EQUITY PRIME MORTGAGE ANNOUNCES SENIOR LEADERSHIP CHANGE

EPM elevates Phillips to chief sales officer as DeLory's successor; Minghini to retire after 30 years of compliance leadership.

ATLANTA, June 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Equity Prime Mortgage (EPM), an Inc. 5000 mortgage family of companies that also includes Empower Mortgage, the nation's first lender dedicated to first-generation American homebuyers and Vetted VA, today announced the promotion of Kenny Phillips to chief sales officer and the upcoming retirement of James Minghini, chief compliance officer.

"I couldn't be more confident in Kenny Phillips as he steps into the large shoes left by our late friend and colleague, Kevin DeLory," said Eddy Perez, founder and CEO of EPM. "Kevin's vision and dedication built the foundation we stand on today, and I'm certain that Kenny's leadership will carry that legacy forward. I also want to extend my deepest gratitude to James Minghini for his decades of service and unwavering commitment to excellence. His impact on our compliance culture will be felt for years to come."

Phillips brings nearly 30 years of mortgage-lending experience to his new role. He joined EPM in August 2021 as Senior Vice President of Lending, East, after almost a decade of regional leadership at Carrington Mortgage Services and Carrington Wholesale Lending. As Chief Sales Officer, Phillips will oversee all wholesale lending operations, product strategy and partner relations.

"I'm honored to step into my best friend Kevin's shoes as chief sales officer and to carry forward his legacy of innovation and service as part of EPM's new guard," Phillips said. "It is bittersweet to fulfill the plan we always shared to grow EPM together, but they say a legacy only ends when we stop talking about those who have passed. Stepping into this role ensures Kevin's legacy will endure for generations, and I take joy in knowing I will see a bit of Kevin in this role every day as our team continues delivering market-leading wholesale mortgage solutions backed by integrity and expertise."

"As someone who believes a rising tide lifts all boats and that true innovation comes from thinking beyond conventional limits, I'm thrilled to join Kenny in this next phase," said Phil Mancuso, president, chief investment officer and partner of EPM. "Kevin always challenged us to dream bigger and I'm committed to carrying that spirit forward by uniting our teams in collaboration, pushing boundaries in client experience, and ensuring Kevin's vision for EPM shapes our future success. I also want to thank James Minghini for his many contributions over the past decade; his leadership, integrity and dedication have been instrumental to our growth, and his presence will be deeply missed."

Minghini will retire effective June 30 after more than 30 years in the mortgage industry. He began his career in 1993 at CitiFinancial, where he spent nearly 20 years in branch compliance and training. He later served as assistant vice president of compliance at Crescent Mortgage before joining EPM a decade ago. As Chief Compliance Officer, Minghini strengthened EPM's regulatory framework and cultivated a unified, values-driven culture across the organization.

"After more than 30 years in this industry, I'm proud of everything we've built together at EPM," Minghini said. "This leadership team's drive to unite an entire industry for shared success is inspiring, and I leave knowing EPM's best days are ahead."

About Equity Prime Mortgage (EPM)

Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Equity Prime Mortgage (EPM) is a leading national independent mortgage lender committed to empowering homeownership for all, with a special focus on first-generation American families. EPM serves as the parent company to a growing family of brands, including Empower Mortgage, the nation's first lender dedicated exclusively to first-generation homebuyers, and Vetted VA, the most trusted and well-supported community for accurate VA home loan education and resources.

Under the leadership of Founder and CEO Eddy Perez, EPM offers a full suite of residential mortgage products while prioritizing education, accessibility, and community impact. Operating on the core values of empathy, empowerment, and education, EPM helps clients, partners, and communities thrive. Licensed in all 50 states, EPM is proud to continue expanding access to the American dream of homeownership.

Learn more at www.epm.net.

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Jenna Silverman
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EPM
E: [email protected]
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SOURCE Equity Prime Mortgage