Emphasys employees in the Real Estate division headed to the Big Easy in November for the National Association of REALTORS® Conference & Expo, the industry’s premier event, where we showcased the BrokerOffice product. Of the roughly 19,000 real estate agents and brokers in attendance, we connected with over 300 brokers, and the sales team is busy following up on numerous leads.
Unlike some of our sister divisions, the RE division does not host a user conference. We focus on the annual REALTORS conference as our main networking event, and attend smaller trade shows throughout the year as well.
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Originally from Montego Bay, Jamaica, Jerome James is a Software Developer at the Miami office. He attended Florida International University and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology. Before joining us at Emphasys, he worked for Miami Dade College. Jerome’s hobbies include reading his Bible, fishing, modifying cars, playing sports, and hanging with friends and family. He’s an Avengers fan, and one of his favorite movie quotes is:
Kely Cid Ravelo is originally from Cuba but now makes her home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She’s a Software Developer at the Miami office. She earned a degree in Computer Science from Florida International University. Before coming to Emphasys, Kely worked for Affordable Digital Signage. Kely’s hobbies include running, reading to keep up with technology, and shopping. Her favorite movie quote is a classic from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
Also a Software Developer in the Miami office, Jose Astudillo was raised in Trujillo, Peru. He currently lives in Hollywood, Florida. Jose graduated from Florida International University with a degree in Computer Science. Previously, he earned an Associate of Arts degree in Computer Engineering from Broward College. Prior to joining us at Emphasys, he worked at Integrated Software Solutions. His hobbies and interests include working out, listening to music, watching movies, soccer and TV shows, going out, playing billiards, technology, computers, and cars.
Paul Calderon, a Business Development Associate on the RE Division sales team, is originally from New York, but his family moved to Miami when he was 8. He now resides in Sweetwater, but mentioned that he’d like to move back to Coral Gables or Brickell in the future. He’s not yet married or seeing anyone, but says he’s “ready to mingle.” (Perfect dating profile photo, Paul!) Paul attended Florida International University where he obtained a degree in Public Relations with a minor in Marketing. When asked about his prior work experience, Paul told us, “Before coming to work at Emphasys, I had the privilege of working for an importing company. It was named Atlas flowers. The flowers you might have purchased last year for Mother’s Day had a good chance of coming from my company. You probably overpaid.” His hobbies and interests include long distance running, film, traveling and working with his business Fraternity’s alumni chapter (former e-board), and his favorite movie quote is, “May the force be with you.”
Michael Arvelo is a Software Developer in the Miami office. Born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, his family moved to Miami when he was 3, and he continues to reside there. He attended Florida International University where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology, and before joining the team at Emphasys, he worked for Miami Dade College. Michael likes gaming, design, technology, movies, television, comics, and skating. His favorite movie quote comes from wise Master Yoda, who said, “Do or do not. There is no try.”
Born in Brandon, Florida, a town about 20 minutes from downtown Tampa, Business Development Associate Josh Rivera was about 2 months old when his family moved to Puerto Rico, where he spent the next 6 years before moving back to Brandon/Tampa in 1998. Josh moved to Miami in 2010 to attend college. Not yet married, Josh is currently happy and enjoying life with his significant other. He attended Florida International University, where earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and double majored in International Business & Marketing. Before coming to Emphasys, Josh worked for a wine/spirits importer in Downtown Miami/Brickell. I was also President of the Professional Business Fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi, at FIU. He’s proud to note that, “On the top of my head at least 5 brothers have worked or are currently working for Emphasys Software…with more coming soon maybe!” A huge baseball fan, Josh’s favorite team is the Tampa Bay Rays, and he enjoys random facts, listening to NPR, and the occasional gaming session. Josh is obsessed with Dachshunds. Overall, his family owns six: Mocha (who turns 10 in June), Cocoa, Pixie, Bella, Bailey and Godiva.
Software Developer Carlos Lacasa lives in Miami with his wife, Michelle, and daughters, Madison and Avery. He attended Florida International University and worked many different places before joining the team at Emphasys. Carlos’ hobbies include golf and mobile development, and his favorite movie quote comes to us from Al Czervik of Caddyshack: “I hear this place is restricted, Wang, so don’t tell ’em you’re Jewish, okay?”
Uriel Soto was originally born in Nicaragua and migrated to the United States at the age of one and a half. He was raised in Miami, Florida. A Business Development Associate, he lives in Kendall (South Miami area). Uriel attended Florida International University and earned a B.A. in both International Business and Marketing. Before partnering with Emphasys Software in June of 2014, he worked in an attorney’s office, dealing nostly with foreclosure cases, and represented the majority of the major banks at Phelan Hallinan PLC. He enjoys sports of all sorts, outdoor activities, the occasional TV show, and spending time with his family and friends. His favorite movie quote is from The Italian Job: ” I trust everyone… I just don’t trust the devil inside them.”
Originally from Venezuela, Senior Developer Furio Filoseta now lives in Pembroke Pines, Florida, with his wife and daugher, Ana and Manuela. He attended school in Caracas, where he earned a BsCs degree in Computer Science and an MS degree in Engineering. Before coming to Emphasys, he worked for Starseven, Inc.
Born in Manhattan and raised in Scarsdale, New York, Alex Castro is a Business Development Associate in the Miami office. He’s been living in Miami since 2006, and considers himself very lucky to be getting married to fiancee Vania this summer. Alex has a Bachelor’s degree from Florida International University, and he’s currently an MBA student a Nova Southeastern University. He’s considering a law degree after that. Prior to Emphasys, he worked at the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. (He’s glad that those days are over!) Hobbies include cycling, travel (especially with his future wife), and spending time on the weekend with his family at a shooting range. One of his favorite movie quotes comes from Reservoir Dogs: “Are you going to bark all day little doggy? or are you going to bite?”
We welcome Daniel Nunez and Andy Chau as well. Daniel is a Software Developer in the Miami office, and Andy is a Systems Support Technician in the Toronto (Markham) office. Neither one submitted a profile for the newsletter, so sadly, this is all we know about them, but we were lucky enough to obtain of photograph. Excellent sleuthing, team!
Lexy Feito is originally from Cuba but now calls Miami home. He earned a degree in Information Technology Software Development at Florida International University and worked at Ultimate Software before joining the Emphasys development team in the Miami office. Lexy enjoys playing sports, coding and working out in his spare time. His favorite movie quote comes from Gladiator – “Are you not entertained? Are you not entertained? Is this not why you are here?”
Prior to joining Emphasys, Mary Carmichael earned a degree in Accounting from Southern New Hampshire University and worked for 22 years at Lowell Housing Authority in Massachusetts. Mary now works from her home office in Tyngsborough, MA, the town in which she was born and raised. Mary and her husband, Craig, have three children – Chrystyana, 25; Colin, 14; and Cameron, 8. Mary enjoys gardening and reading, and the family likes to spend time together outdoors hiking.
Pedro Rojas was born in Cuba and was raised in Spain and the Canary Islands before moving to Miami. He graduated from Florida International University with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration with a Major in Finance, and went on to intern at the City of Opa-locka, Florida, in their Finance Department. Pedro then joined Emphasys’ Real Estate division focusing on business development and is based out of the Miami office. He enjoys staying fit, outdoor activities, and sports in general, especially soccer. Pedro’s favorite movie quote is “Why so serious?” as said by The Joker in The Dark Knight.
Originally from Queens, NY, Jerome Louhisdon now lives in Miami and is part of the Emphasys Real Estate division and works in business development. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Florida International University and worked at Equity Residential before joining Emphasys. Jerome’s interests include humor, sports, and watching documentaries. His favorite movie quote is taken from Zoolander, which is not a documentary but is humorous, and it reads, “I’m pretty sure there’s a lot more to life than being really, really, ridiculously good looking. And I plan on finding out what that is.”
Kym Hottowe was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada and attended Dartmouth Community College before making the trek to warmer southern latitudes. She eventually settled in St. Augustine, Florida, where she lives with her husband, Michael. They have a daughter, Courtney. Most recently she worked the VP of Marketing and Lead Generation with Illustrated Properties before coming to Emphasys and joining the Real Estate division in business development. She has also worked for realtor.com and is a licensed real estate agent. Kym enjoys boating, spending time at the beach, renovating houses, riding motorcycles, saving pets and cooking. Her favorite movie quote is the classic line from A Few Good Men – “You can’t handle the truth!”
Born and raised in Miami, Gilberto Sanchez attended Florida International University where he earned a BA in Information Technology and a BS in Biology. Prior to moving to Emphasys and the HFT Division, Gilberto worked at Universal Forest Products. He enjoys spending time with family and friends, especially time with his wife, Veronica, and their three month old daughter, Sara Elizabeth. Gilberto’s hobbies include reading, cooking, working out, basketball, football, and soccer. Family is first with Gilberto’s favorite movie quote from Disney’s Lilo & Stitch – “Ohana.”
Joseph Gonzalez is another Floridian born and raised in Miami. Also like several of our other new team members, Joseph is an alumnus of Florida International University where he majored in Computer Science. Before joining the software development department at Emphasys, Joseph worked in the sign and advertising industry. When not at work in the Miami office, Joseph’s hobbies include basketball, guitar, and fishing. His favorite movie quote comes from The Shawshank Redemption – “…hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.”
Yamel Peraza was born in Cuba and now makes his home in Miami with his wife, Leonor Lima. Before coming to Emphasys, Yamel attended Florida International University where he earned a Bachelor’s in Computer Science and spent time working for Goodyear, LLC. He now works out of the Emphasys Miami office in software development and enjoys traveling, mountain biking, and walking in his free time. His favorite movie quote comes from Gladiator – “What we do in life echoes in eternity.”
Monica del Prado is another new Emphasys staff member who was born in Cuba but now lives in Miami, and, like some other new hires, Monica also attended Florida International University and majored in Computer Science. Before making her move to Emphasys’ new development team, Monica spent a year with KLX Aerospace Solutions as a Java Developer and six years at FCStone, LLC. Monica’s interests include reading, going to the beach, traveling, bicycle riding, trying new types of food, and programming. Her favorite movie quote is about being in the moment and is from The Secret Life of Walter Mitty – “If I like a moment, for me, personally, I don’t like to have the distraction of the camera. I just want to stay in it.”
Andrew De Mino is originally from Orlando, Florida, and now resides in Miami, where he went to the popular Florida International University. While there he earned Bachelor’s degree in Sports and Recreation Management and in Mass Communication. Before hiring in with Emphasys and the PHA division, Andrew worked at Florida International University’s Graduate School of Business Admissions and at Mr. Chow. His interests include traveling, cooking, fishing, and college football. Andrew favors a quote from Charles Addams – “Normal is an illusion. What is normal for the spider is chaos for the fly.”
Kenneth Kon spent his formative years between Florida and Northern Japan before settling in Miami to attend school at Florida International University. While at school he studied Computer Science and worked several internships including one at Take Stock In Children. Kenneth joined Emphasys’ new development team and works out of the Miami office. His hobbies include games, swimming, and tennis, and he quoted the following “obscure” movie reference as his favorite – “This is heavy.”
Alan Rivera, whose family is originally from Peru, was born in Los Angeles and moved to Miami when he was a young boy. Alan went on to attend Florida International University where he earned a Bachelor’s of Business with a major in Human Resource Management. He has been married to his wife, Karen, for two and a half years, and worked for Florida TEC, a roof engineering firm, before coming to Emphasys. Alan likes fishing, reading, and enjoying nature. His favorite movie quote is from Disney’s smash The Lion King – “Hakuna Matata. It means no worries, for the rest of your days.”
Born in Houston, Texas, Lawrence Stubbs grew up outside Greenville, South Carolina, and went on to attend the University of South Carolina where he earned a degree in Business Administration and Theater. Later, Lawrence enrolled at Florida International University and received a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations. He currently lives in Miami with his wife, Ana Moreira, and is working towards a Master’s in Information Systems Management. Prior to coming to Emphasys and joining the support team for the HFT division, Lawrence worked at the NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen, Germany. His interests include travel and cars, and his favorite movie quote is from Apocalypse Now – “Charlie don’t surf!”
Walter Timothee grew up in Miami and went on to attend college at Florida International University. While there he earned a BA in Communication Arts. Before hiring in with Emphasys and the PHA division, Walter was a Social Media intern with Max Borges. He also interned with rbb Public Relations in Digital Communications, and worked as a licensed agent at the Tim Insurance Group, Inc. Walter currently lives in Miramar, Florida, and enjoys photography, music, cars, video games, and traveling. His movie quote is from Law Abiding Citizen – “It’s not what you know. It’s what you can prove in court.”
