Our Mission to Serve

About Champions Funding

Our mission is simple: we live to serve the underserved. Through its mission, we aim to focus and make an impact on communities by providing loan options to borrowers that aren't possible with traditional agency loan programs.
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.
Company culture
What Makes us Champions?
Funding winning deals for our partners is only a piece of Champions Funding. At the heart of the company is a team-focused spirit that is committed to the best in service, offerings, and  in ourselves.

Our aim is to be #1, and we will support each other as we reach that goal together.
Our Founders
Meet the Founders
Founded by industry leaders Evan M. Stone and Patty Arvielo, Champions Funding LLC taps into decades of proven success. Accelerated by the desire to do more for diverse homebuyers, they’ve brought together a team of motivated mortgage professionals ready to serve.
Evan M. Stone
CEO & Co-Founder
Patty Arvielo
Chairwoman of the Board & Co-Founder
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 & Co-Founder

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Bryan Filkey
President

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Rob Bernabe
Chief Financial Officer

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Aron Rofer
General Counsel

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Maria Coh-Prospero
EVP of People

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Christy Mindell
EVP of Marketing

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Amanda Cooper
EVP Operations & Chief Credit Officer

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Annette Arevalo
SVP of Operations

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Dalton Rucker
SVP Capital Markets

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Tara Goodwin
SVP Post Closing
"We listen to understand, not to respond."

Evan M. Stone

CEO & Co-Founder
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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.
"We listen to understand, not to respond."

Patty Arvielo

Chairwoman of the Board & Co-Founder
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Patty Arvielo is a champion for the underserved in the housing sector with over 40 years of mortgage experience as a national influencer, active servant in her community, and accomplished leader as Co-Founder & President of New American Funding which is the single largest Latina-owned private mortgage company in the nation.  Patty lends her voice to numerous industry committees and lobbies on behalf of the mortgage industry and homeowners in Washington, D.C.
"express the story of our people through the art of numbers."

Rob Bernabe

Chief Financial Officer
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Rob Bernabe is a passionately engaged industry veteran with 35 years in a variety of roles. He has successfully served to navigate companies through explosive growth, such as E*Trade Mortgage and H&R Block Mortgage Corporation, and helped build other companies from start-up to maturity in a variety of business climates. Rob’s broad depth of industry knowledge helps him, as he likes to say, “express the story of our people through the art of numbers”. Rob’s CPA pedigree was founded at KPMG, where he served financial services clients in the United States and Australia. He is a published author, speaker, volunteer, and most importantly – a husband and a father of two children.
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Maria Coh-Prospero

EVP of People
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Maria is our EVP of People, 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.
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Aron Rofer

General Counsel
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Aron is an accomplished and seasoned attorney with extensive experience in mortgage banking, lending, fintech, and consumer financial services. He brings a wealth of expertise in regulatory compliance, commercial litigation, data privacy and security, and employment and HR matters. Before joining Champions, Aron served as General Counsel for over a decade at a leading Non-QM lender, overseeing all mortgage compliance and legal matters for the company. He also served as Deputy General Counsel of Origence and its wholly owned subsidiaries Origence Lending Services and FI Connect. Aron’s career began in private practice, where he spent several years at the prestigious law firm Bingham McCutchen (now part of Morgan Lewis), focusing on business litigation for high-profile clients such as PricewaterhouseCoopers, KPMG, Washington Mutual, Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, and celebrities like Larry King and Tom DeLonge of Blink 182. Following this, he founded his own firm, representing borrowers and consumers in real estate transactions, mortgage restructuring, foreclosure defense, and bankruptcy.
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Christy Mindell

EVP of Marketing
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Christy Mindell brings over 20 years of experience in financial services marketing, project management, event planning, business intelligence, corporate branding, targeted email marketing, social media strategies, niche product marketing, direct mail, blogging, print and online advertising, client acquisition, plus retention strategies and tactics. Throughout her career, she has proven she is a multi-talented product management leader with a strong understanding of an array of marketing and communication strategies that drive engagement and communicate value.  Her approachable style makes her a tremendous value to sales teams fostering their growth, plus the ultimate brand ambassador during traditional, digital, and event marketing opportunities. Christy fosters a motivating internal culture that motivates marketers and mortgage professionals to increase their roles and personal brands.
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Amanda Cooper

EVP Operations & Chief Credit Officer
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Amanda Cooper brings over 20 years of experience in the mortgage industry, with a particular focus on Non-QM products for the past decade. She has a proven track record of leadership, having built and led a Non-QM Underwriting team of 75 underwriters, closing over $450 million monthly. Amanda excels at developing processes that ensure faster and more efficient turn times while motivating her teams to achieve high performance without compromising quality. Her ability to build trust and strong business relationships with staff, clients, and brokers is a testament to her expertise and dedication in the industry.
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Annette Arevalo

SVP of Operations
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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.
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Rex Haverberg

SVP Credit Risk
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Rex brings over a decade Mortgage Industry Credit Risk experience to his role as Senior Vice President of Risk. He empowers the Champions Funding team through critical thinking and analytics to make sound, common sense credit decisions through real-life application. He is passionate about helping borrowers achieve the reality of homeownership. When not at work, he loves spending time with his dog Twyla and getting competitive playing board games with friends and family.
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Dalton Rucker

SVP Capital Markets
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With more than 15 years of expertise in financial analysis, Dalton Rucker, SVP Capital Markets, possesses a wealth of experience in investment, margin, and capital market management. His meticulous approach to strategic planning and market trend analysis has consistently enhanced Champions Funding's strategic positioning. His unwavering dedication remains fixated on achieving financial growth and propelling Champions in the Non-QM space. Dalton's Champion spirit was demonstrated in his decision to play college basketball at Hardin Simmons University, despite the offer of a full ride to Wharton School of Business.
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Tara Goodwin

SVP Post Closing
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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.
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Bryan Filkey

President
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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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Robben Moore

EVP Credit Risk
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Robben Moore, EVP Credit Risk, has dedicated 28+ years to the mortgage industry, where her passion for helping others achieve their dream of homeownership has never wavered. With expertise spanning underwriting, operations, risk assessment, quality control, and leadership, she's been a guiding force and mentor to many in the field. Beyond her professional achievements, Robben cherishes her role as a wife and mother of two adult children, one of whom follows in her footsteps in the mortgage business, affirming her lifelong passion for making a meaningful impact on borrowers and colleagues alike.
Knowledge Experts. Impact Makers.
Meet the #ChampsTPO CDFI Advisory Board
The CDFI advisory board brings together a collective wealth of knowledge and experience to Champions Funding. Their expertise and commitment to serving historically underrepresented populations brings a unique insight on ways to serve mortgage brokers and their borrowers. They are essential in supporting the mission at Champions Funding.
Meet the Board
What makes champions unique
Hear Directly from Our Leaders

Building a Culture of Champions

Evan M. Stone (CEO)

The True Value of Partners

Natalie Verrette (COO)

Mission Drive Lending

Patty Arvielo (Chairwoman of the Board & Co-Founder)

Equal Housing Opportunity.
© 2024 All Rights Reserved. For industry professionals only and is not an advertisement to extend credit directly to consumers. For licensing, visit nmlsconsumeraccess.org. The information contained herein is provided to assist real estate and mortgage lending professionals and is not an advertisement to extend credit directly to consumers. Champions Funding LLC. 365 E. Germann Rd., Suite 140 Gilbert, AZ 85297. NMLS #2254210.
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