OUR TEAM
Congratulations to our CABREP members on their 2024 C.A.R. Appointments! We are confident that your influence will continue to encourage more Black Real Estate Professionals. We appreciate your willingness to volunteer your time and effort, as well as express your opinions, which certainly has contributed to your appointment. We wish you all the best as you represent us."
- Robert Johnson, 2024 CABREP President
Executive Commitee
Dolores Golden
President
Licensed since 1986
Specialty: Relocation , Probate, Commercial
Membership: The Southwest Los Angeles Association of Realtors®, Director Past Local President.
California Association of Realtors®: Director, Education Advisory committee
Activities: Regional Chair, Region 17, Nominating Committee, Impac Trustee
Chair activities: Housing Affordability co-Chair, Equal Opportunity Cultural Diversity, Chair, Vice=Chair –South of Housing Opportunity Committee
Task Forces: E & O Insurance Task Force, Foreclosure Housing Task Force
Member of NAREB, and local Consolidated Realty Board, Nahrep,Areaa.
Director for several years on our local MLS *The MLS (Claw). CEO, the Multicultural Real Estate Alliance for Urban Change Which has hosted Town Hall meetings on neighborhood, retention. Block club President, for several years. Worked on Real Estate advisory board, for Los Angeles County Tax Assessor Auerbach. My office is centrally located which is important to being able to reach out to diverse communities in large metro-areas like Los Angeles, That is surrounded by Inglewood, Carson, Watts, Compton, Gardena and the Beach cities, Everything is close . There are many opportunities to enhance your business, when you are Surrounded by so much growth. I have prided myself in being involved with many Organizations that are not only involved in Real Estate, but families, and business development that all tie into community building.
Robert Johnson
President-Elect
Robert Johnson is a Realtor, Broker, Owner of EH Realty operating out of Woodland Hills California. Robert is active in the community, sponsoring 4 different schools in the San Fernando Valley.
2023 Is a busy year for Robert, as he is currently serving as a Director at Large for C.A.R., Board of Directors for Southland Regional Association of REALTORS, Board of Directors at AREAA (Asian Real Estate Association of America, President Elect at CABREP, Member of the Commercial and Investment Division at C.A.R., and the liaison to the YPN committee for the Board of Directors at Southland Regional Association of REALTORS.
He received his realtor license in 2008 and worked as a realtor for Keller Williams prior to founding E H Realty in 2013.
Robert graduated from Cal State University Northridge in 2006 with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management, and takes pride in the goodwill and stellar reputation he and his wife Reese have established for their family and 2 children.
In addition to his commitment to his family and his clients, Robert manages to find time to volunteer at his church in the Children's Ministry and Security team at his church every month.
Taunee English
Treasurer (2020-2022) & Chair of Strategic Planning & Investment Sub-Committee
Taunee English has been a Realtor® for over 15 years and a Broker for 6. She was named 2019 Realtor® of the Year for Greater Los Angeles and runs a Veteran-Owned Resimercial called Lions Realty Group as its Beverly Hills Branch Manager and Broker Associate of eXp Realty California Inc.. Taunee is an advocate for Women In Leadership and is the 2021 President for the L.A./Beverly Hills Women's Council of REALTORS®. She is also very dedicated to the real estate industry and serves as 2021 Treasurer for Greater Los Angeles of Realtors® Association and 2021 Chair of the Communications Advisory at California Association of Realtors®. Taunee is also committed to increasing more Diversity, Inclusion and Equity in the real estate industry and is the Founding Member and 2021 Treasurer of the California Association of Black Real Estate Professionals.
Novelette Witt
Secretary (2020-2022) & Vice Chair REimagine! Conference and Expo Advisory
Novelette Witt is a California licensed Real Estate Broker and is the Principal Broker/Owner of Morgen Real Estate®, Inc. an independent Los Angeles South Bay-based brokerage with a wealth of experience in residential real estate, residential income properties, and property management. Morgen Real Estate®, Inc is a Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) and Minority Business Enterprise (MBE).
Novelette’s background includes a career that spans more than 20 years of experience in Business-to-Business Sales in Marketing; with great emphasis on contract negotiations, client relations, and strategic planning. She is also serving as 2021 President-Elect of Women’s Council of REALTORS® South Bay, and a founding member and Secretary for California Association of Black Real Estate Professionals. Originally from the Caribbean Island of Jamaica, Novelette lives in Torrance, California with her husband, Michael, and their wildly adventurous Miniature Pinscher, Luigi.
Evelyn Arnold
Executive Committee
Licensed and member of C.A.R. & N.A.R. as a Sales agent in 1965, a Realtor® Broker's license in 1967. Opened Real Estate office in Compton, CA. President of local association of the Compton-Lynwood Board in 1976 and 1980. President of Rancho Southeast Association of Realtors® after merger in 1994. Realtor® of the Year in 1981 and Distinguished Realtor® in 1998. RSAOR Member & Board of Director, C.A.R. Member & Director For Life, Federal Issues Committee Member, Realtor® Political Action Committee Member, Key Contact to Senator Steven Bradford, Federal Political Coordinator to Congresswoman Maxine Waters, President's Circle, Golden "R", Hall of Fame Member and named by the California Association of Realtors® on October 11, 2018 as the 2018 California Distinguished Realtor®.
Bill Brown
Executive Committee
Bill Brown is a second-generation REALTOR® from Alamo, California, who has been active in organized real estate for more than 40 years. He is the founder of Oakland-based Investment Properties, a division of the family real estate business founded by his father William H. Brown, more than 50 years ago. He is also Co-Managing Member of Springhill Real Estate Partners, a real estate investment company that sponsors multi-family investments to qualified investors in the western region of the Country.
Bill strongly believes it is critical to be involved in organized real estate as a way to serve the industry and give back to the communities in which he conducts business. As such, he has served in numerous positions at the local, state, and national levels.
At the local level, Bill served as president of the Oakland Association of REALTORS® in 1984 and served on numerous local association committees. He was chosen to chair the successful campaigns to fight two rent control initiatives in Oakland – No on E and No on EE. Bill also was selected by then-Oakland Mayor Lionel Wilson to serve as the first landlord representative on the City of Oakland's Residential Rent Arbitration Board.
At the state level Bill served in numerous leadership positions at the California Association of Realtors®. Those positions include Chairman of the Legislative, Real Estate Finance, Local Governmental Relations and Federal Issues Committees as well as Chairman of CREPAC and IMPAC. He served on the Executive Committee six times. He was President of CAR in 2008 and was also honored as REALTOR® of the Year.
At the national level Bill has been a NAR Director since 1991. He was the 2004 Chairman of the RPAC Trustees and has been a Liaison twice (2005 and 2011). Bill was the 2012 Regional Vice President for Region 13 and served on the 2013 NAR Leadership team as Vice President. Additionally he has served on numerous committees including Strategic Planning and Executive. He is a Golden R, member of the President's Circle and is a member of the RPAC Hall of Fame, $50,000 level. He was President of NAR, the largest trade organization in the world, in 2017.
Kevin Brown
Executive Committee
Kevin Brown is the owner/broker of Better Homes Realty and Brown Commercial Investment Real Estate Services. Mr. Brown is a second-generation REALTOR® with over 42 years of experience servicing Oakland, Berkeley and surrounding Bay Area cities. Specializing in residential and commercial real estate sales, Kevin also has extensive expertise in investment property brokerage and management. Kevin’s past clients include residential buyers and sellers, banks, institutional investors, large trusts, law firms, the City of Berkeley, smaller individual investors and the US Marshals Service. Kevin has spent over two decades studying and helping to create public policy at the local, state, and national level to protect consumer interests and preserve real property rights. Mr. Brown has been called upon to testify before congress on tax and GSE Reform, and in 2014 served as the president of the California Association of REALTORS®, the second largest state trade association in the United States.
Ruth Hayles
Executive Committee & Vice Chair Fair Housing Policy
Previously General Manager/Realtor®, International Realty & Investments for over 30 years.
Director, California Association of Black Real Estate Professionals
Treasurer and Director, Rancho Southeast Association of Realtors® (2009 President)
Chair, Local Government Forum and Director, California Association of Realtors®
Member, Federal Technology and Policy Committee, National Association of Realtors®
Member, Southwest Los Angeles Association of Realtors® (1998 President)
Board of Directors
Ted Brass
Board of Directors
Ted Brass has been a successful real estate professional for going on 45 years. He is co-owner and broker of Ted Brass Real Estate Solutions, established in 2004. Ted has a myriad of current professional affiliations including: member Board of Directors, Southwest Los Angeles Association of Realtors; newly elected member of NAREB's Board of Governance; member California Association of Realtors Investment Housing Committee; board member, Girls Club of Los Angeles; Director of Events, Real Men Cook Foundation; and he holds the Distinguished Toastmasters designation through Toastmasters International.
Ted's past affiliations include President of the Commercial Investment Division for the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB); member, NAREB university committee; Past President, Board of Directors, Consolidated Board of Realtists; Past 1st Vice President, California Association of Real Estate Brokers (CAREB); and past President, Board of Trustees, Guidance Church Center for Spiritual Living; Ted is a CCIM candidate and is a past commissioner for the City of Inglewood.
Ted holds numerous educational accomplishments including:
• Certified 1031 Exchange Specialist
• Certified Probate Specialist
• Certified Investment Specialist
• Certified Residential Specialist
• Certified Residential Property Manager (REMBI)
• Graduate Ross Minority Program in Real Estate Development (University of So. California)
• Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration
• Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration
• Licensed Practitioner, United Center for Spiritual Living
Debora Bright-Laney
Board of Directors
Introducing Debora M. Bright-Laney, “dbl” a California native Real Estate Broker on the Sunset Strip with Rodeo Realty. Ms. Bright-Laney first entered the Real Estate Profession in 1976, as a Contractor Manager with the Property Management Division of International Realty & Investments (Formerly Bennett & Bennett Associates). In 1989, Ms. Bright-Laney became a Licensed REALTOR and later in 2006 received her California Broker License. From here, Ms. Bright-Laney begin her Successful Real Estate Career working with such Brokerages as C-21 The Service Company, Inglewood, California, DBL Realtors, Sunset Strip/ West Hollywood, California, Sotheby’s International Realty, Sunset Strip and currently with Rodeo Realty, Sunset Strip Office.
Ms. Bright-Laney received her B.A. Degree, California State University Northridge 1987, Certificate of Mini-Law Program, West Los Angeles School of Law 1992, Certification of Mediation, West Angeles Mediation Center 2004, Certification of Property Management (CPM), California Association of REALTORS 2012, Certification International Property Specialist (CIPS), National Association of REALTORS 2014, Ethics Advocate 2017, Certification Probate & Trust Specialist 2020, National Association of REALTORS , Certification At Home With Diversity, National Association of REALTORS and Freddie Mac CreditSmart Instructor 2020. Also, Debora has received many awards for her profession and continues to hold executive positions with many organizations.
Years as a REALTOR 34 years
On December 13,, 2013, Ms. Bright-Laney was installed as 2014 President (111th President) for the Beverly Hills/ Greater Los Angeles Association of REALTORS, as the First African American in the history of the organization to serve in this capacity. Ms. Bright-Laney continues to serve as a volunteer Real Estate Instructor for the West Angeles Community Development Corporation - Home Ownership Series of Classes since 2002. She has taught and conducted consultation sessions with many First Time Buyers in the community. As a great advocate for the Real Estate Industry, Ms. Bright-Laney, served as the C.A.R. Key Contact for Assemblyman Sebastian Ridley-Thomas (54th District, ), Assemblymember & Senate Sydney Kamlager-Dove. Now serving as C.A.R. Key Contact for Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
(28th District) and NAR Federal Political Coordinator for Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove and a member of Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce, Volunteer with C.A.R.E. Project (Serving the Homeless) (2011-Present), Peer Mediation Instructor with Institute for Non-Violence Los Angeles at Inner City Middle Schools throughout the Los Angeles area.
In December 2017, she was appointed as 2018 1st Vice-President with The Los Angeles African American Women Political Action Committee,
LEADERSHIP, COMMITTEES & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:
2014 President, Beverly Hills/Greater Los Angeles Association of REALTORS
1999-Present, Government Affairs Committee, Greater Los Angeles Association of REALTORS
2000-Present, Bord of Director, Women Affairs Committee, West Angeles C.O.G.I.C.
2001-Present, Instructor, First-Time Buyers -West Angeles Community Development Corp.
2004-Present, Mediator & Instructor for Peer Mediation, City of Los Angeles in Underserved Schools
2007-Present, Board of Director, California Association of REALTORS
2011-Present, C.A.R.E. Project, Advocate & Serving the Homeless.
2016-Present, Professional Standards/ Grievance & Arbitration Panel,
Greater Los Angeles Association of REALTORS.
2017-Present, Ethics Advocate
2019-Present Mentor, Rodeo Realty
2019-Present, Vice-President, Multi-Cultural Real Estate Alliance for Urban Change
2021-Present Vice Chair, GLAR Charitable Foundation Committee
2021 Vice Chair, Professional Standards Committee – California Association of REALTORS
2022 Chair, Fair Housing Policy Committee
2023 CRE,PAC Trustee, California Association of REALTORS
MEMBERSHIPS:
Greater Los Angeles Association of REALTORS
California Association of REALTORS
National Association of REALTORS
Women Affairs Committee, West Angeles Church of God In Christ
Minority Apartment Owners Association
Multi-Cultural Real Estate Alliance for Urban Change
Los Angeles African American Women Political Action Committee
California Reinvestment Coalition
Ms. Bright-Laney enjoys, Running Marathons, Reading, spending time with her daughter & family, Shopping, Advocating for Homeownership, the Homeless and participating in activities with her Church when she is not assisting others in fulfilling their dream of owning a home.
Motto of Ms. Bright-Laney that many believe best describes her – ““Excellence Always! Never Negotiable.”
Crystal DaCosta
CREPAC Trustee
Board of Directors
An advocate for the preservation of homeownership, private property rights and small business since 2010, Crystal DaCosta’s purpose was fulfilled when she became part of the leadership at the Greater Los Angeles Realtors® Association (GLAR) (formerly the Beverly Hills/Greater Los Angeles Association of Realtors®). She served as Chair of the Public Policy committee for five years and was a founding member of the Association’s Global Committee.
Crystal's recent appointments include serving on the Board of Directors at GLAR and the Association’s Charitable Foundation and the California Association of Realtors® Scholarship/Education Foundation. She also serves as one of the Founding Board Members of the California Association of Black Real Estate Professionals (CABREP), a non-profit organization dedicated to assist Black Realtors® ascend into leadership positions at all levels of organized real estate and close the gap in Black Homeownership.
At the State level, Crystal has been a California Association of Realtors® (CAR) Director since 2012 and a Key Contact for Assembly Member Reggie Jones-Sawyer (AD-59). Nationally, as a Federal Political Coordinator for the National Association of Realtors® (NAR), Crystal has been the Key Contact for Congresswoman Karen Bass (CD-37) since 2011. These positions take her to the halls of our Capitols in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. annually to lobby for homeownership as the gateway to the “American Dream.”
As an independent Real Estate Broker/Owner of DaCosta Livin' Enterprises, Inc., Crystal applies that same passion to advocate, educate and negotiate on behalf of her clients throughout the entire transaction process. Her clients range from first-time homebuyers and sellers to seasoned investors and celebrities. Her personal experience as an investor and property manager as well as her relationships with Realtors® nationwide is an invaluable advantage in the competitive markets of Los Angeles County.
Crystal’s dedication and commitment to the real estate industry, colleagues and clients garnered her the Realtor® of the Year Award in 2014.
Prior to her career in real estate, Crystal worked in entertainment industry as a Corporate Publicist for House of Blues Entertainment, Inc., Tour Publicist for artists signed to Perspective Records (A&M) and Concord Records and secured publicity for the annual NAACP Awards. She also worked in television for well-known showrunners, producers and directors on Steven Bochco and Dick Wolf shows.
Melrose Forde-Silva
Legal Action Fund Trustee
Board of Directors
Melrose lives and works in Alameda County of Northern California. A Trinidad and Tobago native (T&T), She graduated from Lenore's Business School where after achieving the highest honor from The Royal Society of Arts, England, she entered the teaching profession. Melrose left the teaching field and entered the world of advertising, eventually, becoming the Media Manager for the largest advertising agency in T & T. Her love of the arts and talent for "number crunching" led to her Real Estate profession in the U.S. Melrose’s devotion to GOD, family, clients, and customers, remains the focal points of her life. Melrose spare time involves singing & community involvement.
2022 C.A.R. Legal Action Fund Trustee.
2022/2021/2020 C.A.R. Member of Legislative & Forum on Forms.
2021/2020 C.A.R. Member of Home Ownership Housing Committee.
2019, 2020 into 1st ¼ of 2021 Member of C.A.R. New RPA Study Group.
2017 & 2014 Vice Chair of C.A.R. Standard Forms Advisory Committee & Forum on Forms.
2017 Chair of C.A.R. SBSA Form Study Group.
2017-2022 Member of C.A.R. Legislative.
2016/2015 Chair/Vice Chair C.A.R. Public Policy.
2016/2015 Vice Chair Bay East PS Mediation.
2013 Chair of C.A.R. Global Real Estate Forum.
2012 Region 6 Chair.
2011 Outstanding Leadership Award, Bay East Association of REALTOR®
2010 - 2014 Bay East Appointed C.A.R. N.A.R. Director.
2010 Vice-Chair of C.A.R. International Real Estate Forum.
2010 Graduate, N.A.R. Leadership Academy.
2010 J.A.D Distinguished Service Award, Bay East Association of REALTOR®.
2009 C.A.R. Vice Chair of Assoc. Presidents Leadership Forum.
2008 President Bay East Association of REALTOR®.
2007 Pres-Elect Bay East Association of REALTOR®.
2006 C.A.R. Vice Chair of Professional Standards.
2006 Treasurer Bay East Association of REALTOR®.
2006 Chair of Bay East Professional Standards.
2005 President Bay East Foundation.
2005 REALTOR® of The Year Bay East Association of REALTOR®.
Current Member, Bay East Past President Committee.
Other Past Roles were C.A.R Region 6 Representative for Membership, Legislative, Professional Standards, Public Policy, Global Real Estate Forum, Standard Forms and Forum on Forms.
Dorinda Francois
Vice Chair of Strategic Planning Committee
Board of Directors
Dorinda Francois is the Broker/Owner of Mainstay REdefined, a full-service real estate brokerage, with offices in South Orange County and Southwest Riverside County. Her personal areas of practice are Commercial, Investment, and Luxury Residential real estate. She is a REALTIST® and a REALTOR®, currently serving as the Commercial Investment Forum Vice-Chair for the California Association of REALTORS®, and on the Board of Directors with Orange County REALTORS®, and the California Association of REALTORS®.
Mrs. Francois entered the Real Estate industry, as a Broker. After obtaining her Broker’s license in 2013, she quickly obtained her GRI, CIPS and Green Designations to enhance her understanding, and increase her knowledge and skillset, to best serve her clients. In addition to currently completing coursework for her CCIM Designation, she is a Paralegal, and proud Biola University Alumnus, with a degree in Organizational Leadership. Her commitment to professional standards and servant leadership has been widely demonstrated through extensive community and church volunteerism, membership in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Team in Training, RCAOC, HEAL Trafficking, SOCEC, AREAA, NAHREP, NAREB, the Orange County Black Chamber of Commerce, and the Women’s Council of REALTORS®. Dorinda is a strong advocate for fair and equitable democracy in housing, the protection of property rights, and professionalism in the real estate industry.
Stacy Harris-Green
Board of Directors
Stacy Harris-Green, Los Angeles native, licensed since 2015 Realtor.
Experienced in the facilitation of residential, multi-family Real Estate
purchase and sale transactions in the Greater Los Angeles area.
Recognizing real estate as one of the most valuable ownership
assets in one’s lifetime, Stacy’s focus is to ensure principals are well
informed of the disclosures required and the time frames observed
in the real estate transaction.
ATTRIBUTES
-Homeownership advocate
-Promotes leveraging real estate to build investment portfolio
-Lender connections with tailored loan products
-Renovation, design Investor flip background
-Proficient in Tech and social media.
MEMBERSHIPS and COMMITMENTS:
• Greater Los Angeles Realtors Association (GLAR)
Served as Past Board Director 2019 – 2022
Nominating Committee 2020 – 2022
Region Chair for Culver City 2021 – 2022
Grievance 2018 - 2019
Commercial Real Estate Committee 2017- 2020
• California Association of Realtors (CAR)
Board Director 2019 to present
Committees:
- Homeownership Housing
• Region 17 Regional Rep
- Diversity
-Scholarship Foundation and Education Trustee
• Vice chair 2022
• California Association of Black Real Estate Professionals
Board Director 2021
• Women’s Council of Real Estate- L.A./Beverly Hills
Charter Member 2018
• Asian Real Estate Association (AREAA)
Member 2020
• Designations
National Commercial Real Estate Advisor (NCREA) 2020
• Certification
ERA Distinctive Luxury Properties Specialist 2019
• Clients
Sellers, Investors and 1st time homebuyers
Local level association commitments, provided Stacy with insights
and involvement in organized real estate where she gained an
overall awareness of the connection between real estate business
and legislations which motivates her property ownership advocacy.
Christie Thomas
Board of Directors
Christie is a Broker-Associate | REALTOR® | REALTIST®. She resides in Southern California. Licensed since 2007, Christie joined Coldwell Banker Gene Armstrong Inc. full-time in 2015 with aspirations of growing her real estate business by delivering exceptional service to family, friends, and neighbors in her South LA and Inglewood community. Hanging her license with a black-owned franchise of a well-respected national brand, the only one in Inglewood at the time, reflects the value she places on respecting and supporting local business. Christie found her strong organizational skills and innate passion for helping others unwittingly landed her on a leadership track in her local real estate trade associations and boards, where she gives of her time and talent to educate, to advocate, and to protect the right of real estate ownership and to widen the opportunity for ALL to enjoy it.
• Immediate Past President, Southwest Los Angeles Association of REALTORS® (SWLAAOR)
• Director At Large, California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.)
• Director, California Association of Black Real Estate Professionals (CABREP)
• Director, Combined L.A. Westside (CLAW) Multiple Listing Service (MLS)
• Director, Consolidated Board of REALTIST® (CBR),
• Member At Large, NAR Fair Housing Policy Committee (Inaugural YR 2020)
• 2019 REALTOR® OF THE YEAR, Southwest Los Angeles Association of REALTORS®
• Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES)
• Seller Representative Specialist (SRS)
• Short Sales & Foreclosure Resource (SFR)
• Pricing Strategy Advisor (PSA)
• Real Estate Negotiation Expert (RENE)
• Certified Probate Real Estate Specialist