Marc Summers
Secretary
Marc Summers
Secretary
Cliff W Gilmore
Chief Operations Officer
Cliff W. Gilmore
Chief Operations Officer
Jonathon Haddad
Chief Executive Officer
Jonathon Haddad
Chief Executive Officer
Jonathon Haddad is the CEO of the Association of Independent Mortgage Experts (AIME). Jonathon joined the wholesale channel in 2019 with Next Door Lending, where he transitioned from Vice President to Managing Partner and President. Jonathon still continues to originate to ensure not to lose sight of what it takes to be successful, originating $20 million across 60 mortgage loans in 2023, with $800 million as Next Door Lending’s overall mortgage volume under his leadership.
After six years at one of the largest companies in retail, Jonathon made it to the Regional Vice President. Jonathon transitioned to the wholesale channel after recognizing its commitment to supporting homebuyers aligned with his own beliefs. In his 11 year career, Jonathon has helped facilitate over $5 billion in mortgage transactions, including both personal and team production.
Since joining AIME as CEO in 2024, Jonathon has utilized his high-level experiences working on both sides of the mortgage industry to best support, educate, and empower the entire mortgage broker community and homebuyers nationwide.
Jonathon’s mission is simple: help brokers close more loans. Haddad’s leadership is fully focused on providing tangible business support for the nation’s wholesale brokerages and implementing large-scale pro-broker awareness, so the entire homebuying industry knows that the future of mortgage is in independent mortgage brokers’ hands.
Marc Summers is the Co-Founder and President of Association of Independent Mortgage Experts. He’s also a seasoned loan originator and Broker-Owner of Priority Mortgage Lending in Michigan. Marc entered the broker world in 2001 at Advantage Mortgage as a Loan Officer, holding various titles up until 2015 when he took over as President.
Marc is an advocate for independent mortgage brokers and is dedicated to the wholesale channel's growth. He’s an instructor for courses where he educates and mentors new brokers and originators entering the channel, and is the host of AIME’s Top 10 national nonprofit podcast, Broker to Broker.
Marc keeps his finger on the pulse of the broker community’s needs by continuously providing support to AIME members both old & new; ensuring that brokers are treated fairly, and getting the spotlight & representation that they deserve.
Jennifer Leonard
Chief Marketing Officer
Jennifer Leonard drives the voice & identity of AIME as its Chief Marketing Officer. Bringing 15+ years of high-level marketing and communications experience from a wide variety of industries, Jennifer joined AIME as Content Strategist in 2019. With a strong commitment to excellence, innovative content, and broker community, Jennifer has positioned AIME as a leader in the wholesale mortgage sector; spearheading innovative campaigns & initiatives that solidify AIME’s message, as well as educating, empowering, and spreading market awareness for brokers across the nation.
Promoted to Vice President of Brand Strategy in 2021, and yet again to Chief Marketing Officer in 2024, Jennifer has been instrumental in launching groundbreaking wholesale initiatives like the Broker to Broker podcast, sessions for Fuse National Conference, multiple wholesale leader-focused lifestream series, weekly email newsletters, broker spotlights in Super Bowl LVII programming and so much more.
Jennifer's personal approach to marketing has transformed the scale of AIME’s reach, driving editorial standards & branding strategies that resonate with national audiences both in and outside the mortgage industry Her leadership has led to a growing list of notable achievements, including Housingwire’s 2021 Class of Rising Stars, a HousingWire Marketing Leader in 2022 and 2023, a respected member of The American Marketing Association, recognition in Slice Communications in 2023, and was named one of Inman’s Marketing All-Stars in 2024.
Jennifer Leonard
Chief Marketing Officer
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Officers
Our mission is to help brokers close more loans. We will help grow your business as a member of our community, while we educate, empower, and expand the broker channel together.
Cliff W. Gilmore oversees day-to-day operations of AIME as its Chief Operations Officer. An honorably retired U.S. Marine Corps officer, Cliff brings to AIME nearly thirty years of high-level experience leading diverse, remote, cross-functional, inter-agency, and multinational teams.
With over a decade of experience at the C-suite level, Cliff specialized in strategic & crisis communication and media relations (traditional and social), from planning, implementation, and the evaluation of outcomes. Through his expertise, he advised high-ranking executive leaders on principle-based engagement strategies, strengthening the credibility of multiple public trust organizations.
Cliff completed multiple combat deployments, including one year leading a multinational 12-person communication team in Helmand, Afghanistan, which received first-place Marine Corps awards for excellence in the categories of: Information Campaign, Reputation & Brand Management, Creative Tactics, and Research & Evaluation.
Following his military career, Cliff gained further experience working for a regional renewable-energy advocacy non-profit, and ran his own leadership consulting & executive coaching company for five years. Joining AIME’s team as Chief of Staff in late 2022, he was promoted to Chief of Operations in early 2024.
Cliff holds a doctorate in Organization & Management with a specialization in Leadership.
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Board of Directors
Board of Directors
AIME Transparency
Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
February 2024
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Tom Ahles
Treasurer
Tom Ahles
Treasurer
Tom Ahles brings a wealth of experience and success from his 23 year career in real estate and finance to AIME’s Board of Directors, as its National Director of Membership and Treasurer. Fueled by a passion for helping the broker community, Tom is a well-trusted and established authority, who has guided countless brokers to grow their businesses, and even more families towards achieving their dreams of homeownership.
Tom understands the significance of homeownership, and strives to make the process as accessible, smooth, and stress-free for as many people as possible. Tom does this by building strong, lasting relationships within the community, by selflessly helping them anyway he can. Tom helps the broker community stay informed of the latest industry trends & regulations, and offers strategic guidance & innovative solutions. Tom stays in front of the broker community by highlighting current industry events and spotlighting leaders in the broker channel by hosting his own popular web series produced by AIME, Grow and Get It, airing every Monday.
Before joining AIME’s Board of Directors in 2024, Tom helped thousands of national brokerages to grow their business as AIME’s President of Growth since early 2022. As the Chief Growth Officer of Edge Home Finance, Tom leads by example, with a growing team exceeding 1,000 loan officers. His numerous accolades include Scotsman Guide's Top 100 Mortgage Brokers and Edge Home Finance's recognition as AIME's 2023 Brokerage of the Year.
Jonathon Haddad
Chairman
Jonathon Haddad
Chairman & CEO
Jonathon Haddad is the CEO of the Association of Independent Mortgage Experts (AIME). Jonathon joined the wholesale channel in 2019 with Next Door Lending, where he transitioned from Vice President to Managing Partner and President. Jonathon still continues to originate to ensure not to lose sight of what it takes to be successful, originating $20 million across 60 mortgage loans in 2023, with $800 million as Next Door Lending’s overall mortgage volume under his leadership.
After six years at one of the largest companies in retail, Jonathon made it to the Regional Vice President. Jonathon transitioned to the wholesale channel after recognizing its commitment to supporting homebuyers aligned with his own beliefs. In his 11 year career, Jonathon has helped facilitate over $5 billion in mortgage transactions, including both personal and team production.
Since joining AIME as CEO in 2024, Jonathon has utilized his high-level experiences working on both sides of the mortgage industry to best support, educate, and empower the entire mortgage broker community and homebuyers nationwide.
Jonathon’s mission is simple: help brokers close more loans. Haddad’s leadership is fully focused on providing tangible business support for the nation’s wholesale brokerages and implementing large-scale pro-broker awareness, so the entire homebuying industry knows that the future of mortgage is in independent mortgage brokers’ hands.
Marc Summers
Founding President
Marc Summers
Founding President
Marc Summers is the Co-Founder and President of Association of Independent Mortgage Experts. He’s also a seasoned loan originator and Broker-Owner of Priority Mortgage Lending in Michigan. Marc entered the broker world in 2001 at Advantage Mortgage as a Loan Officer, holding various titles up until 2015 when he took over as President.
Marc is an advocate for independent mortgage brokers and is dedicated to the wholesale channel's growth. He’s an instructor for courses where he educates and mentors new brokers and originators entering the channel, and is the host of AIME’s Top 10 national nonprofit podcast, Broker to Broker.
Marc keeps his finger on the pulse of the broker community’s needs by continuously providing support to AIME members both old & new; ensuring that brokers are treated fairly, and getting the spotlight & representation that they deserve.
Tom Ahles
Director of Membership (National)
Tom Ahles
Director of Membership (National)
Tom Ahles brings a wealth of experience and success from his 23 year career in real estate and finance to AIME’s Board of Directors, as its National Director of Membership and Treasurer. Fueled by a passion for helping the broker community, Tom is a well-trusted and established authority, who has guided countless brokers to grow their businesses, and even more families towards achieving their dreams of homeownership.
Tom understands the significance of homeownership, and strives to make the process as accessible, smooth, and stress-free for as many people as possible. Tom does this by building strong, lasting relationships within the community, by selflessly helping them anyway he can. Tom helps the broker community stay informed of the latest industry trends & regulations, and offers strategic guidance & innovative solutions. Tom stays in front of the broker community by highlighting current industry events and spotlighting leaders in the broker channel by hosting his own popular web series produced by AIME, Grow and Get It, airing every Monday.
Before joining AIME’s Board of Directors in 2024, Tom helped thousands of national brokerages to grow their business as AIME’s President of Growth since early 2022. As the Chief Growth Officer of Edge Home Finance, Tom leads by example, with a growing team exceeding 1,000 loan officers. His numerous accolades include Scotsman Guide's Top 100 Mortgage Brokers and Edge Home Finance's recognition as AIME's 2023 Brokerage of the Year.
Enrique Braunschweiger
Director of Membership (Local)
Enrique Braunschweiger
Director of Membership (Local)
Enrique Braunschweiger is the Local Regional Director of Membership for AIME’s Board of Directors, and the President of First West Financial. With over 21 years of experience in the mortgage industry, with 15 years as a Broker Owner, Enrique has established himself as a trusted expert in the wholesale channel. His family-run mortgage company, managed alongside his wife Kris, operates in California and embodies his belief in the value of local independent mortgage brokers for consumers.
A perpetually active member in the broker community, Enrique has been involved with organizations like AIME since the days of BRAWL in 2018. Enrique mentors new brokers, believing it is the responsibility of experienced professionals to support those entering the industry. With his wealth of experience and dedication to empowering others, Enrique is a driving force for accessibility in the broker community.
Enrique thrives on collaborating with the entire wholesale community, be it other brokers, processors, and real estate agents, and has proven time and time again that he is willing to selflessly give his time and energy to stand up and fight for what is right for brokers and homebuyers. He’s particularly passionate about empowering first-time buyers to achieve their dream of homeownership, especially in struggling markets. He and his team are dedicated to serving underserved communities all throughout Southern California. His commitment to these communities reflects his broader mission and end goal as an AIME board member, to ensure equitable access to homeownership for all.
Julie Yarbrough
Director of Growth
Julie Yarbrough
Director of Growth
Julie Yarbrough brings a wealth of knowledge, success, and experience to her role as the Director of Growth for AIME’s Board of Directors. As a Founding Partner of Empire Home Loans, Julie is a self-proclaimed “mortgage lifer,” who has a long history of sharing her substantial strengths in coaching, recruiting, and leading with the broker community, setting the example for selfless female leaders in the wholesale space.
One of Julie’s main goals beyond her efforts to continually grow the broker channel, is to empower women in mortgage. Julie has spent decades helping women break through the glass ceilings in the real estate and mortgage fields, and intends to elevate the scale of these efforts to a national level as an AIME Board Member.
Julie has graduated from some of the finest leadership, communication, and management courses like the National Speakers Association NSA, served as the PR Chairperson of the Sacramento CAMP Board for 7 years, and co-chaired the Women’s CEO Round Table with Pepperdine University.
Julie is an Inductee to the 2023 Hall of AIME, in recognition of her life-long commitment to supporting the broker community, combined with her extensive experience and passion for empowering others, an invaluable asset to brokers everywhere.
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Request Public Documents
To request AIME's public documents, including our bylaws, board meeting minutes, and tax records, email us using the link below.
May 2024
Committees
Membership Engagement
Processing
Jonathon Haddad
Co-Chair
Brian Shields
Co-Chair
Jamie Cavanaugh
Co-Chair
Gina Wariebi
Co-Chair
Understanding Diversity
Janine Kempfer
Chair
Scott Valins
Chair
Scaling Your Business
Understanding Diversity
Janine Kempfer
Chair
Scott Valins
Chair
Scaling Your Business
Veterans Advancement
Chris Griffith
Chair
Tom Ahles
Chair
Discover Wholesale