#USA #Mike Kortas #Vetted VA #Tom Ahles #Pottsboro

Vetted VA Forms Inaugural Board of Advisors

In a significant step forward for the advocacy of Veterans and their home loan benefits, Vetted VA has announced the formation of its inaugural Board of Advisors. Founded in 2019, Vetted VA has committed itself to supporting Veterans by enhancing professional standards and educational outreach within the mortgage industry. The newly established board encompasses notable figures from the wholesale mortgage community, including prominent leaders such as Mike Kortas, the Founder and CEO of NEXA Lending, and Tom Ahles, the Chief Growth Officer of Edge Home Finance. Together with esteemed Vetted VA professionals, Gay Veale, Jason Sharon, and Mike Alberico, this board aims to guide Vetted VA as it scales its efforts in providing valuable service to Veterans across the nation.

The primary focus of the board will be to broaden Vetted VA's educational initiatives, solidify professional standards, foster partnerships across the industry, and ensure a structured leadership growth. Christopher Griffith, the organization's Founder and CEO, emphasized the necessity of formalizing the advisory process to better serve Veterans, stating, "We have always asked for advice. We have simply never fully formalized the process." His vision underscores a commitment to uphold the organization's integrity while expanding its reach and impact.

Since its emergence in the mortgage sector, Vetted VA has urged professionals to prioritize the service they provide to Veterans over mere production metrics. This philosophy is encapsulated in their ranking system, which rates professionals on a scale from VVA1 through VVA7 based on comprehensive coursework, service standards, and a demonstrated dedication to continuous education. Nathan Knottingham, COO of Vetted VA, highlighted that, "Our professionals earn their standing through real work and real accountability, not production numbers."

The inclusion of influential leaders like Kortas and Ahles, who represent substantial players in the wholesale mortgage channel, reflects an unprecedented collaboration between competing companies for a cause that transcends mere business rivalry. Kortas articulated the essential nature of maintaining high standards, asserting, "Vetted VA has built something rare—a community that holds professionals accountable to the people they serve." This collective mission aims to enhance Veteran access to knowledgeable service providers who can effectively navigate the complexities of VA home loan benefits.

Vetted VA remains an independent entity, welcoming mortgage and real estate professionals from various backgrounds while strictly prohibiting recruiting within its community. This model ensures that professionals can engage in valuable education and collaborative opportunities without the pressure to change affiliations.

Since its inception, Vetted VA has facilitated over 5,190 VA loans, amounting to approximately $2.3 billion in origination volume. An impressive 39.5% of these loans were sourced directly from within the Vetted VA network, connecting Veterans with professionals educated under the organization's stringent standards. Vetted VA's community reach has grown significantly, now nearing 100,000 individuals across its digital platforms. This includes a thriving private Facebook group of approximately 88,800 members and a dedicated professional community with over 6,400 members.

Currently, Vetted VA has developed around 40 hours of specialized educational content, alongside several research publications aimed at informing the broader community. Notably, their 2026 VA Loan White Paper and the November 2025 field report on rising diversity in VA homebuying demonstrate a significant commitment to data-driven insights that can shape the future of Veteran housing. Statistics from the field report reveal that younger Veterans boast a 75% homeownership rate—an impressive figure compared to just 56.6% among their non-Veteran counterparts. This gap underscores the transformative power of the VA benefit when effective guidance is provided.

As they embark on their mission, Vetted VA's Board of Advisors will focus on amplifying educational availability, with plans to offer live classes daily by 2027. They also aim to further their collaboration through significant upcoming events like the VA Summit at AIME Fuse, which will unite professionals passionate about improving service delivery in VA lending.

In reflecting on the values upheld by Vetted VA, Alberico explained the organization's aim, stating, "The VA loan is the only mortgage program in the country that is earned, and those who have served deserve every opportunity to use that benefit." As Vetted VA progresses into a new chapter with its Board of Advisors, it continues to reinforce its core principles—education, transparency, and the committed protection of Veterans' rights to informed decision-making regarding their home loan benefits.

Conclusively, Griffith encapsulates the founder’s ethos by affirming, "True service means giving someone the information they need to make their own decision and understand the implications of every option." As the organization prepares to expand its influence, the collaboration fostered by the new advisory board symbolizes a hopeful future for Veterans and the professionals dedicated to their service.