Bill Bodnar is the Chief Revenue Officer at Tabrasa and the driving force behind Mortgage Market Guide, the industry’s premier source of mortgage and economic intelligence.

For more than 25 years, Bill has delivered clear, practical, and easy-to-understand market insights that help thousands of mortgage professionals and real estate agents succeed in any environment.

Known for blending deep expertise with a fun, engaging style, Bill is a highly sought-after speaker and trusted voice across the mortgage and housing industry.

Ken Perry, President & Founder of Knowledge Coop, has been a transformative figure in mortgage industry education. His early career in mortgage origination saw him quickly rise to a top producer, leading to a training leadership role. In 2003, recognizing the industry's training gaps, he founded Broker Knowledge Group to provide much-needed education to mortgage professionals. This initiative evolved into Knowledge Coop in 2012, a cutting-edge social learning platform. 

Ken's innovation, Coop+, offers over 100 masterclasses, an AI assistant, and a vibrant community for mortgage professionals. His engaging and insightful presentations make him a sought-after speaker on industry trends, technology, and regulatory changes. Beyond his professional achievements, Ken hosts the "Lessons From Last Time" podcast, sharing personal and professional stories of leadership, culture, and resilience. Ken's commitment to education and innovation has made him a respected authority in the mortgage sector. Ken and his wife live in Camas, WA, with their three children nearby, where he continues to inspire and educate through his work.

Cheryl Braunschweiger is an SVP of Residential Lending, producing loan officer, and nationally recognized speaker who helps mortgage professionals turn everyday conversations into meaningful connections.

With more than 30 years in mortgage lending, sales, and leadership, Cheryl blends real-world experience with modern relationship-building strategies to help loan officers stand out in crowded markets. Known for her energetic, practical, and people-first approach, Cheryl teaches professionals how to use language, authenticity, and social presence to build trust long before the first phone call.

Her sessions are refreshingly human. No scripts. No gimmicks. Just clear tools, relatable stories, and proven ways to show up with confidence online and off.

Cheryl believes clients are the heroes of their journey. Her role is to guide them with clarity, care, and connection, helping people feel good, smart, and capable in every decision.

Steve Richman has been called energizing, passionate, practical, fun, creative and smart.  As a nationally recognized presenter he has spoken to more than 750,000 individuals in every state in America.  As a testament to the power of his presentations, over 85% percent of Steve’s presentations are rebookings from those that have previously seen him.

In addition to delivering keynote addresses and workshops throughout the US, Steve is currently an Adjunct Faculty Member and Master Certified Negotiations Trainer with the Shapiro Negotiations Institute. 

For a quick history about Steve, he is a graduate of The University of Maryland, The George Washington University Law School and is a member of the Maryland State Bar.  He has taught Public Speaking at Towson University and Negotiations for the Sellinger Business School’s MBA program. He has been a guest lecturer at Columbia University’s Business School in New York and has presented on Capitol Hill.  He is a certified trainer in DiSC Behavioral Profiling and has been a guest on multiple podcasts, radio shows, has published numerous articles and in 2019 and 2024 was named one of the most connected professionals in the mortgage industry by National Mortgage Professional Magazine.

He has presented and consulted as an expert in multiple topics including - selling skills, improved communication, overcoming objections, modern marketing, social media, consumer trends, real estate and mortgage market analysis, elearning, powerful presentations, leadership, corporate culture, goal setting, mission statements, process re-engineering and more.

On the personal side, Steve has been luckily married for 32 years (knock on wood), has the greatest son and daughter-in-law and best daughter in the world and he is an avid golfer and scuba diver.

Laura Salazar is a seasoned Mortgage Underwriter Manager and Corporate Officer with Platte Valley Companies, bringing 15 years of comprehensive experience across mortgage processing, underwriting, credit risk assessment, regulatory compliance, and loan quality management. She also holds specialized credentials as a Wyoming FHA DE Underwriter. Known for her leadership in underwriting operations, Laura is committed to delivering a consistent, customer‑focused lending experience.

Outside of her professional work, Laura has been married for 27 years and is the proud mother of four children and grandmother to two grandchildren. Her strong family foundation fuels her passion for serving her community and supporting meaningful homeownership opportunities.

Michael Fratantoni is MBA's Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of Research and Business Development. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing MBA's industry surveys and benchmarking studies, economic and mortgage originations forecasts, and policy development research for both single-family and commercial/multifamily markets. Additionally, Fratantoni is a member of the Board of Directors of the CONVERGENCE Collaborative, and the Smith Enterprise Risk Consortium’s (SERC’s) Advisory Council. MBA’s economics team received a Crystal Ball award from Pulsenomics for their home price predictions.

Prior to joining MBA, Fratantoni worked in risk management and senior economist roles at Washington Mutual and Fannie Mae. He received a Ph.D. in economics from Johns Hopkins University and a B.A. in economics from The College of William and Mary and has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Washington, and Johns Hopkins, George Washington, and Georgetown Universities.
 

Nora is an award-winning leader and nationally recognized expert in affordable housing and financial education, with more than 25 years of experience in residential lending. She is deeply committed to expanding sustainable homeownership opportunities for underserved and first-time homebuyers through responsible lending and financial literacy.  She previously served as Senior National Affordable Lending Manager at Freddie Mac, where she led initiatives supporting low- to moderate-income borrowers and partnered with lenders nationwide to improve access to credit.
Currently, Nora is Senior Vice President at Guild Mortgage, leading strategies and programs that expand access to homeownership, advance financial education, and strengthen communities.
A sought-after keynote speaker, Nora has received numerous honors, including the Freddie Mac CEO Award and recognition as a Latina of Influence. She holds a degree from Purdue University and is a graduate of the USC Marshall School of Business Multicultural Women Executive Leadership Program.

Bruce Larkin is Vice President of Business Development for the Correspondent Channel at Deephaven Mortgage. With 38 years in the mortgage industry, he began his career in 1987 in operations before moving into secondary marketing and later wholesale and correspondent sales. He specializes in alternative income documentation, non-conforming, and expanded-criteria lending. 

Bruce has held leadership roles with GMAC, Ally Bank, Ditech, and NewRez, including serving as Western Regional Manager in correspondent sales. He joined Deephaven for its culture, people, and strong operational support, focusing on non-QM and home equity solutions that drive growth in today’s expanding market. 

Bruce is committed to helping loan officers’ structure non-QM loans for success. Outside of work, he enjoys wakesurfing and time on the water. He is the proud father of six adult children and a grandfather — and once had a pet skunk named Sluggo, still his favorite conversation starter. 

Angel Romero serves as the Housing Finance Agency Relationship Manager at Down Payment Resource (DPR), bringing over 25 years of mortgage industry experience to her role. A seasoned communicator and strategic thinker, Angel excels at fostering partnerships and driving collaboration.

At DPR, she leads efforts to cultivate and sustain relationships with State and Local Housing Finance Agencies nationwide. Her in-depth industry knowledge and thoughtful, strategic approach play a key role in advancing DPR’s mission—delivering impactful resources and support to agencies dedicated to housing finance.

Before joining DPR in March 2023, Angel served as the Assistant Vice President/Post-Closing Manager, and Resident Housing/DPA Program Expert at Cherry Creek Mortgage. In this role, she played a pivotal part in driving the company's expansion into underserved markets. Angel's expertise in utilizing DPR’s robust DPA Directory significantly contributed to Cherry Creek Mortgage's success in reaching new markets and providing essential support to homebuyers.

​

Dan Streeter, CEO of Mission Fuel, is a national leader in AI-first eLearning solutions. He’s known for turning breakthrough technology into hands-on, high-impact tools that professionals can use immediately. Dan’s and his team at Mission Fuel have earned rave reviews from groups like the North Carolina Home Builders Association, American Fence Association, Colorado Association of REALTORS® and the Colorado Mortgage Lenders Association.

With 32 years in mortgage lending, Azalee Byers serves as Senior Vice President of Underwriting Leadership for Fairway Home Mortgage’s Mountain and Pacific Northwest regions, overseeing regional underwriting strategy, credit risk governance, and operational performance across diverse and high-growth markets.

Her experience spans the full spectrum of mortgage lending, including QM and Non-QM products, FHA, VA, USDA, Bond programs, and Conventional lending
through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. She leads teams responsible for both AUS risk-decisioned loans and complex manual underwrites, navigating layered
borrower scenarios with disciplined credit judgment.

Azalee is known for her solution-focused mindset and resilient leadership style. She believes underwriting
and production are strongest when aligned — not at odds — and that thoughtful risk assessment can be a
catalyst for sustainable growth. Leading with empathy and accountability, she encourages teams to think beyond checklists, approach challenges with creativity, and deliver responsible lending decisions that support both borrowers and business momentum.

Julie Coulter has been with Hilltop Bank for 35 years, working as a Mortgage Loan Processor for 12 years and then a Mortgage Loan Underwriter for the past 23 years. In addition to underwriting conventional loans, she is an FHA DE Underwriter and VA SAR and Credit Underwriter as well.