Feb. 16, 2022

Contact: Kim Walker, 704-940-3149

Dana S. Rhodes, a longtime, award-winning educator with Canopy Real Estate Institute, has won two prestigious awards from the national Real Estate Educators Association (REEA).  For significant contributions to raising the level of professionalism among real estate instructors, REEA awarded Rhodes the 2021 Mark Barker Lift Me Up Award for the second consecutive year.  Also, in honor of Rhodes’ outstanding career as an educator, REEA awarded Rhodes the status of DREI Emeritus. DREI stands for Distinguished Real Estate Instructor. REEA awards emeritus status to those who have rendered outstanding service to the DREI program through committee or team work and who have retired as an educator.

“As I enter the retirement stage of my life, receiving the DREI Emeritus designation is a humbling experience,” said Rhodes, who has a master’s degree in adult education. “In addition, to receive the Mark Barker Lift Me Up Award for the second time in recognition of my contributions to the real estate education industry is hugely rewarding. These are a proud legacy to my real estate education career.” 

Rhodes will be retiring on February 28, 2022, after more than 20 years as an educator. During his career, he has been widely recognized for his outstanding teaching ability and commitment to students. “Dana is a dedicated, exceptional instructor,” said Karyn Lindsey, director of the Canopy Real Estate Institute. 

“He is strongly committed to his students’ success in the classroom and serves as an example of a true professional in the real estate industry,” she continued. “Students continually tout Dana’s extensive real estate knowledge and ability to relay his expertise effectively. ‘Mr. Dana,’ as some students call him, is highly respected and has left a lasting mark on the careers of so many real estate licensees.” 

Since first teaching at Mingle School of Real Estate (now Canopy Real Estate Institute) in 1999, Rhodes has taught thousands of students prelicensing, postlicensing and continuing education. As an instructor approved by the National Association of Realtors®, he has handled a wide range of classes, including buyer agency, pricing strategies, property management, short sales and foreclosures, diversity and inclusion, fair housing, workforce housing, code of ethics and Realtor® safety. 

In 2019, Rhodes won REEA’s highest honor, the Jack Wiedemer Distinguished Career Award, which honors a notable educator with at least 10 years in real estate education. Rhodes has also won REEA’s “Educator of the Year” award nationally and in North Carolina.  The North Carolina Real Estate Commission has recognized Rhodes with Certificates of Achievement for Outstanding Student Performance as well as with the prestigious Billie Mercer Educator Award.

Original Publish Date: 2/16/2022