PAST SPEAKERS
2024 Houston, Texas
[American Dream Movement]
THE LARGEST ANNUAL BUSINESS CONFERENCE IN THE WORLD
EXPERTS
[American Dream Movement]
WHAT PAST SPEAKERS HAVE TO SAY...
TOMMY MELLO
CEO & FOUNDER A1 GARAGE
Tommy’s advice has been regularly featured in top publications like Inc Magazine and Forbes, and he is also the host of the weekly podcast Home Service Expert, where he interviews top entrepreneurs in the industry to find out what made them world-class in what they do.
CARLOS REYES
AMERICAN BUSINESSMAN
Carlos was brought to the United States Of America illegally as a little boy by his single mother. In order for his mom to raise Carlos and his two siblings His mother worked 2 some times 3 jobs simultaneously and never made more than $8.25 an hour.
After decades of struggling he became a US citizen, thanks to his mother’s effort. He then decided to quit a 12 year corporate job in 2013 to pursue the dream of building his own Real Estate investment company. With the help of his partner Sal Shakir, the company scaled quickly to be a national real estate powerhouse consistently producing multiple 7 figures every year in multiple markets across the country.
Since then, Carlos has gone on to launch and acquire 12 companies that he personally owns and operates and has also transitioned into the private equity space as a venture capitalist by acquiring equity in 17 private companies. Carlos presently resides in Arizona with his wife and 2 daughters. Carlos and his family are now truly living the American Dream.
Rene Rodriguez
AMERICAN BUSINESSMAN
Considered by many as the leading authority on leadership and influence, Rene Rodriguez is a best-selling author, keynote speaker, leadership advisor, and transformational speaker coach. For the last 27 years, René has been researching and applying behavioral neuroscience to solve some of the toughest challenges in leadership, sales, and change. As an entrepreneur and CEO of multiple companies, Rene integrates a practical business approach that inspires his audiences to take action. Through his keynote, boot camps, workshops and proprietary Amplifii™ course, he helps us own our backstory to build the frame for not only our unique value propositions but also a beautiful picture of life. His audiences describe him as “powerful”, “thought-provoking”, and “authentic”. They say things like, “you could hear a pin drop as everyone was so captivated.” The result: greater influence, personal transformation, and immediate results in business and life by engaging with courage and grace.
CHRIS YANO
CEO of Ryno Strategic Solutions
Chris is the CEO of RYNO Strategic Solutions, a leading Digital Marketing company that has focused on the home services industry since 2008. He is also the host of the popular Home Services Podcast, To The Point. Chris is an experienced business owner, investor, and philanthropist with a heart for the trades. He’s done over 500 keynotes, breakouts, and webinars on successful digital marketing best practices for home services companies during his tenure. In 2018, Chris created a partnership with Gary Vaynerchuk, CEO of VaynerMedia, arguably one of the best social/branding companies in the world, to bring a strong social/brand approach to the home service industry. Our motto at RYNO is “We Exist To Grow Your Business…Period.” That is exactly what we continue to do for the past 14 years.Chris is married to his wife of 17 years, Anna Yano (RYNO COO), and has 4 children, Kaycee, Berkeley, Mason & Fallon Yano.
ISMAEL VALDEZ
American Businessman
First hispanic to come out of the trades with a record deal. My name is Ismael Valdez, I own Nexgen Air Conditioning and Plumbing out of Southern California. Last year 2022 we did 100 mil. in revenue. Nexgen started 7 years ago in a small location in Anaheim CA. 7 years ago we had no employees, no shop, and no license. Today we are the fastest growing HVAC and Plumbing company in the US. I also came up with my own thermostat, we call it Nuve. The reason why we came up with Nuve was to solve multiple deficiencies inside the operation.
BRENT FRANKLIN
American Businessman
Brent Franklin is a Navy veteran who has gone on to become a highly successful serial entrepreneur and real estate investor, with a track record of developing and selling hundreds of properties all over Texas. Beyond his impressive business accomplishments, he is also known as a mentor and advisor to business owners, investors, and entrepreneurs. In 2018, he diversified his portfolio by venturing into the oil and gas industry, and quickly rose to become a full -time oil and gas operator within a year. With numerous successful property acquisitions and reworks under his belt, this individual is a true leader in the world of business regardless of the industry.
ERIKA BASURTO
American Businesswomen, Real Estate Investor, And Radio Host
Erika is a pioneer in Spanish -language Real Estate investment education, when noticing the lack of quality education in the Spanish language, she co -founded the first bilingual ” REIA” Hispanic Real Estate Investors Association to promote investment an-rong the Hispanic community. Her passion for investing and helping the community led her in 2016 to host a radio program on Houston’s KYST 920 AM station “Invest in Real Estate”, a program that has been on the air for almost 6 years, and is also broadcast on social networks. In 2019, its portfolio of properties began and to date with more than 130 transactions, from Purchase and Sale, Fix & Flip , Wholesale, Rentals . Retail , Commercial and Land. With her experience, she established her own Investment Real Estate Brokerage in 2020, specializing in Investors, investment properties, and providing specialized consulting to her clients. Using these platforms,
for 7 years she has given workshops, conferences, and seminars, at the national level to people interested in bein Investors: working in collaboration with leaders in other states. Thus turnina immigrants into Investors, helping them prosper add value to their lives, their communities, and leave a better legacy for fuiure generation
DAN ZRIHEN
American Businessman
Dan Zrihen is a decorated sales and leadership expert, motivational speaker, coach, and serial entrepreneur. Born in Northern California near San Francisco. His father an immigrant from Israel and mother whose family immigrated from Eastern Europe.Dan was an all league wrestler, played high school and college football. Growing up in a lower income bracket gave him incredible motivation to remove himself and his family from the grip of poverty. At 22 years old Dan started his career in the door to door industry for one of the largest home improvement companies in California and quickly became canvasser of the year multiple years in a row and manager of the year for the first time in the company’s history winning both in the same year.
At age 23 Dan was promoted to district manager leading a team of 50 to over 8 figures per year in revenue.He now owns an 8 figure, Public adjusting, General contracting, and solar company, as well as other investments. Dan, Married the love of his life and has 2 beautiful children and are now living in beautiful Phoenix, Arizona.
JEFFERY WISNIEWSKI
CEO Of GIDDYUP
Jeffery Wisniewski is the President and Founder of CutterCroix, LLC, creators of GiddyUp software, located in Cleveland, Ohio. Prior to launching GiddyUp in 2008, Jeff held many leadership roles in both the technology and construction fields. He was the former Chief Technology Officer for an $800 MM family of construction companies. His experience provided him with the vision to create software that assists companies daily by ensuring GiddyUp “Fit the Software to the Company, not the Company to the Software”.
He believes that software should complement the business, not force the business to run the way a software person thinks it should run. Jeff and his entire team strive to become their client’s trusted technology partners – not just a vendor. Jeff resides in Ohio with his wife Traci, and their two children Avery and Jenny. In his spare time, he enjoys boating, clay shooting, and showing clients the best that Cleveland has to offer.
Dave Carroll
Founder of DOPE Marketing
Dave Carroll is the founder of DOPE Marketing based out of Minneapolis Minnesota. After phasing himself out of his own profitable home service business, he made the decision to take all that he learned and help other businesses grow. Dave started DOPE Marketing after realizing that there was a better way to help companies grow using direct mail and traditional marketing. DOPE helps businesses send automated direct mail, handwritten notes and gift boxes to prospects and customers across the country with no minimum order. Dave’s advice has been regularly featured in top publications like Forbes, LA Weekly, Inc Magazine and Chicago tribune. Through his career, he has worked with businesses as large as Ashley furniture, Nike, and The Golden State Warriors, all the way to local companies including Roofers, HVAC, Painting and other home service businesses. Dave’s mission is to help business owners realize that anything is possible if they simply put their mind to it.
Chris Scoville
CEO and Founder of BluePagesPro
Chris Scoville is a CEO and Founder of BluePagesPro launched a Software Company located in Florida 4 years ago. BluePagesPro helps connect consumers with contractors through a unique online platform. They accomplish this through online digital directories and robust custom tech landing pages.
Each BluePagePro listing is designed with conversion tools to help move a prospect from ”just looking” to, “let’s schedule a demo or consultation.” Chris, also recently retired from Service Finance (Truist) as the SVP, and Director of Business Development, he was responsible for the growth and expansion of all home improvement verticals. Chris joined Service Finance Company with 25+ years of experience in home improvement finance solutions from: secured, unsecured, 203-k, construction to permanent, serving both residential and commercial industries.His background blends the knowledge of marketing, sales training, and management giving him a unique perspective from the field that allows him to relate to contractors
Attending the American Dream Conference last year in Houston was a game-changer for me. Stephen Martinez's insights were truly enlightening. I highly recommend this conference for anyone of Spanish descent looking to make waves in the entrepreneurial world.
Carlos G.