Executive Biographies

John Bearden
President & CEO, GMAC Home Services

John Bearden has an impressive history of taking companies that have not yet reached their potential and creating a new path for success. A real estate entrepreneur for over 25 years, his most recent role was chairman & CEO of a Web-enabled business that provides specialized financing options. As president & CEO of Coldwell Banker Canada from 1994-1999, he led the national franchise to the most dramatic increases in market share and network growth in the company’s history. At the same time, he served as chairman of the board of the Mortgage Alliance Company of Canada. Prior to that, Bearden was president and CEO of Coldwell Banker Companies in his hometown of Nashville and Denver, a combined operation that was one of the franchise’s top 5 affiliates in the US.

Thomas A. Hogan
General Counsel, GMAC Home Services

Mr. Hogan has been the General Counsel to Home Services since soon after its inception in 1998. He has brought to the organization a unique and extensive legal background in franchising, brokerage, relocation and captive mortgage operations, which are the core activities of GMAC Home Services. Prior to joining GMAC, Mr. Hogan spent more than 30 years in private practice, where he represented a multitude of real estate brokerage companies, both large and small, in the New York metropolitan area, as well as several Realtor boards. He also served as outside counsel to the national franchise operation. He is a graduate of Fordham University and earned his J.D. from Villanova University School of Law.

Terry Morris
President & CEO, Company-Owned Real Estate Operations

Terry Morris is President of GMAC Real Estate’s company-owned division, one of the nation’s largest real estate brokerage firms. Morris who has more than 30 years of real estate industry experience, was formerly president of Atlanta-based Northside Realty. Prior to that, he was affiliated with real estate companies in Florida and the Midwest. Morris’ time at Northside’s helm was marked by steady sales gains and a significant increase in the company’s value. Under Morris’ leadership, Northside Realty developed a national reputation as a pioneer in the use of technology, home services, and new home sales and marketing programs. In his leadership role with GMAC Home Services, Morris directs the continued expansion of the company-owned operations, which includes more than 100 offices and 3,500 real estate professionals.

Brian Peterson
Chief Financial Officer of GMAC Home Services

Brian Peterson joined GMAC Home Services at its inception in 1998, starting as a Manager of Financial Reporting and working his way up to Chief Financial Officer, first of the Company-Owned division and then to his current position, Chief Financial Officer of GMAC Home Services. As a Certified Public Accountant with 24 years experience in accounting and finance, Peterson has spent most of his career in the real estate brokerage and franchising industries. Upon graduating with a Bachelors degree in accounting from the University of Minnesota, Duluth, he began his career at the public accounting firm now known as KPMG. He left KPMG to gain experience with franchising for familiar companies such as Perkins Restaurants and a specialty retail concept called Candleman Inc. His real estate career spans more than 16 years, 10 of which he spent with ERA in Kansas City, MO. At ERA, Peterson gained experience in every aspect of finance in a real estate franchise firm, serving as Controller, VP of Finance, Chief Financial Officer and ultimately, Chief Accounting Officer. As Chief Financial Officer of GMAC Home Services he is responsible for the financial functions of all four business units, including reporting, financial analysis, systems management and implementing internal controls to ensure reporting accuracy.

Rick Schwartz
President & CEO of Global Relocation Services

Schwartz directs virtually all aspects of GMAC Global Relocation Services including domestic and international operations and client services. Schwartz joined GMAC Global Relocation Services with a 23-year tenure in top-level executive positions with relocation companies at some of the world’s most prestigious and recognizable firms including CitiGroup and Prudential Insurance Companies. As president of CitiGroup’s CitiCapital Commercial Services Group from 1999 to 2002, Schwartz oversaw four business units with a combined receivable base of more than $2 billion and annual revenues of more than $250 million. From 1984 to 1999, Schwartz served in a series of increasingly high-level executive positions with Newark, N.J.-based Prudential Insurance Company, beginning as director of operations for one of its relocation offices. He completed his tenure with Prudential as president of the company’s worldwide relocation services division. Schwartz received his MBA from the University of New Haven, and his bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University.

Leigh Taylor
Executive Vice President, Company-Owned Real Estate

Taylor has an excellent track record in the application of Leadership and Culture studies. As a brand new real estate manager, he started a branch office from scratch; and by focusing on creating a culture of success, he took that office from 195th to 1st in a 195-office network in a mere three years. As a Regional Manager, he merged two regions and 28 offices with divergent cultures and let them to top national performance. As an Executive Officer with Coldwell Banker Affiliates of Canada, Taylor was instrumental in creating the bridges that brought multiple cultures together under the banner of a new franchise company. Taylor's personal and professional passion for Leadership and Culture brought him many years of success as the President & CEO of Symbios Development, Inc., as did his dedication as a renowned Coach, Leadership Trainer and Cultural Consultant.

Jim Toulon
Chief Operations Officer/Executive Vice President, GMAC Real Estate

Jim Toulon's focused and results-driven leadership style has led GMAC Real Estate to record franchise sales from 2003 through 2007. Prior to joining GMAC Home Services, Toulon's 20 plus years of experience in the real estate industry included his role as Executive Vice President of Hometouch Centers in Chicago and Vice President of Coldwell Banker. Toulon attributes his success to "hard work, unwavering commitment, and most importantly surrounding himself with good people."