2026 Program Highlights

Opening Remarks

9:45 AM - 9:50 AM

Speaker: Nicholas Castronova, NYAMB President

& Conference Chair

General Session A: The Day the Wire Never Showed Up: Everything You Need to Know About DFS Risk Assessments

9:55 AM - 10:15 AM

Speaker: Walter Contreras, CEO, Motiva Networks

A loan officer clicks a link on a Friday afternoon. Thirty days later, the buyer and seller are sitting at the closing table, and the wire never arrives. Walter Contreras walks through how a real wire fraud attack unfolds inside a mortgage office, step by step, and what a real DFS risk assessment would have caught. You'll leave knowing what DFS's September 10 letter actually asks for, how AI changes your risk, and what you're really signing when you file your Compliance Notification by April 15.

General Session B: Non-QM Expansion & Alternative Lending Strategies

10:20 AM – 10:40 AM

Speaker:

Harry Arzrounian, Account Executive

Cake Mortgage

Speaker:

Richard Dwyer, Wholesale Account Executive

AD Mortgage

DSCR & Bank-statement loans! Two Speakers. Two Companies. New Lending Opportunities! Discover new ways to grow your business in today’s competitive mortgage market!

Join Harry Arzrounian of Cake Mortgage and Richard Dwyer of AD Mortgage as they each spotlight unique Non-QM lending products and alternative financing solutions designed to help New York mortgage brokers expand their reach and close more deals. Explore opportunities in DSCR, bank-statement loans, and other flexible lending programs that can help you serve more borrowers, unlock new revenue streams, and stay ahead of the competition.

General Session C: Affordable Housing, Down‑Payment Assistance & Community Lending

10:45 AM – 11:15 AM

Speaker: Darrelle Forde, Senior Vice President of Single Family Programs, SONYMA

New York’s affordability crisis is pushing:

State and municipal DPA programs
CRA‑aligned lending
First‑time buyer incentives

Brokers who master these programs win market share in underserved communities. Join us for this high‑value session to learn how New York’s DPA, CRA‑aligned lending, and first‑time buyer programs can help you unlock new pipelines, expand your client base, and position your business as the go‑to resource for today’s affordability‑driven market.

General Session D: Winning in Today’s Market

11:20 AM – 11:40 AM

Speaker: Allen Beydoun, Chief Client Officer
United Wholesale Mortgage

Elevate your game and dominate the current mortgage landscape. This dynamic session is tailored for independent loan officers ready to unlock their full potential. Discover how to cultivate a winning mindset, focusing your energy on what truly drives results, and distinguish yourself with a truly professional approach. Allen will reveal the power of consistent action in generating unparalleled opportunities and why proactive engagement is key to maximizing your most precious resource: your time. Dive deep into advanced strategies that streamline your process and position you as the effortless partner of choice for clients and real estate agents alike.

Walk away with a personalized roadmap for significant growth and concrete steps to achieve your ambitious goals for 2027 and beyond.

General Session E: Hacked Without Being “Hacked”: How AI & Social Engineering Are Beating Traditional Security

11:45 AM – 12:05 PM

Speaker: Al Alper, CEO, Absolute Logic

Cybercriminals no longer need to “hack” their way through your firewall to get what they want.

Increasingly, they are using AI-powered impersonation, social engineering, phishing, deepfakes and information gathered from social media to manipulate people into opening the door for them.

In this fast-paced, practical session, Al Alper, cybersecurity and compliance expert, and CEO of Absolute Logic, will demonstrate how today’s attacks are evolving, why even security-conscious businesses can be fooled, and what warning signs should immediately put you on alert. Attendees will see how criminals exploit trust, urgency, and familiarity—and learn simple, actionable ways to protect themselves, their employees, their clients and their businesses.Throughout the session, Al will highlight specific BOLOs—“Be On the Lookout” warning signs—you can take back to your office and start using immediately.

General Session F: Wholesale Lender Differentiation & Broker Loyalty Programs — Speed Showcase Edition with Top Industry Experts represented.

12:10 PM – 12:40 PM

Speakers:

Allen Beydoun

Chief Client Officer

Unted Wholesale Mortgage

Harry Arzrounian

Account Executive

Cake Mortgage

Deborah Robertson (DCR) VP of Wholesale Lending Production

Plaza Home Mortgage

Shane DeSimone
National Business Development Manager at Dart Bank Wholesale

Jordan Fuchs
Senior Account Executive

Pennymac TPO

Arthur P. Saitta
Business Development Officer
Ridgewood Savings Bank

Lenders are rolling out: Broker rewards, Co-marketing, Tech integrations and Faster turn-times. Brokers want to know which lenders are truly supporting their growth. In a competitive market, brokers need lender partners who truly invest in their success. This session breaks down how today’s top wholesalers are standing out through broker reward programs, co-marketing support, tech integrations, and faster turn times. You’ll learn how to identify which lenders genuinely drive your growth, strengthen your client experience, and help you close more loans with less friction. If you want to build a smarter lender mix and maximize every partnership, this is a must-attend session for scaling your business. This fast-paced “lender speed-dating” session is not a panel.

This session will gives brokers a unique opportunity to hear directly from top wholesale lenders—each with just five minutes to pitch what truly sets them apart. From broker reward programs and co-marketing support to tech integrations and faster turn times, you’ll get rapid-fire insights into which lenders are genuinely investing in broker success. This format lets you quickly compare value, identify new partnership opportunities, and build a smarter lender mix that drives growth. If you want to know who’s really earning your business in today’s competitive market, this is a must-attend session.

Exhibit Hall Open: Buffet Lunch/Annual Meeting & Industry Awards:

12:45 PM – 2:00 PM

Enjoy a relaxed full hot buffet lunch with open bar as you explore the Exhibit Hall, connect with top wholesale lenders and industry partners, and discover new products, technology, and services designed to grow your business. This midday event also features our Annual Membership Meeting and Industry Awards, where we recognize outstanding professionals in wholesale mortgage and celebrate the achievements that strengthen New York’s mortgage community. It’s the perfect blend of networking, learning, and honoring excellence, the most exciting hour of the day.

General Session G: The Million-Dollar Mistake: Why Deals Die on Credit

2:05 PM - 2:25 PM

Speaker: Micah Smith, Founder and President, Micah Abigail LLC

Your pipeline is bleeding at the credit pull. Too many deals die on credit. Branches are losing millions a year. Loan

officers are losing thousands. Some, millions. In 20 minutes, I'll give you the credit answers you never knew you were missing. Not because you're bad at your job. Because credit isn't your job. It's mine. No theory. Just answers.

General Session H: Think Bigger, Close Bigger: Growing Your Mortgage Business with Jumbo Loans

2:30 PM – 2:50 PM

Speaker: DCR, Deborah Robertson, VP of Wholesale Lending Production

Don't let conventional loan limits hold back your business! Join Deborah Robertson (aka DCR) of Plaza Home Mortgage for an informative session exploring jumbo loan products and opportunities designed to help mortgage brokers compete in today's high-value housing market.

General Session I: Title Insurance: A Necessary Evil or Essential Protection?

2:55 PM - 3:15 PM

Speaker: Jamie Agoglia, Owner, Ram Abstract Ltd.

Would you lend without title insurance? Join Jamie Agoglia, Owner of RAM Abstract Ltd., for a practical discussion on title risks, claims avoidance, and protecting lenders, mortgage brokers, and consumers.

Learn how understanding title insurance can help prevent costly issues, protect investments, and facilitate smoother closings.

General Session J: Commercial & Mixed-Use Lending for Residential Brokers

3:20 PM - 3:40 PM

Speaker: Richard Campbell, First VP, Emigrant Funding

More brokers are crossing into:Small-balance commercial

Mixed-use and Multifamily. Unlock New Revenue Opportunities with Commercial & Mixed-Use Lending!

Ready to expand your business, increase your commissions,

and tap into new lending opportunities? More residential mortgage brokers are discovering the profit potential of small-balance commercial, mixed-use, and multifamily lending—and you could be next! Join us for this high-impact session designed to show mortgage brokers how to break into these lucrative markets, identify new borrowers, structure deals with confidence, and build relationships with lenders who can help get deals closed.For brokers who also hold a real estate license, these opportunities can provide an added advantage in identifying investment properties, expanding client relationships, and creating new avenues for business growth.

Don't leave money on the table! Learn how to diversify your pipeline, generate new referral opportunities, stand out from the competition, and turn commercial lending into a powerful new revenue stream.

NY Real Estate Market Update & 2027 Housing Forecast

3:45 PM – 4:10 PM

Speaker: Michael Fong, Past President of Brooklyn Chapter, 2027 National Policy Chair - Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA)

Get an overview of New York’s real estate market and the 2027 housing forecast, exploring key trends shaping both the housing and mortgage industries. This session will highlight market conditions, interest rate trends, buyer demand, and financing opportunities to help real estate and mortgage professionals better understand the market, anticipate changes, and prepare for the year ahead.

Networking with your Piers in Exhibit Hall / Raffles, Food, Open Bar

4:15 PM - 5:45 PM Reception sponsored by: UWM

Wrap up the day with relaxed, high‑value networking as you connect with fellow mortgage brokers, top wholesale lenders, and industry partners in the Exhibit Hall. Enjoy great food, an open bar, and your chance to win big during our Raffle Hour — including FREE 2027 memberships, CE classes, and the grand prize 70" Smart TV. TV Sponsored by Ram Abstract, LTd. In addition to the FREE Raffles all drawings for items on our massive Raffle Table will be drawn at the networking reception. Our raffles are very popular and enjoyed by all attendees. Bring Cash! Tickets for the raffle table will be sold on site for 10 tickets for $20. This is the perfect mix of relationship‑building and celebration, all happening right where the action is.