Our Team

Meet the Leadership of NEXA, Click the images to learn more about them.

Mike Kortas

C.E.O. of NEXA

Paul Adams

C.I.O. of NEXA 

Michael Neill

AXEN Director

Chris Porter

General Counsel of NEXA

Dan Fouts

LOS Director of NEXA

Rana Mortensen

Executive Director of NEXA

Karen Enslin

BDM Director of NEXA

Apple Bugarin

Payroll and Ledger Director of NEXA

Bella Cayme

Recruitment Operations Manager of NEXA

Rommel Ungria

Front Desk and Ring Central Director of NEXA

May Cortez

Team Lead of Compliance of NEXA

Aylah Abas

Team Lead of Licensing Team of NEXA

Rachelle Daguman

Team Lead of HR of NEXA

Rudolfo Lanuza

VA Manager/Director 

Crystal Gehrmann

Manager of Credit Operations & Event Planning of NEXA

MIKE KORTAS

Mike Kortas, CEO and founder of NEXA Mortgage, is a force to be reckoned within the mortgage industry, bringing over 20 years of experience to the table. Since launching NEXA Mortgage in 2017, Kortas has led the company to become the largest mortgage broker in the U.S., with 2,500+ loan officers across 48 states. He doesn’t just follow the industry’s playbook—he rewrites it, relentlessly pushing for growth, innovation, and dominance.

His vision is clear: grow faster, push harder, and take over the market. Kortas’ unyielding ambition has fueled NEXA’s rapid expansion, and he’s setting his sights on doubling the company’s loan officer count by 2025. No one in the industry is safe from his hunger to disrupt and lead NEXA Mortgage to new heights.

Kortas doesn’t settle for mediocrity. His leadership is bold, transparent, and laser-focused on dominating the mortgage brokerage space. With his relentless drive, NEXA Mortgage is poised to leave competitors scrambling to catch up.

PAUL ADAMS

Paul Adams, the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at NEXA Mortgage, brings over four decades of IT leadership and strategic oversight to his role. He is responsible for spearheading IT strategy, innovation, and operations across NEXA and its affiliates, Jet NEXA and Fly NEXA. His role is crucial in ensuring that technology not only enhances enterprise efficiency, compliance, and growth but also keeps NEXA at the forefront of the industry through cutting-edge AI integration.

Key Achievements:

Strategic IT Leadership: Paul has guided major IT environments through significant transformations, enhancing secure infrastructures and optimizing systems to align with overarching business goals.

AI Integration and Competitive Edge: Paul oversees enterprise-wide AI integration, ensuring NEXA remains competitive in a rapidly evolving market. His strategic vision focuses on leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance operational efficiencies and customer experiences.

Compliance and Security: With certifications in SOC and Cyber Security, Paul’s expertise is critical in establishing secure, regulatory-compliant systems and maintaining robust cybersecurity defenses.

Innovation and Growth: Throughout his career, Paul has driven the development of disaster recovery plans and the adoption of advanced technologies, continually improving operational efficiencies and business resilience.

Selected Leadership Roles: Appointed by Lt. Col. Ronald L. Johnson to oversee a significant infrastructure redesign for the United States Airforce, 56th Medical group, Paul implemented extensive system improvements that boosted overall operational efficiency.

Entrepreneurial Leadership: Founder of Arizona Onsite Computer Services LLC, Paul has supported hundreds of corporate and thousands of residential clients across Arizona.

Certifications:

– CIO Innovative Certification Award

– Executive Team Leader Award

– SOC Reporting Certification

– International Corporate Security & Intelligence Certificate

– Emergency Infrastructure Management Planning Certification

Paul combines a strong foundation in IT governance with a proactive approach to technology leadership, constantly driving NEXA to adopt innovative solutions that ensure market leadership and sustained growth.

MICHAEL NEILL

My career in mortgage lending is marked by a commitment to building strong relationships and exceeding goals, demonstrated by my role in growing a start-up to $18 million in annual revenue and consistent recognition as a top producer by Mortgage Broker Magazine. As a Loan Officer and Recruiter at NEXA Mortgage, I consistently achieve Presidents Club status and leverage my experience to mentor others.

Beyond my professional life, I am deeply involved in community service, notably as Chairman of the Board at Broker’s Care/NEXA Cares and through over three decades of service to the Boys & Girls Club of the East Valley. Currently, as Director of the Non-Delegated Correspondent division at NEXA Mortgage, I am focused on building a successful team and streamlining the mortgage process for Loan Officers, emphasizing collaboration and mutual success.

CHRIS PORTER

Christopher “Chris” Porter, the General Counsel of NEXA Mortgage, LLC, is responsible for managing the company’s legal affairs. As General Counsel, Chris leads the company’s legal affairs by providing strategic legal counsel to the company’s executive team, overseeing litigation and regulatory enforcement matters, and advising on matters related to the company’s business. His extensive experience in business, financial services, and the mortgage industry coupled with his expertise in contract negotiation, litigation, risk management, and operations make him an essential member of the company’s executive team.

DAN FOUTS

Dan Fouts began his journey at NEXA Mortgage as a dedicated Loan Officer, quickly establishing himself as a trusted advisor and knowledgeable resource for both clients and colleagues. His passion for helping others succeed in the mortgage industry propelled him into leadership, where he took on the role of Loan Officer Support Director. In this position, Dan played a key role in supporting and mentoring loan officers across the company, fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence.
Today, Dan serves as the Director of both Loan Officer Support (LOS) and NEXA University, where he leads training and development initiatives designed to empower loan officers at every stage of their careers. Through his work with NEXA University, Dan curates and organizes a robust schedule of educational webinars, workshops, and resources that enhance knowledge, sharpen skills, and drive production. His leadership continues to shape the success and growth of NEXA’s loan officer community nationwide.

RANA MORTENSEN

Rana is the Executive Director of NEXA Mortgage, striving to be a force multiplier, eagerly taking on any challenge, and supporting all departments. She works alongside our CEO, Mike Kortas, in envisioning and executing the company’s strategic plans for the future.
Founder of our “Women of NEXA” group (WON), created to recognize, support, and empower women within our organization and throughout the industry.
As a leader, she is dedicated to upholding honesty, integrity, and a relentless pursuit of success for NEXA Mortgage and our valued partners. Her every decision is guided by this unwavering commitment to excellence.

KAREN ENSLIN

With over 30 years of experience in the Real Estate and Finance industries, she has cultivated a diverse and dynamic career. Beginning as a teller at NBT Bank, her journey progressed through roles like Manager of Collections at Navy Federal Credit Union and Vault Specialist at Bank of America.

While her foundation is in finance, a passion for real estate has remained constant. After a brief stint as a Realtor, she returned to the financial side, joining NEXA in 2020. Through dedication, she advanced to her current role as Business Development Director for Corporate NEXA, where she leverages her coaching skills and analytical abilities to drive growth in both sectors.

APPLE BUGARIN

Starting her career at NEXA in March 2022 as an Accounting Specialist, she quickly made her mark, advancing to Interim Director of the Ledger Department by July 2022. Her impressive contributions led to her promotion to Director of the Ledger Department in January 2023. Her dedication to continuous improvement and her forward-thinking approach earned her even greater responsibilities. By July 2024, she was entrusted with overseeing both the Ledger and Payroll departments, a role that showcased her ability to manage complex, high-impact areas of the business. Her rapid rise in just three years is a testament not only to her expertise in accounting but also to her ability to lead diverse teams, foster collaboration, and drive organizational success. With each step forward, she has consistently demonstrated her capability to manage growth, navigate challenges, and deliver results.

BELLA CAYME

Bella is a driven leader with a proven track record of rapid advancement. Starting as a retail generalist at Amazon, she quickly became a supervisor and later excelled as an Operations Manager at T-Mobile. Her diverse experience includes roles at Century 21, 411 Locals, and as a Business Executive Director at SWC. A dedicated educator with a Bachelor’s in Secondary Education, Bella also serves as the Recruitment Head of Operations for NEXA. Nearly three years ago, she boldly accepted the challenge from CEO Mike Kortas to build this department from scratch, transforming a simple question into a significant success through her risk-taking spirit and collaborative approach. Bella’s journey exemplifies seizing opportunities and achieving remarkable growth through determination and vision.

ROMMEL UNGRIA

Started his career in 2020 as the first Filipino NEXA Front Desk Officer and quickly advanced to the role of Team Leader. In 2022, he was appointed as the Team Leader for NEXA Consumer Relations and took on additional responsibilities, managing the JetNEXA and FlyNEXA RingCentral phone systems. Renowned for his leadership, he has successfully guided the most team members to promotions. Currently, he oversees the NEXA Front Desk, NEXA Consumer Relations Team, and JetNEXA/FlyNEXA RingCentral phone system management.

MAY CORTEZ

Dedicated to upholding regulatory excellence, May Cortez has been with NEXA Mortgage for a few years. She creates a cooperative and upbeat work atmosphere that encourages cooperation and career advancement. Her dedication to honesty and openness helps the business succeed in providing outstanding mortgage services.

AYLAH ABAS

Aylah Abas is the Licensing Manager with a strong background in company, branch, and individual licensing, including NMLS branch registration. She collaborates with state regulators to navigate licensing requirements, ensure compliance with state policies, and streamline the licensing process. With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of industry regulations, Aylah is committed to maintaining compliance and supporting the growth of the organization.

RACHELLE DAGUMAN

Rachelle is an experienced HR and onboarding professional with over 4 years of expertise at NEXA. Skilled in streamlining the onboarding process, ensuring smooth employee integration, and fostering a positive work environment. Known for clear communication, attention to detail, and a strong commitment to helping NEXA employees.

RUDOLFO LANUZA

Rudolfo Lanuza heads NEXA Mortgage’s Virtual Assistant Program, leveraging his 10 years of experience co-founding a VA company in the Philippines to provide cost-effective staffing solutions. His extensive HR and leadership background drives innovation and talent acquisition within the program.

Rudolfo oversees the entire VA lifecycle, from recruitment and matching to performance management and policy implementation. He ensures efficient processes, thorough vetting, and clear communication, fostering a positive work environment and addressing conflicts fairly. He also manages record-keeping, ensures compliance, and provides ongoing support for the program.

CRYSTAL GERHMANN

With a strong foundation in strategic planning, relationship development, and innovative problem-solving, I thrive on building meaningful partnerships that drive growth and create a lasting impact. I specialize in identifying opportunities to streamline complex processes, enhance client experiences, and deliver exceptional value through thoughtful collaboration and forward-thinking solutions. Whether through educational outreach, strategic initiatives, or everyday conversations, I bring energy, clarity, and purpose to everything I do—always with a focus on helping others reach their goals.

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