Originator Connect Network

What Originator Connect Network does

Originator Connect Network (OCN), operated by American Business Media, LLC, is the self-described nation's largest producer of mortgage industry events, running 23+ conferences and expos annually across the United States. Its core product is a network of physical and virtual events serving licensed mortgage brokers, loan originators, and aspiring broker owners, anchored by the flagship Originator Connect national conference in Las Vegas, which draws over 2,500 mortgage professionals. Supporting products include regional expos (California Mortgage Expo, Arizona Mortgage Expo, Texas Mortgage Roundup, New England Mortgage Expo), the Non-QM Summit, Mortgage Star (a women-in-mortgage event), the Build-A-Broker bootcamp, and the NMP Ignite virtual series, along with a content presence via the Build-A-Broker: The Journey podcast and website articles.

The company has no proprietary technology platform; its offering is fundamentally an event production and live-education service. The Build-A-Broker bootcamp covers business setup, LO compensation, CRM systems, and loan origination systems, while free NMLS-approved continuing education is delivered in partnership with MaxClass, a strategic co-development partner that provides instructors and the 8-hour CE curriculum. Registration runs $125 pre-event or $150 at the door, with free NMLS-licensee admission via promo codes, and NMLS renewal classes are free upon completion of an exhibit hall passport.

OCN's revenue model is event-driven and multi-stream: individual registration fees (largely discounted via promo codes), exhibitor booth fees, and tiered sponsorship packages (title, non-QM, education) sold to lenders, technology providers, and service companies such as Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions, NMP Magazine, Rocket Pro, and the Mortgage Women Leadership Council. Distribution is domestic only, reaching mortgage professionals across all major US regions via direct online registration and sponsor/exhibitor field sales. The company is privately held, Connecticut-based, and provides no disclosed financials, headcount, or funding history.

Name

Originator Connect Network

Legal name

American Business Media, LLC

Website

https://originatorconnectnetwork.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Originator Connect Network is the nation's largest producer of mortgage industry events, operating 23+ in-person and virtual conferences and expos annually across the United States to serve loan originators, brokers, and mortgage industry sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

West Hartford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Event Registration Fees: OCN charges registration fees for mortgage professionals to attend events. Pre-registration is available at $125, with walk-in registration at $150. Free registration is offered to NMLS licensees using promotional codes.
2. Exhibitor and Sponsor Packages: Lenders, technology providers, and service companies pay to exhibit at OCN events and sponsor educational sessions. The company offers various sponsorship tiers including title sponsorship, non-QM sponsorship, and education sponsorship.
3. Build-A-Broker Bootcamp: Half-day bootcamp training sessions designed to help mortgage professionals establish mortgage brokerages. The class is free when registering for Originator Connect events using promotional codes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Originator Connect Network (OCN) is the nation's largest producer of mortgage industry events, producing over 23 conferences and expos annually across the United States. The company organizes the flagship Originator Connect national conference in Las Vegas (drawing 2,500+ mortgage professionals), regional mortgage expos in major US cities, and specialized events like the Non-QM Summit. OCN also offers free NMLS-approved continuing education classes through its MaxClass partnership and a Build-A-Broker bootcamp program for mortgage professionals.

Product overview

Originator Connect Network is the nation's largest producer of mortgage events, operating a portfolio of event-based products centered around mortgage industry education and networking. The core offerings include the Originator Connect national conference, over 23 regional mortgage expo events across the United States (including California Mortgage Expo in multiple locations, Arizona Mortgage Expo, Texas Mortgage Roundup, New England Mortgage Expo, and others), and the Non-QM Summit focused on non-qualified mortgage lending. Supporting products include Build-A-Broker (a half-day bootcamp for establishing mortgage brokerages), Free NMLS Renewal Courses (complimentary continuing education provided through MaxClass partnership), the Build-A-Broker: The Journey podcast, Mortgage Star (women's leadership event), and NMP Ignite virtual series. The platform connects mortgage professionals through events, education, and networking opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Build-A-Broker: A half-day bootcamp program designed to help mortgage professionals establish and launch their own brokerage businesses. Covers topics including business setup, LO compensation, CRM systems, and loan origination systems.
• Build-A-Broker: The Journey

Products and services

• Originator Connect (National Conference) The company's flagship national conference event held annually in Las Vegas, bringing together over 2,500 mortgage professionals for education, networking, and industry engagement.
• Regional Mortgage Expo Events Over 23 regional mortgage events across the United States including California Mortgage Expo (multiple locations), Arizona Mortgage Expo, Texas Mortgage Roundup, New England Mortgage Expo, and other location-specific events serving local mortgage professionals.
• Non-QM Summit Specialized educational event focusing on non-qualified mortgage products and lending strategies, held in multiple locations including Las Vegas and New England.
• Build-A-Broker Bootcamp A half-day bootcamp program designed to help mortgage professionals establish or streamline their own brokerage businesses, covering topics including business setup, loan origination systems, LO compensation, and CRM systems.
• Free NMLS Renewal Courses Free, in-person NMLS-approved Continuing Education classes offered at nearly all OCN events through exclusive partnership with MaxClass, allowing mortgage professionals to fulfill licensing requirements.
• Mortgage Star An event celebrating women in the mortgage industry, featuring leadership discussions, awards recognition, panel conversations on topics including AI, marketing, and business growth.
• NMP Ignite Virtual Series A dynamic year-round virtual event series featuring Ignite Summit and Ignite Session formats covering topics from production strategies and compliance to technology and growth.
• Build-A-Broker: The Journey Podcast A podcast series featuring newly minted mortgage broker-owners discussing their journey from business inception to closing their first loan, covering origins, challenges, and rewards of entrepreneurship in the mortgage industry.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,500 mortgage professionals attend Originator Connect national conference
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MaxClasscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaxClass serves as OCN's exclusive CE provider for NMLS-approved continuing education courses at events. The partnership enables OCN to offer free 8-hour NMLS CE classes to event attendees, fulfilling annual licensing requirements. MaxClass provides instructors including LaDonna Lockard, Alex Berberian, Shawna Walker, and Jeana Lanktree. Provider #1405088.
• American Business Media (AM Biz Media)coreOthersAM Biz Media is the parent company producing OCN events. The company produces mortgage events under the Originator Connect Network brand including regional expos, national conferences, and specialized events. Contact: [email protected].
• Angel Oak Mortgage SolutionscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAngel Oak serves as Non-QM Sponsor for multiple OCN events including California Mortgage Expo, Originator Connect, and Arizona Mortgage Expo. They provide speakers for non-QM lending educational sessions and participate in exhibitor showcase.
• NMP Magazine (National Mortgage Professional)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerNMP Magazine serves as Title Sponsor for OCN events and provides editorial coverage including event recaps and industry articles. NMP Ignite virtual series is featured on the OCN website as a related initiative.
• Rocket ProminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRocket Pro served as Title Sponsor for California Mortgage Expo Irvine event, showcasing their mortgage technology solutions to attendees.
• Mortgage Women Leadership Council (MWLC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMWLC partners with OCN for women-focused networking events including MWLC Meet Ups at regional expos. The council's leadership team including Melissa Pianin, Meghan Golden, and Shelby Fennewald participate in events.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• HousingWire: Mortgage and real estate media company producing news, awards (HousingWire Awards), and events including the HousingWire Annual conference. Comparable as a B2B media and event producer serving the mortgage and housing ecosystem.
• Five Star Institute: Mortgage and real estate industry event producer famous for the Five Star Conference and Default Servicing Conference. Directly comparable as a niche B2B event organizer serving mortgage professionals with high-touch conferences.
• Scotsman Guide: Long-standing mortgage industry media brand producing directories, rankings, and industry events for mortgage originators. Directly comparable in audience targeting (licensed loan originators) and revenue model (sponsorships, advertising, event production).
• National Mortgage Professional Magazine (NMP): Mortgage industry trade publication that also produces the NMP Ignite virtual event series and serves as Title Sponsor for OCN events. Operates in the same audience (mortgage originators) with overlapping event and content offerings; appears to be a sister concern under American Business Media.
• IMN (part of Ascential Events): Specialist B2B conference organizer producing events for the financial services and capital markets sectors, including mortgage-related summits. Comparable as a commercially-oriented event producer targeting financial industry professionals with paid conferences and sponsor-driven models.

Broad incumbents

• Inman: Real estate industry media and event company producing Inman Connect conferences and extensive news coverage. Comparable as a B2B media-plus-events platform, though its primary audience is real estate agents rather than mortgage originators, making it an adjacent rather than direct competitor.
• Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA): The largest US trade association for the real estate finance industry, producing the annual MBA Convention and numerous specialized events. Comparable as a dominant mortgage industry event organizer, though operating as a non-profit trade body rather than a commercial event company.
• National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB): Trade association specifically representing mortgage brokers and originators, producing annual conferences and continuing education programs. Overlaps with OCN's audience of mortgage brokers and offers comparable in-person events plus NMLS-approved CE.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/originatorconnectnetwork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/42127493
• Instagraminstagram.com/originatorconnectnetwork
• Xx.com/originatorcn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Originator Connect Network