AIME and Broker Action Coalition separating leadership

Katie Sweeney, the chairman and CEO of the Association of Independent Mortgage Experts, is leaving to create a separate leadership team at a heretofore affiliated organization, the Broker Action Coalition.

The move for BAC, which was created in 2022, will allow it to focus further on raising and managing funds for the political action committee, Broker Action Coalition PAC. Sweeney will be stepping down at AIME on March 31 to become co-founder and chief executive of the coalition, a press release states.

"This is a natural evolution for BAC, which has established itself as the most effective organization in advocating for our community," said Sweeney. "As an independent organization, BAC will be 100% committed to representing our community through state and federal policy reform, regulatory and agency change, and industry innovation to better the industry and help more homebuyers become homeowners." 

Sweeney was the executive vice president of strategy at AIME, when in July 2020 organization founder Anthony Casa stepped away from the group following controversial comments made about the wife of Austin Niemiec, who had headed up Rocket's partner channel.

Following the controversy, Sweeney became AIME's chairman and CEO in January 2021.

In addition to Sweeney, former AIME President of Advocacy Brendan McKay, is joining the coalition as the co-founder and chief advocacy officer and will focus on growing its membership, donors and programs.

"BAC's efforts in its first year have resulted in a lot of momentum on public policy issues that will initiate meaningful progress for our industry," said McKay. "As an independent entity, BAC will be able to fully concentrate on championing independent brokers' rights, limiting unnecessary regulation within our channel, and giving the opportunity of homeownership to more Americans than ever before." 

As a result of this reorganization, AIME's State Captain program and Homeownership Committees are moving into the BAC.

AIME is forming a committee to appoint a new CEO.

"AIME has been the backbone of the independent mortgage broker community since 2018, and that's not going to change," states Marc Summers, that organization's president. "As wholesale market share continues to grow, we'll welcome new leadership to move the organization into the next level, and we'll continue to leverage the political advocacy work of BAC in support of our members and the industry."