Experienced mortgage leader transitions from the independent mortgage banking sector to help NEXA build the next generation of high-performing loan officers.

PHOENIX, Nov. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — NEXA Lending, the nation’s largest mortgage brokerage, is proud to announce the appointment of Susie Cheatham as National Sales Director. Cheatham brings an extensive background in mortgage sales leadership, regional expansion, recruiting and professional development, adding a valuable perspective to NEXA’s growing national leadership team.

Having spent much of her career in the independent mortgage banking (IMB) sector, Cheatham’s decision to join NEXA reflects her belief in the evolving needs of mortgage professionals, the importance of entrepreneurship and the opportunity to build sustainable businesses through the independent broker channel.

“We’re not interested in simply growing for the sake of growing. We’re building an organization where the best mortgage professionals in the country have the opportunity to achieve more than they ever thought possible,” said Mike Kortas, Founder of NEXA. “Susie has spent her career proving that she knows how to build teams, develop talent, and drive production at scale. Bringing someone with her experience and leadership into NEXA speaks to where we’re going as a company. We want the best people in this industry, and we want to give them a platform where there’s no ceiling on what they can accomplish.”

Cheatham began her mortgage career as a loan originator before transitioning into leadership, where she quickly developed a reputation for building strong teams and identifying untapped opportunities for growth.

During her tenure at Bay Equity, she progressed from managing a small Kansas City branch to overseeing a regional organization that ranked among the company’s top three in both units and volume. Her leadership included expanding operations into the Dallas market, building production capacity to support a significant real estate agent network and developing teams across multiple markets.

A Trusted Leadership Relationship Reunited

An important factor in Cheatham’s decision to join NEXA was the opportunity to work once again with NEXA CEO Geri Farr, a leader with whom she had previously worked during her time at Bay Equity.

Their established professional relationship, built on mutual trust, shared expectations and a commitment to developing people, gave Cheatham confidence in the leadership and direction of the organization.

“Having worked with Geri before, I know the kind of leader she is and the environment she creates for the people around her,” said Cheatham. “There is an incredible level of trust that comes from knowing someone has your back, believes in your abilities and gives you the freedom to build. That relationship was absolutely one of the reasons NEXA felt like the right place for me to take this next step.”

For Farr, welcoming Cheatham to NEXA represents both a meaningful professional reunion and an opportunity to strengthen the company’s national leadership team.

“I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Susie before, and I know firsthand the kind of leader she is,” said Geri Farr, CEO of NEXA Lending. “She doesn’t just build production; she builds people, relationships, and teams that genuinely want to succeed together. What makes Susie so special is her ability to recognize the potential in others and help them see it in themselves. Having her join us at NEXA is meaningful to me personally, but even more exciting is what I know she’ll bring to NEXA Nation. She’s exactly the kind of leader we want helping shape our future.”

Building for the Future of Mortgage Lending

For Cheatham, the next chapter of her career was never simply about finding another leadership position. It was about finding an organization that shared her appetite for building, evolving and challenging conventional thinking.

“What really excited me was the leadership and the way NEXA is approaching a market where everyone else is feeling deflated,” said Cheatham. “They’re hungry. They’re approaching the market with eagerness and tenacity rather than a victim mentality. That was incredibly appealing to me.”

Cheatham also recognized that the changing mortgage environment demands greater flexibility, broader product availability and the ability to adapt quickly to evolving consumer needs. Rather than bringing a traditional retail approach into the wholesale environment, she sees an opportunity to leverage her experience while preserving the entrepreneurial independence that makes the broker model distinct.

In her new role, Cheatham will work alongside National Sales Directors Todd Bitter and John Flores, contributing to national recruiting, business development and the expansion of NEXA’s internal coaching initiatives. A central focus will be developing an individualized coaching experience designed to help motivated loan officers identify their strengths, understand their business patterns and implement repeatable systems for sustainable growth.

“Number one is motivation. If they have the will to do it, we want to work with them,” said Cheatham. “We want to understand their motivation, their patterns and how they approach their business. Then we can build systems and processes around who they are and how they naturally operate.”

Her philosophy challenges the idea that every loan officer should be expected to build a business in exactly the same way. While foundational systems may remain consistent, Cheatham believes their implementation should reflect each professional’s personality, values, strengths and long-term ambitions.

That same approach will extend to her recruiting efforts, particularly when connecting with successful originators and established mortgage leaders who may be considering their next opportunity.

“The opportunity is limitless,” said Cheatham. “If you’re an entrepreneur-minded person, this is where you should be. Leadership is constantly looking for ways to help more people fit, thrive and learn from one another.” For Cheatham, meaningful professional growth also requires a willingness to examine whether today’s environment can support tomorrow’s ambitions. “If you’re not building your business around the future version of yourself, you’ll never get there,” she said.

Beyond production and recruiting, Cheatham brings a personal commitment to helping professionals create success without sacrificing their families or personal priorities. Having built her own career while raising children, she understands firsthand the importance of surrounding yourself with the right leadership, resources and support.

“My family was always first, no matter what,” said Cheatham. “I never missed a moment, and that was because of who I surrounded myself with and the support that I had. I want other mothers to know they can have that too, without giving up their business.”

Her appointment reinforces NEXA’s continued investment in leadership, education and the development of mortgage professionals capable of building businesses on their own terms.

For Cheatham, the opportunity is not simply to grow an organization, but to help create an environment where ambitious people have the freedom, guidance and support to reach their full potential.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nexa-lending-welcomes-susie-cheatham-as-national-sales-director-strengthening-its-commitment-to-coaching-recruiting-and-leadership-development-302927098.html

SOURCE NEXA Lending