Meet Our Real Estate Instructors

Rick Diaz

I started my real estate career in Miami in 1993, where I worked for an International Realty company and was responsible for training real estate agents to grow their businesses. By 1998, we had become the second-largest independent real estate firm in Miami. In 2006, I decided to move to Henderson, Nevada, to continue my work in real estate. 

After moving to Henderson, NV, I finished in the top 25 real estate agents for the 2009 year. In 2016, I began working for Key Realty School as an exam prep instructor, helping students prepare for and pass their real estate licensing tests. 

I have two children, Cole and Dani, and I enjoy watching them compete in baseball and softball year-round. 

Jimmy Dague

I have been in the Las Vegas real estate industry for 42 years and am highly regarded as one of the most trustworthy and excellent Realtors in the area. As a National Instructor, I teach ABR, CRS, SRES, RSPS, ePRO, WCR Negotiation, and Management courses. I am also involved in the business brokerage field and am dedicated to conducting transactions ethically while providing all the necessary information for a successful outcome. 

As a Licensed Real Estate Broker, my teaching credentials allow me to present internationally. I have been elected by REBAC to teach the core ABR course at the Centennial NAR Conference. As a Nevada resident, I have had the honor of presenting all over the state, including in Reno, Las Vegas, Elko, Mesquite, and Pahrump. 

Internationally, I have presented in Vancouver, Cabo San Lucas, Hawaii, Arizona, Indiana, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Oregon, South Carolina, New Mexico, Texas, and New Jersey. I have authored several courses approved for real estate continuing education credits and have been voted “Instructor of the Year” three times by student evaluations at my 13,000+ member board. I am also in the GLVAR Hall of Fame. 

My specialties include: 

Negotiation Skills (WCR, RENE & Custom programs) 

Break Through – Personally and Professionally 

Instructor Development Workshop 

Teaching That Works 

Becoming Your Best Presenter 

Ethics and Agency 

Pro Standards Updates 

On a personal note, I am a practicing martial artist, inducted into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame, and hold 4th Dan and 8th Dan black belts. Hiya! 

Mike Hoffman

My purpose at Key Realty School is to provide quality instruction for both pre and post licensing students. Teaching is my passion. One way or another I have been teaching since 1971. I started with elementary school students and have also taught college courses, professional computer programming and user skills and alpine skiing among other subjects.  

I have two daughters who are also involved in education. One daughter is a PHD In education at the University of Michigan and the other teaches Kinder Music to  pre-school children.  

The greatest satisfaction in teaching is “seeing the light go on” when understanding has been achieved. It is my desire to continue to teach as long as I am able. 

Andrew Larson

Real estate has been my professional calling since April 12, 2000. Throughout my extensive career, I have amassed a wealth of experience across diverse domains, including residential properties, apartment complexes, 1031 exchanges, new home sales, timeshares, designated brokerage, and mortgage services. 

My journey as an educator began in 2012 when I served as a safety officer in the Civil Air Patrol, igniting a passion for instruction that has only deepened over time. This passion led to three years of mortgage instruction, eventually expanding into the realm of real estate education, where I continue to make impactful contributions today. 

In 2020, I joined the Colibri Group, where I have dedicated myself to fostering a dynamic and enriching learning environment. As a real estate instructor, I channel my enthusiasm, innovative spirit, rigorous study, and unwavering ambition into every class I teach. 

My instructional approach is designed to benefit both the students and the institution. For students, I emphasize key elements such as comprehensive learning, active engagement, exam success, perceived value, efficient use of time, and an enjoyable educational experience. 

I am committed to advancing the field of real estate education, continually striving to inspire and empower the next generation of real estate professionals. 

Tom Payne

With over four decades dedicated to the banking profession, I have cultivated extensive expertise in the residential mortgage industry. During my career journey, I held notable positions including Vice President at two prominent lenders in the Midwest. My leadership journey culminated in assuming the role of President and CEO at a major firm, where I oversaw operations across multiple states including Michigan, Indiana, Florida, California, and Nevada. 

Over 30 years ago, I expanded my professional experience by obtaining a real estate license, seamlessly integrating my banking knowledge with real estate transactions to better serve clients in their buying and selling endeavors. Notably, I served as the corporate broker for three Las Vegas offices. 

In addition to my corporate endeavors, I am deeply passionate about education and have dedicated significant time to teaching real estate classes. My instructional journey continued with Key Realty School beginning  in 2015, where I have since assisted in contributing to shaping the next generation of real estate professionals. 

Carley Rae

I’m Carley Rae, a true Las Vegas native and a licensed residential real estate professional since 2017. I am the proud owner and team lead of a successful realty group in Las Vegas. Currently, I’m a full-time salesperson licensee in the process of converting my license to a broker salesperson. My passion extends beyond my real estate business, as I am deeply involved in education. 

Since 2019, I have been teaching for various brokerages, and since January 2024, I have been teaching for Key Realty. My dedication to education is evident as I teach 1-2 weeks out of the month to hundreds of students per class. As a virtual instructor, I cover all the core continuing education classes and post-licensing classes offered by Key Realty. 

In addition to my professional pursuits, I am a loving mother to three wonderful children and three fur babies. I enjoy baking, sports, being part of women empowerment organizations, and providing assistance to high school students in speech and debate. 

Joe Scrofani

I’ve been a real estate broker for over 40 years, and I’m licensed in both Nevada and California. I earned my Juris Doctor Degree in Law from Western State University College of Law. Throughout my career, I’ve been a top producer and held various managerial positions. 

Currently, I’m an active agent in Henderson, NV. In addition to my teaching responsibilities, I have extensive experience in residential real estate and other areas of real estate, developed over my four decades in the industry. My specialties include listing and selling short sales properties, auction homes, new homes, REO homes, and all types of investment properties. 

Tamara Tyrbouslu

I teach Live lecture and Livestream classes for Key Realty School with over 20 years of experience in real estate. I am a graduate of the University of New Hampshire with degrees in International Affairs and Women’s Studies, attending Le College International de Cannes in France as a study abroad student.  As a Feng Shui practitioner, I’ve also taught Feng Shui for Commercial and Residential Agents. I am Team Leader in Las Vegas, mentoring around 30 agents in real estate, specializing in global expansion. I also teach the Certified International Property Specialist for the National Association of REALTORS and was the co-founder of the award-winning Las Vegas and Nevada Global Business Committees.  I enjoy cycling, karate, and time in nature. My teaching style is conversational, and my classes are focused, informative, and interactive.