American Business Media LLC, with headquarters in West Hartford, Conn., announced today that it has acquired Long Island-based National Mortgage Professional Magazine, Mortgage News Network and affiliated titles. The combined entity locks in a dominant position in the media landscape for the mortgage, banking and credit union industries.
"We spent 10 years growing National Mortgage Professional Magazine as the premier publication for mortgage originators across the United States,” said Joel Berman, publisher and CEO of Mortgage News Network Inc. "We have broadened into the largest webinar provider in the industry, the most widely read email newsletters, and are the predominant chroniclers of the who's who in the mortgage lending field. With American Business Media, we saw an amazing opportunity to further expand our influence and our ability to connect our audience to the stories of their success.”
American Business Media is the nation's largest producer of conferences for the mortgage, banking, and credit union industries. In 2019, AmBiz produced 32 conferences, tradeshows and networking events throughout the United States. It is the dominant trade show and educational conference provider in the mortgage field, through its Originator Connect Network division. AmBiz showcases a wide range of educational opportunities for mortgage professionals across the country, and last year provided complimentary NMLS licensing classes to more than 2,500 originators.
"We have had the good fortune to have worked with the folks at Mortgage News Network and National Mortgage Professional Magazine for several years,” said AmBiz CEO Vincent Valvo. "We believe Joel and Andrew Berman are industry visionaries. This was an unparalleled opportunity to bring our experience with in-person conferences as well as the publishing expertise from our Originator Connect magazine into a new team environment with Mortgage News Network.”
The combination creates an organization that reaches more than 160,000 mortgage origination professionals each week. It provides email newsletters, webinars, and targeted video as well as print and digital magazines and specialty products, and nearly three dozen live events annually across the country.
“We are all energized at the opportunities this transaction creates for our clients and audience,” said Andrew Berman. “Utilizing social media marketing, analytics, data products and enhanced traditional media, our combined company will set the standard for connecting mortgage professionals with the tools they need to dominate their markets.”
Both Bermans and Valvo pointed out that by combining forces, American Business Media will be able to offer mortgage industry vendors unparalleled avenues to reach valuable and critical target markets in ways no other organization can offer. "Whether it is in print, online, or in person, we can bring exceptional opportunity and value for companies seeking to reach the mortgage origination community," said Valvo.
The combination is effective immediately. Joel Berman and Andrew Berman from Mortgage News Network will take on executive roles at American Business Media. The company will be headquartered in West Hartford, Connecticut, with continued operations out of Long Island, New York.