MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND OPERATIONS TRACK: Why the Non-Agency Market is a Must for Your Success

Director – Scores, Mortgage and Capital Markets, FICO

Amber Christman serves as a Director responsible for client relationships and strategy within the Scores Mortgage and Capital Markets team. Before joining FICO, she spent two years in management consulting at Alpha FMC, focusing on strategy. Earlier in her career, Amber held various roles in marketing, client operations, product management, and business development in the Asset Management sector at BlackRock, Barclays Global Investors, and AllianceBernstein. She earned a degree in Accounting from Saint Mary’s College of California.

CEO and Co-Founder, LoanNEX

Eloise Schmitz is the Co-Founder and CEO of LoanNEX, bringing over 25 years of experience in delivering entrepreneurial solutions to marketplace participants across finance and technology. Under her leadership, LoanNEX has emerged as a pioneering force in connecting capital to assets in the mortgage market through its real-time pricing and eligibility technology. LoanNEX is widely recognized as the industry’s go-to platform for Non-Agency mortgage options, empowering lenders, brokers, and loan originators to deliver the right product to the right borrower at the right time. By transforming complexity into confidence across the mortgage lifecycle, LoanNEX plays a critical role in expanding access and transparency in an evolving lending landscape. A recognized voice in industry innovation, Eloise is committed to opening access to greater market liquidity and borrower choice, driving product visibility and diversity across the capital markets. Her guiding motto, “If you can’t see it, you can’t sell it,” reflects her relentless focus on surfacing opportunity through data, accessibility, and intuitive technology. Before launching LoanNEX, Eloise served in senior executive roles at Charter Communications, including CFO and SVP of Finance & Strategy, where she led high-impact initiatives including multi-billion-dollar refinancing and restructuring transactions. Earlier in her career, she held roles in corporate and commercial banking, specializing in asset-backed securitization. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Management (Finance) from Tulane University.

SVP, Product Development & Non-QM Production, Northpointe Bank

Steven Davids serves as Senior Vice President of Product Development and Non-QM Production at Northpointe Bank, where he leads the strategic direction and execution of the Bank’s product innovation and Non-QM mortgage initiatives. With over two decades of experience in mortgage banking, Steven is a recognized industry leader known for driving growth through thoughtful product design and disciplined risk management. His leadership has been instrumental in maintaining Northpointe Bank’s competitive edge in the evolving mortgage landscape. Steven holds a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Michigan State University and is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin.

Chief Sales Officer, Deephaven Mortgage LLC

Tom Davis is Deephaven Mortgage's Chief Sales Officer. In this role, he manages Deephaven’s wholesale and correspondent sales teams and all marketing initiatives. As an extensively trained mortgage-industry professional, Tom brings 20+ years of experience helping lending partners with their NonAgency/NonQM and Agency needs. Prior to joining Deephaven, Tom served as Executive Vice President, Head of TPO Production, at First Guaranty Mortgage Corporation. Over the course of his career, he has worked at Bank of America, First NLC ( FBR Capital Markets), JPMorgan Chase, and Finance of America Mortgage. He holds a Bachelor of Finance and Business Administration degree from Florida Atlantic University.

Chairman & CEO, MAXEX

Tom Pearce is a co-founder of MAXEX and serves as CEO and Chairman of the Board. He brings over 30 years of expertise within the community banking and insurance arenas as well as expertise within the mortgage finance, credit and asset management arenas. Prior to MAXEX, Pearce served on the Board of Directors of Five Oaks Investment Corp (NYSE: OAKS), a mortgage REIT sponsored by XL Group Plc. From 2002 to 2011, he was founder and Managing Partner of Vertical Capital, LLC which was sponsored by Bank of America to specialize in the management of non-agency RMBS as well as bank loans. At its peak, Vertical managed more than $14 billion in assets. Prior to founding Vertical Capital, from 1998 to 2002, Pearce was a founder and CEO of Peachtree Financial, LLC which was a middle-market commercial lending firm and rated servicer sponsored by First Union Bank and A.J. Gallagher. From 1986 to 1998, he served as a Managing Director/Principal and senior member of the Mortgage Department at Bear Stearns where he focused on risk management solutions and portfolio optimization for community banks and insurance companies. Pearce holds a BA from Washington and Lee University where he still serves on the Advisory Board of W and L’s Connelly School for Entrepreneurism.

SVP Correspondent Lending, eResi Capital

Throughout Lisa’s tenure in the mortgage industry, she has become known as a builder of businesses. Her role at eRESI encompasses leadership in Sales, Client Support, Training and Marketing. Her Non-QM experience as Advisor to LoanNEX, NewRez SVP Non-QM and Sprout Mortgage EVP had her building out platforms leveraging technology, scaling operations from origination through securitization, product development and training initiatives leading to brand adoption. As both a consultant and employee, accomplishments also include, Home Point Financial Business Transformation, Ellie Mae’s Total Quality Loan initiative which is now a standard within the platform and EVP at American Brokers Conduit (ABC).

CEO, A and D Mortgage

Max Slyusarchuk is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Imperial Fund Asset Management, a leading financial advisory firm that specializes in investment strategies across traditional asset classes and mortgage investments. With over two decades of experience in the mortgage and banking industries, Max leads the company’s strategic direction, business development, and partner relationships. Under his leadership, Imperial Fund tailors portfolios for institutional clients and high-net-worth individuals, focusing on non-agency residential mortgages and whole loans. In addition to his role at Imperial Fund, Max is the Founder and CEO of AD Mortgage. He actively contributes to the mortgage sector, helping develop comprehensive financial solutions. Max’s experience in private equity investments and portfolio management extends across the U.S. and Europe. He has launched multiple projects in both financial and construction sectors, raising capital and expanding business portfolios for institutional and private sector clients. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from MIM University, which has been fundamental to his successful leadership roles.