GMFS Partners Celebrates 2026 LMBA Award Winners & Future Leaders
The 2026 Louisiana Mortgage Bankers Association (LMBA) Annual Conference was a special one for GMFS, with team members recognized for outstanding achievement through the LMBA Best in Biz Awards and others celebrating the completion of the LMBA Future Leaders Program.
These accomplishments represent two important aspects of our organization and the mortgage industry as a whole: recognizing excellence today while investing in the leaders of tomorrow.
GMFS Partners is proud to congratulate all of our team members recognized at this year’s conference.
GMFS Team Members Recognized in 2026 LMBA Best in Biz Awards
The LMBA Best in Biz Awards recognize and honor the “Best in our Biz” — individuals who have achieved exceptional levels of business achievement while competing with mortgage professionals from across Louisiana.
GMFS was proud to have several team members recognized among the state’s outstanding mortgage professionals.
2026 Best in Biz Winners
Congratulations to our 2026 Best in Biz winners:
- Catherine Bottoms — Operational Support Person of the Year
- Wanda Roussel — Loan Processor of the Year
- Shelly Lively — Closer of the Year
These awards recognize the important contributions made by the professionals working behind the scenes to help loans move efficiently and provide a strong experience for our partners and their clients.
Best in Biz Honorable Mentions
We also congratulate our team members who received honorable mention recognition:
- Beth Wilson — Underwriter of the Year
- Danielle Torres — Closer of the Year
Being recognized among the top professionals in Louisiana is a significant accomplishment, and we are proud of each of these team members.
Developing the Next Generation of Mortgage Leaders
The LMBA Annual Conference also marked the graduation of GMFS employees who participated in the 2025–2026 LMBA Future Leaders Program.
Over the course of nine months, participants joined emerging mortgage professionals from companies across Louisiana for an immersive program designed to expand their knowledge, skills and professional connections across every aspect of the mortgage industry.
The LMBA Future Leaders Program is designed to educate, mentor and prepare the next generation of mortgage professionals in Louisiana through education, mentorship and hands-on experiences.
The program included:
- Comprehensive education covering all aspects of the mortgage industry
- Exclusive mentorship from experienced industry leaders
- Networking and professional development with peers from across Louisiana
- A team capstone project where participants created their own independent mortgage bank (IMB) and presented their business plan to industry leaders
Congratulations to Our 2025-2026 Future Leaders Team
- Rebecca Squyres — Marketing
- Judd Tilson — District Director
We also want to recognize Meredith Williams, COO, who served as a mentor and coach for the program.
A Winning Capstone Project
A special congratulations goes to Rebecca Squyres, whose team took home the winning Future Leaders capstone project!
The project challenged participants to take what they learned throughout the nine-month program and apply it to the creation of their own independent mortgage bank. Developing and presenting the business provided an opportunity to demonstrate strategic thinking, collaboration, creativity and a deeper understanding of the mortgage business.
Earning the LML Designation
With graduation from the program, participants also earned the LML — Louisiana Mortgage Leader — designation.
The designation recognizes their successful completion of the LMBA Future Leaders Program and their commitment to continued professional development and leadership within Louisiana’s mortgage industry.
For GMFS, the accomplishment is particularly meaningful because it reflects our commitment to encouraging our team members to continue learning, developing new skills and preparing to take on leadership roles within our company and industry.
Celebrating Our People and Our Industry
From Best in Biz recognition to the graduation of emerging mortgage leaders, the 2026 LMBA Annual Conference provided an opportunity to celebrate the people who make the mortgage industry stronger.
We are proud of the GMFS team members who were recognized for their accomplishments and equally proud of those who invested nine months in developing their leadership skills and expanding their understanding of our industry.
Congratulations to all of our 2026 LMBA Best in Biz honorees and our 2025–2026 LMBA Future Leaders graduates!
At GMFS Partners, we believe that investing in our people, recognizing exceptional performance and developing the next generation of mortgage leaders are essential to building a stronger future for our company, our partners and the mortgage industry.