Michelle Shabestari

Mortgage Planner

I first met Michelle back in high school when  I was at the awkward age of 15.  She was friends with some of my friends, so I actually had the privilege of hanging out with her a couple times.  I remember how nice she was and how she had a gift that made everyone around her feel comfortable.  At an age when many kids were only friendly to a select few, it was refreshing to meet someone who treated everyone kindly.

Michelle is a Mortgage Planner on our team.  Before joining City Creek, she spent many years working as a loan officer for a large national bank where she excelled and achieved many customer service rewards.  Over the years I heard great things about her from other real estate professionals, so I always had in my mind that someday she would be a great fit on our team.

One day I reached out to Michelle and asked if she would be interested in learning about City Creek Mortgage.  She came in and right from the beginning blended beautifully with our team.  At that moment, I knew she was meant to be a part of our City Creek Family.

Chris Summers

Mortgage Planner

Of all the City Creek employees, my history dates back the furthest with Chris.  In fact, we have been friends since I was in the sixth grade.  Over all these decades, I know more about this guy than most people do.  I’ve learned that he is someone I can trust and someone who will always do what is right for each client he serves.  He cares about people and has a gift of connection.  People love working with Chris and many end up calling him friend at the end of their transaction. 

Chris has a brilliant mind and can create systems that make a small business work better than most large companies.  In fact, he learned much of his skillset working in the finance departments of large companies like Kennecott Copper.  Having a degree from Utah State in Accounting and an MBA from Westminster College, he is a perfect combination of book smart combined with real life experience. 

Having a team member who has known me for most of my life is an added benefit of having Chris at City Creek.  He knows how important this company is to me and he shares in my passion for the culture and what we stand for.  Knowing that he has my back means a lot to me and I am grateful for his support and contribution to our long term vision.

Troy Norris

Mortgage Planner

Having a strong understanding of numbers is a critical skill for a Mortgage Planner.  That’s why Troy’s day job of being a high school math teacher makes him the perfect candidate for our After Hours Sales Team. 

 Having two careers is something Troy has maintained for the past 18 years.  When I learned of his skills and work schedule, I knew he would be the perfect fit to serve our clients and partners after hours and weekends. That is a time slot very few local lenders staff, but one that is in high demand for borrowers who are unable to make phone calls or meet during the day. 

 Upon meeting Troy, I immediately realized that he has a strong competitive side.  Typically wearing something representing the University of Utah, he is clearly a loyal fan.  He was raised in a competitive sports driven family and carried that passion into adulthood.  He also coaches Jr. High baseball as well as basketball and follows many high school sports programs.  If you ever need to speak with a Mortgage Planner after hours, or just want to chat about “The game”, Troy is your guy! 

Mary Johnson

Mortgage Planner

Of all the stories of how we came to hire each employee, this is one of my favorites.
In thinking through how each employee was hired, I realize that most of our team is made up of friends or family of other team members. This is part of the reason we have such a close nit culture.

Mary and Michelle spent many years working together at a national bank in their mortgage department. Shortly after hiring Michelle, I started receiving phone calls and e-mails from Mary. She wanted me to know that she had done a lot of research on us and would love to someday join our team. Since we aren’t the traditional mortgage company that hires commission based loan officers, it took a while before a position was available. During this waiting period, she stayed in touch with me, reminding me of her goal to be a part of our team.

Now that she is finally with us, Mary frequently reminds me of her goal to finish her career with City Creek Mortgage. That’s what I look for in people to hire. Her loyalty and commitment perfectly match our Core Values.

Malarie Hill

Mortgage Planner

If I’ve learned one thing as a small business owner, it’s the power of association.  The most powerful connections I have are introductions from people I know.  Thankfully, I happen to know Malarie’s mom.  Therefore, when Malarie decided to get into the mortgage industry, her mom told her that there is no better company out there than City Creek Mortgage.  From that introduction, an amazing person was added to our team.  

Malarie is extraordinarily talented in the art of personal connection.  After spending just minutes with her, you can’t help but adore her.  Just like her mom, she is a hard worker and will do anything to help the people she serves.  Her level of commitment is authentic, real and immediately establishes trust.  She takes the fear out of what can be an intimidating process.  

As a mortgage planner serving our non-traditional work hours, Malarie could be the one helping you if you need a loan at 8:30 pm.  Being personally trained by me, she will be among the best in the industry.  We are lucky to have her on our team. 

Taiya Nah

Executive Assistant to Mike

Taiya is unique soul.  The two words that best describe Taiya are Loyalty and Family.  In addition to having a wonderful family, she has been adopted into a couple of the families here at City Creek; mine included.  Not only is she my assistant and a big part of both our sales and marketing teams, she is like a daughter to me.

Sometimes the greatest lessons and experiences happen when times are the hardest.  I will never forget the day when our team was dealing with how to respond to a major slowdown that happened in our industry.  The topic came up of how at least 75% of mortgage companies were laying off employees in reaction to the decrease in business.  After the meeting, Taiya came up to me and said, “Please don’t ever lay me off.  I promise, I will work for you for free.  You don’t need to pay me if you can’t afford to.”  I’m not sure that she will ever understand how powerful those words were to me.  To hear someone so committed to a vision that they want to be a part of it regardless of personal reward is special gift.

KC Ludwig

Sales Assistant

In my first conversation with K.C., I couldn’t help but notice the similarity in her drive and desire to grow with that of Tobi’s drive when she was her age. K.C.’s thirst for knowledge and experience matched well with our core value of Continuous Improvement of Self & Others. In addition, she works very well with me and the rest of our sales team. You can’t help but love and adore her. I knew from the moment I first met her that she would be a great fit on this team.

K.C. manages our lead flow and makes sure that each client is handled quickly and efficiently. She also is the one who prepares all of our loan strategies for our clients. Between K.C. and Taiya, they provide me with all the reports I need each day in order to ensure that City Creek is running well and operating efficiently. That gives me the confidence to make decisions and to make the changes needed when we get off track.

Celia Garcia

Mortgage Planner Assistant

Some people are naturally driven to improve.  Celia happens to fit this perfectly.  She was actually introduced to City Creek Mortgage through a temp-to-hire program.  At the time, we needed extra help but weren’t ready to commit to adding another permanent member to our team.  I contacted an agency who told me I needed to meet Celia.  Within a day, she was at our office ready to work. 

Within a few days, she came to me and asked about training programs to help her better understand the mortgage industry.  At first, I played it off a bit, thinking she couldn’t be serious.  She wasn’t even a City Creek employee.  However, within a few weeks, I realized that she was completely serious.  

When the need for her temporary position ended, she was heartbroken.  She continued to reach out to me, letting me know that having a career at City Creek Mortgage was on her vision board.  How could I ignore this?  I knew that we needed to have her.  

Celia now supports our Mortgage Planners, and has ambitions of being trained as a Mortgage Planner herself.  I smile every time I see her, knowing how hard she fought for her position.  This level of grit is rare and something that makes her an incredibly valuable team member. 

Rail Cressall

Sales Assistant

I didn’t meet Rail until a week or two after he started working at City Creek Mortgage. I saw a young guy sitting with Taiya at her desk. However, I didn’t put together that he was a new employee. I assumed he was a client using her computer. As I walked by, he politely stood up to shake my hand. He said, “Hi, I’m Rail. Like in rail road tracks.” Since he was the first person with the name of Rail that I have ever met, I was intrigued. The next few minutes were spent getting to know him, with much of the conversation based around his name.

Rail is a solid guy. Fast learner, incredibly bright and just an overall good person. As another friend of Taiya, we know that she would not have brought him in to work with us if he didn’t live up to her professional standards. He quickly earned our trust with his speed of learning and his insatiable desire to grow and advance. As a young man who is early in his career, he certainly has a great future ahead of him.

Celeste Carter

Mortgage Coordinator

Heather Jemmett

Mortgage Coordinator

When Desireé and I first interviewed Heather, our conversation about working together quickly turned to one about music, musicians and the things we like about each artist. It was as if we were already friends who were destined to work together. Since I rely heavily on Desireé and fully trust her judgment, I was excited when the first words out of her mouth at the end of the interview were, “I’m going to hire her.” That’s all I needed to hear. She had my full support.

Heather’s experience and background made her transition into City Creek seamless. There was very little learning curve and a great deal of talent that she added to our team. More importantly, she fits in perfectly with everyone and is sincerely wonderful to work alongside.

Tory Diddens

Mortgage Coordinator

There is something about the young generation that makes many of them unique. From my experience, many of them have strong work ethics, a sense of loyalty and a love for people that shines through in their personalities. Tory fits this mold perfectly.

Tory and Taiya have been close friends since they were in Jr. High School. Knowing how challenging it is to live up to Taiya’s professional expectations, when she suggested we hire Tory the decision was immediately made. Looking back, I can’t think of any other employee who has learned the industry and excelled in their position more quickly than she has. Tory is truly one of a kind and someone I’m grateful every day to have on the team.

Cheyanne Milliner

Sales Assistant

I was introduced to Cheyanne by Rail, a City Creek Mortgage employee.  He brought Cheyanne as a guest to a concert in a suite sponsored by our company.  After a ten-minute conversation, I pulled Rail aside and let him know how impressed I was with her.  Since I knew it was a bit early for me to ask if she wanted a job, I just turned to her and told her to let me know if she was ever in the market to change careers.  A number of months later, she joined our team.

Cheyanne is extremely coachable and loves to learn.  Having no prior mortgage experience, she has quickly developed the knowledge needed to execute a challenging role in this industry.  I have found this to be a consistent trait in team members that we’ve hired in her age bracket.  With her strong work ethic, I look forward to seeing how she will develop within City Creek Mortgage. 

Sami Graves

Mortgage Planner Assistant

Although you’d never know it by meeting her, our Mortgage Planner, Kristi Graves is the grandmother to Sami’s daughter.  Yes, Sami is Married to Kristi’s son, Jake.  When Jake and Sami were buying a home, Kristi mentioned several times how much she appreciates having a client like Sami.  She was detailed, precise and asked great questions.  This made Kristi’s job as her Mortgage Planner easy.  That’s why Sami was my first suggestion when we started looking for a Mortgage Planner assistant for Kristi.

I absolutely adore Sami.  Even before she started her first day, she began the licensing process to be a Mortgage Loan Originator.  This showed me the level of commitment and passion she would be brining to her new career.  She is the type of person who lights up a room when she enters and treats every person like a friend.

If you are fortunate enough to work with Sami throughout the loan process, you’ll see exactly why she’s a great fit for our team.  She’s very talented, and a little bit sassy… Just like her mother-in-law. 😊

Melanie Ho Ching

Mortgage Planner Assistant

Sometimes we can find employees by chance.  Melanie is one such example.  I was introduced to her through social media.  When I learned she had mortgage experience, I reached out to her and asked if she’d be interested in meeting with us.  When she came in, I could immediately tell she would be a perfect fit.

During an interview, I look for the unintentional comments people make.  It is through random conversation that I’m able to learn more about a person that through structured interview questions.  During our discussion, I could tell that Melanie has a sharp sense of detail as well as a strong work ethic.  She made a very big impression on me, so we offered her the job.

If I were to say what most impresses me about Melanie so far, it would be her ability to connect with others.  She has a kindness and warmth that shines through.  From her smile to the way she verbally communicates, you can tell that she’s a great fit for the City Creek Mortgage team.

Ashley Enquist

Mortgage Planner Assistant

I was first introduced to Ashley while attending a promotion for Alexis Carter’s Husband, Kelly.  He works for the Salt Lake Fire Department, and was being promoted to Battalion Chief.  Of course, the other BC’s were in attendance, along with their significant others.  Sitting not too far from me was Ashley and her fiancé, Chris.  When Alexis introduced me to Ashley, I was immediately impressed.  She was warm, friendly and was an excellent communicator.  So, when a few months down the road Alexis suggested we bring her in to join our team, I immediately gave my approval.

Since Alexis is as good as they come, working on her team requires people to be at the top of their game.  Ashley immediately gained our respect when she showed her attention to detail and ability to learn quickly.  It has been mentioned to me on several occasions that Ashley was the fastest on-boarding process we have experienced as a company.  As you can imagine, that is quite the accomplishment.

City Creek is truly filled with exceptional people, and Ashley is one of them.  I’m grateful to have her on our team.

Lorie Roberts

Mortgage Coordinator

Although we share the same last name, Lorie is another Roberts to whom I am not related. However, she happens to be the person on the team that I have known the longest. My mom and Lorie’s mom have been friends since Jr. High School. They were close then and remain good friends today. I remember having dinner at her house or stopping by for visits when I was very young. I remember hanging out with her while my mom and her mom talked. In fact, some of my earliest memories include Lorie and her family. She comes from a wonderful home and is herself an extraordinary person.

Having started City Creek Mortgage in 1998, I’ve been in this industry a long time. My family would often tell me about Lorie and how she works in the mortgage industry. I listened to people tell me how wonderful she is. However, I never assumed we would have the opportunity to have her on our team.

One day I received a call from my mom, reaching out to see if we had any openings on our processing team. When I learned it was Lorie, I quickly replied, “Yes!” Lorie came in and met with Desire’e. After many years of working for the same mortgage company, Lorie quickly made the decision to join our team.

I value the history we have in knowing each other for so many years. It’s cool to think back on what each of us were like as children and how ironic it is that we are now working together.

Jessica Campbell

Loan Processing Specialist

When you put out there that your mission is to be the most Trusted, Respected and Loved mortgage company in Utah, the universe seems to put people in your path that perfectly fit into the vision. Jessica fits this mold perfectly. Having her on our team makes us stronger. Her gift of connection brings our clients into our tribe and makes them Raving Fans. She cares deeply for others and fights to ensure that our clients have an exceptional mortgage experience.

Although before working for City Creek Mortgage I had never met Jessica, we found that we have many common connections. In fact, her closest friend was once my assistant many years back. Given how much I love and adore her best friend, the connection helped me to know the type of person Jessica is. Now that I know her better, my initial assumption was spot on. She’s an amazing girl!

Jen Rogers

Loan Processing Specialist

A while back I was meeting with Jamie, our Chief Heart Officer, about ways to deeply involve our team members in charity.  She told me about Jen and explained some of the amazing things she does through her own charity, the JR Way.  We called Jen and arranged a meeting.  There was an immediate bond formed.  At that moment, I decided that at some point in time Jen would be a part of our team.

A few months later, Jen reached out to me asking if I had contacts to help her find a new career.  She mentioned that she was referred to another mortgage company and was considering applying.  I let her know they were a company that has deep admiration for City Creek Mortgage.  She sent a message back that said, “No way.  I won’t work for a competitor.  I’m Team City Creek all the way!!”  At that point, I knew I had a shot.

Jen is one of the coolest people I know.  She has a wonderful personality and immediately connects with people.  Along with her desire to make the world a better place, she is a beautiful addition to our City Creek Family.

Shay Booker

Client Care Associate

I’m not sure there is anyone who could say a bad thing about Shay. She makes me smile every time I see her. As one of the most joyful people I know, she has the gift of ‘authentic connection,’ which is one of the core traits we look for at City Creek Mortgage. This gift helps make her an amazing Office Administrator and lover of our clients. She can connect with any personality and brings out the best in people. She has up-leveled our commitment to customer service and has made a huge impact on those who get to work with her each day.

As a friend of Jasmine, we invited Shay to help us on a day our team was feeling overwhelmed. I remember walking into the office and she politely greeted me. Not sure she knew who I was, I remember how impressed I was with her kind demeanor. At that moment, I went back and told Desireè that she needed to hire Shay immediately. The rest, as they say, is history.

Austin Roberts

Team Assistant

When we say that City Creek Mortgage is a family business, we mean it. Austin is my son, and the older of my two kids. Most people say he is the perfect combination of me and his mom, Tobi. He has similar features to both of us (mainly me), Tobi’s social skills, and my personality.

Being the son of two small business owners, Austin’s work history dates back to when he was about 5. He would help stuff envelopes and cut out marketing pieces, and even help with our client events. As an extremely poised communicator, Austin has no problem building relationships. He is a man of high integrity and about the best son a father could ask for.

Mikaela Roberts

Team Assistant

Mikaela is my daughter, and of course, she has me completely wrapped. Like her brother, she started working for City Creek Mortgage at about 5 years old. She is the perfect combination of me and Tobi. She looks like the female replica of me, but she has her mom’s personality.

Just like her mom, Mikaela is a natural driver. Her ability to take charge and get things done is something that was clear from the time she was a baby. I always knew that she could take care of herself if needed. As her father, that brings me much comfort. I trust Mikaela completely, and know that she will always do what is right.

Mortgage Moki

Team Mascot

Moki is by far the naughtiest member of our team. After losing a dog back in 2003, I found Moki on an available pet website from a pet store in Denver. It was sort of like on-line dating, where you are choosing someone based on a picture and a short bio. However, with this being a pet, once you said yes, it was more than just a date; it was a long-term commitment.

Mortgage Moki, as we have affectionately branded her, has been a part of this team since the summer of 2003. Even with all of our client’s young kids chasing her around the office, and some even pulling her hair, she has never been anything other than the sweetest dog you will ever meet. I never thought I would own a small dog, and after her I likely never will again. However, outside of her sneaky habit of peeing when no one is watching her, she is as perfect a pet as anyone could ask for. She is loved and adored at City Creek, and truly lives a very charmed life.

Alisa Morgan

Project Manager

When I hear my wife say that someone makes her heart happy, my love for that person is immediate. As the one who supports Tobi, Alisa plays a vital role at City Creek Mortgage as well as one within my family. Her patience, understanding and sympathy for the challenges of owning a business make her someone we fully trust to handle the things that matter most to us.

Alisa is another team member who came to City Creek Mortgage as a referral from an existing employee. Being close friends with Heather, we knew before we hired her that she was an exceptional person. Her gifts and talents make us better and raise the bar for City Creek Mortgage. As the one who also runs City Creek Studios, she has a full plate and lots to juggle!

Weston Critchfield

Art Director

Weston was initially referred to us by a local homebuilder who hired him to create his company website.  I could tell immediately that he has immense talents with videography, photography and website creation.  When he came in to interview, he showed us some of his work.  We knew right then that we were dealing with a true professional artist.

Having Weston has greatly elevated our team.  For example, he has the ability to capture the right moment when it happens.  You see this gift when you watch him take photographs.  Rather than let his finger quickly snap one photo after another, he patiently waits for the perfect moment, snaps the picture and tells you that’s all he needs.  That is a skill that truly separates him from an average photographer.  In addition, he is one of the most knowledgeable technical people I know.  Although I understand very little about his area of expertise, I have great trust in his knowledge and abilities to perform. 

Jamie Norris

Chief Heart Officer

Of all of the positions here at City Creek Mortgage, the Chief Heart Officer role is among my favorite and there is no better person to fill this role than Jamie.  Her primary goal is to feed the hearts and souls of our employees and help them to live more fulfilled and enjoyable lives.  Since there is a unique recipe for each team member, this requires a deep connection with each person and the ability to listen, lead and influence them in alignment with his/her desired outcomes.

Jamie embodies the culture of City Creek Mortgage with every fiber of her being.  She is a natural lover of people and brings the best out of every situation.  Her gift of connection is clearly apparent upon first meeting her.  Her competitive nature makes her deeply loyal and committed to whatever she sets out to accomplish.

I consider Jamie to be a close personal friend, trusted advisor and someone who carries out the values and vision of City Creek Mortgage.  She makes us a stronger team and empowers us to grow in healthy and productive way.  She’s a friend to everyone and a person we love and adore.

If you’d like to learn more about Jamie’s personality, it shines through in the videos that she does for City Creek Mortgage.  Like this one:

Jess Hymas

Personal Assistant

Having someone to keep the path clear of most personal responsibilities is something I consider a gift.  Jessica is that to me and my wife, Tobi.  When we first started to search for the right candidate, our Chief Heart Officer sent us a text saying she had the perfect solution.  It was her sister, Jess.  Given that Jamie is one of the most valued people in our lives, that’s all it took.  The job belonged to Jess if she wanted it.

There truly aren’t many people on this planet like Jess.  However, the world needs many more.  Like her sister, she has a huge heart and has an exceptional work ethic.  Given that they come from an incredible family, it’s no surprise.  Whether it be preparing a meal for our team, or helping us get ready for a client event, both their mom and dad are a huge help to City Creek Mortgage.  The entire family is considered part of our tribe.

Jamie’s daughter affectionately calls Jess, Siri.  Although I’m not sure of the history behind this, the name has stuck.  Just know that if you ever hear us talk about Siri, chances are we aren’t referring to our phones.  Rather, we are graciously referring to the one who helps us more than our phones ever could.