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A and N Mortgage Services works with the motto, ‘With our loans, you’re not alone,’ and the company’s employees take this to heart. A and N is not a company that is looking to make deals, rather they are working to build relationships. 

A and N Mortgage Services, Inc. is an established, respected mortgage company based in Chicago, IL. As a mortgage banker, A and N offers a wealth of different loan programs and have access to over thirty banks, credit unions, mortgage insurance companies, products, programs, and niche products to fit an array of homeowner’s needs. Everything from the application to funding is handled under the company’s roof, so the loan process is streamlined for exceptional customer care. For clients, A and N provides a tightly bound and solid staff that eases the potentially stressful and often overwhelming storm of the mortgage process. For its industry partners, A and N is a company with answers, support and transparency. For its sales staff, A and N is a place where they can learn, grow, take risks, and build their business with the best pricing and products in the Midwest. The company is licensed in eight states and is continuing its growth.  

 

Uniquely Qualified for Leadership 

Neena Vlamis is the President and Owner of A and N Mortgage Services. Neena had an incredible journey since she started the company nineteen years ago. She helped grow A and N from having a handful of employees to more than 100 now, and remarkably, she has truly loved every minute of it. Through A and N, Neena gets to help people live in homes they can be proud of, and she says that is an incredible feeling.  

Neena has so far followed the key point ‘Leading by example and having an open mindset.’ She tries to lead by example daily. Neena advises her team that they shouldn’t just aspire to make a living but aim to make a difference. This year, she is very excited to be partnering with Habitat for Humanity Chicago to continue to give back. Neena and her team cannot wait to support stronger, healthier neighbourhoods, and aid in successful homeownership opportunities for families in Chicago. 

Neena says that while growing up, her mother worked in the mortgage industry and her father was a refugee from India who taught her early on that building wealth is a gift. Neena’s father also made it clear that it is also hard work and dedication. In junior high school, Neena helped her dad manage rental properties. It wasn’t always how she wanted to spend her weekends, but in retrospect, she is very grateful. Neena said that her father showed considerable trust in her, by giving her this responsibility. She highlights that trust builds confident leaders. Neena believes that leadership doesn’t stop with her. Henceforth, she wants to foster more leaders within A and N. She adds that the company has a fantastic culture and employee camaraderie where everyone is encouraged to contribute, grow, and strengthen their skill sets. 

  

Turning Hindrance into Life-Changing Opportunities 

Neena mentions that there are always plenty of challenges that will come, but it is a matter of how people decide to handle them. During one of the many busy seasons, she was pregnant with her youngest child. Neena was advised to be on bed rest. She had a bed installed in the office, worked from home too, gave birth and closed more loans. Neena states ‘You figure it out, you face a challenge head-on and always come out stronger for it.’ She remarks that it always helps to have other female leaders in the corner simply to talk about issues and realize that no one is alone. When Neena doesn’t see the situation as it is, she relies on her core group to let her know. 

 Neena states that it is a matter of fact that up until 1975, a woman couldn’t even sign a lease on a car or get a credit card without a male co-signer. And here she is now, with a billion-dollar book of business and a successful mortgage company in eight states. She adds that women have come a long way and have a long way to go.   

 

Asking Questions and Learning More, Most Significant Aspects of Leadership 

Neena declares that a transformational leader should never be afraid to ask questions and learn, instead of acting like they already know all there is to know. She insists they help others and once the person who asked for help is up and running, they should start pulling someone else up. She received a brain scan once and the doctor said that she had one of the ‘happiest brains’ he’s ever seen. First of all, she loves that and secondly, she is an optimist who tries to keep her spirit up. Neena rejoices that she sees the light even in the darkest of moments. When she encounters sexism or racism, blatant or microaggressions, she moves forward. Neena makes it clear that her goal is to change the world with mortgages. She stays focused, does the work, and believes in making the change she wants to see in this world.  

 

Innovating Proffered Services to make Customers Dream Come True 

Neena opines that buying a home is very personal, intimate and can feel overwhelming. She underlines that A and N has created a team of dedicated, talented people who will help homeowners through the entire process. Neena states that because of the Covid-19 pandemic, A and N had to pivot like many other companies in the industry, to offer safe digital processes for both the team members and customers. She reports that A and N used automation and technology, and still infused the same heart into every transaction. Neena says that the company is proud of the fact that they have an impressive number of repeated clients and more than 715 five-star reviews. A and N is also a direct lender, which means the company’s loan process is all under one roof from the start to end. These investor relationships have lasted over a decade, earning A and N a reputation of trust as an industry leader. Neena is proud that the centralized mortgage process and strength in investor relationships allows the company’s referral partners to have the peace of mind with every transaction.  

 

A Glimpse of Future 

Neena conveys that the pandemic has highlighted many industry strengths and pain points. She would like to call it ‘learning points.’ Neena discloses that A and N found it challenging to remain connected to its employees as they moved into remote environments. With the new technology and processes, the company had to increase its training efforts and found creative ways to provide human connections in the digital landscape. She adds that while A and N was pivoting to remain connected to staff and clients, the refi boom continued to swell. Meaning, the company also had to consider a growth mindset. Henceforth, A and N hired team leaders to build larger marketing, recruitment and business development initiatives ensuring that its purchase business was still thriving, and they had the staff to support this expansion. 

Neena announces that A and N is creating a leadership track program to ensure its employees have even more ownership and autonomy within the company. A and N aims to expand its reach by increasing the company’s state licensing and recruitment practices. Neena adds that the company is collaborating with other industry leaders on exciting outreach programs. She noted that they aren’t slowing down and 2021 is shaping up to be one of the busiest years yet. Neena exclaims that she can’t wait to see the shift.  

 

A Piece of Neena’s Mind for Leaders 

Neena insists that emerging leaders should strive to be better today than they were yesterday, but in doing so, they should be kind, personable and respectful. She advises them to always learn and grow. She has told her entire team many times that instead of looking at a situation with a “have to” mindset, try to take a step back and think of it as “it is a privilege”. It will change how they approach the business and will keep them in a positive mindset. She concludes by apprising leaders to have a little fun because they all deserve to enjoy what they do!