Congratulations to 2018 CMP Young Guns
Ryan Jejina
VERICO CanWise Financial
After working at RBC for a number of years, Ryan Jejina joined CanWise Financial in 2015 at the firm’s newly opened Calgary office. Last year, Jejina successfully closed 95 mortgages totalling $30.5 million in volume; as of June, he has already surpassed his 2017 targets, closing 125 mortgages worth $38.4 million.
He attributes his success to his straightforward delivery of mortgage information. “My focus each day is finding the best mortgage options for my clients and making sure my clients know what to expect in the initial mortgage discussions so there are no surprises later on,” he says. “A lot of my success has come from keeping my clients up-to-date, whether it’s sending them emails throughout the process or giving them a call when you hear back from a lender. If you’re accessible and you answer your phone, you will find clients appreciate your service and will continue to use your services in the future.”
James Laird
VERICO CanWise Financial
James Laird founded CanWise Financial less than four year ago, and the brokerage is already a multi-award winner firm. CanWise was named Best Newcomer, Mortgage Broker Firm at the 2017 Canadian Mortgage Awards and Mortgage Brokerage of the Year at the 2018 CMAs. Laird is also co-founder of rate comparison platform Ratehub.ca and director of Zoocasa, which he and his group purchased from Rogers Communications in 2015.
Leslie Penney
VERICO East Coast Mortgage Brokers
Energetic, hard-working and dedicated, Leslie Penney always seeks to connect with people and his community. Having spent a decade in the industry, Penney is now an accomplished career mortgage broker and part owner of Newfoundland-based East Coast Mortgage Brokers, which was named a CMP Top Brokerage in 2017 and won the Community Impact Award from the St. John’s Board of Trade in 2016.
A top-producing broker, Penney has received the Consumer Protection Award from Manulife, and he was previously recognized as one of CMP’s Top 20 Small Market Brokers. He is also an active member of the board for Habitat for Humanity NL and a member of the local Brokering Wishes committee in support of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Nikki Carew
VERICO East Coast Mortgage Brokers
Nikki Carew has worked in financial services for more than a decade, but it wasn’t until she became a mortgage broker that she found the perfect fit. Since joining the industry, Carew has gone on to receive multiple Veris awards from VERICO and has been recognized on CMP’s Top 20 Small Market Brokers and Women of Influence lists. Already in 2018, Carew has managed to achieve an 80% increase in her business and is continuously looking for ways to grow her book while maintaining a strong level of commitment. Outside of her daily responsibilities, Carew serves as the Newfoundland director for CMBA Atlantic and also chairs Brokering Wishes NL, which has raised $38,000 so far this year for Make-A-Wish Atlantic.
Robert Jennings
VERICO East Coast Mortgage Brokers
With more than 12 years of experience in financial services, Robert Jennings is the longest-tenured advisor at East Coast Mortgage Brokers [ECMB], of which he is also part owner. Jennings was the firm’s top producer from 2012 to 2017, and has been recognized by CMP as a Young Gun, Top Alternative Broker and Top 20 Small Market Broker. He was also a finalist for Alternative Mortgage Broker of the Year at the 2018 Canadian Mortgage Awards.
Aside from being highly regarded in the industry, Jennings is active in his community, leading ECMB to receive the Community Impact Award from the St. John’s Board of Trade in 2016. He also volunteers for and contributes to a number of charities and fundraisers, including the Ronald McDonald House and Make-A-Wish Foundation.
D’Arcy Henneberry
VERICO Paragon Mortgagepal
Since starting out as an administrative assistant six years ago, D’Arcy Henneberry has risen to become the president of MortgagePal, an online brokerage with more than 20 agents nationwide. Playing a vital role in the growth of the organization, Henneberry oversees lead management and sales processes that have resulted in more than $1 billion in online mortgage sales. Under Henneberry’s leadership, MortgagePal has been nominated twice for Best Customer Service at the Canadian Mortgage Awards.
More recently, Henneberry has taken to mentoring the newer mortgage agents who are looking to learn how to attract and convert online mortgage clients. He has developed a unique mentorship model that supports new agents with lead generation and coaching on live files over a period of 12 months with the goal of helping the agent process more than $10 million in sales within their first year.
Scott Robson
VERICO Northwood Mortgage
Scott Robson is perhaps best known for his TV and print work – including Match Game, Panic Button and, most recently, Food Network Canada’s Chef in Your Ear, but his time in the mortgage industry has been equally successful. In 2011, he obtained his broker licence after four years as a mortgage agent. At Northwood Mortgage, Robson has been named to the Top Brokers Club in 2014, 2016 and 2017, and he also earned VERICO VERIS President’s Club Award in 2016 and 2017.
Grace Reynolds
VERICO Northwood Mortgage
Grace Reynolds had a whirlwind year in 2017 as she faced the challenges of adjusting to a new career in a new city while also being a new mom. Determined to succeed, she dedicated herself to cultivating relationships. Within her first 15 months as a broker, she was up for Best Newcomer awards at the Canadian Mortgage Awards and the Mortgage Awards of Excellence, where she took home the trophy for Best Newcomer Agent.
Reynolds is a member of two networking groups, Business Network International and Women’s Business Network, serving as vice-president of BNI and secretary of the board for WBN. She also volunteers her time with the Mombassadors, which supports the labour and delivery unit at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation.
Shane Mouwen
VERICO Advanced Mortgage & Lending Solutions
Prior to joining the mortgage industry, Shane Mouwen was involved in the construction of new homes. He eventually completed his construction management course at SAIT and began doing site supervision with a custom home builder, but Mouwen quickly realized that he was more passionate about working directly with customers. He transitioned into new home sales, where he spent about seven years before ultimately deciding the mortgage industry was a better fit for his personal life.
“I really feel like I’ve found my calling as a mortgage professional,” Mouwen says. “I love the idea that everyone around me is, could be or eventually will be a potential customer. I love helping people, so I try to help as many people as I can. I’m never too busy or too good for anyone’s business.”
In his first year as a mortgage associate, Mouwen funded $9 million; now in his third year, he’s on pace to close about $30 million by the end of 2018. A strong believer in giving back, Mouwen is also actively involved with the Ronald McDonald House.
Scott Conte
VERICO Best Mortgage Loans
Scott Conte was introduced to the mortgage industry by his father, a longtime banker and mortgage agent. Conte and his father opened a brokerage in 2015, and he hasn’t looked back since. Armed with a wealth of mortgage knowledge and attention to customer service, Conte has grown the brokerage by recruiting a mix of new and experienced agents, all while nearly doubling his own book of business year-over-year. Conte remains focused on expanding the business to help more clients achieve their mortgage goals and on giving back to his hometown of Hamilton by donating a portion of his commission from each mortgage to two local non-profit organizations.
Felicity Brempong
VERICO Nova Financial Services
At 34, Felicity Brempong has already been in the industry for 12 years, after following in the footsteps of her parents. “I am thankful my parents, who are in the industry, suggested I try it out after I graduated from university,” she says. “Maybe my kids will join me in the business one day!”
As a broker with Verico Nova Financial Services, Brempong enjoys working with young people to help them achieve the goal of homeownership. “When you get the phone call after from your happy clients, it’s pretty awesome,” she says. In 2016 and 2017, Brempong was a member of Verico’s President’s Club, honouring brokers with an annual volume of $25 million or more.
“Felicity has been an integral part of our company for over 10 years,” a colleague says. “She provides her clients with the absolute best service possible with the utmost compassion and integrity.”
James De Vuyst
VERICO Xeva Mortgage
In 2015, James DeVuyst made the decision to step into the broker world and joined Xeva Mortgage, and he hasn’t looked back since. In just over three years, he has grown his business from $13 million to more than $51 million. “My focus for 2018 is a new client care system, which I will be rolling out in the coming months, and I’m excited for the milestones ahead,” he says.
“James’ expertise in private lending and having the contacts to close complex applications, paired with his drive and determination, lands him amongst the top Young Guns in the country,” a peer says.
Outside of Xeva, DeVuyst is involved with 100 Men That Give a Damn, which puts on events for three selected charities in Vancouver.
Casey Archibald
VERICO Xeva Mortgage
As a partner at VERICO Xeva Mortgage, Casey Archibald is dedicated to co-leading one of the top 10 mortgage firms in the country and the winner of CMBA-BC’s Individual Partnership Award in 2017. Archibald has a reputation for giving back to the industry – he is a founding member of K.A.R.E.S, an industry organization that helps fund scholarships for at-risk youth. He has also served in a number of roles for Mortgage Professionals Canada, including as a member of the National Conference committee and as a champion of the BC chapter.
