Vetted VA Advisory Board

Christopher Griffith is the CEO and founder of Vetted VA, a community and education organization focused on helping Veterans and military families navigate the VA home loan process and connect with professionals committed to service and accountability. He founded Vetted VA in 2019, growing it from a Facebook group into a national professional community. A U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and entrepreneur, Christopher brings personal perspective to Vetted VA’s mission of improving education, trust, and standards in the mortgage and real estate industries.

Nathan Knottingham is COO and co-founder of Vetted VA, where he helps lead the organization’s education, operations, and community-building work. His background spans mortgage lending, professional training, consulting, business development, content strategy, and marketing automation. Before joining Vetted VA’s leadership, Nathan served as president of the McMinnville Area Chamber of Commerce and as vice president of training and development at Knowledge Coop. His work centers on helping professionals grow while making information clearer and more useful for consumers.

Gay Veale is a VVA7 Vetted VA Professional affiliated with Guidon Mortgage Group LLC and a member of Vetted VA’s inaugural Advisory Board. She is a retired United States Air Force Command Chief Master Sergeant, bringing senior enlisted leadership experience to her work with the Veteran and military-family community. Gay serves as Vetted VA's Chief Experience Officer, with responsibilities focused on member experience, operational consistency, professional accountability, and strengthening the support provided to Vetted VA members and the homebuyers they serve.

Mike Alberico is the broker-owner of Carolina Mortgage Advisors, LLC, where he helps homebuyers evaluate mortgage options and navigate the financing process. He is a VVA7 Vetted VA Professional and a member of Vetted VA’s inaugural Advisory Board. Through his work with Carolina Mortgage Advisors and Vetted VA, Mike contributes practical mortgage-broker experience to the organization’s mission of providing clear education, encouraging professional accountability, and helping Veterans and military families make informed home-financing decisions.

Jason Sharon is a VVA7 Vetted VA Professional and the founder and owner of Home Loans Inc. He has been part of the Vetted VA community since its early days and was the first person founder Christopher Griffith trusted to serve as a community moderator. Jason is known for his detailed study of VA home-loan guidelines, teaching mortgage professionals, and helping borrowers work through challenging loan scenarios. He has authored books on VA mortgages, first-time homebuying, and mortgages for real estate professionals. Jason is a 20-year U.S. Navy veteran whose service included work as a nuclear-reactor regulator.

Mike Kortas is the founder and CEO of NEXA Lending, a mortgage brokerage he co-founded in 2017. He brings extensive mortgage-industry leadership experience and represents the wholesale mortgage brokerage perspective on Vetted VA’s inaugural Advisory Board. In this role, he contributes industry insight to Vetted VA’s efforts to broaden education for Veterans and military families, strengthen professional standards, and build responsible partnerships across the mortgage industry.

Tom Ahles is Chief Growth Officer at Edge Home Finance and a longtime leader in the mortgage-broker community. His work focuses on helping mortgage professionals build sustainable businesses, strengthening industry relationships, and expanding access to homeownership guidance. He has also held leadership roles with the Association of Independent Mortgage Experts (AIME), including national membership leadership and board service. As a member of Vetted VA’s inaugural Advisory Board, Tom brings a brokerage-growth and industry-partnership perspective to the organization’s work supporting Veterans and military families.