Coaching with Chris

Joe Motowidlak is the Chief Operating Officer at Mpire Financial, leading operational strategy with a focus on systems, consistency, and an exceptional loan officer experience. His leadership approach was shaped during his career at Walt Disney World, where he earned the prestigious Disney Legacy Award, recognizing the top 1% of employees who embody Walt Disney’s spirit and leadership. Since joini...

Rick Ruby is the founder, CEO, and head coach of The CORE Training, and one of the most successful mortgage coaches in the industry. With more than 40 years in the business, he owns three high‑performing mortgage branches with a team of 35 loan officers, and his branches closed roughly 2,000 loans in 2023 alone. Since 2001, Rick has personally coached over 1,000 mortgage and real estate profession...

Robyn LaVassaur, a wife, mom and originator at heart. Robyn has been in the mortgage industry for over 25 years, serving over 680 families her last year of production before becoming the EVP of Sales for Summit Funding Inc now CrossCountry Mortgage. She also continues to run the largest branch in volume and units. People are Robyn’s biggest passion. She has dedicated her life to developing people,...

In this episode of Coaching with Chris , Chris sits down with Jen Du Plessis , a mortgage industry veteran, business scaling architect, and host of the long-running Mortgage Lending Mastery podcast. With more than 35 years in lending, over $1 billion funded, and a reputation for building world-class teams, Jen shares the strategies that helped her move from hustle to harmony while consistently per...

Jason duPont is the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Partner of NEXA Lending. With nearly 30 years in the mortgage industry, he is known for building high-performing teams, scaling organizations, developing leaders, and investing in the future of lending and AI. Known as “Indefatigable,” Jason gravitates toward challenges and believes growth comes from doing hard things. As NEXA’s top recruit...

Ryan Gilliam is the Broker and Owner of Your Best Mortgage. A lifelong Arizona resident, Ryan has been happily married for 19 years and just wrapped up his 17th year originating loans. With over $760 million in funded volume, his commitment to clear communication, speed, and smooth closings has built a loyal database of raving fans.

Top 1% Originator | Performance Coach | Mortgage RainmakerShayla Gifford is a powerhouse in the mortgage industry, known for transforming hustle into high-impact leadership while having fun and keeping it real. With over 20 years of experience, Shayla's built and runs a $1B+ business while raising a family, leading a nationwide team of 75+ mortgage professionals, and coaching countless loan of...

Dawn Van Nieuwenhuyzen is a mortgage professional and mom who understands firsthand what it looks like to build a career while raising a family. In this Moms Takeover episode of Coaching with Chris, she joins Bella Barbee, Shelby Vinson, and Ashley Bedford for an honest conversation about navigating motherhood in the mortgage industry. Bella Barbee is a mortgage banker and devoted mom who brings a...

Adam Karcz is a husband to a passionate special education teacher and a father of two boys, ages 5 and 2—living the same life as many of the families he serves. He is the Founder and Owner of Mammoth Mortgage, where Team Mammoth is building a new standard for how families move into their next home. In 2025, the team ranked as the #1 broker loan officer in Wisconsin for households served. Team Mamm...

Cindy Ertman is a nationally recognized mortgage industry leader, speaker, coach and CEO of The Defining Difference®, a top coaching and training company for mortgage professionals. Named one of Mortgage Executive Magazine’s “Top 100 Most Influential Mortgage Executives” five years in a row and a “Top 100 Mortgage Loan Originator” for over a decade, Cindy brings unmatched expertise and a proven tr...

Jimmy Hobson

For over three decades,  Todd Bitter  has been one of the mortgage industry’s most relentless advocates — a  top producer, a mentor, and the original “Answer Your Damn Phone” guy . After years of  self-sourced, $100M+ annual production , Todd shifted into leadership to help originators grow with the same  discipline, service, and passion  that defined his career. If you want to  elevate your busin...

In this episode, we sit down with Hunter Bolling , a top 1% mortgage originator and team leader of the HB Mortgage Team powered by Edge Home Finance. With nine years in the mortgage industry and a background as a former American Dream TV host, Hunter has become one of the most recognized voices in modern real estate marketing. Hunter shares how he built a high performing mortgage team, leveraged s...

In this powerful episode of Coaching with Chris, Chris sits down with Shayla Gifford, one of the most respected performance coaches and top producing mortgage leaders in the country. With over 20 years in the industry and a billion dollar career, Shayla breaks down what it actually takes to scale a mortgage business without burning out. This conversation goes far beyond surface level motivation. S...

This special episode flips the script. Welcome to Coaching with Trev , a unique edition of Coaching with Chris where Trevor York steps into the host seat and interviews Chris Vinson. In this candid, high impact conversation, Trevor pulls back the curtain on the mindset, systems, and principles that have made Chris one of the most respected coaches and leaders in the mortgage industry This episode...

In this episode, Chris sits down with John and Joe from Mpire to talk about the real story behind building a modern mortgage company, why the entrepreneurial loan officer is winning, and what makes MortgageCon one of the most unique mortgage conferences in the industry. You will hear how Mpire was created to be a home for the modern originator, with a focus on freedom, control, compliance, support...

Welcome to 2026. In this episode of Coaching with Chris, Chris sits down with Elizabeth Cassidy, a high energy mortgage leader, Air Force veteran, VA loan specialist, and team builder who is passionate about serving veterans and helping homebuyers win in today’s market. Elizabeth shares her real story of how she got into mortgages, including her pivot from teaching to real estate, then into mortga...

Kenneth Travis  is the  President and CEO of Greenlight Mortgage , a modern, service-driven brokerage closing loans across East Texas. An  8-year U.S. Marine Corps veteran , Kenneth brings a  mission-first mindset  to the mortgage industry, specializing in  VA loans  and proudly serving fellow veterans and active-duty families. In addition to leading Greenlight Mortgage, Kenneth serves as the  Len...

In this episode of Coaching with Chris, host Chris Vinson sits down with Mylo Draven, Broker/Owner at Inclusive Lending, to talk about his unexpected journey from hairstylist to mortgage leader, lessons learned from building a business, and how authenticity and inclusion are shaping the future of the mortgage industry. Mylo shares how a frustrating homebuying experience inspired his transition int...

Looking for the secrets top AEs use to help loan officers close more loans and grow in 2026? This episode breaks down what great Account Executives actually do for brokers behind the scenes. In this Thanksgiving episode of Coaching with Chris, Chris Vinson sits down with Windsor Mortgage account executives Tiffanie , Eric , and Shelby to talk about what truly makes a great AE and how they help loa...

In this episode of Coaching with Chris, host Chris Vinson sits down with award-winning mortgage leader Wade Betz to talk about building consistency, developing strong teams, and giving back to the broker community. Wade shares his inspiring journey from his early days breaking into real estate to becoming one of the most respected voices in the mortgage space. He and Chris discuss what it means to...

Kimber White has nearly 40 years in the mortgage industry. He is Branch Partner at RE Financial Services and incoming President of the National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB). A nationally ranked Top 1% mortgage broker for the past five years, Kimber is recognized for his integrity, mentorship, and advocacy on behalf of brokers nationwide. His leadership continues to shape the future of mo...

Jonathon Haddad  is the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Independent Mortgage Experts (AIME). Jonathon entered the wholesale mortgage channel in 2019 with Next Door Lending, where he advanced from Vice President to Managing Partner and President. Under his leadership, the company achieved $800 million in mortgage volume in 2023, with Jonathon personally originating $20 million across...

JJ Mazzo is widely regarded as a transformative coach who fuels growth through grit, perseverance, and purpose. A decorated entrepreneur and eight-figure business owner, JJ built multiple income streams after overcoming one of life’s greatest financial setbacks, filing for bankruptcy at 32 and becoming a multimillionaire by 37. His story is one of relentless determination, resilience, and reinvent...

are seasoned mortgage professionals at Plains Commerce Bank, known for delivering exceptional service and results. With nearly 20 years in mortgage,  Steve  is dedicated to finding the best financing solutions for his clients, with a focus on VA loans and affordable housing for first-time buyers. Bella  has deep experience in mortgage operations and lending, allowing her to guide clients through a...