MPAMAG.COM ISSUE 9.06
YOUNG GUNS These 42 leaders of tomorrow represent the mortgage industry’s bright future
Guaranteed Rate congratulates
Shant Banosian! He made Mortgage Professional America’s Young Guns issue for the third year in a row.*
SHANT BANOSIAN Waltham, MA NMLS ID # 7206
YTD loan volume**: $203M 2015 loan volume: $337.6M 2014 loan volume: $179.8M 2015 Scotsman rank: 4
Additional congratulations go out to all of our rock star originators, both young guns and seasoned professionals, that are changing the face of the mortgage industry with over $10 billion in funded volume already this year.** CLOSE MORE LOANS. PERIOD. Contact us today to learn more. James Elliott
Richard Fedele
Joe Phalen
Al Gelschus
Chris Knapp
NMLS ID #120474
NMLS ID #21380
NMLS ID #282173
NMLS ID #263630
NMLS ID #224395
P: 310.806.4604 James.Elliott@ guaranteedrate.com
P: 617.650.9150 RFedele@ guaranteedrate.com
P: 773.290.0308 Joe.Phalen@ guaranteedrate.com
P: 952.646.1221 Al.Gelschus@ guaranteedrate.com
P: 773.290.0372 Chris.Knapp@ guaranteedrate.com
Territories: AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, NM, OR, WA
Territories: CT, DE, DC, FL, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, NC, PA - East, RI, SC, VA, VT, WV
Territories: AR, IL, IN, KS, MI - South, MO, OK, TX - North
Territories:
Territories: AL, CO, GA, ID, IL, KY, LA, MS, NV, OH, PA - West, TN, TX - South, UT, WY
joingrnow.com
IA, MI - North, MN, MT, NE, ND, SD, WI
3940 N. Ravenswood Chicago, IL 60613 • guaranteedrate.com
*As listed among 50 Young Guns in Mortgages for 2014, 2015 and 2016. ** YTD volume through July 15, 2016. Shant Banosian NMLS ID: 7206 CT - LO-54359 - 17196, MA - MLO7206 - MC2611, NH - NH7206 - 13931-MB, NY - Licensed - B500887, RI - Licensed - 20102682LL • NMLS ID #2611 (Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org) • AL - Lic# 21566 • AK - Lic#AK2611 • AR - Lic#103947 - Guaranteed Rate, Inc. 3940 N Ravenswood, Chicago IL 60613 866-934-7283 • AZ - Guaranteed Rate, Inc. - 14811 N. Kierland Blvd., Ste. 100, Scottsdale, AZ, 85254 Mortgage Banker License #0907078 • CA - Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight, Division of Corporations under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act Lic #4130699 • CO - Guaranteed Rate, Inc. Regulated by the Division of Real Estate, 773-290-0505 • CT - Lic #17196 • DE - Lic # 9436 • DC - Lic #MLB 2611 • FL - Lic# MLD1102 • GA - Residential Mortgage Licensee #20973 - 3940 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, IL 60613 • HI - Lic#HI-2611 • ID - Guaranteed Rate, Inc. Lic #MBL-5827 • IL - Residential Mortgage Licensee - IDFPR, 122 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 1900, Chicago, Illinois, 60603, 312-793-3000, 3940 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, IL 60613 #MB.0005932 • IN - Lic #11060 & #10332 • IA - Lic #2005-0132 • KS - Licensed Mortgage Company - Guaranteed Rate, Inc. - License #MC.0001530 • KY - Mortgage Company Lic #MC20335 • LA - Lic #2866 • ME - Lic #SLM11302 • MD - Lic #13181 • MA - Guaranteed Rate, Inc. - Mortgage Lender & Mortgage Broker License MC 2611 • MI - Lic #FR0018846 & SR0018847 • MN - Lic #MN-MO 20526478 • MS - Guaranteed Rate, Inc. 3940 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, IL 60613 - Mississippi Licensed Mortgage Company, Lic # 2611 • MO - Guaranteed Rate Lic # 14-1744-A • MT - Lic# 2611 • NJ - Licensed in NJ: Licensed Mortgage Banker - NJ Department of Banking & Insurance • NE - Lic #1811 • NV - Lic #3162 & 3161 • NH - Guaranteed Rate, Inc. dba Guaranteed Rate of Delaware, licensed by the New Hampshire Banking Department - Lic # 13931-MB • NM - Lic #01995 • NY - Licensed Mortgage Banker - NYS Department of Financial Services- 3940 N Ravenswood, Chicago, IL 60613 Lic # B500887 • NC - Lic #L-109803 • ND - Lic #MB101818 • OH - Lic #MB0804160 & Lic #SM.501367 - 3940 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, IL 60613 • OK - Lic # ML002651 • OR - Lic #ML-3836 - 3940 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, IL 60613 • PA - Licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities Lic #20371 • RI - Rhode Island Licensed Lender Lic # 20102682LL, RI - Rhode Island Licensed Loan Broker Lic # 20102681LB • SC - Lic #-MLS - 2611 • SD - Lic# ML.04997 • TN - Lic #109179 • TX - Licensed in TX: Licensed Mortgage Banker & Licensed Residential Mortgage Loan Servicer- TX Department of Savings & Mortgage Lending • UT - Licensed in UT: Utah-DRE Mortgage Entity License #7495184 & Utah-DFI Residential First Mortgage Notification – Utah Department of Financial Institutions • VT - Lic #2611-1 & 0930 MB & 6100 • VA - Guaranteed Rate, Inc. - Licensed by Virginia State Corporation Commission, License # MC-3769 • WA - Lic #CL-2611 • WI - Lic #27394BA & 2611BR • WV - Lic #ML-30469 & MB-30098 • WY - Lic#2247 Guaranteed Rate is an Equal Opportunity Employer that welcomes and encourages all applicants to apply regardless of age, race, sex, religion, color, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital or parental status, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy or other reason prohibited by law.
FEATURES
YOUNG GUNS
YOUNG GUNS 2016
Meet the 42 young professionals who are energizing and revitalizing the entire mortgage industry MORTGAGE PROFESSIONAL America’s annual Young Guns report pulls together the brightest under-35 stars in the business. We asked you, our readers, for your nominations and also reached out to top American mortgage companies to uncover the following list of impressive young men and women who have already made a significant impact in just their first few years in the industry. Despite being 35 or younger, these individuals
are emerging leaders in their companies – some are among the top producers in the nation, closing millions of dollars in loans within the last year alone. Whether originators, managers or CEOs, their contributions and efforts are inspiring peers and mentors alike as they pave the way for the American dream of homeownership. This year’s Young Guns represent the new face of the mortgage industry as they attain new heights in and out of the office.
www.mpamag.com
1
FEATURES
YOUNG GUNS INDEX BY NAME NAME
2
PAGE
COMPANY
Abud, Ricky
4
NOVA Home Loans
Allen, Crystal
17
Trust Mortgage Corp.
Allen, Jack
12
Bank of England Mortgage
Allison, Nicole
8
Caliber Home Loans
Ayala, Fernando
16
Academy Mortgage
Banosian, Shant
5
Guaranteed Rate
Bello, Daniel
10
Residential Mortgage Services, Inc.
Cazazian, Anthony
14
B2R Finance
Coester, Brian
6
CoesterVMS
Davis-Viren, Angel
10
Keystone Mortgage Company
Demorest, Matt
14
HomeSure Lending
Dvorak, Douglas
8
Provident Funding
Fisher, Mark
2
United Northern Mortgage Bankers, Ltd.
Flores, Amy
7
United Northern Mortgage Bankers, Ltd.
Goncalves, Alicia
18
Norcom Mortgage
Greenwood, Mary
18
Ent Credit Union
Heaps, Jason
19
New American Funding
Hormozian, Houtan
16
Crestico Funding
Jefferis, Abbie
6
New England Federal Credit Union
Kallgren, Jacob
18
Optima Bank & Trust
Kresch, Adam
16
Atlantis Mortgage
Lund, Lisa
11
Lund Mortgage Team
Mall, Zachary
4
Atlantis Mortgage
Manuele, Reno
4
Neighborhood Loans
Maryo, Brian
12
National MI
Mason, Desteni
14
KTL Performance Mortgage
Menzoni, Blaise
8
Finance of America Mortgage
Miller, Clifford
10
Digital Risk, LLC
Moubray, Matt
10
Polaris Home Funding
Pachan, Jessie
12
Smarter Mortgages
Page, Jeremy
6
Inlanta Mortgage
Pallante, Shea
9
Civic Financial Services
Panetta, Farrah
20
National MI
Rhea, Tyler
18
Norcom Mortgage
Ribultan, Steve
4
DocMagic, Inc.
Roberts, Scott
14
AZ Lending Experts, LLC
Rudd, Robert
8
McLean Mortgage Corporation
Shotnik, Michael
12
Sierra Pacific Mortgage, dba Colorado Mortgage
Sidoti, Josh
15
Mortgage Assistance Company, LLC
Stoodley, Ben
20
Lantzmen Lending
Sundermier, Matt
16
Blue Waters Mortgage and Real Estate Group
Yang, Serena
8
Civic Financial Services
www.mpamag.com
MARK S. FISHER Loan originator UNITED NORTHERN MORTGAGE BANKERS, LTD. Age: 28 Years in the industry: 5
Attracted to the industry’s entrepreneurial nature, Mark Fisher pursued a career in mortgages and has consistently grown his business 70% year-over-year. “My proudest accomplishment to date has been the ability to help countless families achieve their dream of homeownership, especially the ones who needed the extra support to make it happen,” he says. The proud owner of a pitbull named Bentley, Fisher devotes much of his spare time to getting the word out that the breed, which is often misrepresented in the media, is in fact loving and gentle. He holds an annual fundraiser for the Mt. Vernon Animal Shelter called Christmas at the Pound, which collects donations of food, toys and more for the shelter. Fischer is also a member of NAHREP and is a Certified Military Housing Specialist with USA Cares.
Time for a Change?
Academy’s product portfolio includes nearly every mortgage solution under the rainbow. “The reason I brought my business to Academy Mortgage is because of the product flexibility and the ability the company provides us to utilize every program that the mortgage industry has to offer. If we do not have a certain product available that we need to meet a consumer’s unique financing need, Academy’s Credit Policy Department works to make it available to us. “Academy will underwrite according to agency guidelines, which means we can deliver our consumers’ dreams of homeownership with flexibility! Academy’s onsite underwriters inspire hope in our consumers and answer our consumers’ and referral partners’ questions with the best and most accurate information. Academy understands what it takes to build a healthy pipeline and is dedicated to the purchase business that leads to prosperity in our communities.” —Fernando Ayala
Congratulations to Fernando Ayala, one of MPA’s 2016 Young Guns. Find the flexibility YOU need to succeed. Contact John Owens, National Recruiting Manager, at (801) 568-4716 or visit www.academymortgage.com. Corp NMLS #3113 | Corp State Lic #5491140
FEATURES
YOUNG GUNS ZACHARY MALL Director of business development ATLANTIS MORTGAGE Age: 34 Years in the industry: 10
Starting out as a bank teller and working his way up to becoming director of business development, Zachary Mall sees lending and mortgages not just as an interesting field to work in, but also as a way to help other people level up, too. “I get to make people happy!” he says. “Getting someone qualified [when they] think they cannot qualify is an amazing feeling.” Mall counts his speaking engagement at the NAMB Conference, where he shared his expertise on small-balance commercial lending, as one of the high points of his career. He also invests plenty of time into his local community as a member of Local Business Networking and a 32nd Degree Mason.
RICKY ABUD Lead loan officer NOVA HOME LOANS Age: 34 Years in the industry: 4
Currently the lead loan officer of the Presidential Team at NOVA Home Loans, Ricky Abud spent more than eight years in real estate before transitioning into mortgages. Today, he works with NOVA’s president and founder, Ray Desmond, to provide his clients with the right mortgage solutions for their unique situations. Certified by the Arizona Department of Real Estate, Abud regularly teaches continuing education classes to real estate agents. A former captain of the University of Arizona’s cheerleading team, Abud continues to promote and support his alma mater’s athletics program. He is also an El Rio board member and an active supporter of Habitat for Humanity, Community Outreach and Tucson Young Professionals.
RENO MANUELE President NEIGHBORHOOD LOANS Age: 29 Years in the industry: 11
Since Reno Manuele joined Neighborhood Loans in 2009, the company has been recognized as one of fastest-growing companies in the country by Inc. magazine. Manuele is most proud of having transitioned from a being mortgage broker to becoming a HUD-approved mortgage lender in less than seven years. Earlier this year, the company announced its status as a Full Eagle FHA Direct Endorsed Lender, which means it’s now able to underwrite FHA loans in-house.
4
www.mpamag.com
STEVE RIBULTAN Director of business development DOCMAGIC, INC. Age: 34 Years in the industry: 15
At a young age, Steve Ribultan realized that an automated mortgage process would be the future of financial lending, and he wanted in. Since 2008, he has been with DocMagic, and he currently manages all LOS and integrated technology partners for the loan document production company. After last year’s TRID implementation, Ribultan worked tirelessly to get lenders TRID-ready, which has become one of his greatest professional accomplishments to date. Now that technology is leading the way in the mortgage industry, Ribultan is ready to remain at the forefront. “I am excited about and plan to continue my involvement in new technology to further automate the process for all those millennials out there,” he says. “eSignature, eClosing, eNotary, BorrowerMobile and SmartClose (collaborative portal) technology is the future of lending.” In addition to his role at DocMagic, Ribultan stays busy as a father of two and a coach for little league baseball and Pop Warner football.
SHANT BANOSIAN Branch manager GUARANTEED RATE Age: 35 Years in the industry: 14
Shant Banosian is Guaranteed Rate’s number-one loan originator, boasting 890 closed units and $337 million in funded loans in 2015 alone. After several years as a President’s Club member, he was recently named to the Guaranteed Rate’s prestigious Chairman’s Circle, an exclusive club for top producers who exceed $100 million in annual loan volume. Banosian has been in the mortgage business for more than a decade and has consistently been recognized for his high level of production and superior customer service. He also places a heavy emphasis on giving back to the community. This year he helped raise $67,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital with one of his colleagues. He’s also a proud supporter of the Guaranteed Foundation, which gives directly to individuals in crisis, and he supports education foundations in various local communities.
www.mpamag.com
5
FEATURES
YOUNG GUNS JEREMY PAGE Branch manager and senior mortgage consultant INLANTA MORTGAGE Age: 31 Years in the industry: 13
BRIAN COESTER CEO COESTERVMS Age: 30 Years in the industry: 11
Founder and CEO, certified appraiser, speaker, presenter, trainer and writer – these are the many roles Brian Coester has taken on in the mortgage industry. Coester started out as an appraiser with his father’s Coester Appraisal Group and has been running CoesterVMS for nearly 10 years. The company provides appraisals and appraisal technology, and Coester “has been instrumental in building the CoesterVMS’ technology infrastructure and service culture since taking the helm in 2007,” says a colleague. He helped develop the company’s first mobile application for appraisal management companies and is also known to be the man behind CloudControl, the only appraisal process management software built on the Salesforce.com platform. Business will continue to grow until Coester and his team reach their goal of “seeing two of every 10 real estate transactions go through the CoesterVMS system within the next decade,” as Coester puts it. He also invests in his company by looking after the wellness of his team, challenging them to participate in a fitness campaign that promotes healthy eating and exercise.
6
www.mpamag.com
This is Jeremy Page’s second time on MPA’s Young Guns list, and since his last appearance, he’s added to his list of awards with the Milwaukee 5-Star Mortgage Professional Award and the 2015 Leadership Excellence and Corporate Citizenship Award from Inlanta Mortgage. But Page says his biggest accomplishment is “taking over a failing office and turning it into a successful office, and becoming one of the highest-volume branches in our company.” Page’s work in the industry is fueled by his desire to help keep alive the American Dream, which he defines as owning a home and having financial security. Apart from helping his regular clients obtain their dream homes, he also works as an affiliate for Homes for Heroes, a savings program for active-duty military and veterans, healthcare workers, police, firefighters, and teachers.
ABBIE JEFFERIS Secondary market analyst NEW ENGLAND FEDERAL CREDIT UNION Age: 26 Years in the industry: 4
Abbie Jefferis began her career as a teller at New
England Federal Credit Union, where she worked all through college; upon graduating, she took up a processing position. As a secondary market analyst, Jefferis sets her company’s mortgage rates daily; she’s also a member of the product development team, serving in a variety of roles for two loan origination system conversions. “I really like all of the different projects I get to work on here at NEFCU,” she says. “My responsibilities extend beyond traditional secondary market duties, and I really enjoy the variety of work. I love being a part of the product development team and working with managers on new mortgage offerings to best serve our membership base.” Outside of NEFCU, Jefferis is a member of the Vermont Mortgage Bankers Association and sits on the education committee; she is also currently working on her MBA.
AMY FLORES Corporate relationship manager UNITED NORTHERN MORTGAGE BANKERS, LTD. Age: 31 Years in the industry: 16
“As they say, when you love your job, you never work a day in your life,” says Amy Flores, adding that her work enables her to keep building relationships with people and make a difference in their lives through home financing. Her background (going from a telemarketer to a loan officer and then a wholesale broker relationship manager) helps her continue to create outside-the-box ideas to appeal to clients. But her proudest achievement to date is receiving the Empowering Woman of the Year Award at the Somos El Futuro/We Are the Future event. Flores is also the co-founder of Empress Group, a women’s empowerment group that promotes advancement and equality for women in their workplaces and society at large. She says she values her company for the support she’s been given as a working mother of three young children.
www.mpamag.com
7
FEATURES
YOUNG GUNS SERENA YANG
DOUGLAS DVORAK
Director of marketing
Senior mortgage consultant
CIVIC FINANCIAL SERVICES Age: 33 Years in the industry: 13
PROVIDENT FUNDING Age: 28 Years in the industry: 6
As director of marketing at Civic Financial Services, Serena Yang brings more than a decade of real estate/ finance marketing experience to the private money lending industry. A USC Marshall School of Business MBA graduate, Yang was the director of marketing at Colony American Finance, where she oversaw all the marketing initiatives for the company. In 2015, her efforts supported Colony’s sales team to fund $1 billion in loans and be recognized as one of the top private lenders in the residential commercial loan market. Yang has also held executive positions in private equity, entertainment and law, including at the Carlyle Group, where she was in charge of business development and marketing for their portfolio of real estate developments.
Growing up in a blue-collar family, Douglas Dvorak learned the essential values of integrity, empathy and diligence. He joined Provident Funding in 2010 and led the company’s post-default department before transitioning into the lender’s retail origination channel. During his two short years as an originator, he’s posted some impressive numbers: He finished 2015 with more than 600 loans funded and more than $164 million in volume, which made him Provident’s second most productive loan originator.
BLAISE MENZONI Branch manager and loan originator FINANCE OF AMERICA MORTGAGE
Age: 34
Years in the industry: 11
Blaise Menzoni has consistently ranked among one of Finance of America’s top-producing loan officers while co-managing the company’s Vineland, New Jersey, branch. “As a branch manager, Menzoni brings an unprecedented level of dedication and professionalism to each of his clients and business partners,” says a colleague.
NICOLE ALLISON Senior loan consultant CALIBER HOME LOANS Age: 27 Years in the industry: 6
While in law school, Nicole Allison tried out part-time work in the mortgage industry; after eight months, she decided to go all in, and she hasn’t looked backed since. She became Rookie of the Year in her first year in origination and has been a top producer each year since. For Allison, it’s all about fully understanding customers’ needs – and she’s clearly doing so; she and her team received a 100% customer service satisfaction rating in 2014. Outside of work, Allison and her veteran husband are involved in supporting local veteran’s programs as well as no-kill shelters.
8
www.mpamag.com
ROBERT RUDD Branch manager MCLEAN MORTGAGE CORPORATION Age: 35 Years in the industry: 13
Since 2009, Robert Rudd has been with McLean Mortgage, where he currently manages a staff of eight producers at a branch that has an annual loan volume of more than $200 million. Understanding that purchasing a home is a monumental decision, Rudd takes his duty to help clients achieve their dreams very seriously. In addition to being a top mortgage professional, Rudd is also an accomplished musician and plays for a local band in Northern Virginia.
SHEA PALLANTE Managing director CIVIC FINANCIAL SERVICES Age: 34 Years in the industry: 14
Based in Redondo Beach, California, Shea Pallante is the managing director of Civic Financial Services. A 14-year veteran of the financial services industry, Pallante has primarily focused on consumer-direct retail mortgage companies, and has extensive experience in wholesale and correspondent mortgage lending. Pallante was instrumental in the launch of Civic’s Rehab Financing and Line of Credit program, in addition to increasing the company’s sales team and expanding the number of states Civic lends in. Prior to Civic, he held various positions at companies including NationPoint, Arch Bay Capital and BSI Financial Services. He also worked exclusively with PIMCO to manage non-performing loans and sold more than $200 million in non-performing loan pools while managing the asset disposition, modification and foreclosure teams.
www.mpamag.com
9
FEATURES
YOUNG GUNS CLIFFORD MILLER Client partner DIGITAL RISK, LLC Age: 32 Years in the industry: 13
Following the footsteps of his parents, Clifford Miller first ventured into the real estate industry by investing in properties himself. Now, Miller works with Digital Risk to offer risk- and compliance-related solutions to companies engaged in mortgage and consumer lending. What Miller finds most satisfying about his job is working alongside the various teams who help him with his multi-department work. Outside Digital Risk, Miller is a Master Mason, a church volunteer and a member of the Space Coast Project Management Institute.
DANIEL BELLO
MATT MOUBRAY
Loan officer
National sales leader
RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE SERVICES, INC. Age: 35 Years in the industry: 12
POLARIS HOME FUNDING Age: 34 Years in the industry: 16
Based in the Greater Boston Area, Daniel Bello has worked in the mortgage industry since college. Starting his career at Prospect Mortgage, Bello joined Residential Mortgage Services in 2012. “Dan comes to work everyday and does his job to the best of his ability,” says a colleague. “He counsels his borrowers so they are aware of all stages in the loan process, and educates them on the programs and costs. He makes the mortgage experience pleasant for both his borrowers and referral partners. We are grateful to have him at RMS!”
During his first year at college, Matt Moubray took up a position as a junior underwriter at a local mortgage bank. After falling in love with helping consumers achieve their goals of homeownership, Moubray stuck with the business. To date, his proudest accomplishment has been crossing the $1 billion mark in originations. In addition to his job at Polaris, Moubray is a prior member of the Ohio Mortgage Bankers Legislative Committee and currently volunteers and supports the Ethel Taylor Academy in Cincinnati. Moubray also regularly speaks at USDA housing seminars and local events.
ANGEL DAVIS-VIREN Owner/broker KEYSTONE MORTGAGE COMPANY Age: 35 Years in the industry: 15
There’s a good reason why this isn’t Angel Davis-Viren’s first time on MPA’s Young Guns list. “We keep expanding,” says Davis-Viren, the owner of Keystone Mortgage Company. “We are getting licensed in more states. We are branching out our business into more markets and have future plans of having our full underwriting staff in place soon. We also are starting commercial lending as well.” Davis-Viren has worked in nearly every aspect of the mortgage industry, having started out as a receptionist and eventually going into processing, underwriting, sales and now running her own company. Business aside, the team at Keystone also works to give back to the local community through their interoffice donation and by helping out with activities for youth advocacies.
10
www.mpamag.com
IN HIS OWN WORDS
“I am a fan of puzzles, and in this job, in the new world of regulation, [it’s] a constant puzzle. New products – QM, ATR, HPML, etc. – cause us to rethink how we sell and structure deals every day, so the work really never becomes repetitive and requires brain participation at every turn.”
LISA LUND Owner/broker LUND MORTGAGE TEAM Age: 35 Years in the industry: 17
Lisa Lund’s name will be familiar to readers of MPA – not only is it her third time on our Young Guns list, but she also made MPA’s Hot 100 in 2015 and was one of our Elite Women in 2014. Lund considers her main accomplishment to be her journey from the bottom to the top of the industry, starting as a receptionist and working her way to becoming a processor, processing manager, sales, loan originator and LO manager – all of which she achieved (in addition to earning her broker’s license) before she turned 30. Now that she’s reached the pinnacle of success, Lund sees the value of mentorship: “[A] goal of mine is to support the broker community and see more young people get started and find a lifelong career in the mortgage broker industry just as I have,” she says. She also realizes the need for continuous learning for brokers and their clients in today’s technology-driven industry. Apart from her active participation in mortgage associations, Lund is involved in multiple charities that support causes such as ALS and autism, and for children and youth.
www.mpamag.com
11
FEATURES
YOUNG GUNS MICHAEL SHOTNIK Branch manager SIERRA PACIFIC MORTGAGE, DBA COLORADO MORTGAGE Age: 32 Years in the industry: 10
Not only is this Michael Shotnik’s third appearance on our Young Guns list, but he’s also been a member of MPA’s Hot 100 list for the past two years. Starting out in a mortgage call center, Shotnik fell in love with the business and wanted to offer clients a better home-buying experience. He continues to grow his branch’s business by fervently engaging his clients and efficiently managing his staff. “Michael goes the extra mile for every single client he has,” says a colleague. “Regardless of the situation, he will take time to look into it and provide valuable feedback.”
JACK ALLEN Corporate counsel BANK OF ENGLAND MORTGAGE Age: 32 Years in the industry: 5
JESSIE PACHAN Vice president SMARTER MORTGAGES Age: 35 Years in the industry: 13
Jessie Pachan had a stellar 2015 – she gave birth to her third daughter and closed $164 million in loans, ranking 32nd nationally in top dollar volume in Scotsman Guide. What originally started as a job to pay the bills has become a love and passion for Pachan. “I love when the clients ask for advice on which program to take,” she says. “I love slipping into the teacher role and showing them what shorter terms may do for their financial goals, or running amortization schedules.” Pachan is also the founder of a nonprofit organization, 467 Foundation, aimed at providing life experiences for children in rural areas. She’s starting in her hometown but has dreams of expanding the program nationwide. FUN FACT
Pachan is the author of a children’s book called Why Do Mommy and Daddy Work?
12
www.mpamag.com
As corporate counsel for the mortgage division of the Bank of England, Jack Allen supervises more than 85 mortgage locations in 30-plus states with more than $2.4 billion in mortgage loan volume. Since 2011, Allen has served as the bank’s sole in-house attorney, responsible for managing all legal issues, including all those related to mortgage transactions. “Mr. Allen has been instrumental in BOE Mortgage’s successful growth and expansion from a 350-employee company with $480 million in volume to over 1,000 employees with $2.4 billion in volume,” says David S. Mitchell Jr. of Rose Law Firm.
BRIAN MARYO Product manager NATIONAL MI Age: 34 Years in the industry: 4
Brian Maryo is a product manager for National MI, where he specializes in detailed and complex enterprise system space design. He joined National MI in 2012 and was tasked with assessing the granular needs of every aspect of the company to help create a ground-up system – the Advanced Exchange and Information System, or AXIS – that would satisfy the requirements of policy servicing, accounting, reporting and management. Working with teams of analysts, engineers and developers, Maryo managed the creation of the new mortgage insurance policy servicing and accounting system. “Brian builds and fosters productive, mutually beneficial relationships to solve problems and achieve common goals,” says Maryo’s boss, VP of e-business and software development Eric Low. “He promotes, supports and influences a culture of respect and civility among team members, and he is highly collaborative.”
FEATURES
YOUNG GUNS MATT DEMOREST Owner HOMESURE LENDING Age: 34 Years in the industry: 4
After working for a large lender in Detroit for six months, Matt Demorest started his own business on a $2,500 budget, and managed to close more than 100 loans in his first full year in business. He now works with two part-time employees and one commission loan officer, and is looking to expand his processing and operational teams so he can devote more time to get to know his clients. “Matt is an incredible lender who has continued to explode his business,” says one industry peer. Demorest puts emphasis on rigor and honesty in his work: “I take pre-approvals very seriously, and I am very proud of that,” he says. “If the loan is a bad idea, we tell [the client]”.
SCOTT ROBERTS Owner AZ LENDING EXPERTS, LLC Age: 35 Years in the industry: 12
A former pitcher for the Texas Tech Red Raiders, Scott Roberts now owns AZ Lending Experts, an Arizona-based mortgage lender. “Scott is one of the most dedicated people I know,” says a colleague. “He always seems to be working but somehow maintains a great balance with his family and work. He has a unique approach to being a LO, and clearly his passion for his job resonates with all of his clients.”
DESTENI MASON Owner and loan officer KTL PERFORMANCE MORTGAGE Age: 34 Years in the industry: 13
A founding member of KTL Performance Mortgage, Desteni Mason has grown her company to be one of the top USDA lenders in Indiana and Ohio. “I have always had a passion for people and also felt as though my community lacked a broad range of loan products to help the underserved achieve the American dream of owning a home,” Mason says. “I also love being able to create strong working relationships with Realtors and other business associates to better serve our community together.” Mason remained one of the top producers at her company even while obtaining her MBA, thanks to her dedication to both her customers and her schoolwork. She’s also a member of the National Association of Professional Mortgage Women and NAMB.
14
www.mpamag.com
ANTHONY CAZAZIAN EVP and head of origination B2R FINANCE Age: 35 Years in the industry: 11
As executive vice president and head of origination at B2R Finance, Anthony Cazazian oversees the company’s portfolio and bridge loan products. Cazazian and his team take a hands-on approach to origination, offering customized service and lending programs for borrowers. In addition, Cazazian also executes strategic business development initiatives with a focus on partners in the real estate industry. “I love being a catalyst for my borrowers’ business growth, along with the entrepreneurial aspects of growing a business and asset class,” he says. Prior to B2R, Cazazian spent eight years at Goldman Sachs, most recently as a vice president in the real estate investment banking and mortgage financing groups.
JOSH SIDOTI Loan originator/senior loan processor MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE COMPANY, LLC Age: 26 Years in the industry: 5
Josh Sidoti has been working as a loan originator and processor for nearly five years; last year, he helped the processing team at Mortgage Assistance Company (a brokerage his father started in 1997) more than double the amount of loans it closed. While working to help his father grow the company’s business, Sidoti is also doing his best to branch out on his own: “The goal is to create a name for myself throughout this industry as someone who loves what he does and shows it through the way he treats his borrowers and colleagues.” Also last year, Sidoti and his peers set up the Young Mortgage Professionals Association and launched it at the NAMB Conference, hoping to “represent the millennials’ effort to refuel [the] industry,” as Sidoti puts it. He believes not only in the great potential of his own business, but in the industry as a whole, recognizing that it’s not just growing the business but also developing relationships that makes the work rewarding.
www.mpamag.com
15
FEATURES
YOUNG GUNS MATT SUNDERMIER Owner, mortgage consultant and Realtor BLUE WATERS MORTGAGE AND REAL ESTATE GROUP Age: 34 Years in the industry: 13
Matt Sundermier has been in the mortgage business since 2003, when he graduated from UC Davis. As both a loan officer and a real estate agent, Sundermier is able to provide his clients with comprehensive service. “Matt is more than an originator; he co-owns and operates his own company,” says a colleague. “He is the broker and mentor to the other team members of his firm. He is one of the few professionals in Sacramento who has closed $20 million-plus in loans and $10 million-plus in real estate sales in the same year. Whether it’s in originating loans, selling real estate or leading a company, Matt is making an impact in the lives of those around him.”
ADAM KRESCH COO ATLANTIS MORTGAGE Age: 35 Years in the industry: 10
FERNANDO AYALA Branch manager ACADEMY MORTGAGE Age: 32 Years in the industry: 7
A former collegiate basketball player, Fernando Ayala began his mortgage lending career in 2009 with the goal of becoming one of the nation’s top originators – a goal he has reached and maintained for the past four years. Today, Ayala brings his team mentality to the mortgage business by applying it to his own mortgage team, where he relishes “the ability to change people’s lives, from my employees to our borrowers.” Ayala and his team are among Academy Mortgage’s top performers, and Ayala is a member of the company’s President’s Club. In his spare time, he sponsors youth organizations and the basketball program and extracurricular activities for the Amphitheater School District in his hometown of Tucson. In addition, he is currently designing an internship program at Academy to train future loan officers.
16
www.mpamag.com
As chief operating officer at Atlantis Mortgage, Adam Kresch plans to leverage his decade of industry experience to grow the company to its fullest potential with the best service and mortgage products. Kresch is revered by his colleagues, one of whom says, “Adam is a relationship-driven consultant who truly cares about his clients. His goal is to help clients reach their goals. [He] eats, sleeps and breathes this business.”
HOUTAN HORMOZIAN Vice president CRESTICO FUNDING Age: 35 Years in the industry: 10
So what made Houtan Hormozian chose a career in mortgages? “I feel that the mortgage industry is a unique industry where your mortgage professional is a cross between a financial advisor and a life coach – someone who gives you advice and supports you along the way,” he says. As a VP at Crestico Funding, Hormozian helped pull the company through economical hardships and grow it into the successful business it is today. Outside of his day job, Hormozian is president of North Los Angeles Chapter of the California Association of Mortgage Professionals and serves on his local council.
CRYSTAL L. ALLEN Mortgage broker TRUST MORTGAGE CORP. Age: 30 Years in the industry: 8
At age 23, Crystal Allen bought her first home. Unfamiliar about the mortgage industry, she decided to educate herself by writing her master’s thesis on it – and she’s been interested in loan originations ever since. Currently at Trust Mortgage, Allen previously worked at Carrington Mortgage Services, SunTrust Bank and Bank of America, where during the 2008 housing crisis, she was promoted to team manager and helped clients save their homes. Allen is active in various organizations, including the Central Virginia African American Chamber of Commerce, 212 networking group and the National Association of Professional Women. In her spare time, Allen loves to travel – she visited Belgrade, Serbia, earlier this year, and plans to travel to South Africa and Australia next.
www.mpamag.com
17
FEATURES
YOUNG GUNS ALICIA GONCALVES Operations business analyst NORCOM MORTGAGE Age: 31 Years in the industry: 16
FUN FACT
Goncalves has a passion for dance and teaches a hip-hop dance class at the Academy of Dance Arts in Brookfield, Connecticut.
18
In the two short months Alicia Goncalves has been in her current position, she has already made a tremendous impact at Norcom Mortgage. “From the numerous Encompass LOS enhancements to our enterprise ticketing system, building processes, procedures and training manuals, Alicia’s ability to manage the details and see projects to fruition acts as a force multiplier for the operations department,” says Mike Dimech, SVP and operations manager at Norcom. “We can sincerely say that having her on board at Norcom has increased operational efficiency and has helped to improve the company as a whole.” Summers spent helping her grandfather at his brokerage led Goncalves to her current position. “I am constantly learning new things and interact with most areas of our organization,” she says. “I am constantly challenged and have to say that, from a career standpoint, this is the happiest I have been.” Goncalves currently serves on the Future Leaders Committee of the Connecticut Mortgage Bankers Association and as a mentor for the Danbury Schools and Business Collaborative. She also plays an active role in raising money and awareness for the nonprofit organization Operation Hope.
TYLER RHEA
MARY GREENWOOD
Retail business development manager
Mortgage loan officer
NORCOM MORTGAGE Age: 33 Years in the industry: 7
ENT CREDIT UNION Age: 31 Years in the industry: 10
In the two years since Tyler Rhea last appeared on MPA’s Young Guns list, he’s moved from being a top-producing wholesale account executive to being responsible for forging partnerships with branch managers and originators throughout Norcom’s 26 licensed states. Between his travels to add new branches (his retail team has doubled Norcom’s number of branches in the past two years), he still feels a familial bond with his colleagues, and he credits this atmosphere and culture for allowing him to thrive at the company. In 2014, Rhea formed the Connecticut Future Leaders Committee with a colleague in the hopes of engaging and drawing future leaders into the industry. He’s also an active member of the Connecticut Mortgage Bankers Association.
As a mortgage loan officer for Colorado-based Ent Credit Union, Mary Greenwood enjoys helping her clients through the home-buying and refinancing process. Over the last five years of her career, Greenwood has worked hard to ensure world-class customer service, resulting in many clients and Realtors who have returned to her for their mortgage needs.
www.mpamag.com
JACOB KALLGREN Mortgage loan originator OPTIMA BANK & TRUST Age: 24 Years in the industry: 4
Jacob Kallgren has been in banking since his first job as a part-time teller. He worked his way up at Optima Bank & Trust, first to full-time teller and then eventually to his current position as a mortgage loan originator, which allows him to help his clients navigate the complexities of the mortgage industry. “Helping people – short and simple – is what I get excited for each and every day,” he says. Kallgren is also one of the founding members of the Young Mortgage Professionals Association, formed just last year.
JASON HEAPS Talent acquisition manager NEW AMERICAN FUNDING Age: 29 Years in the industry: 4
A mortgage professional with extensive experience in branch development across multiple markets, Jason Heaps leverages his competitive spirit to lead and facilitate growth in new markets by forming and motivating newly acquired teams. Starting off as a baseball pitcher in high school, college and a brief professional stint with the Phillies’ independent team, Heaps transitioned into mortgages four years ago after spending nine years at Wells Fargo. In the two years that Heaps has been with New American Funding, he has hired 46 loan officers who have produced more than $200 million in new volume; in the years to come, he hopes to continue his contribution to the company’s growth on a national level. Heaps is also involved with Fred Jordan Missions, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization.
www.mpamag.com
19
FEATURES
YOUNG GUNS INDEX BY COMPANY Academy Mortgage
16
Fernando Ayala
FARRAH PANETTA
Atlantis Mortgage
16
Adam Kresch
Director of policy servicing
Atlantis Mortgage
4
Zachary Mall
AZ Lending Experts, LLC
14
Scott Roberts
NATIONAL MI Age: 35 Years in the industry: 10
B2R Finance
14
Anthony Cazazian
Bank of England Mortgage
12
Jack Allen
Blue Waters Mortgage and Real Estate Group
16
Matt Sundermier
Caliber Home Loans
8
Nicole Allison
Civic Financial Services
9
Shea Pallante
Civic Financial Services
8
Serena Yang
CoesterVMS
6
Brian Coester
Crestico Funding
16
Houtan Hormozian
Digital Risk, LLC
10
Clifford Miller
DocMagic, Inc.
2
Steve Ribultan
Ent Credit Union
18
Mary Greenwood
Finance of America Mortgage
8
Blaise Menzoni
Guaranteed Rate
5
Shant Banosian
HomeSure Lending
14
Matt Demorest
Inlanta Mortgage
6
Jeremy Page
Keystone Mortgage Company
10
Angel Davis-Viren
KTL Performance Mortgage
14
Desteni Mason
Lantzmen Lending
20
Ben Stoodley
Lund Mortgage Team
11
Lisa Lund
BEN STOODLEY
McLean Mortgage Corporation
8
Robert Rudd
Loan originator
Mortgage Assistance Company, LLC
15
Josh Sidoti
National MI
12
Brian Maryo
National MI
20
Farrah Panetta
Neighborhood Loans
4
Reno Manuele
New American Funding
19
Jason Heaps
New England Federal Credit Union
6
Abbie Jefferis
Norcom Mortgage
18
Tyler Rhea
Norcom Mortgage
18
Alicia Goncalves
NOVA Home Loans
4
Ricky Abud
Optima Bank & Trust
18
Jacob Kallgren
Polaris Home Funding
10
Matt Moubray
Provident Funding
8
Douglas Dvorak
Residential Mortgage Services, Inc.
10
Daniel Bello
Sierra Pacific Mortgage, dba Colorado Mortgage
12
Michael Shotnik
Smarter Mortgages
12
Jessie Pachan
Trust Mortgage Corp.
17
Crystal L. Allen
United Northern Mortgage Bankers, Ltd.
4
Mark S. Fisher
United Northern Mortgage Bankers, Ltd.
7
Amy Flores
COMPANY
20
www.mpamag.com
PAGE
NAME
Farrah Panetta started in
the mortgage and housing industries at the young age of 18, and has worked over half her life in almost every facet of the business: real estate, mortgage lending, mortgage servicing and mortgage insurance. She has been instrumental in building national MI’s policy servicing department from the ground up, including creating a policy servicing guide, as well as the forms and servicing procedures National MI now employs. “Farrah has the ability to think ahead several steps into the future and anticipate how she will need to manage premium billing and policy servicing nuances,” says Claudia Merkle, EVP of insurance operations and Panetta’s supervisor. “She thinks of all the possible servicing situations that could occur and then explains to IT how to build the business logic to support and automate servicing for any of our MI products.”
LANTZMAN LENDING Age: 29 Years in the industry: 5
Ben Stoodley is a prime example of how the real estate industry welcomes people of different educational backgrounds, as long as they have the entrepreneurial spirit (and some math skills). “After completing my undergrad and grad studies in civil engineering, I was 100% sure that I couldn’t sit in a cubicle and take orders from someone else,” Stoodley says. “Real estate allowed me to build my own business. The financial/investment side of real estate was a great fit, as it compiled skills I had learned from structural/ construction engineering, [spending] many hours completing complex math problems.” Stoodley has had an entrepreneurial streak since he was 13 and working as a landscaper. He remembers the rough start he had when he first moved to California but he credits his current success to the mindset he gained from that experience. Apart from his role at Lantzman Lending, Stoodley now heads a fix-and-flip startup with a partner, helping investors realize the need to finance upgrades on their properties through hard money lending.
SHOW AND TELL. DEVELOP GREATER BRAND AWARENESS AND SHOWCASE YOUR YOUNG GUN AWARD: At The YGS Group, it’s our job to educate award winning businesses and individuals on how to extend their award recognition with high quality marketing products. Contact us today to learn how we can help you promote this achievement with award logo and marketing products like:
Logo & Quote Licensing Reprints and ePrints Permissions Framed Awards & Plaques Desktop Awards
The YGS Group is proud to be the authorized partner of MPA for licensing, reprint and award products. 800.290.5460 I MPAmag@theYGSgroup.com