Latest news with #Catanese
Associated Press
30-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Click n' Close Appoints Mortgage Wholesale Veteran Tony Catanese as Regional Sales Manager to Lead East Coast Expansion
ADDISON, Texas, May 30, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Click n' Close, a multi-state mortgage lender and innovator in third-party origination (TPO), announced Thursday that Tony Catanese has joined the company as regional sales manager. In this role, Catanese will lead the company's wholesale and non-delegated expansion across the East Coast, focusing on building and developing a high-performing sales team. 'Tony is a consummate professional whose leadership and depth of experience will be pivotal as we accelerate our expansion efforts across the East Coast,' said Adam W. Rieke, executive director of TPO lending at Click n' Close. 'His proven ability to cultivate strong sales teams and execute strategy aligns perfectly with Click n' Close's growth vision and commitment to delivering high-level support to our broker and non-delegated partners.' Catanese has more than 34 years of experience in wholesale mortgage lending and a long history of managing top-performing sales organizations. Most recently, he served as vice president and eastern regional sales manager for several nationally recognized mortgage lenders, including Kind Lending and Sierra Pacific Mortgage Co. 'I am looking forward to helping Click n' Close grow its wholesale and non-delegated footprint and market share,' Catanese said. 'It's a privilege to join an organization that combines leadership with the agility to deliver real value to partners and borrowers.' Catanese's appointment reflects Click n' Close's broader strategic focus on enhancing its presence in key regional markets and providing access to innovative lending programs for third-party originators. As the industry evolves, the company remains dedicated to offering liquidity, agility and strong service across all channels. About Click n' Close: Click n' Close Inc., formerly known as Mid America Mortgage, is a multi-state mortgage lender serving consumers and mortgage originators through its wholesale and correspondent channels. It is the nation's leading provider of Section 184 home loans for Native Americans. In operation since 1940, Click n' Close has established a legacy of innovation and financial strength. The company pioneered the adoption of eClosings and eNotes and has introduced a range of market-responsive loan products, including USDA one-time close construction loans, a proprietary down payment assistance (DPA) program and a reverse mortgage division. By servicing its loan programs in-house and maintaining direct access to capital markets through relationships with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Ginnie Mae and private investors, Click n' Close ensures dependable execution and long-term value for its partners. Learn more at NEWS SOURCE: Click n' Close Inc. ### MEDIA ONLY CONTACT: (not for publication online or in print) Lindsey Neal Depth for Click n' Close Phone: 404-549-9282 Email: [email protected] ### Keywords: Mortgage, Mortgage Wholesale Veteran Tony Catanese, Click n' Close, mortgage lender serving consumers and mortgage originators, ADDISON, Texas This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Click n' Close Inc.) who is solely responsibile for its accuracy, by Send2Press® Newswire. Information is believed accurate but not guaranteed. Story ID: S2P126604 APNF0325A To view the original version, visit: © 2025 Send2Press® Newswire, a press release distribution service, Calif., USA. RIGHTS GRANTED FOR REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY ANY LEGITIMATE MEDIA OUTLET - SUCH AS NEWSPAPER, BROADCAST OR TRADE PERIODICAL. MAY NOT BE USED ON ANY NON-MEDIA WEBSITE PROMOTING PR OR MARKETING SERVICES OR CONTENT DEVELOPMENT. Disclaimer: This press release content was not created by nor issued by the Associated Press (AP). Content below is unrelated to this news story.
Business Insider
13-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Meet the CEOs behind YouTube's biggest stars
Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox might be the faces of the YouTube comedy collective, Smosh, but behind the cameras, someone else helps run their 64-person team. Padilla and Hecox named Alessandra Catanese, Padilla's longtime manager, CEO in 2023. This allowed the pair to focus on the creative side of their YouTube channels. Catanese handles the company's day-to-day operations and overall business strategy. "I certainly don't believe that every creator needs a CEO, but I do believe not every creator is a CEO," Catanese told Business Insider. Smosh isn't the only creator-led operation to put an outside executive in a top role in the past few years. In 2023, the popular sports creator Jesser hired Zach Miller, a Spotify and NBCUniversal alum, as its first president. In 2024, YouTube's most-subscribed-to creator, Jimmy "MrBeast" Donaldson, hired Jeffrey Housenbold to lead his company as CEO and president. Donaldson is among a generation of YouTube creators who came to fame at a young age. He didn't attend college or even work a regular job before he got into content creation. Leaders from the outside can help creators like MrBeast fill skills gaps and build teams as they look to rival Hollywood studios. Some of the biggest YouTubers are now leaning on CEOs, presidents, and other C-suite executives to help them make smart business moves and manage sprawling production teams. They're tapping execs from talent management firms, Hollywood, and creator economy startups. "A lot of creators have reached a scale where they know they need more operating support," said Sean Atkins, CEO of Dhar Mann Studios. Atkins, a former MTV exec, joined the company from creator Dhar Mann last year. The new class of YouTuber chief executives is helping creators build teams, develop M&A strategies, raise funding, or weather growing pains. Timothy Salmon was promoted last year to president of CatFace, the company behind YouTuber Aphmau, who has 23.6 million subscribers and makes videos about Minecraft. Salmon joined the company in 2018 and has a background in post-production for TV and film. He helps manage a 93-person team in Austin, freeing up creator Jessica Bravura to focus on creative tasks, like writing scripts and planning videos. He keeps the team on top of YouTube's ever-shifting algorithm. "YouTube is an ever-evolving beast," Salmon said. "If you're not flexible and you can't adapt, it will leave you behind." Catanese, meanwhile, works from Smosh's Los Angeles office, where she spends most of her time meeting with staff or business partners. She has helped Smosh hire to adapt to TV screens and cash in on YouTube's battle with streamers. Catanese elevated Kiana Parker to the role of executive vice president of programming, overseeing this strategy for Smosh. Atkins, who works from New York and LA, studies the Dhar Mann audience. He analyzes metrics like viewership, watch time, and click-through rates and uses them to evaluate the company's strategies. "I wake up in the morning, and I immediately look at the numbers," Atkins said. He also oversees operations, such as hiring, and new brand initiatives, like touring and M&A. In February, his team hired a chief strategy officer to work alongside Atkins on sourcing, negotiating, and structuring potential M&A deals. Meanwhile, creator group Dude Perfect brought on former NBA exec Andrew Yaffe as CEO late last year. He helps hire talent in front of and behind the camera, build partnerships with brands, and manage the long-term strategy. Housenbold, the CEO of Beast Industries, is leading MrBeast's company as it raises fresh capital. Housenbold has compared the company to Disney for the next generation when pitching prospective investors, as Business Insider previously reported. Some creators are reluctant to cede control For a creator, bringing on a CEO or president also means letting go of some control. "It's hard because creators come from an industry rooted in doing it all by themselves," Catanese said. At the end of the day, their name and brand are on the line. Salmon at CatFace said there have been times when the broader team was set on a strategy, like a brand deal or how a sponsor was presented in a video, but the creator said it didn't feel right. "Working with content creators can be very fascinating, frustrating, exciting, and exhausting," Salmon said. "This company is a representation of who they are. It's understandable that they're picky about the brand and how it's seen." But the biggest risk to a creator business is burnout, and CEOs and other executives can help take some of the pressure off creators. "I always tell creators to build systems and teams around them so that they can continue to scale without burning out," Atkins said. "The No. 1 thing I see for a lot of creators is that they've done everything in the past, so they continue to try to do everything themselves without taking a break." Part of a CEO's job is making creators feel comfortable that they're not going to mess with what's working. For most creator businesses, the creator is at the center of the content, and it really doesn't work without them. "Let's not forget who built this," Atkins said. "My job is to enhance it, not to change it."
