Essex ChapterMortgages & Real Estate / Economic Update (E1901169)

Marc C. Demetriou, CLU, ChFC, is a licensed mortgage banker/broker in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Florida. Marc consistently ranks in the top 1 percent of mortgage originators in the U.S., according to leading industry sources. In his home state of New Jersey, he has been featured in NJBIZ's "40 Under 40", and is called upon frequently by the real estate, finance, accounting and legal communities as a trusted expert and speaker. Additionally, Marc is a certified and licensed instructor, offering continuing education credits to accountants, realtors, financial planners and managed care professionals. Profoundly inspired by his grandfather's hard work and success as an immigrant coming from Cyprus, Marc has authored his first book, Lessons From My Grandfather: Wisdom For Success in Business and Life.

Gil Medina joined CBRE, Inc. (the world’s largest commercial real estate services firm) in June 2013 as an Executive Vice President. Applying his extensive real estate and business experience, Gil is focused on providing and coordinating integrated real estate solutions for corporate, governmental, Non-Profit and academic research organizations. He is responsible for local and global business development across all CBRE service lines including: Office, Industrial, and Retail Brokerage; Asset Services; Project Management; and Financial Consulting. As part of developing and expanding major account service offerings, Gil provides corporate and institutional clients with multi-disciplined, high level strategic advisory expertise.

Prior to joining CBRE, Gil worked as an attorney and Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and has also developed extensive expertise in management, sales, business development, technology, and regulatory matters. He has participated in the formulation of technology policy in various capacities as the Secretary of Commerce for the State of New Jersey.

Gil earned a Bachelor of Arts from Rutgers University, a Juris Doctor from Temple University, he passed the Bar and practiced law for 17 years. He earned 21 crediits in accounting from Temple University and became a CPA practicing accounting for 12 years.

John Reitmeyer is the budget and public finance writer with NJ Spotlight and covers the $34 billion annual state budget, $80 billion public-employee pension system, tax policy and Transportation Trust Fund. He has received numerous honors and awards including the Society of the Silurians, 2015 Medallion for Print News Analysis. He has appeared as a guest on CNN, CBC, Fox, MSNBC, News 12 New Jersey and NJTV. Mr. Reitmeyer received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from The College of New Jersey.

Dr. Sebastian is also Senior Vice President of Technology & Business Development at New Jersey Institute of Technology. NJII is an NJIT 5.01c3 Corporation that is a new model for business innovation serving key industrial clusters that anchor the state and national economy. Dr. Sebastian is an Executive Board Member, Treasurer and past Chairman of the R&D Council of New Jersey, Treasurer and Executive Board Member of the Greater Newark Healthcare Coalition, and serves on the Executive Committee of Innovation New Jersey, the Boards of the Puerto Rico Consortium for Clinical Investigation, Polymer Processing Institute, Inc., NJ Manufacturing Extension Program, and is immediate past Research Chair and Executive Board Member of the Henry H. Kessler Foundation.

He was inducted in the New Jersey High-Tech Hall of Fame in 2006, named an NJBIZ Healthcare Innovation Hero in 2015 and added to the Made in New Jersey Honor Role in 2016. Dr. Sebastian received his Bachelor of Engineering at Stevens, graduating as valedictorian of the class of 1974, followed by Masters of Engineering in 1975, and the Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering in 1977.

Dr. Siamack Shojai, Dean Cotsakos College of Business at William Paterson University is a respected economist, educator and administrator who previously served as the business school dean at Central Connecticut State University, Georgian Court University and the State University of New York at Plattsburgh. He has also held teaching positions at Marist College and Manhattan College. He has written several books on the field of global economics. He also writes on higher education issues, including the impact of peer-mentoring and developmental relationships. Dr. Shojai is widely known for his presentations at scholarly seminars and forums, and provides regular commentary on economics and finance for the Voice of America of the United States Information Agency.