Tony Taveekanjana
Mortgage Executive
Dallas,TX
Summary
Experienced mortgage executive with 25+ years of leadership and strategic planning expertise. Proven track record in driving business growth and achieving operational excellence through innovative approaches. Skilled in fostering effective team collaboration and consistently delivering exceptional results. Dedicated professional with a successful industry track record.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
VP, Head of Strategic Growth
First United Bank
02.2025 - Current
- As a key member of the leadership team and Head of Strategic Growth, I drive high-impact initiatives that propel the Mortgage Division's expansion and success
- My responsibilities include scaling the sales force, accelerating business development, enhancing operational efficiency, and implementing innovative strategies for sustainable growth
Founder and CEO
Optimal Search Group
10.2023 - 02.2025
- As Founder and CEO of Optimal Search Group, I am committed to delivering top-tier talent and leadership solutions to the financial services industry
- With 25+ years of executive experience at leading institutions, I bring deep industry expertise, strategic insight, and a results-driven approach
- Optimal Search Group goes beyond recruitment-we provide consulting, executive coaching, and fractional leadership, serving over 25 premier mortgage lenders and banks
- Leveraging our vast network, industry knowledge, and cutting-edge strategies, we deliver tailored solutions that drive growth and long-term success
SVP, National Retail Mortgage Executive
First Savings Bank, Indiana
11.2022 - 10.2023
- As the National Retail Mortgage Executive of a publicly traded, federally chartered bank, I led the National Distributed Retail Lending Group, driving growth and operational excellence
- I built high-performing teams, optimized P&L and operations, and spearheaded marketing and product innovation
- Identified opportunities to improve business process flows and productivity.
SVP, National Retail Sales Executive
PenFed Credit Union
11.2021 - 11.2022
- Company Overview: the nation's second-largest credit union, managing $36 billion in assets
- As the National Sales Executive, I led the Distributed Retail Lending Group, driving significant growth across Retail and Consumer Direct
- I spearheaded talent acquisition, business development, and operational efficiency while overseeing P&L management, marketing strategy, product innovation, and sales performance
- Additionally, I cultivated strong interdepartmental relationships, earning trust and business from our branch network and PenFed Realty, a Berkshire Hathaway company
- Committed to fostering a high-performance culture, I enhanced employee engagement and organizational excellence, delivering industry-leading results
Co-Founder / CEO
Homeric
08.2020 - 11.2021
- As Co-Founder and CEO of Homeric, I was dedicated to providing the communities we served with highly competitive rates, innovative products, and world-class service
- As both a correspondent lender and broker, we leveraged our deep expertise in Retail to develop a hybrid model that empowered loan originators with the best of both worlds-offering unparalleled flexibility, pricing advantages, and a superior lending experience
- Our mission was to redefine mortgage lending by combining industry-leading resources with a client-first approach, ensuring exceptional outcomes for borrowers and professionals alike
EVP, Chief Production Officer
Gateway
11.2019 - 08.2020
- As Chief Production Officer, reporting directly to the CEO, I led the Mortgage Division of a federally chartered bank, driving strategic growth and operational excellence across Retail, Consumer Direct, and Correspondent Lending on a national scale
- I spearheaded talent acquisition, business development, and margin optimization while overseeing P&L management, marketing, compliance, product innovation, and sales performance
- Dedicated to cultivating a high-performance culture, I enhanced employee engagement and operational efficiency, delivering exceptional results and long-term sustainable growth
EVP, Head of Mortgage
Envoy Mortgage
12.2018 - 11.2019
- As Head of Mortgage, reporting directly to the CEO, I led the expansion of a $4B retail mortgage group, driving significant growth across a national footprint
- I oversaw operations, marketing, product development, and talent acquisition, with a sharp focus on strategic business development, operational optimization, and margin and P&L management
- Additionally, I played a pivotal role in refining marketing strategies, advancing product innovation, and maximizing sales performance
EVP, National Retail Sales Executive
Movement Mortgage
04.2013 - 12.2018
- As a National Retail Sales Executive, reporting directly to CEO Casey Crawford, I led one-third of the company's production, overseeing operations from Texas westward
- Under my leadership, Movement Mortgage experienced explosive growth, scaling from $2B to over $20B annually, becoming the fastest-growing mortgage company for several years and now a top 10 Retail Independent Mortgage Lender
- I was instrumental in expanding the retail sales force through strategic recruiting, social media engagement, and leveraging Marketing Service Agreements (MSAs) to drive business growth
- I also optimized margins, pricing concessions, and overall profitability while managing staffing and key performance indicators (KPIs) to enhance operational efficiency
- Additionally, I played a pivotal role in securing a successful $1B acquisition, further solidifying the company's market position and long-term success
EVP, Head of Retail Lending
Stearns Lending, Inc
06.2017 - 06.2018
- As Head of Retail Lending for a top-three overall lender, I led the strategic growth and operational excellence of the retail lending division, overseeing all sales, operations, marketing, and product development
- Managing a national footprint, I was responsible for optimizing margins, pricing strategies, and overall profitability to ensure the division's sustained success
- In addition to driving core retail expansion, I played a key role in managing Joint Ventures (JVs), Builder Accounts, and Mergers & Acquisitions, leveraging strategic partnerships to enhance market penetration and drive revenue growth
- My leadership focused on fostering innovation, operational efficiency, and a high-performance culture, positioning the company as an industry leader in retail mortgage lending
SVP, Division Vice President
New Penn Financial, LLC
09.2009 - 04.2013
- During my tenure, I built a retail lending group from the ground up, establishing a high-performing, scalable operation
- I successfully led the most profitable region in the country before expanding my role to develop and scale West Coast production and operations
- Overseeing both sales and operations, I drove sustainable, long-term profitability while optimizing efficiency and market expansion
SVP, Head of Mortgage - Florida
Fifth Third Bank
09.2007 - 09.2009
- As Head of Mortgage, I led all sales and operations for the mortgage lending group in Florida, driving growth and profitability across the region
- I collaborated closely with three Affiliate Presidents in Tampa, Orlando, and Naples while building strong interdepartmental relationships with leaders in Retail Banking, Wealth Management, Commercial, and Business Banking
- In addition to institutional partnerships, we prioritized self-sourced business within the communities we served, focusing heavily on relationships with real estate agents and both national and local builders
- As a result, we achieved the second-highest volume and profitability within the organization, solidifying our position as a top-performing division
Division Vice President
Countrywide Home Loans / Bank of America
10.2001 - 09.2007
- During my tenure, we grew to become the #1 lender in the nation
- Beginning as the #2 loan originator in the country, I quickly earned promotions by consistently delivering exceptional results and taking on new challenges
- My leadership expanded to overseeing national production for Full Spectrum Lending (FSL), and I ultimately led the top-performing region in the country for the Consumer Markets Retail Division (CMD), based in Florida
- My ability to drive growth, optimize operations, and develop high-performing teams played a key role in the company's nationwide success
Education
University of Tampa - John H. Sykes College of Business
Skills
Leadership
Strategic Planning & Growth
Sales & Operations
Process Improvement
Recruiting & Retention
Coaching & Mentoring
Marketing
P&L Management
Product & Business Development
Timeline
VP, Head of Strategic Growth
First United Bank
02.2025 - Current
Founder and CEO
Optimal Search Group
10.2023 - 02.2025
SVP, National Retail Mortgage Executive
First Savings Bank, Indiana
11.2022 - 10.2023
SVP, National Retail Sales Executive
PenFed Credit Union
11.2021 - 11.2022
Co-Founder / CEO
Homeric
08.2020 - 11.2021
EVP, Chief Production Officer
Gateway
11.2019 - 08.2020
EVP, Head of Mortgage
Envoy Mortgage
12.2018 - 11.2019
EVP, Head of Retail Lending
Stearns Lending, Inc
06.2017 - 06.2018
EVP, National Retail Sales Executive
Movement Mortgage
04.2013 - 12.2018
SVP, Division Vice President
New Penn Financial, LLC
09.2009 - 04.2013
SVP, Head of Mortgage - Florida
Fifth Third Bank
09.2007 - 09.2009
Division Vice President
Countrywide Home Loans / Bank of America
10.2001 - 09.2007
University of Tampa - John H. Sykes College of Business
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