I’ve never been one to get too hung up on titles or acronyms at the end of a name, especially when it comes to my own. Noticeably absent from my business cards and this blog are 3 letters, AMP.
Back in 2004 the mortgage industry launched the Accredited Mortgage Professional (AMP) designation. Although I hold the designation I’ve never used AMP after my name, in fact the only way you would know I hold it is by doing a members search on the association’s website.
The Accredited Mortgage Professional (AMP) is the only national designation for Canada’s mortgage industry. The AMP designation was developed as part of the industry’s ongoing commitment to increasing the level of professionalism in Canada.
I inherited a lot of my mortgage industry knowledge and attitudes from my father, a 35 year veteran in this industry who always felt that the designation meant nothing. It was your name and integrity which were supremely important in the mortgage business and life. He is right of course, and so I never really cared about the AMP designation and its association, the Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals or CAAMP.
So it was with low expectations that I accepted a very kind and generous invitation from Geoff Charkow at Merix Financial to attend the 2013 CAAMP Mortgage Hall of Fame Awards Night Dinner. Shout out to Merix Financial for the invite!
I thought why not? It’ll be an opportunity to spend some time with colleagues, enjoy a great meal and occupy a Sunday night.
The evening started off as expected.
Mixing and mingling over cocktails in the foyer of the Toronto Convention Centre. A grand entrance into the dinning area which easily included 75 full tables. Some awkward hosting by Breakfast Television’s Jennifer Valentyne, who despite her best efforts didn’t pronounce a name correctly all night long (It provided great entertainment at our table though). Standard banquet hall fare with all the trimmings.
But what inspired and excited me was hearing from the Hall of Fame inductees themselves.
Kathy Gregory, Paul Grewal, Brian Matthey and Debbie & Grant Thomas.
Between the accolades being praised of each inductee as they were introduced and their acceptance speeches, I came away with a greater respect for the individuals, the industry and the AMP designation.
Each one of the inductees had a very different path and background which lead them to their success. But despite the differences there were some commonalities.
Their excellence was achieved through commitment and hard work.
Their excellence was achieved through sacrifice and drive to a single end.
Their excellence wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for a strong sense of self and integrity.
Lastly, their excellence was achieved because of the central role family and community played in their lives.
Like in all industries, in the mortgage business we can get caught up with numbers, volumes, interest rates, the bottom line… attending CAAMPs 2013 Mortgage Hall of Fame Awards Night Dinner shed a new light for me.
There is a community of real people and individuals who have dedicated their entire lives to this industry. These individuals and many many other have worked hard to give Canadians what is, in my opinion, the best and strongest mortgage industry in the world. We are second to none.
That is something to be proud of.
And for that reason I just might start using a 3 letter acronym a bit more often.
Christopher Molder, AMP
