So, We Meet Again….

LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

So, We Meet Again….

VINCENT M. VALVO Publisher, Editor & CEO

Since the start of September, we here at the Originator Connect Network have restarted our in-person conferences. They are, to be sure, different than they were at the start of the year. But they are, in many ways, also more inspiring.

On Sept. 2, we held the nation’s first live mortgage conference since Covid lockdowns began. This was at the Wild Horse Pass Casino just outside Phoenix, Ariz. We wondered just how rowdy this group might get. Would they fight us over our requirement that everyone wear a mask? Would they be upset that we needed to impose food and drink restrictions? What about keeping everyone socially distanced? Loan originators, after all, are a pretty independent bunch.

But what we found was a network of colleagues anxious to be together again. We found a group of true mortgage professionals who understand that we’re all working together to keep everyone safe. No one likes to wear a face mask for hours at a time. But no one likes the idea of getting this coronavirus, either – or spreading it to others in the room.

The attendees at our Arizona Mortgage Expo were as committed to having a safe and successful event as we were. And then we found the same thing repeated a week later at the Dallas edition of the Texas Mortgage Roundup, and again in early October at the Colorado Mortgage Summit and then in Tampa at the Suncoast Mortgage Expo.

A SMALL CHANGE

Admittedly, calling these “expos” at this time is a bit of a misnomer. The attendee count is smaller than before. And many exhibitors can’t attend because of travel restrictions, so the exhibitor roster is much more limited than usual. But the vendors who’ve attended tell the same story: they’re making deeper connections, and growing their business, with the attendees who are invested in the event. Because sometimes it’s about the quality and not just the quantity.

By the end of the year, we will have held seven live regional mortgage events since Covid crashed the party. We’re seeing great mortgage pros who are looking out for their future, and who understand that sometimes the best connections aren’t the ones you make over high-speed WiFi, but the ones you make even though you’re six feet apart. We’re learning that live events aren’t just sales opportunities, they’re a chance to build better bonds with some of the best in the business.

Not everyone is ready to be part of a live mortgage conference, yet. That’s OK. We all need to feel safe and secure. But with each mortgage event we produce now, we find more ways to connect originators with the story of their success. We’ll be there for you when you’re ready, face mask on and elbow bump at the ready.

VINCENT M. VALVO Publisher, Editor & CEO