2024 KEYNOTE SPEAKERS


Billy Ekofo

Lovettsville, VA

Born in the USA, but of Congolese origins, Billy’s life and aspiration continues to be marked by his relentless pursuit for meaning in his professional and personal life. At the age of 17 years old, he fled the Democratic Republic of The Congo (DRC) due to the civil unrest and begin his life anew in the US. Billy completed undergraduate studies at Hampden-Sydney College, and after a career in international education and multimedia, he turned his attention to Business, and completed his MBA at The College of William & Mary. It was while attending business school that his passion for social impact deepened - the notion that businesses can leverage their resources, profits, and services for the betterment of the community was of true interest, and something Billy aspired to do.

Billy began his career in Real Estate as a newly licensed with a local real estate firm in Northern Virginia shortly after completing his business degree, and eventually managed the firm’s lead generation department, and later its development and growth in some of its key markets. He now serves as Vice President of Global Business Development for Leading Real Estate Companies of the World ® focusing on Network growth in select global markets, and membership engagement in Africa, Canada, France and Switzerland.

Billy is married to Karen (a real estate attorney), and resides in Lovettsville, VA with their two sons, Liam and Jonathan.




Jason J. Cervone

Pittsburgh, PA

Jason J. Cervone is a partner in the firm’s Pittsburgh office. With over 20 years of experience, he concentrates his practice in representing purchasers, sellers, and financial institutions in all aspects of real estate and other commercial transactions.

Mr. Cervone is a certified commercial lender through the Pennsylvania Bankers Association. He consults with clients and develops the overall structure of transactions from initial commitment through post-closing issue resolution. He has substantial experience with purchase and sale agreements, draing senior and subordinated loan agreements, mortgages, assignments of rents and leases, escrow agreements, guarantees and legal opinions for both tax and liability compliance. Mr. Cervone has also consulted businesses in the areas of succession planning and equity capital infusion.

In addition to his business practice, Mr. Cervone has successfully represented class one railroads throughout the mid-Atlantic and northeastern regions in FELA litigation. He has been selected by his peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America for Railroad Law annually since 2022.

Mr. Cervone is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Texas. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Bankers Association and the Commercial Association of Realtors of Pittsburgh. He received his B.A. from Westminster College in 1996 and his J.D. from West Virginia University College of Law in 2000, where he was a member of the Order of the Coif. In 2019, Mr. Cervone received his LLM in Taxation with certification in State and Local Tax from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law.

PRACTICE AREAS D&O Litigation, Financial Transactions, Real Estate, Business Counseling, Commercial Litigation, Estates & Trusts, Railroad Litigation

EDUCATION:Westminster College (B.A., 1996); West Virginia University College of Law (J.D., 2000); Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law (LLM, 2019)

jcervone@c-wlaw.com (412) 563-2500




JOE SERAFIN

BROKER OWNER

Joe Serafin is a 19-year veteran of the real estate industry and the owner of Serafin Real Estate, a top brokerage firm based in Loudoun County, Virginia. Over the course of his career, Joe has successfully closed over $650 million in transactions, representing a diverse range of developers, private equity firms, business owners, and individual investors.

His expertise lies in strategic planning, financial investment analysis, and creative deal structuring, helping clients achieve and often exceed their investment goals. Joe’s deep market knowledge of Loudoun, Fairfax, and Prince William Counties has positioned him as a go-to resource for those seeking profitable and secure property investments. Additionally, he’s at the forefront of technology integration in real estate, leveraging data analytics and AI-driven tools to provide clients with accurate market predictions and insights.

Recognized as one of the Top 10 real estate agents in Virginia by Apple News, Grit Wire, and Google News in 2023, Joe is a frequent speaker at industry events, sharing his knowledge and insights as a trusted leader in the field. His ability to build long-lasting relationships with clients and industry stakeholders has been pivotal to his success.

Under Joe's leadership, Serafin Real Estate actively participates in local chambers and associations, contributing to community development. His forward-thinking approach, combined with nearly two decades of industry experience, continues to solidify his reputation as a leading figure in commercial real estate.



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