Broker's take on real estate to launch Keystone speaker series

KALAMAZOO—The owner of one of southwest Michigan's largest independent brokerage firms will share his outlook on the area's real estate market as Western Michigan University kicks off the 2012-13 Keystone Community Bank Breakfast Speaker Series.

Dan Jaqua, owner of Jaqua Realtors, will speak at 8 a.m. Friday, Sept. 21, in the Dean's Conference Room of Schneider Hall, home of the Haworth College of Business. His presentation is titled "Setting the Pace in Today's Real Estate Market."

The event is free and open to the public and begins with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (269) 387-6059. Free parking is available.

Dan Jaqua

During his 21 years at the company, Jaqua has implemented a strategic and innovative approach to business growth, most notably the development of Jaqua's Family of Services concept. This concept broadens Jaqua's services to include mortgage, insurance, title, property management, and home design and staging.

Educated at the University of Michigan, Jaqua has achieved designations from the Graduate Realtors Institute and the Council of Residential Specialists and has been named a certified real estate brokerage manager, accredited buyer's representative and certified relocation specialist.

Jaqua was named one of West Michigan's "Business Leaders Under 40" by Business Direct Weekly and was an Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist. He also has received numerous individual educational achievement awards through the Greater Kalamazoo Association of Realtors. Jaqua has been a keynote speaker at national conferences, sharing his expertise and excitement for the industry at numerous events and organizations.

Jaqua is involved in a variety of organizations, including Portage Rotary Club, United Way, the Greater Kalamazoo Association of Realtors and Portage Community High School.

The Keystone Community Bank Breakfast Speaker Series provides an opportunity for the local community to hear top business leaders and WMU faculty, alumni and friends of the Haworth College of Business discuss current topics of interest.

2012-13 Keystone series dates and speakers

• Oct. 26: Robert Jorth and Janice Brown, executive directors of The Kalamazoo Promise Inc.
• Nov. 30: Laurie Montgomery, assistant superintendent of special education, and Angela Telfer, director, WoodsEdge Learning Center
• Jan. 25: Jeanne Hess, Kalamazoo College volleyball coach
• Feb. 22: Dr. Hal Jenson, M.D., founding dean of the WMU School of Medicine
• March 29: Lisa Garcia, director, WMU Business Connection
• April 26: Dan Gaydou, president, MLive Media Group
• May 31: Bill Rose, president and chief executive officer, Kalamazoo Nature Center
• June 28: Sharon Carlson, WMU director of archives and regional history