Upward Event Cabo 22
Keynote Speakers and Special Guests

Mike Michalowicz
Entrepreneur | Author

By his 35th birthday MIKE MICHALOWICZ had founded and sold two multi-million dollar companies.

Confident that he had the formula to success, he became a small business angel investor… and proceeded to lose his entire fortune. Then he started all over again, driven to find better ways to grow healthy, strong companies. Mike has devoted his life to the research and delivery of innovative, impactful entrepreneurial strategies to you.

Mike is the creator of Profit First, which is used by hundreds of thousands of companies across the globe to drive profit. He is the creator of Clockwork, a powerful method to make any business run on automatic. In his 2020 release Fix This Next, Mike details the strategy businesses can use to determine what to do, in what order, to ensure healthy, fast, permanent growth (and avoid debilitating distractions). His latest book Get Different (released September 21, 2021) will give you the tools to stand out in any market.

Today, Mike leads two new multi-million-dollar ventures, as he tests his latest business research for his books. He is a former small business columnist for The Wall Street Journal and business makeover specialist on MSNBC. Mike is a popular main stage keynote speaker on innovative entrepreneurial topics; and is the author of Get Different, Fix This Next, Clockwork, Profit First, Surge, The Pumpkin Plan and The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur.

Fabled author, Simon Sinek deemed Mike Michalowicz “…the top contender for the patron saint of entrepreneurs.”

Richard Hight
Entrepreneur | Published Author | International Keynote Speaker | Award Winning Fine Artist

Internationally-known artist and motivational speaker Richard Hight hails from Oklahoma. As a child, dyslexia led to valuable lessons learned about focusing on strengths and recognizing possibilities, not limitations. His artistic gift allowed him to express his thoughts and emotions, and his successes built his confidence.

Richard honed his artistry through studies at the Colorado Institute of Art and art-focused workshops. He strengthened his faith at the Moody Bible Institute. And he finessed his speaking skills through workshops offered by the National Speakers Association, of which he is a member and the recipient of the coveted distinction of CSP (Certified Speaking Professional).

However, his involvement with the special needs community and the connections he’s forged with people around the world have had the biggest impact on his views on art and motivational speaking. When Richard encounters people who genuinely want to maximize their success and personal satisfaction, he is inspired and energized—just like his audiences are.

Richard’s impressionist approach to painting equips him to successfully communicate with his audience. When he performs for groups, he wants the audience to focus on the artistic process, not the finished canvas: he shows that trusting creative impulses can yield surprising and beautiful results.

Tens of thousands of people see Richard perform annually. With his often humorous storytelling, he has entertained colleges, universities, schools, non-profit organizations, corporations, fairs and festivals, and sports organizations. The vivid colors he selects, the broad flourishes that coalesce into a stunning image, and the passion Richard possesses: all of these harmonize into an imaginative encounter that inspires and ignites those present. Some events you attend. This one, you experience!

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Tom Wheelwright
TAX & WEALTH EXPERT | AUTHOR | CPA

TOM WHEELWRIGHT - TAX AND WEALTH EXPERT is a CPA, CEO of WealthAbility®, Best-Selling Author of Tax-Free Wealth (Rich Dad Advisors Series), Speaker, Entrepreneur and Host of 2 popular podcasts: The WealthAbility® Show with Tom Wheelwright CPA and The WealthAbility® for CPAs Show. Wheelwright has spoken on stage on every continent to over 100k entrepreneurs, small business owners and investors. His goal is to help people achieve their financial dreams faster by permanently and legally reducing their taxes. Wheelwright is a Contributor to Entrepreneur magazine, and his work has been seen in Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and on FOX and Friends, Marketplace / NPR, ABC News Radio and hundreds of media. For more information, visit https://tomwheelwright.com/ and https://wealthability.com/tom/.

Special Guest Speakers

Corey Edwards

Corey is a seasoned Real Estate Professional based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Born in Detroit, Michigan his passion for helping others started at an early age and has continued in his professional career leading him to both Mortgage Banking and Real Estate Sales.

After suffering a spinal cord injury as a teenager, Corey had to overcome many obstacles and learned that mindset is the key to success. In fact, he is sharing his positivity by becoming a mind set coach with “Corey Edwards Mastermind”, where he will share his story and motivate others.

During his time in Real Estate, Corey averages 150-200 units closed per year along with his Team - The Edwards Group. He has also had the privilege of being featured in the Wall Street Journal several times since 2015.

During his 1999-2009 mortgage banking journey, Corey was #1 in sales for 8 of 10 years at Quicken Loans for units closed.

Given his expertise in Real Estate and with Mortgage banking, he is a well rounded businessman which allows him to form close and consultative relationships with his clients. He is well known, has a solid footprint in the Fort Lauderdale and South Florida markets and offers incredible knowledge to his peers and clients.

Whether listing or selling, Corey possesses the knowledge, negotiating skills and dedication to offer a streamlined transaction for each client he represents.

Corey is an avid investor purchasing on average 20 doors per year in South Florida and Michigan. He wholesales 20 deals per year in Metro Detroit, South Florida and Tennessee. When he is not fully immersed in Real Estate or investing, Corey enjoys spending quality time with his family, giving back to the community, boating, fishing and hunting.

Emily Duarte

A graduate of Purdue University, Emily got her start in real estate in 2005 and has since built a top-producing luxury real

estate team, which consistently ranks in the top 1% of agents in AZ, and nationwide. With over $350m in career sales, Emily is proud to be one of Phoenix’s top women owned real estate teams.

From the beginning of her career, she set out to make relationships and service the core tenets of her business, providing a luxury real estate experience for every lifestyle, and earning lifelong clients in the process. Her knack for negotiation and experience in real estate investing are invaluable resources to her clients and set her apart from a crowded field of competitors.

She is an experienced real estate investor flipping over 100 homes personally, and building her personal long term hold portfolio. She has purchased multiple investment properties using subject-to and creative seller financing strategies to build her own investment property portfolio. She has played a key role in assisting her investor clients in finding fix and flip opportunities, building their rental portfolios through single-family home and multi-family purchases.

She is passionate about Real Estate as a vehicle to build wealth and create a legacy for her family and her community and loves helping others do the same.

Daniela Sumbera

With a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Bauer School of Business at the University of Houston. Daniela’s real estate passion began by managing rental properties. Overseeing and managing 19 homes that she owned with her husband on the east side of Houston led to the opening of her own real estate business, The Sumbera Team at Keller Williams Northeast. Through a record-breaking year in 2019 and an unpredictable market in 2020, Sumbera has been successful in her drive to continue growing her business. Her tenacious work ethic, keen business sense, and sharp negotiating skills provide her clients a significant advantage.

Sumbera serves on the board of directors for Family Promise of Lake Houston, Humble ISD Foundation, and Houston Association of Realtors. She is one of twenty-two realtors on the board of Houston Association of Realtors (HAR) that represent the 48k members of the association. Also she has been recently elected to serve a one year term as a board of director for NAR and is co-chair for Political Affairs. Daniela has been able to use her position to help local realtors expand their knowledge of their profession, by being a voice and advocate to improve the real estate industry. Additionally, as a member within the Young Entrepreneurs and Professionals Group within the Partnership of Lake Houston, Daniela has been able to support small businesses by promoting and assisting them with opportunities to grow. Sumbera’s continuous effort day in and day out to fill the needs that any person, business, or local non-profit might need.

Named in 2021 Top 4 Under 40 for the Partnership Lake Houston and Top 20 under 40 (#1) for the Houston Association of Realtors.

Daniela Sumbera is a proud wife, mother of two little girls Meadow and Mallory, and philanthropist.

Sofia Chacon

Sofia Chacon Covarrubias - holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix, an MBA from UC Riverside and most recently she completed a Business Scaling Program at Stanford University after being ranked in the top 3% of Latino earners in the nation.

Sofia has successfully launched several Real Estate Businesses including KW Costa Mesa, KW The Lakes, Laguna Property Management, Lago Escrow and her Real Estate team under Powerhouse Legacy. Sofia has a passion for flipping and investing in real estate by building a portfolio of residential and commercial properties that holds. Wealth Building is her favorite topic, as she started with nothing as a single teen mom at age 16.

Sofia’s passion in life is growing and equipping others to do remarkable things and lead significant and fulfilled lives. She believes that true success is only achieved when it involves giving back, Sofia supports several orphanages and is passionate about empowering women.

Alex Fenske

Alex Fenske is an experienced real estate industry leader whose background includes investment, lending, brokerage, franchise leadership, coaching, and training. He is currently the Team Leader of Keller Williams Elite and the founder of the Chicago Southland Homes team. His experience in real estate investment, brokerage, and business combined with a commitment to mastering KW’s proven models and systems allow him to effectively consult top industry professionals on aspects of business ownership beyond real estate.

From the basics of personal budgeting and financial statements to the understanding of income tax considerations, retirement planning and advanced real estate investment strategies, Alex has gained a reputation for delivering complex content in a relatable, engaging, and easily understandable way.

Outside of work, Alex enjoys spending time his wife and two children, smoking meats, good Scotch, and volunteering.

Jackie O'Connor

Jackie O'Connor - Jackie is native of Atlanta, living in Boston. Working on the top two teams for Keller Williams in the Midwest and Northeast, in 2006 & 2010 respectively, Jackie learned from the best mentors about purchasing and owning real estate as pathway to wealth. Eventually starting her own team in 2015- Jackie has career sales of over $350,0000,000 and the Jackie O Team has over $150,000,000.

An experienced real estate investor, Jackie is skilled in helping her clients identify, purchase and own real estate that will deliver cash to complement their portfolios. Not only does Jackie sell Boston area homes & investments, but she also ventured out to purchase her first vacation home in 2016. The first vacation investment home is located in Savannah Ga, as she realized the gold mine that is Airbnb. Jackie has sold dozens of homes to clients as they saw the money she was making and wanted investments like this too. Jackie specializes in homes that cash flow a minimum of 20% cash on cash. Jackie guides them on ways to use money from their equity of their main home to purchase another home and maximizing IRA/401k investments. Spawning out of the selling of vacation investments, is the Plum Island Property Management group- a complimentary business to service all her Airbnb investors.

Jackie holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Georgia Southern University.

Luis 'Red' Anaya

Luis "RED" Anaya - Red is the CEO and founder of Storyline Real Estate Group. Red is a local native born and raised in the city of Santa Ana. Red's hard work, charisma and true passion for the Real Estate industry has helped build his reputation as a qualified local Real Estate Professional.

Red is an avid student of the MREA and has implemented the strategies he learned to not only run one of KW Legacy's top Real Estate businesses, he also does it while simultaneously owning and running two thriving restaurants (during a pandemic none the less) and is a successful investor and flipper.

Red specializes in all facets of the Real Estate Business, including first time home buyers, looking for the right investment, locating that perfect flip, buying that luxury home or building that generational wealth, he knows and has experienced it all.

Red is a family man with 4 amazing kids (2 boys and 2 girls) and an incredibly gorgeous and amazing life partner.