Meet the Faculty and Staff of Real Estate School of SC

Real Estate School of South Carolina

Charles H. "Chip" Browne III, BIC/Owner

Chip Browne is the President and Owner of the Real Estate School of South Carolina. No one has successfully prepared more real estate students than Chip Browne. Period. Licensed since 1978, he began teaching real estate sales and broker courses in 1982 with his father, the late Charles H. “Charlie” Browne. Chip has earned the reputation as an extremely thorough educator who possesses the rare ability to communicate effectively with beginning students as well as seasoned professionals. He has taught real estate courses throughout South Carolina, Florida and abroad.  In fact, recently Chip was honored to be asked by a major international developer to instruct many Florida real estate agents at the $150,000,000 Club at Hammock Beach resort in St. Augustine, Florida. Additionally, he is the Broker In Charge of South Carolina Realty, a real estate brokerage, development, and property management company.

Chip is the author of the textbook, South Carolina Real Estate Principles, a reviewer of Dearborn Real Estate Education’s Ethics in Today’s Real Estate World, and is a founding member of the American Association of Real Estate Schools and Colleges. In 2011,  he contributed his time and assistance as an invited member of the South Carolina Real Estate Commission's License Law Task Force.  A Clemson University graduate, his post-graduate work includes Constitutional Law and Political Science. In his spare time, Chip enjoys scuba diving in exotic locales, tropical gardening, and actively participating as a member of the South Carolina Chapter of the Ferrari Club of North America.

 Steve Grooms, Instructor

Steve Grooms is a licensed broker with over 20 years of real estate experience. After growing up in, and working in real estate construction, Steve began selling real estate in 1984 while pursuing a masters degree in business at the University of South Carolina. As a practitioner, he has experience in both residential and commercial real estate. Steve's working experience includes a background in public relations, training, supervision, and administration.

Steve has an extensive teaching background, in addition to being certified by the South Carolina Real Estate Commission to teach pre-licensing, post-licensing, broker classes, and property management; he is a certified instructor for numerous continuing education courses. Steve has taught public speaking, human relations, and business law at the college level and has been a real estate trainer.

Steve has been a volunteer with the American Cancer Society and the March of Dimes and has received community service awards from both governmental agencies and private business including the "Outstanding Public Service" award of the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce. 

James Hufham, Managing Partner and Instructor for Charleston, SC

Email: jameshufham@aol.com

As a managing partner of the Real Estate School of Charleston, Jim Hufham has been a practicing real estate attorney for more than 23 years. He has a strong background in teaching real estate, paralegal and business courses. His easy-going manner makes students feel comfortable and immediately at ease in the classroom. Our Charleston location enjoys an incredibly high pass rate for students!

Joe Kuhlman, Instructor

South Carolina’s finest appraisal instructor, no other instructor even comes close to his record of successfully launching thousands of appraisal careers. A certified general appraiser and real estate broker, Joe has a Masters in Business Administration. Joe is a former REALTOR® of the Year, with 30 years of experience in the real estate profession. Known for being unusually thorough, Joe conducts the apprentice and license level appraisal courses.

Larry Sumler, Instructor

"I have a passion for success and will dedicate my time to help anyone be successful." Larry's serious when he talks about success. After spending almost eleven years in the United States Army as a Small Arms instructor, accuracy and success have been the only option acceptable in such a demanding environment. A former member of the US Army Special Forces, Larry is a SC Licensed Home Inspector, a Board Certified Master Inspector, a Court Approved Expert Witness, a State Housing, VA/FHA and HUD Certified Inspector. Additionally, Larry is a South Carolina Licensed Concealed Weapons Permit Instructor, a NRA Certified Pistol Instructor and a Range Safety Instructor. From the Anderson area, Larry is an active member of New Prospect Baptist Church and enjoys trading stocks and driving BMW automobiles. Larry teaches in our Home Inspection series. 

George Wise, Instructor

George is a Certified General appraiser, AQB certified USPAP instructor and an IAAO certified in state instructor. With over 20 years of experience in both Fee and Mass appraisal, George likes to use real life applications combined with interactive discussion to help students to not only learn the material, but to understand it.  George has been certified as an appraisal instructor in South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia and has enjoyed teaching both pre-licensing and continuing education for the past eight years.   

Pelham F. Moss, Instructor

You’d be smiling too, if you received the prestigious Order of the Palmetto from the Governor of South Carolina! To our knowledge, no other real estate instructor has received this award except for Mr. Moss. A broker, appraiser and adjunct professor of finance and appraisal at the University of South Carolina, Pelham is one of the most versatile and capable instructors in the profession.

Larry J. Yon, ABR, CSP, CREI, CMMS, CMRS

A broker since 1986 with more than 26 years of real estate sales and management experience, Larry is one of the most popular instructors to ever teach at the Real Estate School of South Carolina. Active in community, Larry is a member of the Lexington Chamber of Commerce, BSA, Youth Board, Lions Club and the Civitans. His hobbies include flying and playing the banjo. As a successful real estate professional, Larry has earned the honor of being a Life Member of the Circle of Excellence with the Greater Columbia Association of REALTORS. He has also earned membership in the prestigious International Diamond Society. Larry’s real estate business focuses on residential homes, land and lake property through his affiliation with one of the Midland’s largest firms, ERA Wilder Realty. A graduate of the University of South Carolina, Larry holds both a Bachelors and a Masters Degree in Business. A veteran of the United States Armed Forces, he is married with one son.

August J. "Bud" Brandin, Instructor

August J. “Bud” Brandin is a mechanical engineer, licensed general contractor and building/home inspector for the Town of Winnsboro. With more than 43 years of experience, Bud teaches our Homebuilders Licensing Course. He and his wife have painstakingly restored a former Bed and Breakfast with multiple buildings, to include the main house, a guest house and gym facility. Bud is a Veteran of the United States Air Force, a fan of classic opera and a native of New Orleans, LA. He is also certified to teach various continuing education courses.

Dennis Outlaw, Instructor

Dennis Outlaw is a multi-talented individual who is currently licensed as an appraiser, contractor, home inspector and broker in charge of Elite Realty. He has operated a home inspection company headquartered in Camden since 1994. One of the most genuine and considerate persons you will ever meet, his highly informative presentations are not to be missed! Dennis teaches First Year Real Estate, Home Inspection and continuing education courses.

Cain Denny, Instructor

Cain has been a licensed broker since 1999. In addition to being a real estate broker with Intercoast Properties, he is also a practicing attorney. He is also certified as an arbitrator and a mediator. Cain received his law degree from the University of South Carolina. Cain teaches at our Charleston location.

Shirley Edwards, Instructor

Shirley teaches at our Charleston location. She is now the Broker Manager for Exit Realty Home Store. She was formerly Broker in Charge of Exit Realty Charleston Group. She has many years of experience teaching real estate courses.  

The CE School

The CE School is owned by J. David Scott, of LTC Benefits, and Chip Browne and Melissa Sprouse Browne, of the Real Estate School of South Carolina. Together, they have created a student focused company to provide continuing education to insurance professionals in South Carolina (as well as those licensees who reside in other states and maintain an insurance license within the state of SC).

J. David Scott, CLTC

J. David Scott began his insurance career in 1982 after attending Presbyterian College. As an agent for Banker’s Life and Casualty, David was named Agent of the Year by the General Agents and Managers Association of Central South Carolina in recognition of his long term care insurance sales leadership. This early association with the first LTC plans available in South Carolina led to his founding of LTC Benefits, Inc., in 1987. The agency was formed to focus on the long term care insurance market by promoting multiple insurance companies and serving as a source for insurance brokers. As a pioneer in the long term care industry, David became a Managing General Agent for AMEX Life (now Genworth Financial) in 1989, recruiting agents throughout South Carolina.

LTC Benefits, Inc. has continually been at the forefront of LTC marketing in South Carolina and is now appointed in multiple states. LTCBI acts as a Managing General Agent for many of the top-rated insurance companies, including: Genworth Financial, John Hancock, and MetLife.

Roger Johansson, Instructor

Roger Johansson is a financial service professional with New York Life Insurance Company. He began his career in finance in 1987, when he was employed with a savings and loan company. He then spent six years in banking before going into the full time ministry for fifteen years.

Since 2005, Roger Johansson has been a financial service professional in Georgia and South Carolina. He studied economics in Sweden, where he was born and raised before immigrating to the United States in 1985. He holds a BA in Pastoral Ministries and earned his LUTCF in 2008. He resides with his wife Sarah and their five children in Irmo, SC. 

Becca Kelley, Office Staff

Rebecca Kelley is an award-winning graphic designer. She creates everything from packaging, brochures, and flyers, to corporate identities, magazine spreads, and websites.

Becca has won the National SkillsUSA t-shirt design competition in 2009, where her design was chosen above 560 other entries. She has also placed third in the 2009 SkillsUSA State Conference for Advertising Design and third in the statewide MWSC High School Communications Newsletter Competition. She attends The University of South Carolina, pursuing a bachelor of fine arts degree in graphic design.