Letter From AIME Leadership 1-22-24

Hello AIME Members,?

This new year has begun with a renewed sense of purpose that has been fueled by my passion to advocate for our community and make a lasting difference for our industry and for homebuyers everywhere.

It is this unwavering passion that has led me and the AIME leadership team to come to a decision that will help us continue to build momentum across all fronts and serve our membership in the best way possible.?

As of last week, AIME and the BAC are forming two dedicated leadership teams to answer the growing needs of both organizations. The new leadership team under BAC will focus exclusively on political advocacy and public policy initiatives that will benefit the independent wholesale mortgage industry and allow more Americans to become homebuyers.?

The two leadership teams will allow the BAC and AIME to put more focus on each of our specific goals. We will continue to partner together as the BAC represents AIME’s interests across all legislation levels and other advocacy initiatives, including a co-hosted event in April, Advocacy in Action, which will train hundreds of independent mortgage brokers in grassroots advocacy.

I will be stepping down as Chairman and CEO of AIME effective March 31, 2024. Since the BAC’s inception in 2022, I have realized how much our broker channel needed a strong advocate and representative on Capitol Hill and in the statehouse. Our tremendous progress this past year convinced me the time is right to realign my focus on this cause.

I am proud to leave the organization and the independent broker community in a good place, as I direct my full energy solely on the BAC. I put my heart into building AIME and working diligently every day on behalf of this incredible community. But now that AIME has developed into a place of stability and forward growth, the time is right for me to rededicate my full effort into building the BAC and advocating for policies that will help our industry.?

My time as Chairman and CEO of AIME has taught me some of the most valuable lessons I learned in my career.? I’m especially proud of some of the accomplishments we achieved at AIME:?

• The formation of BAC and BACPAC, which have grown during this important momentum to push our industry further than ever before with over $1.5m in fundraising.?
• 300% increase in annual membership, increasing minority membership by 450% and female membership by 400%.
• Established 300+ female, minority, and veteran-owned small businesses under the Spark Small Business Grant Program and Leadership Academy, raising over $2 million in private funding.
• Designed and launched the AIME Member Portal (AMP), a digital membership hub that comprises the largest private collection of mortgage origination content in the country
• Grew AIME’s lender and vendor network with pro-broker partnerships by 190%.
• Stewarded the broker channel through significant change and growth, ushering market share from 18% to 25%.
• Launched multiple education initiatives including broker certifications and training programs through AIME Academy and consumer education through brokersarebetter.com, reaching over 25,000 people.

During the first year of our new leadership under the BAC, we will focus on becoming the primary voice for our industry in Capitol Hill and statehouses across the country, on providing resources and opportunities to diversify the profession, advocate for historically disadvantaged communities to become homebuyers, and so much more.?

I am extremely grateful for all the AIME members and partners who have supported BAC’s mission and contributed to making an impact. Our industry has faced many challenges, and our community will only be strengthened as we begin the important work we still have ahead of us.?

I am excited about the positive changes this transition will make possible. Now working as partners, I am confident that AIME and BAC’s agendas will only work towards the betterment of our industry, and I am looking forward to the new initiatives, opportunities, and programs that AIME members and BAC advocates will enjoy.?

Our work has only gotten started. Thank you, once again, for your support and patience as this transition is underway. Expect to hear updates from AIME and BAC soon.?

Sincerely,?

Katie Sweeney