Meeting Demand

LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

Meeting Demand

VINCENT M. VALVO Publisher, Editor & CEO

For loan originators, this has been a topsy-turvy year. Many have seen their personal lives locked down as cities and states try to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. But at the same time, their professional lives have mostly been on overdrive, as rocketing demand for refis and a move by renters seeking large homes has kept them pushing paperwork relentlessly.

One element that’s been missing is the ability to meet directly with colleagues and peers, to be part of the origination community networking for ideas and opportunities. Because since this pandemic hit in earnest in mid-March, there have been no live mortgage conferences anywhere in the country.

Until now.

On Sept. 2, the Originator Connect Network hosted the Arizona Mortgage Expo, the first live, in-person mortgage show in the nation. Roughly 300 attendees signed up for the event and for the live NMLS license renewal class the next day. It was different than these get-togethers have been in the past. Hosted at the Wild Horse Pass Hotel outside Phoenix, the event featured socially-distanced seating, temperature checks for all attendees, structured meal breaks and mandatory face masks. But for all of that, and with the support of a dozen sponsors and exhibitors, the ability for LOs to once again gather was jump-started, with safety paramount. Healthy In, Healthy Out was the show’s motto.

Originator Connect Network is committed to bringing LOs the information they need to succeed. That’s via print magazines, webinars, email newsletters and more. And, once again, it’s also through in person conferences. Slowly, carefully and deliberately, we’re working with the mortgage community to meet the demand for live meetings.

VINCENT M. VALVO Publisher, Editor & CEO