Darren Strickland was named Mortgage Banker of the Year by the Chattanooga Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) at the February luncheon meeting and Melanie Reeves was named MBA Associate of the Year.
Some 34 awards also were presented to “those loan officers who have done exceptionally well in the past 12 months,” said Chad Harris, Chattanooga MBA president, including one Platinum Production Award, “our highest level,” which went to Greg Demars with SunTrust Bank. This award, said Mr. Harris, “signifies over $40 million in loan production.”
One person also was named recipient of the Gold Production Award, Jill Green with AmSouth Bank, with $30-million to $40-million in loan production. A single recipient of the Silver Production Award, signifying $20-million to $30-million in loan production, was Jack Shelton with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.
In presenting the Mortgage Banker of the Year Award, Mr. Harris said the recipient, Mr. Strickland, “has shown that he is willing to be involved at every level,” has been a consistent production award recipient and has “contributed a great deal to the association in more ways than most people will know.”
Mr. Harris said Mr. Strickland “has been a part of most of the committees at one time or another and has been an officer” of MBA. He is a past president of the association.
In presenting the Associate of the Year Award to Ms. Reeves, the president said she had “been involved in every aspect of this industry,” has been to every monthly meeting, “serves on several committees and is currently serving as a director on the Board of MBA.”
He described her as always having a smile, “an encouraging word” and is “always willing to step in to do whatever it takes to get things done.” He said her involvement in the MBA golf tournament was a major reason for it making more money last year than any other year in recent history.
In presenting the award he said she “has worked over and beyond the call of duty to make the association what it is now and is working to make it even better for the future.”
Thirty-one MBA members were awarded the Bronze Production Award, signifying $10-million to $20 million in loan production.
Bronze award recipients are Bootsie Yates, Carol Miller and Delores Morgan, with First Tennessee Bank; Joe Smith, with American Dream Lending; Sherri Boland and Mary Hass, with Northwest Georgia Bank.
Other recipients are Celena Cummins and Angela Stafford, with FSG Bank; Gaye Demars and Sandy Hodges, with First Volunteer Bank; Sherry Hodges, with First Trust Bank; Chris Denham, with Financial Solutions.
Also, with SunTrust Bank, Cindy Gilliam, Carol Ann Hopson, Jan Morgan, Kim Daniel, Kelly Huguenin, Patricia Lowery, Rita Haney and Ana Ortiz.
Additional recipients are Darlene Boyd, Sharon Inglis and Darren Strickland, with AmSouth Bank; Terry Webb, Mortgage Investors Group; Shain Davis, Bank of America; Ronnie Burk and Melanie Huddleston, with RealtyCenter Mortgage; Kathy Richmond and Bart Whiteman, with Mortgage South; Dale Whaley, with The Whaley Group; and Karen Flores with Cornerstone Bank.
Mr. Harris paid tribute to the support of associate members who helped make the production awards possible. “Throughout the year,” he said, “loan officers and processors in this room have relied on associate members such as appraisers, title companies, insurance agents, pest control companies and others. You have worked tirelessly to help us close our loans.”
He added, “I want to thank you for your hard work that makes our lives a little bit easier. You also help tremendously with this association. I want to thank each of you for supporting Mortgage Bankers Association.”