passionate about educating the community about Real Estate.  

Dawn also has a background in education.  She holds a Bachelors in Education and a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership.  When you combine Dawn's Real Estate experience with her extensive training, her students always win.  Outside of the office, Dawn enjoys spending time with her family.  Her husband, David, her three children, David Jr., Dajah, and Dalaya, and her fur baby, Chewie.  

Carol.Lambert@kaplan.com

Carol has been active in the real estate industry for over 30 years. She was co-owner of a real estate firm for 12 years and has been teaching for the past 18 years.

Carol has a passion for knowledge and education and brings a large amount of practical knowledge to the classroom. Her goal is not only to help her students pass their state real estate exam but to see them succeed in the real estate industry.

In addition to being a broker and instructor, Carol has also served as North Carolina Association of REALTORS director, state president of Women’s Council of REALTORS, North Carolina Real Estate Education Foundation Dean, and president of Central Carolinas Association of REALTORS and REALTOR of the year. As well as a member of the North Carolina Real Estate Educators Association. She has earned the ABR, GRI, LTG, and PMN designations. 

Carol also has received The Golden Apple Award from Kaplan University for outstanding student achievement.

Jennifer.Mcallister@kaplan.com

Jennifer is a business major graduate from UNC Chapel Hill and has been in the property management industry for over 20 years. 

As a Broker in Charge of her own firm, she has completed a variety of real estate transactions, from land sales to commercial sales, as well as residential transactions. Jennifer also engages in HOA management. 

She has been teaching for the last four years and can always learn something from her students since we all come together with different perspectives and experiences.

david.raines@kaplan.edu

David is one of the many passionate Real Estate instructors in our fantastic lineup, proudly shaped under the North Carolina sun. As a genuine local, he is thrilled to unfold his enthusiasm for real estate and showcase the distinctive charm of our community.

When he's not diving into property nuances, you'll find David embracing the simple joys of camping, the invigorating rush of hiking trails, and the thrill of discovering new spots. His two Shiba Inu pals, Loki and Lucie, are his partners in crime, adding a dose of laughter to every day.

For David, teaching is all about breaking free from the monotony of facts and figures. He believes learning should be an exhilarating adventure, not a dull lecture. So, gear up for a personalized expedition into the world of real estate, spiced with local insights, a sprinkle of wanderlust, and a hearty dose of enthusiasm. Get ready to dive into this educational rollercoaster together!  

Paulette.Rogers@kaplan.com

Paulette has two sons and three grandchildren and lives in Apex, NC. She is a Realtor, BIC, instructor, moderator, tax preparer, and accountant. Paulette has a BS in Business Administration and Marketing; a Master's in Management and Finance; as well as a Doctorate, ABD in Business Administration and Accounting. 

She has been a licensed Real Estate Broker since 1994 and worked for the State of NC for ten years before starting her real estate career.

 Paulette has also worked as an assisted living administrator, a tax preparer, and an Accountant for many years.

justice.ruffin@kaplan.edu

Justice Ruffin has been associated with real estate for several years. She started out in property management and after getting licensed she began conducting business as a full time residential real estate agent.

 After several successful transactions, Justice has become a Broker in Charge and a licensed Real Estate Instructor in North Carolina. Helping students learn the responsibilities and transitioning students from pre license holders to full brokers of real estate is something that she enjoys greatly! She believes in the saying "Life is a journey not a destination", so make make real estate part of your journey! 

Tania.Wahl@kaplan.com

Tania Wahl has been an instructor with Kaplan since December 2019.  She loves connecting with students and loves to make the classroom a fun, interactive, and supportive environment.

She grew up in Yorktown, NY, and moved to Florida for college. From there, she met her husband and lived in Minnesota for a couple of years before they made their way to the Charlotte area.

In 2016 Tania began her real estate career. She has two young kids and a rescue dog, Penny. Tania looks forward to seeing you in class! 

Tia.Washington@kaplan.com

Tia has worked in the real estate and construction industry for over 17 years. She started her career in the design field working as a kitchen designer in Atlanta, GA, where she attended college. After working for a developer as the onsite design consultant, Tia decided to venture into the world of real estate sales and hasn’t looked back. 

Tia is from a small town, Blackstock, SC, where she learned the importance of hard work and helping others from working in her family’s seafood restaurant. 

Tia is a very active member of the Canopy Realtor Association, where she serves on several committees and was recently elected to serve on the Board of Directors. Tia also serves on the NCRealtors® Region 8 Board of Directors. She is very passionate about real estate education and helping agents grow their businesses. Being a part of the Kaplan family is both an honor and a privilege.