NAMB Announces 2026 Excellence Award Winners
News related to:The National Association of Mortgage Brokers · 2 min read
WASHINGTON, Sept. 21, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- The National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB), the leading national trade association for the mortgage industry, has announced its 2026 Excellence Awards, recognizing professionals and companies that have made significant contributions to the industry in 2026. The awards, which were presented during NAMB National 2026, an annual conference held at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, celebrated the achievements of mortgage professionals and companies that have helped advance the industry.
The 2026 Excellence Awards recognized a wide range of professionals and companies across the mortgage brokerage community. The winners included Mortgage Broker of the Year, New Brokers of the Year, Influencers of the Year, Young Professionals of the Year, and Account Executives of the Year. Additionally, companies that provided critical products and services to mortgage professionals were also recognized as Service Partners of the Year.
The Mortgage Broker of the Year award went to a group of professionals including Ben Bell, Libra Branch, Imad Canavati, Melinda Casem, Aaron Clark, Daniel Clifton, Bannen Davis, Taylor Gardner, Jacob Garrett, Ray Gulam, Vipul Hapani, Marco Jimenez, Omar Khamisa, Rene Kneller, Jeni Lehnen, Geiner Lopez, Gerry Manzi, Avalon McLeod, John Moel, Ryan O'Keven, Joe Pribadi, Chirag Rachhadia, Brittney Sargent, Alex Shekhtman, Tim Stacy, Brandon Watts, and Harold Yang.
The New Brokers of the Year award was given to Nadia Affes, Alex Aughenbaugh, Omaro Ayloush, Jack Connors, Amanda Embry, and Chance Stoffel. The Influencers of the Year award was presented to Michael Belfor, Todd Bitter, Martin De La Garza, Jessica Hernandez, Yillian Iglesias, Laura Rojas Rodriguez, Matt Shields, and Nathan Young.
The Young Professionals of the Year award was given to Samuel Bromley, Daniel Canales, Rachel Clark, Tiffany Genella, Marco Jimenez, Kyle Christopher Leppert, Elisa Marquez-Smith, Linh Nguyen, Kevin Pennington, Chris Potter, and Melanie Rader.
The Account Executives of the Year award was given to Judy Chow, Gwynne Griffin, Chris Mitchell, Eric Salzwedel, and Jason Twiford in the Qualified Mortgage category, and Lou Maldonado and Ari Zaimi in the Non-Qualified Mortgage category.
The Service Partners of the Year award was presented to companies in six categories, including Appraisal Management, Compliance, Marketing, Lender (Wholesale), Processing, and Software & Technology.
The National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB) has been the only national volunteer-led and membership-driven organization representing the interests of mortgage professionals and homebuyers since 1973. The association provides mortgage professionals with advocacy, education, and rigorous certification programs to recognize members with the highest levels of professional knowledge and education. NAMB's active lobbying and advocacy efforts focus on national and state issues, protecting the interests of its members and borrowers.
The 2026 Excellence Awards are a testament to the professionalism, innovation, leadership, and commitment that are so important to the mortgage industry. The winners were formally recognized during NAMB National 2026, an event that brings together thousands of mortgage professionals, industry leaders, speakers, and partners from across the country. The event is a significant moment for the mortgage industry, as it celebrates the achievements of those who have helped move the industry forward.