Meet the Faculty and Staff

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.

Civically, 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 20 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.

Mark Wise, Instructor

In over six years of full time Real Estate practice, Mark has closed over $14 million dollars in sales volume in a variety of areas.  Mark specializes in the areas of commercial, residential, development, raw land, lake properties and homes, pre-foreclosure, short sale, and REO properties.  In addition to being a member of the National Association of Realtors®, the Western Upstate MLS, the Greater Greenville MLS, and Community First Real Estate of Easley, Mark is an instructor with the Real Estate School of South Carolina, and has logged over 500 classroom hours across the state of South Carolina, teaching in the areas of license law, agency, disclosure, and green building.  Mark is currently working on his CCIM, DREI, and LEED designations.

Calling South Florida Home, Mark graduated cum laude from Palm Beach Atlantic University with a B.A. in Religion and Philosophy.  After graduate work in Louisville, Kentucky, Mark and his wife Susan moved to the Upstate of South Carolina in 1997.  Mark’s intense love of the many lakes in the Upstate and Susan’s love of Anderson’s convenience kept them in the Upstate.

Mark has served as a volunteer tutor at Riverside Middle School in Pendleton, volunteered with the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life campaign, worked with Easter Seals yearly Lights of Hope display, and helped with the building of many Habitat for Humanity houses in Anderson and Kentucky.  Mark, his wife Susan, and their two children Kelsey and Jackson are all active members of Boulevard Baptist Church in Anderson where Mark and Susan teach Sunday School, and Mark is involved in their Fostering Faithful Families homeless initiative.

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 23 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, Coldwell Banker United REALTORS. 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.  

Wayne George, Instructor

Wayne George is an exceptional individual with practical experience second to none! As Mayor of the City of Mullins from 1988-2004, Wayne worked to provide a better quality of life for the citizens of Mullins. He is also the founder, owner and manager of a full service real estate and general insurance agency, created in 1983. He is currently the Field Services Manager for the Municipal Association of South Carolina. Wayne's teaching experience includes insurance courses at the University of South Carolina; and, marketing and supervision classes at Horry Georgetown Technical College. A graduate of Coastal Carolina University with a B.S. degree in Business, Wayne has also graduated from the Municipal Elected Officials Institute of Government, Pee Dee Leadership and Palmetto Leadership.

Lizzie Merrit, Office Staff

Lizzie Merritt has been working as an Office Administrator with The Real Estate School of South Carolina since December of 2008. With her excellent customer service skills, she is committed to providing 100% student satisfaction. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus in Accounting at the University of South Carolina. She plans to use her degree to establish her own restaurant in the Columbia area. Her interests include cooking, home-brewing, bike riding, and her dog Hugo.

Lauren Dean, Office Staff

Originally from Spartanburg, SC, Lauren Dean is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Experimental Psychology at the University of South Carolina. She joined the Real Estate School of South Carolina in February of 2009 as one of our outstanding Office Administrators.  She possesses an incredible passion for helping others that goes hand-in-hand with her aspiration to become a Clinical Therapist. She enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends, playing volleyball, and snuggling up with her black lab, Brody Bear, and a good book.

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.