Something surprising happened at NRL Mortgage the morning their associates were sent home to work remotely because of the pandemic. “Everyone was back online that same afternoon,” says Mewael Ghebremichael, chief production officer and a partner of the company. “It was a testament to the work ethic of our associates, our scalable technology and, most importantly, the foundation that we laid for over 14 years.”
Founded in 2007, NRL Mortgage entered the industry when many mortgage companies were struggling to stay afloat. NRL’s ownership team — three former loan originators who became branch managers and, eventually, boasted the most productive branches in the region — saw the opportune moment to join NRL. At the time, the Houston-based company was licensed in only three states and one branch. Having navigated the credit crisis and, most recently, the pandemic, the partners have experienced major market turbulence, prompting them to develop the grit to succeed.
Today, Ghebremichael oversees over 60 branches, 280 loan originators and multiple departments. As a former loan originator, loan processor and underwriter, he has firsthand knowledge that gives him the aptitude to make decisions quickly and accurately.
Despite the market fluctuations this past year, the company has received several prestigious awards, including the national Top Workplaces award, a Top Mortgage Employers designation from National Mortgage Professional Magazine and National Mortgage News, and the Diversity in Business Award from the Houston Business Journal.
A first-generation American, Ghebremichael credits his success to his Eritrean parents and their relentless pursuit to prioritize education at an early age. Immigrating to the US in the 1970s, they instilled strong core values of integrity, prioritizing family and working hard. Today, Ghebremichael volunteers his time on the Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas board. He enjoys spending time with his wife of over 10 years and his three children, as well as coaching his children’s baseball team.
