So, let's talk about the mortgage world for a second. It's usually a sea of suits, boring acronyms, and "no" being the default answer for anyone who doesn't have a perfect 9-to-5 job. But then you look at a place like Gilbert, Arizona, where things are moving a bit differently. Specifically, there's been a lot of chatter lately regarding Champions Funding Gilbert AZ SVP Operations roles and how the leadership there—like the powerhouse team including Annette Arevalo—is basically rewriting the rulebook on how people get into homes.
If you’re looking for a name like "Lena Martinez" as the current SVP of Operations at Champions Funding, you might be hitting a wall. Why? Because while people search for various names in leadership, the actual operational heavy hitters in that Gilbert headquarters have been leaders like Annette Arevalo and Liz Lisk. Honestly, in the fast-paced world of Non-QM lending, titles and faces can shift, but the mission at Champions remains the same: helping the "un-bankable" get a win.
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The Real Deal with Champions Funding in Gilbert
Champions Funding isn't your average mortgage shop. They’re a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). That’s a fancy way of saying they actually care about neighborhoods that big banks usually ignore. Located right on Germann Road in Gilbert, they’ve turned into a hub for "Non-QM" loans.
What is Non-QM? It's basically the lifeline for the gig worker, the freelancer, or the person with a massive bank account but no W-2. If you've ever tried to get a house while being self-employed, you know it's a nightmare. Champions Funding basically says, "We see you," and they use common-sense underwriting to make it happen.
The SVP Operations role in a company like this is massive. You aren't just pushing paper. You’re managing the entire "fulfillment" engine. When a broker sends in a loan for a single mom who’s a successful freelance graphic designer, it’s the operations team that has to figure out how to say "yes" without breaking the rules.
Who is actually running the show?
When we look at the leadership in Gilbert, the names that consistently pop up are the ones who built the culture from the ground up since 2022.
- Annette Arevalo: Promoted to SVP of Operations in 2023, she’s often called the "Loan Whisperer." That’s a pretty intense nickname. It comes from her ability to take a loan that looks dead on arrival and find a way to stabilize it.
- Elizabeth (Liz) Lisk: She moved up to EVP of Operations. Her job is more about the big-picture stuff—state audits, investor relations, and making sure the whole ship doesn't hit an iceberg of red tape.
- Natalie Verrette: As President and COO, she’s the one who set the tone for the "Yes Before No" mentality.
It's a female-led organization for the most part, which is still kinda rare in the old-school mortgage world. They focus on speed. We’re talking about closing loans in days, not the month-long slog you get with a big retail bank.
Why the Operations Team Matters to You
You might be wondering why you should care about who the SVP Operations is. Well, if you’re a mortgage broker or a homebuyer, that person is the reason your deal actually closes.
Operations is the engine room. If the SVP of Operations is focused on "common-sense" solutions, you get a house. If they're a "by-the-book" robot, you get a rejection letter. The Gilbert team has leaned heavily into the idea that a borrower is a person, not just a credit score.
They have these programs like "Ally" and "Accelerator." The Ally program is wild because it doesn't even use debt-to-income (DTI) ratios. For a traditional bank, that’s heresy. For the team in Gilbert, it’s just another Tuesday.
The "Yes Before No" Culture
Honestly, most mortgage companies claim they have great service. It's a cliché. But Champions Funding actually put it in their core values. They talk about being a "catalyst."
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In the Gilbert office, the operations staff is empowered to actually talk to brokers. You don't just get an automated email saying your file is "in review." You get a human. This is where that SVP Operations leadership comes in—they hire people who actually know how to solve problems rather than just spotting them.
Life in the Gilbert HQ
The headquarters at 365 E Germann Rd isn't just a corporate office; it’s where the Non-QM magic happens. It's strategically located in Arizona's tech and finance corridor. Since launching in 2022, they've funded over a billion dollars in loans. That’s not a typo. A billion.
They’ve grown fast because the market was starving for what they offer. As more people ditch the traditional 9-to-5, the need for flexible lending is exploding. The operations team has had to scale incredibly fast to keep up with that demand without letting the quality of their service slip.
What Most People Miss About the Mission
People see "mortgage lender" and think "interest rates." But because Champions is a CDFI, they have a literal mandate from the U.S. Treasury to help underserved communities.
This means they have access to specific types of funding and programs that allow them to be more aggressive with their approvals for diverse borrowers. Whether it's an ITIN loan for a non-U.S. citizen or a DSCR loan for a real estate investor, the operations team has to be experts in a dozen different "alternative" ways of proving someone can pay their mortgage.
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Actionable Insights for Moving Forward
If you're looking into Champions Funding Gilbert AZ SVP Operations—whether you're a job seeker, a broker, or just curious about the leadership—here is the reality:
- Look for the "Loan Whisperers": If you're a broker, don't just look at the rate sheet. Look at the operations leadership. People like Annette Arevalo are the ones who will actually get your tough deals across the finish line.
- Understand Non-QM: If you’ve been told "no" by a big bank, don't give up. Companies like Champions are specifically built for the people the big banks don't want.
- Check the CDFI Status: Working with a CDFI-certified lender often means better options for borrowers in specific zip codes or those with unique financial backgrounds.
- Gilbert is the Hub: If you’re in the Arizona mortgage industry, the Gilbert office is the place where the culture is being set. It’s worth watching who they hire and promote next, as they are currently one of the fastest-growing players in the Non-QM space.
The mortgage industry is changing. The days of "one size fits all" are dying, and the team in Gilbert is one of the main reasons why. They’ve proven that you can be mission-driven and still make a massive dent in the market.
To get the best results when working with a lender like this, make sure you have your alternative documentation—bank statements, P&L statements, or asset records—ready to go. The operations team is fast, but they still need the raw data to work their magic.