Feb. 2 to 5 Event in Las Vegas Offers Full Menu of Career-Building Seminars, Award Ceremonies and World-Class Entertainment

Oak Brook, Ill., November 18, 2002 -- GMAC Real Estate's upcoming Business Conference will pack a triple punch of career-building opportunities, award ceremonies and world-class entertainment, including a performance by comedienne Lily Tomlin and a seminar by best-selling financial author and nationally syndicated radio host Suze Orman.

And although the conference is less than three months away - it takes place from Feb. 2 to 5 at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas - GMAC Real Estate brokers and sales associates across the nation and Canada are registering at a breakneck pace, handily outpacing the company's initial attendance forecasts.

"We're in overdrive just trying to keep up - signups are two and a half times ahead of registration for the same period last year," said John Bearden, president and CEO of GMAC Home Services, one of the nation's largest real estate organizations, which oversees GMAC Real Estate and two other operating companies, GHS Mortgage and GMAC Global Relocation Services.

"We're especially excited by the response from our brokers and sales associates because it reflects the increased level of energy and enthusiasm that has been infused throughout our company over the past year. We've made a major effort to increase face-to-face interactions with our brokers and sales associates, and it's fantastic to see their responses."

Bearden said conference attendees will reap the benefits of a multi-layered roster of seminars, workshops, speeches and entertainment designed to help them enhance their real estate careers - while having a healthy dose of fun in the process. In addition, the conference will provide them the rare opportunity to network with their peers from across the nation, Bearden said.

Tomlin, the Grammy Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated comedienne and actress, will be the featured entertainer at the conference. Tomlin is admired as one of America's most versatile comedic performers, and has won praise for her work in feature films, television and theater.

Some of the career-building sessions that will be offered include:

• "Road to Wealth" by financial expert Suze Orman, host of The Suze Orman Radio Show and best-selling author of "The Road to Wealth," "The Courage to Be Rich" and "The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom";
• "Non-Intrusive Negotiation" by Walter Sanford, real estate motivational speaker, coach and trainer;
• "How to Sell Real Estate and Have a Life" by Jerry Rossi, CRS, real estate trainer, educator and speaker.

The conference also will feature a hands-on technology center showcasing the newest and most advanced software programs created to help brokers and sales associates enhance customer service while increasing their profit margins.

"The conference will be a terrific blend of business, networking and fun," Bearden said. "And as always, a highlight will come when we recognize the stars among us during the annual 'In the Company of Excellence Awards Gala.' "

GMAC Home Services is one of the nation's largest real estate organizations, delivering premier service to homebuyers and sellers through its three operating companies, GMAC Real Estate, GHS Mortgage and GMAC Global Relocation Services. Backed by the resources of industry giant General Motors, the GMAC Home Services network has more than 1,300 franchised and owned residential real estate offices throughout the United States.

Published: November 19, 2002

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