NAMB/WEST will hold its third annual conference at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, Sunday-Tuesday, Dec. 6-8. As in the past, we anticipate a large turnout with a slate of exciting speakers and programs. This year’s theme is “Today’s Changes for Tomorrow’s Opportunities.”
There has never been a better opportunity in our mortgage industry to build up the tool chest to secure our future businesses and further ensure the protection of consumers. Some of key highlights of the conference include:
► Face-to-face communication with hundreds of high quality brokers
► Lower registration fees
► Great low hotel rates
► Exhibit booth prices at $500 less than last year’s rate
► The best speakers in the mortgage market
► Lots of social networking
► And a fun, fun, fun conference!!!
This year’s will be as exciting as it gets. We have a full list of nationally-recognized speakers that will keep every one on top of their profession! This year’s speakers program will be different than in the past. We have decided not to provide the continuing education (CE) curriculum since the Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act (SAFE Act) will be coming down the pipeline and will facilitate the national requirements. Our goal this year is to break down the mortgage industry training and development into three segments:
1. Mortgage Industry Regulatory Update Sessions
2. Sales and Marketing
3. Social Media
NAMB/WEST agenda at-a-glance
Sunday, December 6
Regulatory update sessions
The year 2009 has been one of change and regulation and keeping up with all of it is all quite confusing. That is why we have scheduled a full session to cover the topics that are affecting you most in your business.
9:00 a.m.-9:45 a.m.
Economic Update Dr. Ted Jones, Chief Economist, Stewart Title
Join Dr. Ted C. Jones Ph.D., senior vice president and chief economist for Stewart Title Guaranty Company, as he addresses the state of our industry and the economy. Dr. Jones will provide information regarding his ongoing research and support of the economic and financial analysis of what is affecting the economy today. Jones earned a PhD in finance with a minor in statistics and a master’s degree in land economics and real estate from Texas A&M University. He holds a bachelor of science degree from Colorado State University. You will want to be sure to attend this information session. He is also the director of investor relations for Stewart Information Services Corporation.
10:00 a.m.-10:45 a.m.
NAMB’s Regulatory & Legislative Panel
On Monday, Feb. 23, the National Association of Mortgage Brokers, with the support of Baker & Hostetler LLP, filed a lawsuit with the United States District Court for the District of Columbia against the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director James B. Lockhart over the controversial Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC) included in the appraisal agreements between the FHFA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (GSEs), and New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Attend this session to find out critical updates to NAMB’s lawsuits and other regulatory updates.
Join the panel of experts as they share updates on NAMB lawsuits, including NAMB President Jim Pair, Past President and Government Affairs Committee Chair Harry Dinham, Chief Executive Officer Roy DeLoach, and other key NAMB Government Affairs team members.
11:00 a.m.-11:45 a.m.
The SAFE ACT, MDIA, HVCC, Red Flags and Other Regulatory Updates
RESPA: New GFE and HUD-1, MDIA, HVCC, SAFE Act, Red Flags...Now What?
This year, with all of the legislative and regulatory changes, an hour hardly seems like enough time to cover all of the updates the rules governing the industry, but it will provide an opportunity to give an overview of what has happened and what you need to do to make certain you understand the new regulations and how they affect your business. This will be one of the most important and informational-packed sessions of the NAMB/WEST! You will want to attend this session!
Join expert panelists including: Theresa C. Ballard, president of BFO Solutions; Ken Perry, president of Broker Knowledge and Ginger Bell, CEO of Go2Training for this session.
Theresa C. Ballard’s BFO Solutions Inc. is a compliance company offering compliance audits, post secondary closing audits, and loan delivery and loan guarantee services. Her professional experience spans 30-plus years in the mortgage banking industry, primarily in operations, underwriting and secondary marketing. Ballard’s experience includes quality control trainer for various industry organizations, including AllRegs, the National Association of Mortgage Brokers and the California Association of Mortgage Brokers. Theresa works closely with state and federal auditing agencies and has acted as an advisor to several state and federal agencies, including the Conference of State Banking Supervisors (CSBS), the American Association of Residential Mortgage Regulators (AARMR) and the Nationwide Mortgage Lending System & Registry (NMLS&R). Theresa’s most recent focus has been on the development and implementation of quality control policies and procedures for mortgage brokers, retail and wholesale lending operations and several community banks, as well as the actual execution of quality control audits.
Ken Perry is president/CEO of Broker Knowledge Group, a training and consulting firm that specializes in all matters related to real estate and finance. Ken believes education should be fun and has successfully taught thousands of people nationwide, speaking to all facets of the real estate industry including real estate agents, mortgage brokers, bankers, title and escrow agents, as well as lenders. He is viewed as an expert on the national real estate market and current credit crisis, having been one of the few experts to accurately forecast this current real estate market, and being one of the few who can deliver the information in a way most can understand.
Ginger Bell is CEO of Go2Training, a Web-based solution to locate, track and manage continuing education and training. Ginger has more than 20 years of experience writing and leading workshops in public speaking, leadership, customer service, sales and continuing education. Ginger works with industry professionals, such as Barry Habib, Todd Duncan, Edward Jamison Esq., Sue Woodard and wholesalers to write and obtain state approval for continuing education courses.
1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
HUD/RESPA Rollout
We have scheduled one of the key HUD representatives to present the HUD/RESPA Rollout that will take place on Jan. 1, 2010. This is a must-attend event for all mortgage professionals, and the session will detail how the new HUD RESPA form will be used and processed.
2:15 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Speed Dating Mortgage Style: Learn Who/What is Available
Speed dating is a formalized matchmaking process whose purpose is to encourage people to meet a large number of new people. Its origins are credited to Rabbi Yaacov Deyo of Aish HaTorah, originally as a way to help Jewish singles meet and marry. The first speed dating event took place at Pete’s Café in Beverly Hills in late 1998. Supporters argue that speed dating saves time, as most people quickly decide if they are romantically compatible and first impressions are often permanent. Join NAMB as speed dating is matched with mortgage lending, providing a platform for you to meet a wide selection of vendors who are “available” to help you in your business.
It’s really simple … 10 tables, 10 chairs, 10 min., 10 chances to meet the vendor of your dreams … or at least one who may be able to help you with your business! Move quickly from one table to the next to find out who will best fit what you are looking for. Matches may include: Lenders, technology companies, or providers of marketing or compliance tools. It’s a fun way to find out what is new out there. Lenders will be available to discuss files too so bring your questions.
Fun, games and prizes will be included in this action-packed section. Be sure to join in the fun and excitement and who knows … maybe you will find that “perfect match.”
Sunday, December 6
2:15 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Double Your Profits Without Doubling Your Workload
Join Fred Arnold, president of American Family Funding and immediate past president of the California Association of Mortgage Brokers, as he leads this powerful session on breakthrough business-building action steps and superior selling techniques that will position you to:
► Boost your business sales to the next level;
► Create sustainable business profits;
► Build your referral base;
► Create a sales machine and close sale after the sale;
► Put more money in your Pocket, and
► Much, much more!
It’s worth an hour of your time to find out what the top loan originators are doing to create their success in this market.
Fred Arnold, throughout his 15 years in the mortgage industry, has held many roles. His top producing team maintains a profitable and thriving loan origination business, based 100 percent on referrals. While managing his mortgage team in Southern California, Fred is also a highly sought-after speaker, trainer, writer and consultant for the mortgage industry. Fred has his own financial radio show.
Monday, December 7
9:00 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
Social Media: How to use Facebook, Twitter and Blogging to Build Your Business
Everyone is a-twitter about Twitter, Facebook, Blogging and video. Questions run the gamut from “What is it all about?” to “How do I use it for business?” Well, Mark Madsen is the expert when it comes to social media! In this jam-packed session, you will learn how to use these social media applications to:
► Network with others in your industry or community
► Stay connected to customers and prospects
► Monitor what is being said about your company, products, services, industry and competition
► Gather valuable feedback about products or services
► Raise awareness about the company, product or service
► Find answers and get advice
► Offer proactive customer service
► Promote events, products and services
► Drive traffic to your Web site or blog
► Share helpful content such as articles or blog posts
► Generate leads
Be sure to attend this session and join Mark and his panel of experts who will share the tricks to using social media tools to build your business.
11:00 a.m.-Noon
Using Video to Build your Business
Join Frank Garay, co-creator of Think Big Work Small, as he shares the secrets to successfully utilizing video and the Internet to grow your business. Thinkbigworksmall.com (TBWS) was founded in 2007 by a group of successful real estate and mortgage industry entrepreneurs. Born in the most battered market in the real estate and mortgage industry's history, Thinkbigworksmall.com was conceived after decades of observing how the most successful professionals always seem to work smarter not harder. It was the little things they did that made all the difference. TBWS was created to perfect and refine business tools and practices that take a minimum of effort or training, but that deliver significant, predictable results.
During a four-month study of nearly 1,000 industry professionals in 2008, the users of TBWS's Video Marketing Engine 2.0 showed a 67 percent increase in production over a control group during the same period. One small change in how they stayed in contact with their databases, through video, made all the difference for these real estate and mortgage professionals.
With version 3.0 due on the market in the fall of 2009 and TBWS's newest product, Rate Alert, quickly becoming one of the most utilized and trusted rate monitoring services in the world, TBWS has moved from an interesting concept to a proven success story in less than two years.
Exhibits and trade show
This year’s trade show is geared to drive in the affiliates and mortgage industry partners. We have discounted the exhibit booths to make sure businesses across the country can afford and come to the conference. Booth prices are $500 less than last year and include a hotel room for two nights, advertisement in National Mortgage Professional Magazine and special recognition at the reception at the conclusion of the trade show.
Conference standards
We are going to continue to have the standard activities at the conference as in the past. However, we will bring back the national committee meetings during the first two days of the conference. In addition, we are going to have an Opening Reception on Saturday, Dec. 5 to bring our fellow mortgage friends together and provide some social entertainment before we start the training and development. We will have the NAMB Delegate Council Meeting and Board Meeting towards the end of the conference so everyone can concentrate on the rest of the conference!
As in the past, our goal is to bring you a mortgage industry conference that will give you the tools to keep you updated in our ever-changing industry and allowing the networking opportunities we welcome to stay in touch with our fellow friends. We are offering lower registration fees, great hotel rates and a slate of speakers and learning opportunities for everyone who attends. Oh, and do not forget about those “after hours” parties that will be lining up by the time you unload your suitcases! We hope to see you in Vegas this December!
NAMB/WEST online portal
► Click here for the official NAMB/WEST 2009 home page.
► Click here for the full NAMB/WEST 2009 program of events.
► Click here for information on NAMB/WEST 2009 conference fees.
► Click here for information on NAMB/WEST 2009 exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities.
► Click here for information reservations at the MGM Grand for NAMB/WEST 2009.
► Click here for information on local Vegas area highlights.
► Click here for a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding NAMB/WEST 2009.
Joe Camarena is a member of the NAMB Board of Directors and chairman of the NAMB/WEST 2009 Committee. Joe is president of The Mortgage Source in Portland, Ore. and can be reached by phone at (503) 443-1060.
