Victor Ciardelli, founder and CEO of Guaranteed Rate, despite mortgage market headwinds, has propelled his company to new heights in the last year.

The company earned the number six spot in top overall volume on Scotsman Guide’s Top Mortgage Lenders 2017 list and had four originators rank in the top 10 by total volume.

Whereas many mortgage companies have needed to initiate layoffs due to the market conditions, Ciardelli and Guaranteed Rate were able to hire 352 loan officers in the first half of 2018 and grow by 29% year-over-year.

Ciardelli was also able to broker the joint venture between Guaranteed Rate and Realogy, creating Guaranteed Rate Affinity.

Thanks to his efforts, Guaranteed Rate produced the POD model, the company’s unique platform that allows originators to provide a fully transparent, customer-friendly home buying experience.

Guaranteed Rate has been on the bleeding edge of the race toward the digital mortgage and Ciardelli is working to push forward efforts to enhance Guaranteed Rate’s suite of technology.

A firm believer in giving back, Ciardelli started the Guaranteed Rate Foundation, a self-funded nonprofit that aids people going through unexpected hardships. This year, the foundation surpassed the $2 million mark in aid administered.

Ciardelli is passionate about family. He refuses to allow work to define him and strives to be a father first. He says family is where his strength and inspiration spring from day-in and day-out.

What is one thing you cannot do without?

“I truly cannot live without my family. My amazing kids – Victor, Tristan, Chloe and Ava – give me unbelievable strength and powerful inspiration every single day. I am incredibly blessed to be their father and cherish every moment I get with them. They motivate me to be the best I possibly can.”