Bill Bates shot for a star — and hit it when he joined the Dallas Cowboys in 1983.
Bates was keynote speaker for the PrimeSource Mortgage Inc. annual conference Feb. 5-7 at the Embassy Suites in Albuquerque.
The theme of the conference was “Shoot for the Stars,” and Bates shared how he reached for his special star — one on a Cowboys helmet. He was a long-shot rookie but fulfilled a lifelong dream when he joined the Cowboys in 1983, then went on to be an NFL All-Pro player and play in the Super Bowl. He advised conference participants to follow his example and shoot for their own personal stars.
More than 100 people participated in PSMI’s 17th annual conference that included training, speakers and a formal awards banquet. A real-estate track, added to a packed agenda, made it possible for branch owners to invite their referral partners in the real-estate industry to attend break-out sessions related to their industry. Other break-out sessions were designed for branch owners and staff of the 30-plus PSMI branches now operating across the nation.
Bates wasn’t the only former professional athlete speaking at the conference. David Benham, who played baseball with the Boston Red Sox and co-founded Benham Real Estate Group, a company specializing in the real-estate owned disposition, preservation, management and sales, talked about leaving professional baseball to spend more time with his family. Benham took a job as a high school janitor and, after a few months, earned his real-estate license along with his twin brother, Justin, who had played with the Baltimore Orioles. They started Benham Real Estate Group. which now has 65 offices across the United States and is presently the largest REO company in the country.
Bill Bates, far left, and Jeffrey Smith, far right, present the 2008 Top Production award to Kurt Gass, branch owner of the PrimeSource Mortgage office in Roswell. From left are Bates, Kurt Gass, Lisa Jones, Veronica Tarin, Mark Chavez and Smith.
At the awards banquet, branches were recognized for their outstanding performances in 2008. Winners were: Matt Lamoreux of Farmington, Branch of the Year; Jeff Stillinger of Omaha, Neb., Rookie of the Year; Kurt Gass of Roswell, Most Production. Also recognized for Most Production, in addition to the Roswell office, were branches in Farmington; Dallas; Omaha; Amarillo, Texas; and Tulsa, Okla. Bill Bates and Jeffrey Smith presented individual awards to each.
Offices in the PrimeSource network are provided significant support from full-time personnel offering training, marketing and more. Each office has access to various companies that have direct alliances with PSMI, including ICAN Institute, a training and employee development company; NWBO, a nationwide buyer/seller referral company; and Repair My Credit Now, a credit repair company that helps people clean up their credit so they can buy the homes of their dreams.
“Having the opportunity to assist and participate in our branch owners’ success through so many avenues has been very rewarding,” Smith said.
Incorporated in 1991, PrimeSource Mortgage Inc. currently is licensed in 21 states. One reason for the growth and success of the company is its commitment to personalized customer service embodied in its motto: We Walk You Home. Because the mortgage process is so complex and often confusing, the company has chosen to walk hand-in-hand with each client through the entire process.
PSM Holdings Inc., PSMI’s parent company, is a publicly traded company; over-the-counter shares became available in October 2005.
For more information on PSMH, go to its Web site at www.PSMHoldings.com. For information on PSMI, go to www.wewalkyouhome.com. For local information call Jeffrey Smith at 575-624-4169 or e-mail mailto:jeff@wewalkyouhome.com