Amir Syed, Senior Vice President of Residential Lending
Justin Lopatin, Vice President of Residential Lending
Daniel Chookaszian, Vice President of Residential Lending
Jim Pomposelli, Vice President of Residential Lending
Sharbel Shamoon, Vice President of Residential Lending

PERL Mortgage

A staple in lending since 1994, PERL mortgage has been named Chicago’s best mortgage broker by the Chicago Award Program and ranked as a top 50 national lender. Those achievements represent the culmination of forward thinking and teamwork, and after two decades of servicing a wide range of both residential and commercial clients, the brokerage now boasts a roster of more than 200 employees, licensed in 25 states.

From his River West office, Senior Vice President Amir Syed leads a team of PERL executives. In his strategy, Syed emphasizes the importance of inspiration, which he draws from competition, development and opportunity. “I know my leadership has changed many of my current and past team members’ lives” he says. “It’s my legacy in the business and what I want to be known for, and it excites and motives me daily to continue the hustle.”

Justin Lopatin, Vice President of Residential Lending, shares Syed’s enthusiasm for the business, describing lending as more than a job, but rather a passion. For nine consecutive years, Lopatin has leveraged strong intra-industry relationships, education and communication to achieve average annual growth of 20 percent. As a veteran lender and member of the Chicago Leadership Alliance, Lopatin feels comfortable in describing himself and his team as “different.”

“Most lenders are very one-dimensional; they sit in front of a computer all day,” he admits. “My team and I are very dynamic business people. We are always looking to add value, create opportunity and help our business partners succeed.”

Another pillar of the Chicago team is Vice President of Residential Lending Daniel Chookaszian, who specializes in jumbo, conventional multifamily and VA financing. According to Chookaszian, there is no ceiling in real estate, which is why he’s so driven to constantly be growing and exploring new opportunities. He says his entrepreneurial approach helps him “see the big picture” and, ultimately, better serve his clients and partners.

The newest member of the team, Vice President of Residential Lending Jim Pomposelli, joined the mortgage industry more than half a decade ago after working for 12 years in the mortgage-backed securities business. He admits to being thankful to have found a firm like PERL, where colleagues, processors, underwriters and closers were thoughtful and diligent in teaching him the industry. He now specializes in working with new homebuyers, particularly in the condominium market, which allows him to use his knowledge to make a positive impact in his clients’ lives and “build long-lasting relationships.” Pomposelli says, “I meet with every client and try to educate him or her on the mortgage process so that they are as comfortable as possible with their home financing.”

A like-minded team member, Sharbel Shamoon, Vice President of Residential Lending, has more than a decade in the industry and expresses a similar passion for educating his clients, but his efforts extend beyond the office. “I have been blessed to mentor young kids leaving high school and college to consider a career in finance,” he says, calling the experience a “privilege.”

For his clients, Shamoon describes his approach as “white glove service at all times,” which translates into a hands-on strategy that has him wearing many hats. “When I meet with clients, I take on the role of a professor,” he says. “I tell my clients that after working with me, I want them to feel as if they have a masters in mortgages.”