focus25 ’
January 911, 2025 • Orlando, FL
INSIDE THE GUIDE
Industry Partners 4
Complete Event Schedule 7-20
Quick Agenda & Map 12-13
NAMB Awards Winners 2024 21
NAMB Past Presidents 21
NAMBPAC Contributors 2024 22
Membership Application 23
Welcome to NAMB Focus 2025!
We are thrilled to welcome you as we explore & learn from the best speakers in the industry. Our yearly Marketing, Sales & Technology Conference continues to grow in popularity as more originators take advantage of new opportunities to make their lives both easier & more profitable.
Over the next few days you’ll have the opportunity to connect with thought leaders, network with peers and gain knowledge to elevate your business.
In addition NAMB is o ering both our Certified FHA Mortgage Professional and our Certified Reverse Mortgage Specialist certification classes, designed to teach you the ins & outs of both programs.
We want you to collaborate, innovate & pave the way for success in marketing, sales & technology within the mortgage industry.
Thank you for joining us — we look forward to an inspiring & productive conference! And be sure to tag us! #NAMBFocus2025
JIM NABORS NAMB President, 2024-2025
thursday JANUARY 9
9 – 10:30AM
Using A.I. & Content to Double Your Business
NEEL DHINGRA
CEO, Forward Academy
Neel breaks down the actual tools & tactics on how to reach more clients & partners on social media in 2024, and how to convert this into real business results.
Neel is a content marketing expert who exploded his mortgage business by creating content that gets results on social media. With Forward Academy, he helps thousands of RE & mortgage pros to learn how they can do the same, and hosts the annual Forward Event in Las Vegas, where LOs come to learn the latest trends in marketing.
10:45 – 11:45AM
What’s Your Top New Year’s Resolution?
Kick o the year with inspiration at this expert-led broker roundtable, where setting impactful New Year’s resolutions takes center stage!
Hosted by Je Leinan, Co-President of Plaza Home Mortgage, and featuring insights from Lauren Patterson, Certified Military Veteran Loan Specialist of Patriot Home Loans & NAMB board member; and Jason Purcell & Dennis Waxman, Co-Founder & Chief Sales O cer of Certified Mortgage Planners; this session will explore the new administration's impact on the industry, financial planning, team building, coaching & much more. Start your year strong with actionable strategies for success!
12 – 1PM
The Power of Your Handshake: Turning First Impressions Into Content for Social
MICHELLE BERMAN
CEO, Founder & Creator of Beyond the Method™ and Berman Media PD
Your answer to “What do you do for a living?” during a handshake can either open doors or close them. Learn how to craft a unique, specific response that sparks curiosity & questions, di erentiates you from the rest, and fuels your content strategy — so what you say not only earns attention but also drives tra c to a platform that builds your credibility & creates opportunities.
thursday JANUARY 9
1:15 – 2:15PM
PANEL: Building a 4EVER Mortgage Business
ALLEN MIDDLEMAN
Executive Director, Freedom Mortgage
Explore the key elements for building a competitive & resilient 4EVER mortgage business that thrives regardless of market conditions.
Allen moderates as the panel shares proven success strategies, practical tips & valuable insights on navigating market fluctuations, fostering client relationships & implementing innovative approaches to ensure long-term success in the ever-changing mortgage industry.
2:30 – 3:30PM
The Best Marketing Hacks for Mortgage Brokers
ALEX MACHUCA
Founder, Lead Hackers
3:45 – 4:45PM
How to Stand Out on Social Media in 2025 (Even If You Don’t Have Time to Post)
CHELSEA GARDNER
Social Media Marketer & Coach, Chelsea Gardner Marketing
If you’re struggling to di erentiate yourself on social media or are unsure how to target the right audience, this session is for you. Chelsea helps you discover how to define your unique value, uncover your niche & use social media to attract the clients you truly want to work with — all without the overwhelm.
7 – 9PM
As Mortgage Lead Hackers’ CEO, Alex continues to revolutionize the mortgage lead generation landscape. His company provides mortgage brokers with user-friendly software to generate & nurture leads e ciently, emphasizing compliance with the FCC & financial e ciency.
In this session, Alex empowers brokers to manage their own lead generation processes, saving time & resources while maximizing results.
In this presentation, you’ll learn:
• How to identify your niche & craft a personal brand that sets you apart,
• Proven strategies for creating content that speaks directly to your ideal clients,
• Time-saving systems & tools to simplify social media & stay consistent. You’ll leave with actionable steps to confidently position yourself in your market, attract the right audience & grow your business.
Cut costs,
Want all the perks of a dedicated processor without the in-house price tag? Meet wemlo.
Working with wemlo processors means consistent support without the payroll expense. Brokers can count on:
Highly qualified processors
Dependable back-up support
No subscription or minimum loan requirement
Ready to spend your time scaling up, not catching up? Get started with wemlo.
friday JANUARY 10
9 – 10:30AM
Forecast 2025 for Rates & Housing
BARRY HABIB
CEO, Highway.ai
Barry is an American entrepreneur & frequent media resource for his mortgage & housing expertise. He's an Amazon #1 bestselling author for his book, “Money in the Streets.”
Barry is widely credited with saving the mortgage industry in 2020 from margin calls due to fed actions. His presentation to the Fed created stability at a critical time. During his mortgage sales career, Barry personally originated over $2 billion.
Barry returns to the NAMB stage to talk about success in today’s market:
• How to make more money now
• Gaining market share
• Buying now versus waiting
• Turning realtor challenges into opportunities
• Solving clients’ reluctance to give up low rate and move up
• Overcoming buyers’ hesitancy to pay over ask
• Overcoming clients’ fear of housing bubble
• Direction of real estate values & interest rates.
Thank you to session sponsor wemlo® processing services! Loan processing powerhouse wemlo merges human connection & user-friendly technology to help simplify the entire mortgage process for mortgage brokers & their borrowers. The company provides access to highly qualified, top-tier processing talent, and supports an extensive list of lenders & loan products to help customers get faster, more e ective results. Since its inception, wemlo has been the trusted choice for nearly 600 mortgage brokerages across the country & has processed over 7,000 loans. To learn more, visit wemlo.io
10:45 – 11:45AM
Be More Like a Farmer: 3 Tactics to Get More Leads in 2025
CHRIS VINSON
CEO, Windsor Mortgage
From humble beginnings in 2001 to coaching mortgage professionals across the country, Chris has an undeniable passion to help others succeed. He’s the mastermind behind the Mortgage Division at Windsor Mortgage & has developed a team that produces over 5.6 billion in originations a year, focusing on customer experience & state-of-the-art technology.
Sharing his success, Chris inspires & coaches his own team along with CEOs & LOs across the U.S. to ensure they & the clients they serve have the tools needed to succeed.
Chris lives by this quote: “Success isn’t about what you accomplish in your life, it’s about what you inspire others to do.” - Unknown
focus25 ’
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MORTGAGE BROKERS
2025 CONFERENCE AGENDA AT A GLANCE
THURSDAY, JANUARY 9
9 10:30AM Using AI to Double Your Business
10:45 11:45AM What’s Your Top New Year’s Resolution?
12 1PM The Power of Your Handshake
1:15 2:15PM Building a 4Ever Mortgage Business
2:30 3:30PM The Best Marketing Hacks for Mortgage Brokers
3:45 4:45PM How to Stand Out on Social Media in 2025
7 9PM Welcome Reception & Cornhole Tournament
FRIDAY, JANUARY 10
9 10:30AM Barry Habib’s Forecast for Rates & Housing
10:45 11:45AM Be More Like a Farmer: 3 Tactics to Get More Leads in 2025
12 1PM What Top Originators Are Doing, a Step by Step Plan
1:15 2:15PM Freddie Mac: Using Caution Messages to your Advantage 2:30 3:30PM Unlock New Tools for Maximum Productivity & Marketing Impact
3:45 4:45PM Vision for 2025: NAMB Board Panel
SATURDAY, JANUARY 11
9AM 4PM Certified FHA Mortgage Professional (CFMP) Certification Class 9AM 4PM Certified Reverse Mortgage Specialist (CREV) Certification Class 12 2PM NAMB Board of Directors Meeting
12 – 1PM
What Top Originators Are Doing in 2025, a Step-by-Step Plan
CARL WHITE
CEO, Mortgage Marketing Animals
Discover how to position yourself for massive success in 2025 with actionable insights & strategies from one of the mortgage industry’s most influential leaders. Carl delivers a highenergy, content-rich session you don’t want to miss!
Topics include:
• Predictions for the Mortgage Industry in 2025: Gain insight into market conditions & interest rate forecasts that will define the year ahead,
• “What the Winners Are Doing” Case Studies: Explore real-world examples of how top-performing loan o cers are thriving & walk away with proven strategies you can implement immediately to grow your business,
• The Single Best ‘Value Add’ to Get Top-Producing Realtors to Gladly Send You All Their Buyer Leads (and It’s Free!): Learn the simple, no-cost tactic that positions you as an indispensable partner to realtors & guarantees consistent referrals.
1:15 – 2:15PM
Loan
Product Advisor®: Using Caution Messages to Your Advantage
FREDDIE MAC
Learn about the LPA Choice℠ & LPA Caution Factor messages on your Loan Product Advisor feedback certificate. These messages provide users with more information that can help quickly identify the reason for Caution and provide actionable feedback. Make faster & more informed decisions about how to proceed with your loan.
friday JANUARY 10
2:30 – 3:30PM
Revolutionize
Your Business: Unlock New Tools for Maximum
Productivity & Marketing Impact
MEGAN ANDERSON VP of Client Relations, MBS Highway
This engaging, actionable keynote can help you harness AI to elevate your business. Megan shows you how to save time using practical prompting techniques to generate captivating social content, create impactful events & design persuasive email campaigns.
Plus, learn how to “clone” yourself — because two of you are definitely better than one — so you can double your productivity & maximize your marketing reach. Don’t miss this chance to transform your workflow & gain a major competitive edge with the latest AI advancements.
3:45 – 4:45PM
2025 Vision: Insights & Opportunities with NAMB Board Leaders
This panel session takes a look into the future of the mortgage industry as NAMB board members share their expert predictions for 2025.
From navigating market trends to leveraging the power of association membership, this engaging panel discussion will explore how being part of an association can elevate your business & position you for success in the coming year.
Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights, ask questions & connect with leaders shaping the industry!
saturday
JANUARY 11
9AM – 4PM
CERTIFIED FHA MORTGAGE
PROFESSIONAL (CFMP) CLASS
NAMB & certification sponsor Freedom Mortgage are proud to o er the CFMP certification at NAMB Focus 2025!
FHA loans have been helping people become homeowners since 1934. Having the ability to provide your borrower with the option of an FHA loan is a vital tool in your arsenal of lending options.
Education o ered as part of this session is similar to training o ered to FHA DE underwriters.
Topics covered include:
• Origination/Processing
• Borrower Eligibility
• Occupancy Types
• Loan Limits
• Underwriting using the TOTAL Mortgage Scorecard
• Credit Review Requirements
• Evaluating Liabilities/Debt/Income
• Asset Requirements
• Acceptable Appraisal Reporting
• Programs and Products
Immediately following the class, a test will be given and, upon passing, you will be presented with your certification & all the marketing materials you need to promote yourself!
saturday JANUARY 11
9AM – 4PM
CERTIFIED REVERSE MORTGAGE PROFESSIONAL (CREV) CLASS
NAMB & certification sponsor Liberty Reverse Mortgage can help you confidently add reverse mortgages to your product mix in 2025 with the CREV class at NAMB Focus 2025!
More than 10,000 Americans turn 65 daily, and the reverse mortgage certification will give you the information and tools necessary to successfully navigate the product, process, and conversation with potential borrowers.
During the course you will learn:
• Age/Property/Equity Requirements
• How loan amounts are determined
• The role the product type plays in how much a borrower is allowed to access
• How a credit report is viewed and its potential impact on the loan
• Sales tips and best practices for working with borrowers 62+
• Overcoming objections & working through underwriting issues
Immediately following the class, a test will be given and, upon passing, you will be presented with your certification and all the marketing materials you need to promote yourself!
Stay focused in 2025 & we’ll see you at National! Thank you to Margaritaville Orlando, margaritavilleresorts.com
12 – 2PM
NAMB BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
Congratulations, 2024 Winners!
NEW BROKER OF THE YEAR
Libra Branch | Brandon Diaz
Bryan Dorman | Evan Lomeli
Bernie Marvin | Monica Watson Kassandra Rosado-Santiago
SERVICE PARTNER OF THE YEAR
APPRAISAL MANAGEMENT COMPANY: Equity Solutions USA
COMPLIANCE: Firstline Compliance Guide Mortgage Licensing
Strategic Compliance Partners
LENDER (WHOLESALE): EPM Wholesale Liberty Reverse Mortgage Newrez LLC | Pennymac TPO
MARKETING: Berman Media PD
Broker CMO | Chelsea Gardner
Marketing | Plaza Home Mortgage
PROCESSING: wemlo
SOFTWARE & TECHNOLOGY: ARIVE
Broker Plus by Preapp 1003 | Floify
ICE Mortgage Technology | Leadhackers
Lender Price | Lending Pad Optimal Blue
Outsource Broker Support | Vonk Digital
TRAINING & EDUCATION: 20/20 Vision for Success | The CE Shop Loan Team Training Mobile Home Loans 4
BROKER OF THE YEAR
Lucas Adams | Kevin Areia
Svetlana Bilyy | Maryna Bochkarova
Hilal Borque | Amy Cain Tarr
Bertha Carmona | Melinda Casem
Dan Clifton | Cesar Craff
Javier Daire | Bannen Davis
Marcio Demelo | Andrew Dort
Stacey Duncan | Katherine Edmondson
Jonathan Esposito | Kamirae Feldman
Christine Fonseca | Bathsheba Francis
Jesse Gold | Ray Gulam
Vipul Hapani | James Hennessey
Nourihan Iskander | Brigitte Jaward
Lana Jern | Jason Karpiel
Lori Kendrick | Omar Khamisa
Christopher Leppert | Marlen Maddux
Shane Mallicoat | Avalon Mcleod
Mike McMullen | Joseph Metzler
Yvonne Oden | Ryan OʼKeven
Amber Patterson | Eric Payne
Marcus Vinicius A Pereira
Ronnie Pham | Norman Phillips
Liliana Pribadi | Nichole Renteria
Andrew Russell | Robert Rustigian
Alex Shekhtman | Fabricio Silva
Timothy Stacey | Christian Stover
Kimberly Terry | Lusine Tovmasyan
Merron Treadwell | Ben Vogler
Ramon Walker | Anthony Wheeler
NAMB LRC is our advocacy event, designed to influence positive change in the industry.
NAMBPAC, along with our team of lobbyists, represent mortgage brokers' interests on Capitol Hill.
This year’s LRC will be held March 31-April 2, 2025. Registration opens in January.
NAMB National is our annual conference, and the premier event in the country for mortgage professionals.
This year’s gathering of more than 3,000 industry colleagues will be held October 17-20, 2025, at Caesars Las Vegas. Sponsorships & booth reservations available now!
