benchmark lending

benchmark lending

 

Barney Aldridge, Founder
Barney founded Benchmark Lending Group in 1994. He served as its CEO for more than 10 years and is the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Barney is very involved in our marketing campaigns - and yes, that really is Barney on the radio. Barney has also served as vice president for Roggen Financial and as a loan officer for Nor-Cal Mortgage and Continental Savings. Barney is also the CEO of the Benchmark Lending Foundation. The Benchmark Lending Foundation is a charity that supports foster children and their families. It receives its funding from Benchmark Lending Group, which donates five percent of its profits to the charity.

Jason Ehrlicher, President and CEO
As President of Benchmark Lending Group, Jason Ehrlicher is responsible for the management of Benchmark Lending Group's production, general operations, product quality, and customer service. He also oversees Benchmark Lending Group's secondary marketing department and its banking operations. Jason possesses an extensive knowledge of secondary marketing, banking operations and sales production. He makes sure that Benchmark Lending Group has top-of-the-line products that cover all of its customers' mortgage needs. Jason came to Benchmark Lending Group as a Loan Officer in 1997 after finishing his education and has been an integral part of Benchmark Lending Group's incredible growth ever since.

Garry Goodman, Vice President of Sales
Garry Goodman has been a member of the Benchmark team since the organization's inception. He originally served as a member of the Board of Directors and became an employee in 1997. Garry started as a Loan Officer and became the company's first Loan Production Manager a couple of years later. Subsequently, Garry has held a large variety of positions within the company. He currently focuses on managing a sales team. Shortly after graduating from Waterloo Lutheran University with a Bachelors degree in Religion and Culture, Garry started his own business and became the youngest new car franchise dealer in the history of the Canadian automotive industry. He has been a member of the Board of Directors for numerous businesses and trade associations. He also served the Canadian Friends of the City of Hope, a cancer charity, as President.

Mark Warnell, Director of Administration

Mark Warnell began his career at Benchmark Lending Group as a Loan Officer in 2001. He was promoted to Loan Production Manager a year later and led a successful team of Loan Officers. In 2004, Mark switched to operations and business development. He currently manages human resources, recruiting, facilities, reception, I.T., and training. Mark has a Bachelors degree from the University of Oregon and he completed his Masters degree in Business Administration while working at Benchmark Lending Group as a Loan Officer.

Lowell Antze , Director of Information Technology

Lowell initially joined Benchmark Lending Group in 2005 as a technical consultant on loan origination systems. When Benchmark selected Destiny LOS as its new origination system, Lowell accepted a full time position as Programming Manager. Following the successful implementation of that system Lowell was promoted to Director of IT. Lowell manages all aspects of our technical infrastructure as well as the ongoing administration and customization of our loan origination system. Lowell has twenty-five years of experience providing technology solutions for the automation of loan origination business processes. He most recently worked for Framework, Inc in Tarrytown, New York and before that for North American Mortgage Company in Santa Rosa.

Monika Besancon, Operations Manager and Loan Origination System Project Manager
Monika joined Benchmark Lending Group in 2005 as a loan origination systems consultant. Shortly thereafter, we recruited Monika to be our Operations Manager. She now manages all aspects of the appraisal, underwriting, closing and funding departments. She also ensures that compliant, saleable, serviceable loans are delivered to our investors. Monika has worked in the mortgage industry for nearly three decades and has experience in the administration and management of nearly every aspect of the business including sales, operations, post closing, loan servicing, and software. She previously worked for Framework, Inc.; National City Mortgage; and North American Mortgage Company.

Michelle Leonard, Controller
Michelle has been with Benchmark Lending Group since 2003. She manages the finance department and ensures that the funding and sale of our loans are recorded correctly. Michelle also creates financial statements and other reports for the board of directors. Before joining the Benchmark team, Michelle was the Assistant Controller for Smith & Hawken and the Financial Reporting Manager for Restoration Hardware. Michelle holds a Bachelor of Arts in Management and Finance from St. Mary's College, CA.

Jodi Ehrlicher, Processing Manager
Jodi has been with Benchmark Lending Group for nearly seven years. She started as a receptionist and has also held the position of Closing/Funding Manager. Jodi trains and manages the processors who work directly with our sales teams. Our processors handle every loan from input to approval to submission, and keep the loan process running smoothly for our borrowers. Jodi and Keri work closely to keep the processing department running efficiently and effectively.

Keri Gomes, Processing Manager
Keri came to Benchmark Lending Group in 1999 as a Receptionist and then transferred to the Processing Department. As Processing Manager, Keri oversees the Processing Department, manages the pipeline, helps train new Processors, and keeps reports up-to-date. Keri has prior experience in the mortgage industry from National Bank of the Redwoods.

Jackson Chesley, Manager of the Non-Prime and Outbound Divisions
Jackson has worked with Benchmark Lending Group for over six years. His first position at Benchmark was Loan Officer. He then moved to the Secondary Marketing department. He later returned to sales as a Loan Production Manager. Jackson is now heading up the Non-Prime and Outbound divisions. In this capacity, he develops, staffs, and runs these departments, which specialize in customer retention, and helping borrowers who do not fit standard loan criteria. Jackson has also worked for Costco and Round Table.

Kerrie Chambers, Sales Team Leader
Kerrie was recruited by Benchmark Lending Group in 2000 as a loan officer. She has also held the position of Training Manager and Outbound Manager. Currently, Kerrie is managing a team of loan officers and works with them to structure loans and maintain a high level of customer service. Before coming to Benchmark, Kerrie was a Senior Account Executive at Household Finance. Kerrie holds B.A.s in Economics and History, and a Minor in Education from University of California, Davis.

Rafael Johnson, Sales Team Leader
Rafael came to Benchmark Lending Group as a loan officer in 2002 and was promoted to team leader in 2005. Rafael manages and trains a team of loan officers. He ensures the quality of his team's performance and that each borrower receives the mortgage that best suits their needs. Rafael has also worked for Road Runner and Roadway package systems.