CDPE Certified Instructor Aaron Lewis is the broker associate and principal of the Lewis Team in Central California. He has won the Prudential Chairman's Circle award for top 1 percent of production nationally. He built a seven person REO sales team and effectively managed all aspects of REO disposition, developing direct relationships with Fannie Mae, Wells Fargo, CitiMortgage Financial, PMH Financial, US Real Estate Services and many more. His role in the Lewis Team involves providing timely strategies and advice based on rapidly-changing market conditions.

What are your greatest life achievements?

On a personal level, I'm enormously proud of my family. I have the most adorable little girls in the world! Despite accolades as a top-selling agent at my real estate franchise, it is the great honor and responsibility I have to teach this most-critical knowledge in the CDPE course that can change lives, save careers, rescue distressed homeowners, and have a meaningful impact to help restore America's housing market and therefore the global economy.

I am also very humbled to be designated as "World's Best Boss!" by my most amazing team of staff, whose support and expertise have been vital to my professional success and ability to be an instructor for CDPE.

What is your favorite part about teaching the CDPE?

It is tremendously rewarding for me to see students literally transform before my eyes as they become excited about working the distressed property market. They understand their pivotal role in ethically assisting families to avoid the devastating effects of foreclosure (and super-charge their careers while doing it). I love to get updates from students after the class who share their successes with me. No other reward compares to knowing I've made a meaningful difference.

Tell us your most moving CDPE moment.

It's hard to just pick one; there have been several moments where I have seen students tear up as they tell me that they are distressed agents and that this course has breathed new life into their career, their outlook on life and its purpose. I recently had a student tell me that of all the courses, classes, seminars and conventions he has attended in his 23-year career, this was the most knowledge-filled, most relevant, most inspirational, and will do the most to advance his career. And it's true! The live CDPE class really is an amazing experience, as any CDPE will tell you.

What does helping people mean to you?

I live by this creed: "Try and leave this world a little better than you found it."

All my accomplishments can be linked to what I've learned from others, and I have a burning desire to help pay it forward by teaching and inspiring others. Earning money may pay the bills, but my true fulfillment in life—what really, truly brings me happiness—is knowing that I've helped someone in a significant way. It's why this is the most gratifying professional endeavor I've ever undertaken.