Best in the Business Awards
The Illinois Mortgage Bankers Association Signature Best in Biz Awards was held Thursday, October 1, 2026 at the Hyatt Lodge in Oak Brook, Illinois where mortgage professionals attended to recognize and celebrate the Best in the Biz! 
thanks to our SIGNATURE Best in Biz Awards SponsorS:
Gold Best in Biz SponsorS:
Congratulations to our 2026 Best in Biz Winners!
Community Impact Award
Dan Houdek, Reno Manuele, Tony Ameti, Neighborhood Loans
SALES AWARDS
Best Loan Officer from a Large Bank
BJ Phoneprasith, JPMorgan Chase
Best Loan Officer from a Community Bank
Tracy Sorge, Wintrust Mortgage
Best Loan Officer from an Independent Mortgage Banker
Tina Abbatecola, Rate
Savannah Hooker, A & N Mortgage
Jan Leasure, Diamond Residential Mortgage Corp.
Neysa Padilla, Fifth Third Bank
Best Rookie Loan Officer of the Year
Kendrick Rodgers, United Home Loans
Best Mortgage Loan Officer Assistant
Eileen Flood, Neighborhood Loans
Best Sales Manager
Dan Houdek, Neighborhood Loans
OPERATIONS AWARDS
Best Mortgage Loan Processor
Jaime Licht, Rate
Delaine Page, Wintrust Mortgage
Letcie Torres, Neighborhood Loans
Best Mortgage Loan Underwriter
Sue Alvarez, Neighborhood Loans
Best Mortgage Company Closer/Closer Funder
Addam Kahl, United Home Loans
Best Compliance/Quality Control Manager
Andrea Romenesko, Associated Bank
Best Operational Support Staff
Dora D’Alessandro, Neighborhood Loans
Best Operations Manager
Laurie Pitner, Wintrust Mortgage
Andrew Trakszelis, Oak Leaf Community Mortgage
Best Operations Rookie
Amanda Watts, Neighborhood Loans
SERVICE PROVIDER AWARDS
Best Title Insurance Account Representative
Ray Manuel, National Title Insurance
Best Mortgage Insurance Account Representative
Barbie Hahn, Essent
Star Leadership Award
Faith Henderson, Arch MI
Congratulations to our 2026 Best in Biz Nominees!
2026 IMBA Best in Biz Awards Nominees: Final List
Community Impact Award
Dan Houdek, Reno Manuele, Tony Ameti, Neighborhood Loans
Bailey Schiffman, A & N Mortgage
SALES AWARDS
Best Loan Officer from a Large Bank
BJ Phoneprasith, JPMorgan Chase
Andy Tisler, JPMorgan Chase
Best Loan Officer from a Community Bank
Kimberly Adams, Associated Bank
Robert Curtis, Wintrust Mortgage
Emma Flores, Wintrust Mortgage
Michael Goldstein, Wintrust Mortgage
Tracy Sorge, Wintrust Mortgage
Mark Stec, Wintrust Mortgage
Best Loan Officer from an Independent Mortgage Banker
Tina Abbatecola, Rate
Nina Gonzalez, Neighborhood Loans
Zlatan Hodzic, United Home Loans
Savannah Hooker, A & N Mortgage
Landon Hoon, A & N Mortgage
Joe LaGiglia, Oak Leaf Community Mortgage
Jan Leasure, Diamond Residential Mortgage Corp.
Patrick Martin, United Home Loans
Meg Pound, United Home Loans
Robert Ramirez, Neighborhood Loans
Terri Brady, Rate
Angela Davis, Rate
Ron Graf, Rate
Neysa Padilla, Fifth Third Bank
Cynthia McDowell, Fifth Third Bank
Lori Rinaldi, Associated Bank
Chanon Slaughter, Wintrust Mortgage
Best Rookie Loan Officer of the Year
Lidiia Dobrus, Rate
Sean Lindsay, Compass Mortgage
Maeve McInerney, A & N Mortgage
Aaron Noriega, Neighborhood Loans
Kendrick Rodgers, United Home Loans
Angel Vazquez IV, Neighborhood Loans
Best Mortgage Loan Officer Assistant
Dani Ebert, Neighborhood Loans
Eileen Flood, Neighborhood Loans
Daniela Goris-Gomez, Diamond Residential Mortgage
Kelley Hauser, Wintrust Mortgage
Robert Jordan, U.S. Bank
Brissa McKinnon, Wintrust Mortgage
Suzy Morales, Neighborhood Loans
Maria Noriega, Neighborhood Loans
Dan O’Connor, Neighborhood Loans
Jose Silva, Neighborhood Loans
Angel Vazquez, Neighborhood Loans
John Yawger, A & N Mortgage
Best Sales Manager
Marc Falk, Scott Credit Union
Declan Hartnett, United Home Loans
Dan Houdek, Neighborhood Loans
Dwight Marroquin, Neighborhood Loans
Kerry Pastore, Rate
OPERATIONS AWARDS
Best Mortgage Loan Processor
Veton Ameti, Neighborhood Loans
Tracie Backer, Wintrust Mortgage
Joanna Caputo, Neighborhood Loans
Yajaira Cruz, Wintrust Mortgage
Rick Dillon, Neighborhood Loans
Joann Georgelos, Neighborhood Loans
Jamie Godzicki, Neighborhood Loans
Daniela Goris-Gomez, Diamond Residential Mortgage
Evette Habinka, United Home Loans
Lori Hanson, United Home Loans
Laura Hutchins, Wintrust Mortgage
Jaime Licht, Rate
Stephanie Maentanis, Rate
Stephanie Maldonado, Neighborhood Loans
Kathy Menich, Wintrust Mortgage
Suzanna Morales, Neighborhood Loans
Angel Morales, Neighborhood Loans
Jaclyn Nicolosi, Neighborhood Loans
Tina O’Hern, Wintrust Mortgage
Gaby Orozco, Neighborhood Loans
Delaine Page, Wintrust Mortgage
Tonya Phillips, CIBM Mortgage
Stephanie Pineda, Neighborhood Loans
Laura Sandoval, Diamond Residential Mortgage
Valerie Schoppen, United Home Loans
Pam Schwartz, Wintrust Mortgage
Rossana Shiola, U.S. Bank
Shelia Stance, Wintrust Mortgage
Crystal Talsma, Diamond Residential Mortgage
Letcie Torres, Neighborhood Loans
Lisa Toritto, Neighborhood Loans
Steve Vandegevel, Wintrust Mortgage
Best Mortgage Loan Underwriter
Sue Alvarez, Neighborhood Loans
Wayne Danneker, Wintrust Mortgage
Darlington Deshu, Wintrust Mortgage
Daniel Harlan, Neighborhood Loans
Debbie Rabac, Diamond Residential Mortgage
Kaye Stahr, Diamond Residential Mortgage
Kathy Stawiarski, Neighborhood Loans
Best Mortgage Company Closer/Closer Funder
Autumn Borg, Neighborhood Loans
Addam Kahl, United Home Loans
Myra Carter, Rate
KC Cole, Rate
Donna Fielder, Wintrust Mortgage
Cathy Hernandez, A & N Mortgage
Lisa Kufer, Neighborhood Loans
Sheri McFarlan, Wintrust Mortgage
Kathy Nalepa, Wintrust Mortgage
Vanessa Pascente, Wintrust Mortgage
Best Compliance/Quality Control Manager
Andrea Romenesko, Associated Bank
Sarah Serrano, Neighborhood Loans
Best Operational Support Staff
Jorge Buzo, Neighborhood Loans
Dora D’Alessandro, Neighborhood Loans
Dominick Dejulio, Neighborhood Loans
Lauren Fischer, Neighborhood Loans
Deliela Maldonado, Neighborhood Loans
Keenan O’Connor, Neighborhood Loans
Gali Pineda, Neighborhood Loans
Rachel Stawiarski, Neighborhood Loans
Kevin Terry, Rate
Donna Turney, Diamond Residential Mortgage
Claudia Walker, Wintrust Mortgage
Best Operations Manager
Theresa Ensey, Neighborhood Loans
Olivera Grcic, Neighborhood Loans
Susan Heredia, Wintrust Mortgage
Luz Johnson, Fifth Third Bank
Alison Knight, Neighborhood Loans
Marchie Nehr, Scott Credit Union
Paola Patino, Neighborhood Loans
Laurie Pitner, Wintrust Mortgage
Kat Potoczny, Wintrust Mortgage
Kaylyn Rodriguez, Fifth Third Bank
Paula Rosales, United Home Loans
Rebecca Smith, JPMorgan Chase
Esparanza Timothee, Neighborhood Loans
Andrew Trakszelis, Oak Leaf Community Mortgage
Sandra Tremonte, JPMorgan Chase
Best Operations Rookie
Ruby Kulevich, Neighborhood Loans
Gail Pineda, Neighborhood Loans
Natalija Saric, Neighborhood Loans
Amanda Watts, Neighborhood Loans
SERVICE PROVIDER AWARDS
Best Title Insurance Account Representative
Ray Manuel, National Title Insurance
Kim Leland, Old Republic Title Insurance
Best Mortgage Insurance Account Representative
Barbie Hahn, Essent
Faith Henderson, Arch MI
THE CRITERIA
Best in the Business Award Nominees must meet the following criteria:
- Be employed with a member Company of the IMBA and have at least 2 years of experience in the business.
*Best Rookie Loan Officer and Best Rookie Operations nominees are the exception and can have 2 years or less experience. - Demonstrate excellence, outstanding performance and achievement in the mortgage business.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PERTAINING TO CRITERIA:
Include any additional information you feel is important for consideration of your nominee. The more relevant, thoughtful information that is shared on the nomination form, the better the chances that the committee will seriously consider the nominee for an award. You are limited to 1000 characters on the nomination form to describe why this person should receive the award. You can also attach a word document if you need than 1000 characters in your description. Provide specific examples of how the nominee has demonstrated excellence, outstanding performance and initiative in their position. In addition to the completed nomination form, a brief bio can be included along with a photo if possible. Other supporting documentation may include awards, honors received, publications or articles supporting the nominee’s service to his/her profession, industry or community. Nominators must be employed with IMBA member companies. Please note individuals cannot nominate themselves.
These are the items the committee considers when reviewing nominations, so please consider this consider when nominating an individual in the future. They include but are not limited to the following:
Residential Loan Originator Awards:
- Customer Satisfaction Ratings (very important)
- Production (Units and Volume)
- Purchase and Refinance %
- Conventional and Government %
- Team vs. Individual Production
- Affordable Lending/LMI lending
- Pull-through ratio (Application to Funding)
- Community Involvement (organizations, volunteer work, etc.)
Residential Loan Operations Award:
- Customer Satisfaction Ratings (very important)
- Number of loans processed/underwritten/closed
- Pull-through ratio
- Turnaround time
- Community Involvement (organizations, volunteer work, etc.)
Industry Service Providers Awards:
- Customer Satisfaction Ratings (very important)
- Outstanding service and performance in his/her position at the company
- Mortgage/housing industry involvement (industry associations, boards, etc.)
- Community Involvement (organizations, volunteer work, etc.)
THE PROCESS
The Best in the Business Awards Committee, consisting of a diverse group of directors from the IMBA Board, screen all nominations and may contact nominators for additional information. The committee selects the winners. Winners will be announced at the event. All nominees receive a congratulatory email along with the Best in Biz Nominee logo that can be displayed in your email communications and on social media.
