Real Estate Pre-License Courses

Our Instructors

The tenured and experienced instructors at Fortune Academy are committed to providing students with the best possible education and are dedicated to helping them succeed. They go above and beyond in their efforts to ensure that every student is well-prepared for a successful career after graduation from our school.

MARK DAVIS-COTE

INSTRUCTOR

Mark moved to SC from St Louis in 2006. He has a BA from URI, an MBA from Webster University, and an accounting certificate from TCL. He has been a licensed salesperson since 2011, a broker since 2016, and is SFR certified.

AMANDA FARNUM

INSTRUCTOR

Real Estate Instructor – Amanda is a licensed Real Estate Broker and has 17 years experience in the real estate field. She also holds a BA in Graphic Communications, an AA in Business Administration, and has also taught on the private university level. She has won several awards for sales transactions and has extensive experience in residential, commercial, foreclosures and investments. When she

DALE CLIFT

INSTRUCTOR

Real Estate Instructor – Dale took his first real estate course in Florida at age 20. He has been interested in real estate ever since. It just took a while to find the right time and place. Shortly after starting real estate in South Carolina, Dale realized his goal was to teach, train and coach real estate professionals. Dale’s background in training and management brings a wealth of experie

JOHN HASSELL

INSTRUCTOR

Real Estate Instructor – John Hassell, a native of Charleston, brings 21years of Real Estate experience and a love of the low country to his teaching. He graduated from the College of Charleston and became a Realtor in 1985 specializing in commercial real estate. He has held committee positions at Charleston Trident Area Realtors. John is the Broker-In-Charge of J. Hassell & Associates.

JOHN KOLESSAR

INSTRUCTOR

Real Estate Instructor – John earned his Masters Degree in Education Administration from Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey. He also attended the Masters program in Criminal Justice at Rutgers University, in Newark, NJ. John has been active in Real Estate for eleven and is currently teaching for Fortune Academy in the Beaufort/Bluffton area.

JOSEPH F. GOBBETT, JR.

INSTRUCTOR

Real Estate Instructor – Joe started his real estate career in Maryland in 1971. He was a training director and branch sales manager for a multi-office real estate company. As training director, he was responsible for teaching the pre and post real estate license course.
In 1989 Joe opened his own real estate company – Rescom Realtors- as broker in charge and holds G.R.I designation. He has se

LANDON BRENT

INSTRUCTOR

Real Estate Instructor – “Landon is the son of Otis Brent, founder of Fortune School of Real Estate. He has successfully instructed over 1,000 Pre-Licensing Real Estate Student/Agents as well as well over 3,000 Continuing Education Student/Agents. He was the first Accredited Buyers Representative, ABR instructor in South Carolina. Has been a Broker In Charge of two successful Real Estate firms

MARYANNE DORIO

INSTRUCTOR

Real Estate Instructor – MaryAnne Dorio has been in the real estate industry locally here in Myrtle Beach since 2012. She is a broker/owner of a local real estate company since 2010. Before that she ran the 2nd largest real estate company in Myrtle Beach. There she was tasked with education and training of the Realtors. She has taken her love of real estate and teaching to our students. MaryAnne

RANDY PONTON

INSTRUCTOR

Real Estate Instructor – Randy started in Real Estate in 1996, in 1999 became Broker in Charge of my own RE Co. CRP Realty & Builders. He has a General Contractors License and builds many homes. Randy has been with Fortune since 2004 teaching first years sales and post licensing at Florence / Darlington Technical College and North Eastern Technical College in Cheraw.

RAY JAMES

INSTRUCTOR

Real Estate Instructor – Ray is a licensed Broker-in-Charge in South Carolina as well as Michigan. He brings more than three decades of commercial, residential and property management experience and with more than15 years in the classroom teaching, students enjoy the learning experience. Ray holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Western Michigan University, Bachelors Degree in Pol

SANDY CHILDS

INSTRUCTOR

Real Estate Instructor – Sandy grew up in the Greer area of Spartanburg/Greenville County and currently lives in Spartanburg, South Carolina. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in education and taught early childhood education. She has been active in all aspects of the local real estate market for the past 20 years and has vast experience and also holds a Real Estate Broker’s license. She sits on

SHELBY APPLEBY

INSTRUCTOR

Real Estate Instructor – Shelby has been a realtor since 1995, Broker-in-Charge. She retained her seniority when her husband transferred to Beaufort, SC and went to work in the Housing Division for the Marine Corps Air Station. Shelby lived in Washington for 5 years. She retired to Beaufort, SC to be with her family. Shelby took the real estate course and started to pursue her career. She teache

STEVE RANZER

INSTRUCTOR

Real Estate Instructor – Steve Ranzer is Fortune Academy’s real estate instructor in the Aiken, SC area. Steve was licensed as a Realtor in 1998, achieved his Broker’s license in 2001, and has been a Broker-In-Charge of 3 different real estate companies. He currently has a Broker license in both South Carolina and Georgia and is actively working with buyers and sellers in both states. Steve

SUSAN EARLY

INSTRUCTOR

Real Estate Instructor – Susan loves teaching! She spent seventeen years teaching middle and high school students in Orangeburg County schools before moving to the Charleston area in 2002. She began her Real Estate career in Greenville, SC. Susan is applying her love of teaching and her Real Estate experience to teaching adults now at Fortune Academy. When she’s not preparing our students for

TERRI ANDERSON BIC, GRI, CRS

INSTRUCTOR

Staff/Real Estate Instructor – Terri Anderson is owner/BIC of Terri’s Team Real Estate – Anderson’s largest independent real estate company. She has over 16 years of real estate experience and as well as 15 years in Advertising and Marketing. One of Anderson’s top producers! 17 Years in real estate. Certified Real Estate Instructor. Owns Fortune Academy of Real Estate in Anderson. Design

VAN HARDEN BROKER, CDEI

INSTRUCTOR

Real Estate Instructor – First licensed in 1981, Van earned his broker’s license in 1985. He served several years as the Broker-in-Charge of a large general real estate organization. Most of his assignments, however, have been as Broker/Manager of planned residential communities in the Myrtle Beach and Charleston markets. He holds both Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Business Administration.

KIMBER SMITH BROKER-IN-CHARGE

INSTRUCTOR

Kimber received his B.A. in Business Economics from Middlebury College in Middlebury, VT. Having earned his real estate license in 1972, Kimber has been in the real estate field, whether as a sales associate, broker, or instructor, for over forty years. He joined Akers Ellis in 2009. Kimber is a member and past president of the Kiawah-Seabrook Island Exchange Club, serves on the Seabrook Island Pr

SUSAN A. LUCAS

INSTRUCTOR

Married to Joseph for 43 years in April 2016, 2 children. Relocated to Myrtle Beach in 2001. Susan has been licensed as a Real Estate Sales Person since 1979 – Susan was first licensed in New Jersey, then in NY where she worked as a sales agent for Weichert, Realtors in Monroe, NY. Susan relocated to Myrtle Beach in 2001 and has experience as an Agent, Manager, Broker in charge, Trainer, Coach a

ELLEN TOAY

INSTRUCTOR

I have a very unique perspective of the real estate industry as I have been in new home and general brokerage sales and in management. I have also worked as a loan originator, conducted real estate closings and taught for Fortune Academy previously.

LENNY GAINES

INSTRUCTOR

Lenny Gaines has been a real estate professional since 2003. He is a broker and has experience in working with residential and commercial transactions. In free time, Lenny enjoys traveling, good music, and catching up on popular television series.

APRYL HADEN

INSTRUCTOR

Apryl Haden has a B.A. from Auburn University, and a M.Ed. from University of Virginia, J.D. Charleston School of Law. She has been a licensed Realtor since 1993; and a broker since 2006. CRS, e-Pro, GRI. Apryl moved to Charleston from TN 2012 and is the Owner/Broker of Apryl Haden Real Estate Group, LLC.