How We Started

The Story of Champions

Champions Funding, LLC was founded in 2021 as a wholesale mortgage banker with a CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution) designation. Founded by proven industry leaders Evan M. Stone and Patty Arvielo, the company addresses the inequalities in homeownership that exist today.

Champions Funding offers unique Non-QM loan solutions for credit-worthy borrowers who don't fit traditional agency guidelines such as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, etc. As the need for modern and flexible programs grow, the Champions team adapts to serve its most diverse population of borrowers.

OUR CORE Business is 100% Non-QM

What We Do

Champions Funding offers a full suite of Non-QM loan products through our wholesale broker & correspondent (fully delegated and non-delegated) partnerships. The products have been designed for borrowers and real estate investors who may not qualify through traditional agency lending criteria.

We help approved business partners win the deal by offering a mix of relevant loan programs together with top-tier operation and fulfillment support.

Direct access and communication with empowered underwriters and decision-makers

1:1 support through daily live trainings, a staffed scenario desk, and self-service videos/tutorials

Frictionless loan processes combined with the industry's most broker-friendly LOS platform

Company Culture

Our Core Values

At the heart of the company is a dedicated team of mortgage professionals who are committed to upholding the company mission while providing the best client experience for mortgage brokers and loan officers as well as their borrowers. We offer the most inclusive Non-QM products in the mortgage industry.

Our team strives to uphold these three core values in our daily work to serve our greater mission.

#WeAreChampions

Service of Champions

Champions think Yes before NO. We act as catalyst in solving complicated challenges with simplified solutions.

Inspiring Champions

As Champions, we listen to understand versus listening to respond. We strive for a better way through learning from the team and embracing new ideas.

Integrity of Champions

Champs "Do the right thing. Period." We are committed to honesty, trust, and full transparency within our internal and external team members, as well as our community.

Diverse leaders. Proven mortgage professionals.

Meet Our Leadership Team

We are founders, entrepreneurs, and leaders coming together to fulfill the mission of serving the underserved.

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Evan M. Stone

CEO & Founder

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Bryan Filkey

President

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Maria Coh-Prospero

Chief Administrative Officer

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Charles Beveridge

General Counsel

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Jennifer Jackson-Gonzalez

Chief Compliance Officer

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Ranjeev Kumar

Chief Technology Officer

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Eugene Gorodetskiy

EVP Data & Analytics

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Annette Arevalo

SVP Customer Experience

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Tara Goodwin

SVP Post Closing

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Mellissa Rugh

SVP Operations

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Tiffany Sullivan

SVP Marketing

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Angela Castillo

SVP, Talent Acquisitions

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George Gagishvili

SVP Finance

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Jonathon Tansey

VP Capital Markets

Jennifer Jackson-Gonzalez

Chief Compliance Officer

With 25 years in the mortgage industry, Jennifer Jackson-Gonzalez brings unparalleled compliance, operations, and business development expertise to Champions Funding. Her extensive mortgage compliance experience, particularly in Originations Compliance for Wholesale, makes her an invaluable asset to the team. Jennifer excels in system administration, business rule development, and navigating complex examinations. A Non-QM compliance expert, she seamlessly integrates compliance requirements into business processes to improve efficiency and reduce risk while supporting organizational goals. At Champions Funding, Jennifer’s dedication ensures that innovation and compliance go hand in hand, paving the way for sustainable growth and excellence.

Mellissa Rugh

SVP Operations

Mellissa Rugh oversees the Operations Team dedicated to delivering an excellent customer experience. Bringing over 20 years of experience, she has spent her career in the mortgage industry, specializing in supporting a full product suite for the retail, wholesale and non-delegated arenas. During her career, she has operated large fulfillment centers & support organizations with a strategic focus on change management, process optimization, technology integrations, support tools, & documentation development. She has enjoyed working with many great mentors throughout her career, carrying forward suitable lessons to be an approachable & empathetic leader for her staff & customers. She is delighted to pause & celebrate wins with her remarkable team. Still, she does not shy away from discussing & focusing support resources on flaws & opportunities to improve the customer & employee experience.

Ranjeev Kumar

Chief Technology Officer

Ranjeev Kumar is a dynamic and visionary leader with over two decades of experience driving digital transformation and innovation, particularly in the financial and mortgage sectors. As an expert in AI/ML solutions, he excels in AI strategy development, team building, and cultivating a culture of AI adoption. Ranjeev has a proven track record of translating complex business challenges into actionable initiatives, delivering scalable solutions and operational efficiencies that ensure data integrity and enhance customer experiences. His leadership in improving decision-making and operational processes has made him a trusted figure in the AI space, consistently driving impactful results.

Angela Castillo

SVP, Talent Acquisitions

Angela Castillo is a dynamic talent acquisition professional with a proven track record in full-cycle recruiting and strategic talent development. With extensive experience in the mortgage industry, Angela has effectively collaborated with C-level executives and hiring managers to address recruitment needs, boost company productivity, and enhance team morale. Angela’s skills in talent sourcing, ATS management, and market strategy, coupled with her knack for headhunting top industry talent, have been instrumental in expanding organizations' footprint nationwide. She also brings strong capabilities in onboarding, social media branding, and negotiating to her role at Champions Funding.

George Gagishvili

SVP Finance

George Gagishvili is a finance professional with a strong background in fixed income markets and securitization. His passion for the field grew out of seeing how the mortgage market creates efficiency—from helping people achieve homeownership to delivering returns for investors through securitization. George takes a data-driven, analytical approach but pairs it with practical modeling and problem-solving, which helped earn him recognition as one of NMP’s 40 Under 40 Influential Achievers. Known for balancing growth with financial stability, he focuses on driving sustainable profitability while making a real impact for his team and the industry.

Jonathon Tansey

VP Capital Markets

With more than a decade of experience in capital and secondary markets, Jonathon Tansey applies strong analytical and quantitative skills to support financial modeling and decision making. Over the years, he’s fine-tuned best execution and MBS pooling strategies to help optimize gain on sale and drive results. Plus, he has played a key role in building lock desk procedures and expanding investor relationships. Jonathon thrives on solving the unique challenges of the Non-QM market, combining technical expertise with practical insight. He originally studied actuarial science before finding his calling in mortgage banking.

Evan M. Stone

CEO & Founder

Evan M. Stone has cemented his place as a leader in the mortgage industry. As the former Founder/CEO of Pacific Union Financial and owner of ClearVision Funding, he has repeatedly grown mortgage companies to the ultimate level of success. In Champions Funding, he is hyper-focused on building a team to serve underserved and underbanked communities of borrowers by providing access to loan products that fill a significant gap in the mortgage industry. Evan is also the Chairman of Community Savings Bank and a Co-Owner and Partner for Rep1 Sports agency – representing top names in the NFL, and MLB, including Cooper Kupp, Super Bowl LVI’s MVP, and Rafael Devers, current face of the Boston Red Sox.

Maria Coh-Prospero

Chief Administrative Officer

Maria is our Chief Administrative Officer, a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience. With more than ten years of specialized experience in the mortgage and servicing industry, Maria is an expert in managing HR, IT, Servicing Oversight, and Client and Broker Management. Maria is known for her ability to get things done. She has a proven track record of driving organizational effectiveness through strategic leadership, team building, and talent management. Her extensive industry knowledge and keen eye for emerging trends enable her to create innovative solutions that meet the needs of our clients and partners, both internal and external.

Charles Beveridge

General Counsel

Charles Beveridge is an accomplished attorney with over two decades of experience in consumer finance law and mortgage banking. He currently serves as General Counsel at Champions Funding. Before joining Champions, Charles held senior legal positions at PrimeLending, Fannie Mae, Rushmore Loan Management Services, Prospect Mortgage, and Caliber Home Loans. Charles began his career in private practice where he represented high-profile financial services institutions who originate and service residential mortgage loans. Charles has deep expertise in federal and state lending laws, corporate transactional matters, regulatory enforcement, and consumer litigation. In addition to his corporate practice, he has authored industry articles and frequently spoken at national conferences related to consumer lending. He earned his J.D. from Texas A&M School of Law and his B.B.A. in Finance and Economics from Stephen F. Austin State University.

Annette Arevalo

SVP Customer Experience

Annette brings a decade of Customer Support experience as the Senior Vice President of Customer Relations. Her ingenuity, transparency and friendly approach to resolution of challenges foster a “can-do” environment for our internal and external clients. Her acute ability to identify opportunities for enhancing the customer experience paired with her positive disposition empower our Champions Customer Relations Team to effectively make real time impact and change to the overall customer experience. Her passions outside of work are her family and love of her 4 legged furry pups.

Tara Goodwin

SVP Post Closing

Tara brings over 30 years of industry expertise to her role as SVP Post Closing at Champions Funding. Known for her exceptional attention to detail and unwavering commitment to efficiency, Tara leads her team with a winning attitude that ensures every step of the Post Closing process is streamlined and precise. She was drawn to Champions Funding’s strong leadership and its mission-driven CDFI certification, which opens doors for underserved borrowers. Under her leadership, the team diligently monitors, gathers, and processes files post-closing, always striving to enhance efficiency without sacrificing accuracy. Tara’s drive for excellence makes her an invaluable part of Champions Funding’s ongoing success.

Bryan Filkey

President

Bryan has extensive experience and expertise in capital markets, product development, operations, technology and management. He has overseen more than $3 billion in non-agency originations and has experience running successful wholesale and correspondent divisions for national lenders. As President of B2B at a national, publicly traded mortgage company he oversaw capital markets, wholesale & correspondent divisions, Non-QM production and was the head of IT R&D where his team pioneered proprietary AUS, automated conditioning engine, data integrity module, a custom portal and enhanced rules & reporting. He is regarded as one of the pioneers & thought leaders of Non-QM and is passionate about growing the alternative lending market in a responsible way. His previous employers include prestigious firms such as: PIMCO, Capital One Bank & Credit Suisse.

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About Champions Funding

The Story of Champions

Our Core Values

Meet Our Leadership Team

Jennifer Jackson-Gonzalez

Mellissa Rugh

Ranjeev Kumar

Eugene Gorodetskiy

Angela Castillo

George Gagishvili

Jonathon Tansey

Evan M. Stone

Maria Coh-Prospero

Charles Beveridge

Tiffany Sullivan

Annette Arevalo

Tara Goodwin

Bryan Filkey

Meet the #ChampsTPO CDFI Advisory Board

Hear Directly from Our Leaders

Building a Culture of Champions

Evan M. Stone (CEO)

How to Thrive in Today's Mortgage Market

Evan M. Stone (CEO)

The Power of YOUR Network

Christy Mindell (EVP of Marketing)