A proud Chicago native and fifth-generation entrepreneur, Marki Lemons-Ryhal is a renowned real estate educator and keynote speaker, specializing in social media training for brokers, banks, and title companies. Over the last 13 years, Ryhal, the founder of ReMarkiTable, LLC, has taught more than 300,000 students and written more than 100 classes approved for continuing education.

After earning her Master's degree in business administration and teaching hotel and restaurant management courses on a collegiate level, Ryhal made a move to real estate, becoming a loan originator in 1999 and opening up her own discount real estate brokerage three years later.

In 2007, she became an expert in foreclosure and short sales in anticipation of the market crash. "I have the ability to interpret trends and pivot my business quickly," says Ryhal. "Today, I'm pivoting my business yet again in the world of real estate due to COVID-19."

The Chicago Association of Realtors presented Ryhal with its President's Award in 2009 and its Realtor Achievement Award in 2016. She's also earned the Association of Illinois Real Estate Educators' Real Estate Educator of the Year award and became a REBAC Hall of Fame inductee and an RISMedia Newsmaker in 2019. This past year, Ryhal added "international best-selling author" to her list of accolades, fulfilling a long term goal.

In addition to her role as an educator, Ryhal serves as a state legislative contact to Rep. Nicholas Smith, who represents Illinois' 34th district. Previously, she's been a national education workgroup chairwoman for the Residential Real Estate Council, a member of the board of directors at the Real Estate Business Institute, and a member of the Women's Council of Realtors' presidential advisory council.

Professional successes aside, Ryhal is most proud of her son, a recent graduate of Howard University. "It takes time, energy, and money to raise a successful son when you started as an unwed mother," she says.

Gamification, Social Media, Entrepreneurship, Real Estate, African-American Heritage, African-American Speaker, African-American Women, Diversity,