Gary Martell, Jr. / President
Gary Martell Jr. has been in the Mortgage Industry for over 30 years. He is the co-founder and President of Mountain West Financial. Although he was a top originator for the first 15 years of his mortgage lending career, he turned over a new leaf and his current duties encompass Operations and Quality Assurance. He oversees the origination process including Production, Underwriting, Quality Control, Compliance, and Investor relations. He became an active DE underwriter in 1993 and helped guide his company through the turbulence during the past several years to come out not only surviving, but thriving. Gary has been an approved instructor for the California Bureau of Real Estate for consumer protection and has taught Real Estate Finance for San Bernardino Valley College. His greatest accomplishment is maintaining a wonderful family and marriage through the last 30 years while working in the incredible hours this industry demands.
Michael Douglas / Chairman of the Board
Mike Douglas along with Gary Martell founded MWF in 1990 as a broker shop serving the San Bernardino County area of Southern California. Prior to Mountain West, Mike began his Mortgage Lending career in 1982 as a Mortgage Originator with RNG Mortgage and Quality Mortgage before starting MWF. Mr. Douglas serves of the board of Community Home Lenders Association (CHLA). He is also involved in Americas Mortgage Cooperative (AMC) and the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). He Graduated from the University of Nebraska at Kearney with a BS in Business Administration. Mike holds a State of California Real Estate Broker license and is licensed by the California Department of Business Oversight. Mike is married with one son and 2 grand children.
Michael Delehanty / CEO
Michael is the Chief Executive Officer for Mountain West Financial. With over 20 years in the mortgage industry Mike is known as a pragmatic and balanced leader with a passion for servicing our team members and cultivating strong relationships. He is responsible for developing and implementing strategic initiatives to improve productivity, enhance customer service, increase production and improve profitability throughout the company. Michael graduated from Siena College with a BS degree in Finance, and currently serves on the board for CHLA, a community-centric IMB trade group.
Laura Martell / EVP
Laura is an 19-year industry veteran, and currently the Executive Vice President at Mountain West Financial. Her teams are focused on multi-channel marketing, company-wide technology initiatives, affordable housing, and customer service. What she enjoys most about the mortgage industry is the plethora of problem solving and innovation opportunities, the ever-changing environment, and the partnerships and friendships cultivated. Laura is passionate about growing and enhancing the quality of loan officers in our industry. She lead the creation of 3 internal proprietary, onboarding and accountability programs for loan officers. Laura received a BFA in Graphic Design from Cal Poly Pomona, and is a graduate of the California MBA’s Future Leader program.
Ben Holloway / EVP
Ben Holloway began his mortgage career in 1996 as a receptionist for Mountain West Financial. During his tenure at MWF Ben has been a Loan Officer, Branch Manager, and Department Manager. Today, Ben serves on the Board of Directors at MWF, and is a member of the Executive Team working closely with all departments at MWF to run an efficient and successful mortgage company. He holds a State of California Real Estate Brokers License, State of California Insurance License, and NMLS License.
Carla Ferguson / EVP
Carla joined the Mountain West team back in 1995 as its sole underwriter. She is a member of senior management and has held the role of Executive Vice President since April 2012. She is responsible for and a contributing party to the company’s policies and procedures, in addition to upholding company climate, culture and philosophy. She works closely with the Executive Team besides being an active member of MWF’s Board of Directors. As the lead underwriter/underwriting manager for many years, she has been involved in disseminating CalSTRS guidelines and procedures since 2004 along with ensuring quality underwriting of loan products, including Conventional, FHA, and VA, to name a few. She coordinates with the Senior Vice President of Operations and Credit Risk the company’s objectives. In the past she has had oversight of the Human Resource Department along with involvement with various career fairs designed to recruit additional talent for the MWF workforce. Her ongoing directive is participation in the company’s growth plan, along with special projects as designated by the company’s President. Carla holds the designations of a Direct Endorsement Underwriter on behalf of the Department of Housing and Urban Development; VA Automatic Underwriter and VA Staff Appraisal Reviewer. She is licensed with the California Department of Real Estate in addition to holding a property and casualty license from the California Department of Insurance. Carla holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration from California State University, San Bernardino.
Brian Edwards / SVP Capital Markets
Brian Edwards is our SVP Capital Markets where he will be leading Capital Markets, Servicing and Post Closing. Brian Edwards began his adventure in mortgage banking in 2009 after launching his career with Grant Thornton as an Accountant in Dallas, TX. He has served in various roles, mostly in Secondary Marketing and Capital Markets. Outside of the mortgage business, he is passionate about education and helping kids achieve their best, and currently serves along some of the best as the Vice President of Finance for the Wylie ISD Education Foundation. Brian graduated from Abilene Christian University with a Masters of Accountancy and is also a Certified Public Accountant.
Ed Adams / SVP Retail Production
Ed serves as the retail channel leader. Adams most recently served as the Director of Retail mortgage for BOK Financial, a financial institution with over $40 Billion in assets. Adams brings 32 years of retail mortgage lending experience to his position at Mountain West Financial. During his extensive career in mortgage banking, Adams has managed a wide variety of production and support functions for well-known financial institutions including sales, training, appraisals and underwriting. In his new role, Adams will direct and expand the company’s retail mortgage lending efforts across the existing footprint and expand into new areas of opportunity.
Brian Daily / SVP Wholesale Production
Mr. Daily is responsible for the overall management, designing and implementing growth strategies, and creating world class experiences for its clients within the Wholesale Channel for Mountain West Financial. As a proven business strategic designer and impactful sales leader, Brian provides keen candid visionary insight to critical projects and initiatives the produce results. With over 30 years of experience in the mortgage banking sector covering a wide range of responsibilities, he has managed, built and implemented strategies pertaining to origination channel rollout, mass national market expansion, B2B customer experience feedback platforms. Just to name a few areas.Leadership Team
Shannon Kaufman / RVP Production – Southwest Region
Shannon comes to Mountain West Financial, Inc. with over 23 years in Mortgage Banking experience. More than 15 of those years have been demonstrating consistent success in helping to grow and build a strong sales team and culture with Mountain West Financial, Inc. She began her career in operations, eventually transitioning into sales where she quickly excelled and found her niche. Shannon has expertise in relationship building and creating long and loyal alliances, while consistently proving herself to be a top production leader throughout her career.
Janell Howell / RVP Production – Northwest Region
Janell is no stranger to mortgage banking, starting her journey in 1981 and then joining Mountain West Financial in September 2012. She started her career as an underwriter, leaping into sales as an account executive and then finding her true passion as a sales manager. Janell believes Mountain West has a phenomenal team and is very proud and honored to be a part of this family.
Connie Bigvand / RVP Production – Mountain II Region
Connie Bigvand is a Regional Vice President at Mountain West Financial. Her main responsibilities include multi-state oversite for growth strategies, elevate wholesale relationships with mortgage brokers, and managing production teams. Connie is an experienced industry professional who contains vast experiences in loan production and management. A persistent problem solver, implementing borrower solutions utilizing a keen knowledge of loan programs and products and always finding a “better way” to get things done. Connie Bigvand is a dog-lover and can speak three languages English, Farsi and Kurdish. During her spare time, she likes to spend time with her dogs and loves to hang out with Family and friends.
Lance Wahl / SVP Finance
Lance Wahl came to MWF from the not-for-profit world of healthcare and education. Lance completed his Bachelor’s of Science in Accounting, at the California State University San Bernardino. He has been in progressive accounting roles since 2006, starting as an auditor at a CPA firm, Corporate Tax accountant, Analyst, Controller and was first at MWF in 2016 as the Accounting Manager and left to get his MBA in Finance at the University of Redlands and has now returned to MWF. Lance’s mission is to support operations with analytics and forecasting. He has an affinity for the great outdoors and resides in rural Arizona.
Paul Isola / SVP Retail Operations
Paul has been in the mortgage industry for over 25 years and has held various positions in both operations and production. He began his career in underwriting and learned mortgage loans from the inside out holding investor quality and sales support as his highest priorities. Having this hard to achieve balance has served him well in the many leadership roles he’s held. He is currently the SVP of Operations for our Retail Channel. His unique and multifaceted background has assisted Mountain West Financials’ growth initiatives and mission statement: “We Make Homeownership a Reality”. Paul is married and has three sons.
Angie King / SVP Wholesale Operations
My passion is making homeownership a reality. I have made a career in the mortgage industry for 30+ years with depth of experience in management and underwriting. My underwriting specialties include Conventional, FHA, USDA and Jumbo programs.
Family is my core and I enjoy spending my free time with them along with enjoying hockey.
Nancy Obando / SVP Strategic Products and Affordable Housing
Nancy Obando is the Senior Vice President at Mountain West Financial with a lead role in shaping the Mountain West Financial brand, driving growth and visibility to the company by overseeing Affordable Lending and Specialty Products for both retail and wholesale for their entire footprint. Ms. Obando has more than 15 years of experience in the Corporate Banking Industry ranging from business development, strategic planning, negotiations, community and government relations, event planning, revenue generation, mortgage, diverse market segments, and sales. Her extensive knowledge combined with her strong communication and strategic planning talents, has made her into a well-rounded professional and effective leader, well suited for today’s volatile industry.
Kellee Smith / SVP Corporate Operations
Kellee is the Senior Vice President of Corporate Operations for Mountain West Financial Inc. She has been in the mortgage industry for over 20 years and has worked with National lenders. She has experience in training operations staff, processing and underwriting of FHA, Conventional, Down Payment Assistance, Jumbo and USDA loans. She has been employed with Mountain West Financial for 9 years and is currently responsible for managing the underwriting risk and loan quality. Kellee is married with 2 children.
Wendy Wright / SVP Corporate Funding
Wendy has over 29 years of experience in the mortgage industry and has been with Mountain West Financial since 2008. In her Corporate Closing capacity, she manages the areas of closing disclosures, final loan documents, funding and final post funding closing disclosures. Over her career, Wendy has developed an extensive knowledge of FHA, VA, FNMA/FHLMC, CalHFA, USDA, 203k, and various DPA programs. Holding supervisory/management positions for the past 27 years, Wendy has worked for a variety of regional and national lenders. Wendy is recognized in the industry and by her peers for her strong customer service skills and her commitment to both wholesale and retail originators, as well as her conscientious attention to detail and accuracy.
Kurt Gastañaga / VP Information Services / CISO
Kurt provides the leadership for boosting technology excellence across the company. Mr. Gastanaga began his career at Azusa Pacific University in 2001, where he started as a Help Desk Support Technician. Later in his career, he worked for Greenberg Traurig, LLC, one of the top ten largest law firms in the nation, where he worked to support the technology infrastructure in a fast-paced environment. Kurt has over 20 years of information technology industry experience, delivering a variety of technology-related solutions.
Karen Hirsch / Administration VP
Karen began her career in the mortgage industry in 1976 and has served in several capacities including: Loan Processor, Funder, Retail Branch Supervisor, and Administrative Assistant. She currently holds the position of Administration VP for MWF, where she has been employed since 2000. Some of her areas of responsibility include maintaining the company’s licensing, approvals with investors, agencies, and warehouse banks; Retail Branch set up, Broker review and approval, as well as user access to our various vendors, investors, and agencies.
Cheryl Fusilier / Operations Process Manager
Cheryl has over 35 years experience in the mortgage industry, including all facets of operations and origination. The past 25 years have found Cheryl in various leadership roles. In her current position of Operations Process Manager, she is responsible for operational processes as well as contributing to the design, implementation and training of various processes in operations that support branches. Cheryl is a primary resource for processors regarding information and training. She also manages a Corporate Processing team and is a Corporate Trainer responsible for training and supporting new branches in their transition to Mountain West Financial.
Joanna Merrill / Post Closing Operations Manager
Joanna has over 30 years of experience in the financial industry and over 35 in sales & management. She currently holds the position of Post Closing Operations Manager for Mountain West Financial and has a team dedicated to ensure a quick, efficient and seamless post closing process whether we are retaining servicing or working with investors on loans sold in the secondary market.
Zury Ibarra / Servicing Manager
Zury joined Mountain West Financial in 2015, starting in the Post Closing Department. She then transitioned to our Servicing Department, eventually working her up to Servicing Manager. Zury is in charge of Interim Servicing of Mountain West originated loans. Most importantly, she manages our relationship with MWF’s subservicer for our service-retained loans. Servicing is currently a team of two, but they work in conjunction with all departments to make sure customers have the best experience when working with Mountain West. In July of 2019, Zury was awarded a scholarship from the MBA Education Program where she successfully completed The School of Mortgage Servicing Program. Most recently, Zury has helped manage the process of switching subservicers, which has been a big task, but with the help of the MWF team has turned out to be way more manageable.
Renee Rangel / Lock Desk Manager
Renee joined Mountain West Financial in 2003 as a shipper in our Post Closing department. After a year and a half she transferred into our Closing Department where she was a Loan Document Drawer. From there she ventured into Secondary and worked her way up from Lock Desk Analyst to Whole Loan Trader to now the Lock Desk Manager.
Tiffany Hade / Marketing Manager
Tiffany has over 10 years of experience in the mortgage industry and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Marketing from Cal State Long Beach. As Marketing Manager for Mountain West Financial, Inc. I oversee a team responsible for all marketing company-wide including print & digital advertising, recruiting material, websites, online advertising, social media, public relations and brand development.
Jennifer Sanchez / AMC Manager
Jennifer joined Mountain West Financial in 2007, starting in the Underwriting Department. She has experience in Underwriting, processing, and property. Jennifer joined the Appraisal Department in 2010 as a Valuation Coordinator, eventually working her up to AMC Manager. The Appraisal Department became an official AMC in 2012 and is now licensed in AZ, CA, CO, NV, UT, and WA. Her team is responsible for processing all of MWF’s appraisals orders from beginning to end. This includes order placement, communication with clients and appraisers, maintaining the AMC’s approved appraiser panel, complying with USPAP standards (Appraiser regulation) and ensuring compliance with all AMC regulations within the states that the AMC is approved in. Jennifer believes in giving the client (Branches and Brokers) the very best customer experience. Her team is always ready to go the extra mile for the customer.
Charles Garcia / LOS Manager
Charles has worked with Mountain West Financial for 8 years. He began his career with Mountain West working in the Disclosures department where he grew into a Supervisor of the department. Charles then transitioned to the LOS support team in 2019 and then became the Manager of the department where he now manages our LOS with the addition of all integrated vendors.
Linda Cripe / HR Manager
Linda has over 20 years of HR experience in the mortgage industry. Linda joined Mountain West Financial in 2012 and oversees all areas of the Human Resources department including, Recruiting, Benefits and Compensation, Payroll, Compliance and Employee Relations. Linda has a heart for people and believes that they are the most important resource of a company. Her primary focus is promoting and maintaining a culture where employees feel valued and appreciated. She genuinely cares about the well-being and development of all Mountain West Financial employees.
Paula Acevedo-Delgado / Accounting Manager
Paula joined Mountain West Financial beginning of 2019 as the head of our accounting department. With over twenty years experience in Accounting and Finance, she oversees the accounting team which includes the Payroll Department, who track all financial activities for the corporate office as well as all the branches nationwide. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
Joe Grunebach / Sr. Mortgage Coach
Joe has enjoyed previously being a producing manager for Fleet Mortgage, North American Mortgage, Countrywide Home Loans/B of A, Wells Fargo Home Loans, and others. Since 2012, he is very proud to be associated with the dynamic and well-managed Mountain West Financial. As a 30+ year seasoned veteran of the home loan business, Joe continues his success by helping coach and mentor Loan Officers to increase their production and provide accountability for sustained long term growth. Throughout his tenure in the lending business, Joe has served or volunteered with organizations including: CMBA, Inland Gateway Association of Realtors, IVAR, National Notary Association, and Norco Area Chamber of Commerce. Joe continues to maintain his California DRE, as well as his California and Nevada Mortgage Licenses. Joe earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Legal Studies from the California University of Pennsylvania. Joe has been married to his wife and best friend since 1980.