Mastering the 8.0 Contract: An Exclusive Event for Industry Leaders - Zoom

Chris Read is CEO of CR Strategies LLC. The company is designed to assist Real Estate Licensees, Managing Brokers, Owners and Associations by strategically pursuing growth and profitability for “success on purpose.”  Chris has 40+ years of experience in real estate sales, management, operations, and professional development training.  She is the Designated Managing Broker/Owner for CR REALTOR®, is a licensed Instructor, has authored numerous courses and education resources and has been a contributing Editor for a National publishing firm.

Chris brings to the classroom experiences from many leadership roles with the local, state and National REALTOR® Associations which include President of the Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS®, Chair of Illinois REALTORS® Professional Standards, Business Issues, Illinois License Law Rewrite, the Education Task Force, and Broker/Lawyer. At the National level she has been an NAR Director since 2007, has served on various committees and Presidential Advisory Groups, and was the NAR 2020 Chair of Conventional Financing Policy Committee. She has served on her local MLS Board and as well as 8 years as a member of the Illinois Real Estate Administrative Disciplinary Board. 

Chris is passionate about the need for agents to keep abreast with the ever changing skills and knowledge required to be the “Trusted Advisor” today’s consumers want and expect. Proactively positioning clients for……”Success on Purpose”….. is a predominant theme in her courses and presentations.

Joseph R. Fortunato Jr., B.A. (Political Science), Northern Illinois University, 1970 and J.D. 1973, John Marshall Law School. Sole practitioner 1973-1983. Principal - Fortunato, Farrell, Davenport & Arnold, Ltd. (1983-2007); Fortunato, Knobbe, Davenport & Arnold, Ltd. (2007-09). August 2009 - 2016  Momkus McCluskey -  partner heading the Real Estate Practice Group. 2016 – 2020 Baugh Dalton LLC and Kaufman Dolowich and Voluck (partner) (in 2017 Baugh Dalton merged with Kaufman Dolowich and Voluck); 2020-2024 – Momkus LLP – Partner.  

2024- present – in house counsel for Mainstreet REALTORS®

While in private practice, concentrated in real estate transactions (commercial and residential) and real estate litigation. Experience and achievements include:

• Outside general counsel to Mainstreet Realtors® since 2001
• President of Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association (2002-04); member of the Board of Directors 1998 - 2016
• Received Board of Directors Award from the DuPage County Bar Association (2003 and 2014) for outstanding service 
• Received ISBA Board of Governors Award for outstanding service (2008)
• Recipient for Outstanding Service Award from REALTOR® Association of the Western Suburbs (2000)
• Chair, DuPage County Bar Real Estate Law Committee (1988, 1989 and 1995)
• Chair of ISBA Real Estate Section Council (2005); Member of Section Council for many years
• Special Assistant State’s Attorney for DuPage County Division of Transportation (1996-2001)
• Member – ISBA Standing Committee on Legislation 2016 - 2023
• Member – ISBA Subcommittee in Liaison with Illinois Association of Realtors® 2001 - 2016
• IICLE Chapter Author (Disclosures and Representing the Seller)
• Published many articles for Illinois Bar Journal and ISBA Real Property Newsletter; coauthored IBJ Real Estate Column 
• Co-author of Multi-Board Residential Real Estate Contracts 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 6.1, 7.0 and 8.0
• Frequent lecturer - ISBA, IICLE, local bar associations and REALTOR® groups; 
• Presenter at REALTOR® Law Day Seminar 1999 - present
• Taught Real Estate licensing for Coldwell Banker and Century 21
• Testified as expert witness in real estate and title insurance matters 
• Former Member ISBA Assembly (18th)
• Justinian Society of Lawyers (DuPage Chapter) Member and Past President”
• 2023 – recipient of Distinguished Counselor designation from ISBA for 50 years of service to the Bar in Illinois
• In 2016 the American Bar Association published Mr. Fortunato’s book “Getting Started as a Real Estate Attorney”

Lynn is the owner of Lynn Madison Seminars, a full-service training and development company devoted to the advancement of professional in real estate.  Lynn has been a speaker at the NAR convention for over a decade and has spoken to REALTORS® in more than 30 states.  Lynn has been active in developing and delivering Illinois' continuing education programs since 1992.

As an instructor for REBAC's ABR program, Lynn not only conducts the program nationwide, she is involved in its development and instructor certification program.  Lynn wrote the REBAC BPOR course and co-authored the SFR Certification program as well.  In 2004, she was inducted in the REBAC Hall of Fame.

At the National level, Lynn has served on the following Committees:

• Cultural Diversity/EOH
• Risk Management
• Professional Standards
• Professional Development

At the state level, Lynn's involvement has included:

• Chair of the Political Fund Raising Committee
• Chair of the Illinois Professional Standards Committee
• Chair of the Illinois' GRI Committee
• Chair of the Illinois' Convention Committee
• Illinois License Law Rewrite Task Force
• License Law Scope and Structure Working Group
• Equal Opportunity Working Group
• Education Committee
• Strategic Planning Committee
• REALTOR® of the Year Committee

At the local level, Lynn's involvement with Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS® includes:

• Past President
• Director 
• Education Committee
• Strategic Planninig Committee
• Equal Housing Opportunity Committee
• Professional Standards Committee
• RPAC Fundraising Committee
• Nominating Committee