Some people spend time in other fields before finding their way into the banking industry. For John Noldan, it was a stint in politics. But once a friend led him to a career in lending, he knew there was no turning back. The results speak for themselves.

As an executive vice president of mortgage lending for Guaranteed Rate, Noldan works primarily in residential lending. He provides expertise on a wide range of loan products — from jumbo mortgages to conventional loans to FHA options to VA products — to first-time buyers and investors alike.

Noldan knows clients often face long turnaround times, but his company’s system has allowed loans to go from application to close within just two weeks. Building a strong team has been one of Noldan’s greatest professional successes. “I always keep in mind that I am only as strong as my team,” he said.

As a people person, Noldan has a strong passion for helping others, which is what inspired him to go into mortgage lending in the first place. The quarterly events he hosts for clients and agents offer a unique opportunity to connect with his community and forge common ground.

“I’m continuously inspired by being able to help people purchase not just a house, but a home that they are going to raise a family in and possibly spend the rest of their lives in,” he said.

In addition to ranking No. 6 in purchase units closed companywide, Noldan has earned a variety of awards throughout his career, thanks to his dedication. For more than a decade, he has been ranked among the top 1 percent of mortgage originators nationwide. The Illinois Mortgage Bankers Association has voted him one of the best loan officers in business, and he has also been a member of Guaranteed Rate’s President’s Club and Chairman’s Circle continually for the past several years.

Outside of work, Noldan serves on the executive boards of both Catholic Charities and Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide.