Mountain America Claims Top 3 Spots in 2022 CCIM Excellence Awards Under $75 Million Category

The 2022 CCIM Excellence Awards honor Utah commercial real estate professionals for exemplifying the highest degree of business excellence

Mountain America Credit Union made a clean sweep of the 2022 Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) Excellence Awards on Saturday, May 21, 2022, in Salt Lake City. Members of its Business Lending team claimed the top three finalist spots in the under $75 million category with Jared DeVroom, senior SBA loan officer, named the overall winner for 2022. This marks the second year in a row and third time in four years that a loan officer from Mountain America won the award.

The 2022 CCIM Excellence Awards honor Utah commercial real estate professionals that exemplify the highest degree of business excellence. To become a CCIM, a designee must complete a rigorous program of advanced coursework and training in financial and market analysis, as well as demonstrate extensive experience in the commercial real estate industry.

“Our Small Business Lending team works diligently to fulfill our goal of guiding our members on the path to defining and achieving their financial dreams,” said Michael Griffiths, vice president of business lending at Mountain America. “Member experience drives everything we do, and this recognition is the result of our relentless pursuit of business excellence and our commitment to serving our members.”

In fiscal year 2021, which ended September 30, 2021, Mountain America’s Small Business Lending team created 130 new small-business loans totaling more than $90 million. These loans played critical roles for small-business owners securing the capital they needed to grow their businesses, hire more employees and help strengthen Utah’s economy.

“I enjoy working with our members and building the type of relationships that enable us to understand their needs and partner with them on their long-term business financing needs,” said DeVroom. “While my name may be on the award, this recognition is the result of a team effort to provide our members with loan products tailored to meet their specific needs and help them grow their businesses.”

One of the small businesses Mountain America worked with in 2021 is Victor’s Tires. Founded by Victor Galindo in 1998, the business specializes in tires and custom wheels. Its staff of trained professionals are expert at servicing everything from tires, wheels and brakes to providing regular oil changes, investigating pesky check engine lights and a host of noises, and assisting with regular maintenance issues that may prevent a car from operating at peak efficiency.

Mountain America has worked with Galindo on three business loans, beginning with an SBA 504 loan in 2011, an SBA 7(a) loan in 2018 and a refinance loan in 2021.

“Most of the banks and credit unions I went to would only lend me small amounts that didn’t meet my needs,” said Galindo. “Mountain America enabled me to get the bigger loan amounts, as much as $600,000 to $700,000 that I needed to grow my business. You always have to leave some part of the business to the experts and to have partners like Mountain America is key to the success of a business.”

Mountain America’s Small Business Lending team specializes in 7(a) and 504 loans. A 7(a) loan, the Small Business Administration's most common loan program, is ideal for helping small businesses with special requirements such as real estate as part of a business purchase, refinancing business debt, or providing short- and long-term working capital.

A 504 loan provides long-term, fixed-rate financing up to $5 million for major fixed assets like equipment and real estate that promotes business growth and job creation. 

To apply for a small-business loan or to talk to a loan specialist, visit https://www.macu.com/business/loans.

Media Contact
Contact our Public Relations team at publicrelations@macu.com for media inquiries.