Meet Your Residential Lending Staff
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Jose "Joe" Chavez - Mortgage Loan Originator
AK NMLS# 851273
Joe has 18 plus years of banking, consumer lending and mortgage lending experience, and previously worked at Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc. and Alaska USA Mortgage Company.
Originally from San Antonio, TX, Joe has lived in Alaska since he was 13-years-old. He has two young adult children, a son and a daughter. In his free time, Joe enjoys music. He's a blues guitarist and he is also an enthusiast for jazz and classical guitar. He's also a public speaker/entertainer and has performed as a stand-up comic. Joe also enjoys cooking, grilling, BBQs and entertaining friends and family.
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Erma Castillo - Mortgage Loan Originator
AK NMLS# 404173
With over 20 years as a seasoned loan originator in Alaska, Erma’s career in real estate is part of a family legacy rooted in investing. Specializing in HUD 184, renovation, and new construction loans, Erma navigates diverse products, including multi-family investments. As a loan originator, Erma leverages her background to guide clients through mortgages, emphasizing personalized service and lasting relationships. For Erma, her work is about merging extensive industry knowledge with a commitment to well-being and building homes and dreams that stand the test of time.
Beyond work, Erma is a proud mom and grandmother, finding joy in her granddaughter's basketball games at the US Air Force Academy.
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Julia Haakenson - Homebuyer Assistance Officer
AK NMLS# 1752101
Julia was born and raised on a homestead on the Kenai Peninsula, moving to Anchorage for college.
She took a job at Wells Fargo to help pay for college, but it quickly became a career. Julia spent 16 years in various departments, including the branch, mortgage assumptions, business banking, and mortgage origination. She quickly learned that helping people obtain their first home was a passion and is excited to bring that dedication to Cook Inlet Lending Center borrowers. She loves to be there for her clients as a calm, steady, knowledgeable presence, allowing the process to be easier and less stressful than it otherwise might have been.
In her free time, Julia loves to do typical Alaskan activities like hiking and camping, but she also enjoys curling up with a good book while cuddling her very fluffy cats.
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Jennifer Gomez - Mortgage Loan Processor
Jennifer was born and raised in California and moved to Oklahoma in 2020 to pursue a career as a loan counselor for the Chickasaw Nation.
She has been in the home mortgage industry for about 30 years and was referred to CILC by our partner, Chickasaw Community Bank, to join the CILC team as a Mortgage Loan Processor. Jennifer has four children, eight grandchildren, and one great grandchild. She enjoys trail riding and hiking with a passion for dogs and horses.
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Benjamin Reynolds - Residential Lending Manager
AK NMLS# 1662179
Benjamin Reynolds is a born and raised Alaskan, growing up and attending high school in Anchorage.
After graduating from Northwest University in Kirkland, WA, with a Music Production degree, he returned to Alaska. He began a career in the banking and real estate lending industries. With experience in Residential Lending, Mortgage Education and Training, and Quality Control, Benjamin joined CILC in 2023 with a passion for helping underserved communities in the State of Alaska realize their dreams of homeownership in this fantastic community we call home. Along with his work at CILC, Benjamin is a husband and father, musician, and professional wedding and family photographer who enjoys spending time with friends and family.