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 / CEO
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 / CFO
Michael is the Chief Financial Officer for Mountain West Financial, Inc. With over 16 years in secondary marketing roles, Mike is responsible for developing and implementing strategic initiatives to improve productivity, enhance customer service, increase production, and improve profitability throughout the company. He graduated from Siena College with a BS degree in Finance.
Jill Burns / EVP Operations
Jill has been a part of the Mortgage Industry for over 20 years, with a proven record in senior operational roles. She first joined the MWF team in 2012 as Senior Vice President of Operations, and now holds the role of Executive Vice President of Operations. In addition to oversight of all back office operational functions, she also contributes to setting the company’s guidelines, policies and procedures. Jill’s primary role is to ensure top quality, service, and maximum productivity for all MWF centralized and distributed fulfillment locations. Her role also entails upholding company’s culture and philosophy.
John F. Cady / SVP production
John brings over 20 years of mortgage banking experience to his position and is responsible for the management of all retail and wholesale mortgage banking production activities. During his career, John has held every production position from loan officer to his current responsibility, SVP of Production. He has overseen successful production divisions at several midsized mortgage lenders. John joined Mountain West because he believes it maintains the perfect mix of culture and service that many mortgage professionals are looking for, and that it is in the perfect position to grow market share throughout the Western United States.
Management 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 – NorCal 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.
Karen Pryor / RVP Production - OC/LA Region
Karen started her mortgage career as a broker associate in the South Bay area of LA in 1992. She moved to the mortgage banking side in 2001, opening a top producing retail branch in Torrance before transitioning into the Retail Regional Manager role in 2009. She has been active in leading many technology initiatives throughout her career and has always embraced the changing climate of the mortgage industry. With her BS in Real Estate Finance from CSULB, she has also been a valued advisor and advocate for her retail branches. She is looking forward to expanding the footprint of Mountain West Financial in the greater OC/LA region.
James Butschek / RVP Production - Mountain Region
James brings more than 20 years experience in mortgage banking to his role and is responsible for growing and supporting both retail and wholesale locations throughout Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah. His first 10 years in the business were as a top originator, and he has since led highly successful sales and operations teams across multiple markets in the U.S. James’ passion is coaching and he spends much of his time in his branches working alongside originators to help them grow their business and achieve their goals. James earned his BBA from the University of Houston in 1986. He has enjoyed a wonderful marriage for 30 years, and has four children. His favorite pastime is fishing.
Stacy Mohr / SVP Capital Markets
Stacy joined MWF in 2006 as the head of our accounting department and is now SVP of Capital Markets. She oversees the Capital Markets, Post Closing, Servicing, and Human Resources departments. Her education and experience is primarily in accounting, finance, and management. Stacy holds an MBA from California State University, San Bernardino and is a Certified Mortgage Servicer by the Mortgage Bankers Association.
Tonya Todd / SVP Strategic Products
Tonya joined the MWF team in early 2012 as the leader of the Affordable Housing Programs team. She is responsible for the company’s participation and involvement in Down Payment Assistance programs and works closely with nonprofit organizations and housing finance agencies to develop lending products that meet their constituent’s needs. Operationally, Tonya is responsible for the implementation, administration, and maintenance of these programs and works daily with internal divisions including Loan Underwriting, Loan Purchasing, and Secondary Marketing and she also works externally with Loan Servicing to ensure programs are successful for both MWF and our housing partners. Prior to joining MWF, Tonya worked for nearly nine years at Bank of America on the Affordable Housing team where she managed master servicing programs.
Francine Delgado / VP Compliance
Francine has 28 years of mortgage industry experience from originations through servicing. Most of her experience has been in Operations, managing several Corporate departments, production, underwriting and closing. Currently, she holds the role as the VP of Compliance overseeing the Compliance and Quality Control Department.
Wendy Wright / VP Corporate Funding
Wendy has over 24 years of experience in the mortgage industry and has been with Mountain West Financial since 2008. In her Corporate Funding capacity, she manages the areas of document drawing, and funding. 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 20 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.
Shelley Collins / VP Corporate Underwriting
Shelley is Vice President of Corporate Underwriting and Credit Risk for Mountain West Financial Inc. She is a 33 year mortgage industry veteran with experience in origination and underwriting. She has been involved with the FHA 203k product since 1994. At Mountain West, she is responsible for maintaining guidelines, shaping and implementing credit policy, and insuring loan quality through education.
Brian Casey / VP Servicing
Brian is responsible for managing the timely purchase of our funded loans by our investors and the timely insurance/guarantee of government loans by the respective government agency. Brian has spent the majority of his career, over 20 years, in mortgage loan servicing. He has worked for larger servicers like Chase Home Finance, Bank of America and US Bank, as well as for service providers like LandAmerica Default Services. Brian has held leadership positions in Collections, Foreclosure, Bankruptcy, Senior Lien Monitoring, Quality Assurance and Project Management. Brian has a strong orientation towards process improvement, and he has been with Mountain West Financial for over two years.
Karen Hirsch / VP Administration
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 VP of Administration 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 coordinating staff, Retail Branch, and Broker education and training.
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 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 15 years of information technology industry experience delivering a variety of technology related solutions.
Paul Isola / RVP Operations – NorCal Region
Paul has been in the mortgage industry for over 20 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 RVP of Operations for our Pacific Northwest division overseeing all departments in our Northern CA and Bay Area Regional Operations Centers which handles loans from California, Washington and Oregon wholesale and retail channels. His unique and multifaceted background has assisted Mountain West Financial’s growth initiatives and mission statement: “We Make Homeownership a Reality”. Paul is married and has 3 sons. His hobbies include coaching youth sports and traveling.
Penny Pitts-Duyan / RVP Operations – Southwest Region
Penny has been in the mortgage industry for 28 years loving every year. The exciting thing about our industry is it always changing. During these 28 years she has held several positions starting as a processor moving into underwriting. She has the great privilege of working as an Operations Manager, and enjoys working hand in hand with her sales partners. Her career has included leading change management, recruiting, compliance, quality control software, FNMA/FHLMC and FHA-DE experience. She most enjoys helping people make homeownership a reality, and mentoring her staff and seeing growth. Penny has two wonderful grown children that are currently serving in the Unites States Army, and is also blessed to have two wonderful grandchildren. When she has spare time I enjoy gardening, going to Zumba classes and walking her dogs.
Niki Nevarez / RVP Operations – OC/LA Region
Niki Nevarez is an industry veteran with over 20 years of experience in the leadership and development of both retail and wholesale teams. Her previous roles included various senior management roles, as well as every operations role in the industry. She has a unique vision that encompasses both operations and sales perspectives with a strong sense of company culture. An educator by nature, Niki is dedicated to sharing information, creating new opportunities, and developing new ideas. Niki is responsible for leading the OC/LA Ops team to ensure an all-around excellent experience for our customers that also provides a quality product to the secondary market.
Monica Quintana / Assistant Manager Corporate Underwriting
Monica is the Assistant Manager of Corporate Underwriting. Monica has been in the business for 32 years, most recently with Mountain West Financial for 17 years. She has experience as a DE Underwriter, Conforming, and Jumbo conventional underwriter. Currently she is responsible for keeping guidelines current, answering scenario questions for all Branches, and Business Development Managers.
Michael Stalnaker / VP Business Process Management
Michael has over 20 years experience in the mortgage industry, including: Corporate Finance, Sales, Underwriting and Project Management. Michael is responsible for managing the Business Process Management Team, which works with internal and external business partners and MWF leadership as a subject matter expert to develop process strategies to meet the operational needs of MWF and assist the organization in improving its operating systems. This group manages the rollout of new initiatives, including the new LOS.
Joanna Merrill / Post Closing Operations Manager
Joanna has over 20 years of experience in the financial industry and over 25 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.
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 CalBRE, CA and NV Mortgage Licenses, Insurance License, and Notary Public. Joe earned his BS Degree in Legal Studies from the California University of PA. Joe has been married to his wife and best friend since 1980.
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.
Lance Wahl / Accounting Manager
Lance joined Mountain West Financial in 2016. He brings previous experience with a not for profit educational foundation, and auditing medical groups and construction firms. He and his team are responsible for all incoming/outgoing payments, and all financial reporting. Lance received a BS in Accounting from Cal State San Bernardino.
Laura Martell / Marketing Manager
Laura and her team are responsible for all marketing channels including print and digital advertising, recruiting material, websites, social media, public relations, and brand development.Prior to being the marketing manager she worked in several other departments including Underwriting, Funding, Production (retail & wholesale), Post Closing, Appraisals, Disclosures, Compliance, and Administration providing a well rounded understanding of the mortgage process that she uses to support our sales team. Laura received a BFA in Graphic Design from Cal Poly Pomona.