CONGRATULATIONS!!! If you are reading this then… Congratulations… you made it to 2023. And if you are still in the Real Estate Finance Industry, you are one of the fortunate ones who have lasted through challenging times and moments of unprecedented change. Hopefully we are filled with gratitude that we still have more opportunity within these times to grow and serve our clients. It also means if reading this and attending Puget Sound Mortgage Lenders Association you are investing in yourself, thereby improving to better serve your clients. Also, by investing in yourself via PSMLA you are creating opportunities for yourself either by the sharing of ideas or networking thus again better serving your clients and constituents. You are also improving your community by contributions to the charitable events we will continue to hold for the betterment of our local Puget Sound area.
These are the key words I hope to hold as our focus for 2023:
*Change *Investment *Growth *Opportunity *Community
My name is Mark Meath and I am honored to be your 2023 PSMLA President. I work for Banner Bank in Tacoma and have now entered my 30th year of residential lending with specialization in Land Loans and Construction Finance. I was first introduced to PSMLA in 1996 and joined as a Board Member in 1997. At that time in my career, it was a pretty “cool” thing to be nominated and elected to the board, and then later elected as President in 2000. Now as an older (and hopefully wiser) individual, I find it more gratifying to be part of leadership to an outstanding association of professionals who are helping to steer and support its membership through the winds of change. I listed the above words as you will find these terms woven within the mission statement as well as our history page on our web site. I believe in this organization and I welcome you to visit our web page or attend one of our general membership meetings or many events for charity.
I would like to thank our outgoing directors for their service to PSMLA: Dave Thorson, Past President; Terri Bethel – Hurter, Director; Taylor Butler, Treasurer; and Sara Monzo, Social Media Director. From their leadership and direction, we have become a much stronger organization and have grown after uncharted times of the Pandemic. We also were able to raise over $50,000 after paying for fun and entertaining events, such as our Golf Tournament and Holiday Auction Dinner, $17,000 went directly to our charities: Toys for Tots; Charlie’s Dinosaur, and Habitat for Humanity.
In turn I am excited about the introduction of the 2023 Board sworn in December at the Holiday Auction:
- Mark Meath – President – Banner Bank
- Robert Lipston – Past President – Evergreen Home Loans
- Augie Bae – President Elect – Procura Mortgage Corporation
- Audrey Morlock – Treasurer – Banner Bank
- Shannon Fry – Secretary – Fidelity National Title
- Dennis Sharp – Director – Chicago Title
- Brian Bentley – Director – TICOR Title
- Kaila Sweeney – Director – America’s Credit Union
- Jill Klinefelter – Social Media Director – Klinefelter Insurance Group
This team looks forward to serving you through the interesting times that 2023 is sure to bring. We are extremely excited to announce our first few meetings of the new year:
January 19th with Matthew Gardner, who is with Windermere Real Estate as well as the University of Washington and is a nationally known local economist. This event will be held at Oakbrook Country Club.
February 9th with Mike Stewart, who is with John L Scott and the Tacoma Pierce County Association of Realtors, 2023 President along with James Fisher of Windermere Professional Partners and the Government Affairs Director to TPCAR. This event will be held at Fircrest Golf Club.
March 9th will be the “First Annual PSMLA All Star Round Table Awards Banquet.” More details on this to follow at the next event and with nominations forthcoming. Also, at Fircrest Golf Club.
Other monthly events will be announced for the upcoming dates posted on the web site. These events to include: Annual Charity Golf Tournament, The Annual Clock Hour Education event, the honorable Past Presidents night, and the Holliday Auction.
As always, our goal at PSMLA is to create timely and relevant speakers and topics to our membership. Please feel welcome to bring a guest or younger member of your organization to any of the Puget Sound Mortgage Lenders Association general membership meetings or events.
Again… Congratulations and best wishes into your endeavors for 2023.