NEXA Lending hires Christopher Griffith to grow VA lending

NEXA Lending announced Monday that it has hired Christopher Griffith as the company looks to expand its focus on VA lending and loan officer development.

Griffith, who is the owner and founder of Vetted VA, will focus on elevating performance across NEXA’s third-party origination (TPO) channel while advocating for a shift in how lenders approach veteran borrowers. Griffith will continue his role as Director at Vetted VA.

In a conversation with HousingWire, Griffith said that his role at NEXA is “completely separate” from his work at Vetted VA.

“I have a long-standing history of having an individual pursuit and then an organizational pursuit,” he said. “[Mike Kortas] recognizes the value that Vetted VA has created for all originators, and wants to have and create a better standard of service for those veterans. With this move, NEXA and NEXAns will have the same access, but at scale, not just going through Vetted VA, but more importantly, an accountability mechanism internally.”

NEXA’s addition of Griffith is intended to help raise performance expectations across the brokerage’s network. Griffith said the industry should move away from transactional relationships and toward a model centered on education, trust and long-term support.

“Stop focusing on the transaction. Start focusing on the person,” Griffith said.

NEXA Lending CEO Mike Kortas wrote on Facebook that Griffith’s title is “EVP VA Growth and Strategy,” but told HousingWire that Griffith will still maintain ownership and CEO status at Vetted VA.

“It has always been a mission of mine, based on early life experiences, to serve Veterans. Yet with Chris out there doing Vetted VA, it was already well served and the space was a little crowded. But now I can really serve one of my passions…. To give a little back to those that defend my right to do what I do in this great country,” Kortas’ post read.

“Between NEXA Lending and NEXA Cares Foundation, look for many VA changes at NEXA. Really can’t wait to use the foundation, Vetted VA and Midnight Canyon Ranch in unison for some wonderful Vets.”

In NEXA’s press release, Kortas also said that Griffith’s hiring aligns with the company’s broader strategy of equipping loan officers with tools and training to serve specialized borrower segments, including veterans better.

“Veterans deserve more than a transaction — they deserve professionals who understand them, advocate for them and fight to get it right,” Kortas said.

Griffith said his move to NEXA provides a larger platform to push for higher standards across the industry.

“If you’re not willing to be held to a higher standard, you won’t grow in a meaningful way,” he said. “Veterans deserve to encounter professionals who are genuinely seeking to help, people who operate with a pure heart and clear intent in how they serve, and this move to NEXA Lending matters because it gives me a larger platform to hold people accountable to that standard.”

“We’re not here to be average — we’re here to lead, innovate and give loan officers every possible advantage to serve their clients at the highest level,” Kortas said.

The addition also follows several key hires and promotions at NEXA, which rebranded in October 2025. In January, NEXA hired Todd Bitter as national sales director. Other hires and career changes at the company include the appointment of Von Maharaj as NEXA’s chief financial officer and the promotion of Rana Mortensen to chief administrative officer.

NEXA also hired Tammy Richards as chief strategy officer in October and, before that, named Jason DuPont as chief operating officer and Geri Farr as chief growth officer.