MBA NENY Board Members
President
Joe DeLeva
In his role of Vice President, Mortgage Operations Senior Manager at Arrow Bank, Joe leads mortgage operations with a focus on efficient pipeline management, process improvement and regulatory compliance. He partners closely with technology teams to implement system enhancements and drive operational scalability while maintaining a strong customer experience. With more than 20 years of industry experience, he brings a well-rounded perspective spanning sales, secondary marketing, operations and leadership.
Joe DeLeva
Over the course of his career, Joe has developed and mentored high-performing teams, overseen branch performance, supported the rollout of new products and led organizations through system implementations and changing market dynamics.
Vice President
Kristyn Kamber
Kristyn Kamber
Treasurer
Joseph Senecal
Joe has had a 30-year career in the financial services and mortgage banking industry and is Treasurer of SEFCU Mortgage Services. He began his career at KeyCorp rising through various Finance positions. After leaving KeyCorp he was Named Treasurer of Home Funding Finders, Inc.
Joe is an alumnus of Siena College graduating with a Business Administration – Accounting degree. He has taken several American Bankers and Mortgage Bankers Association courses. He is a lifetime resident of the area and had served on several not-for-profit boards.
Secretary
Kara Guthrie
Kara has been in the mortgage banking industry since 1995, and currently is a mortgage loan originator for New American Funding. She has helped thousands of clients navigate the volatile mortgage cycles of the past three decades to secure the financing that was right for them. Over the years, she has built trusted relationships with selling agents, buying agents and attorneys that, along with her extensive knowledge of the home buying process, enables her to deliver superior personal service through the mortgage process.
Kara Guthrie
Kara takes great pride in helping clients make their dreams of home ownership a financial reality.
Immediate Past President
Sherri Eckles
Sherri is Senior Vice President and Market Manager at Norcom Mortgage, where she works with an incredible team of professionals who share her passion for giving back to their community and helping people achieve their homeownership dreams, especially in underserved communities. She has 30 years of affordable housing, advocacy and management experience in the public and private sectors.
Sherri is proud to have previously served as the Senior Vice President of Single Family Programs at the State of New York Mortgage Agency, where she oversaw program and policy development that resulted in a 10% increase in lending to minority borrowers. She was recently appointed as a member of the HUD Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee, and served on the Advisory Board for HomeSmartNY, an association of housing counseling agencies across New York State. She graduated from Albany Law School in 2013 and has done pro bono work for a nonprofit organization that provides transitional housing for domestic violence victims since 2015. She is the Treasurer of the New York State MBA, and Co-Chairs their Legislative and Affordable Housing Committees.
Executive Director
Megan Izzo
Megan has been involved with the MBA NENY for the past several years, first serving as the Treasurer in 2015 and in 2019 transitioning to the role of Executive Director. In 2010 Megan began her career in the mortgage industry serving as a processor, underwriter, operational manager, and mortgage quality control before in 2018 moving into the world of Risk Management managing regulatory exams, remediation validation activities, and second line monitoring.
What she enjoys most about her job at Broadview and role with the MBA is collaborating with others to help bring their vision to life and do it in the most efficient way possible. Megan enjoys spending time with her family and friends, vacationing, cooking and shopping.
Board Member
Laura Guillerault
Laura Guillerault
he oversees operations ensuring smooth and effective pipeline management processes and continuously seeks out efficiencies to achieve department goals.
Joe's long-term commitment to the mortgage business, from helping families achieve their homeownership dreams, to helping colleagues develop into strong mortgage professionals, as well as networking with other key players in our field make him a valuable member of the board.
Board Member
Melissa Savage
Melissa Savage is the Vice President of Mortgage Lending at Sunmark Credit Union. Melissa has been with Sunmark since 2004 when she joined as a Mortgage Processor and has held several roles with increasing responsibility throughout her tenure.
With almost 20 years of lending experience, Melissa has extensive lending knowledge from loan origination through servicing. Melissa has been involved with many projects including system conversions, mergers, paperless initiative and hybrid e-closings, along with new product rollouts. She continues to enhance the mortgage department with her standards for efficiency, quality and service.
Board Member
Dan Alix
For more than a 17 year, I've enjoyed working in several positions at Broadview including member service associate, consumer loan specialist, and mortgage loan assistant.
I believe my experience on all fronts, has given me the knowledge and ability to provide the best customer service possible.
My passion for real estate started in 2019 when I began originating mortgages, helping people achieve their goals of homeownership.
Dan Alix
Most importantly, I understand how exciting and stressful the home buying process can be. I want to make it as enjoyable as possible for you, whether it is your first home, investment property or you are refinancing. I look forward to being the one you can trust to get you to the closing table.
Board Member
Paul Hurley
As a longtime resident of the capital district, Paul is proud to have served the area in the mortgage field since 1992. In addition to originating, he has managed, mentored and coached new and experienced loan officers. In his current role as a CRA specialist for M&T bank he has been able to use his experience in and passion for the mortgage industry to assist first time home buyers to reach their goal of home ownership.
He enjoys a good relationship with the housing agencies serving the needs of first time homebuyers. From teaching at homebuyer seminars to serving as a resource for the councilors, Paul is able to expand my connections and assist more future homeowners.
Board Member
Karen DeAngelus
Karen has practiced law in the Capital District for over twenty-five years. For more than twenty-two of those years, her career has centered on representing buyers, sellers, and lenders in real estate–related transactions. In addition, as an owner and former manager of a title company, Karen has extensive experience reviewing title searches and resolving complex title-related issues. She understands that the purchase or sale of a home is often the largest transaction undertaken in one’s lifetime.
Karen DeAngelus
Clients welcome and appreciate Karen’s willingness to educate them on the nuances of purchasing, financing, and selling a home. Karen believes communication is the cornerstone of guiding her clients from the initial contract to the closing table as smoothly as possible.
Board Member
Casey Puco
Casey Puco is an Account Manager at Essent , a leading private mortgage insurance and risk management company dedicated to helping borrowers achieve sustainable homeownership. She supports mortgage professionals throughout New York and Connecticut, partnering closely with lenders to help them grow their business, navigate changing market conditions, and deliver smooth, successful loan experiences for homebuyers.
With over 25 years in the mortgage industry and 9 years at Essent , Casey is known for building strong relationships, providing responsive support, and being a trusted resource for her clients. Her collaborative approach and deep understanding of mortgage insurance make her a valued partner to the mortgage community.
Board Member
Chris Rogers
Chris has worked in the mortgage industry since 2006 and is currently the Underwriting Manager with Sunmark Credit Union. Chris has extensive experience in a myriad of roles including processing, closing, auditing, and underwriting. In his current role Chris stays up to date on guidelines for the various programs offered at Sunmark, assisting our team in qualifying borrowers for homeownership.
Chris has strong roots in the Capital Region, growing up in Clifton Park and graduating from Shenendehowa, and returning to the area after graduating from University at Buffalo. Outside of work Chris enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing golf, and supporting his favorite NY sports teams.
Board Member
Pratik Shah
Pratik joined Trustco Bank in 2014 as an assistant branch manager. Well versed with different aspects of banking he has been able to work his way to an Assistant Vice President of Business development. He heads a team a 6 loan originator spread across 5 states. Being with the bank for over 10 years, he is a wealth of knowledge on mortgages and other bank products.
Pratik Shah
He's been happily married for 12 years and has a 4-year-old son. When he's not working, you might find him traveling, watching movies/ sports, or simply cherishing quality time with his family.
Board Member
Dale Josephson
Dale is the Secondary and Construction Risk Manager at NBT Bank. Originally from Southern Connecticut, he relocated to the Capital Region in 2019. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama and has worked in the mortgage industry since 2017, with a focus on secondary markets.
Dale Josephson
Dale is driven to improve efficiency, accuracy, and transparency within the organizations he supports and enjoys the complexities and daily challenges of mortgage capital markets. Outside of work, he enjoys golf, going to the track, and spending time with his family.