Once the opportunity arose for Tom Cramer to switch from a career in architecture to mortgage lending, he grabbed it.

Cramer, senior mortgage consultant with Wintrust, brought his math, home design and woodworking skills full circle to help buyers finance their dream homes, when he joined his father Art in the business 24 years ago. “At age 70, he was moving toward retirement and asked me to partner with him, to learn the business and allow him to slow down a bit,” says Cramer. “My dad was highly respected, had great integrity and a strong work ethic. His kind, friendly and personal touch created a long-lasting client base.”

Cramer follows his father’s lead in every transaction: His honesty, productivity, transparency and ability to match a borrower with the right loan option has helped him establish a loyal client-base of his own.

Cramer’s decades of problem-solving were a lifeline during the pandemic. As rates dropped by the minute, he was in constant communication with customers, teammates and colleagues while navigating unprecedented challenges in every aspect of the lending process. Together, his team made it through successfully and earned Wintrust’s biggest honor: President’s Circle. It was Cramer’s fourth time in a decade to receive the honor. He was also named a 2020 Top Mortgage Originator by Scotsman Guide, made Wintrust’s Honors Circle four times since 2015 and has been named a Five Star Professional by Chicago Magazine every year since 2011.

Past president of the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce, Cramer currently serves as a director on its board. He is also a member of the Village of Fox River Grove Planning and Zoning Commission Committee, and treasurer of the Audi Club North America Chicagoland Chapter.

An avid cyclist, he rides more than 100 miles per week and put more mileage on his bicycle in 2020— upwards of 4,000 miles—than he did on his car.