From All-Star to Mortgage Pro: Jon Volpe’s Winning Approach in Tucson!
What happens when you combine the precision of an industrial engineer with the tenacity of a professional football player? You get Jon Volpe, the reigning champion of mortgage loan origination in the U.S. for five consecutive years, alongside Nova Home Loans – Arizona’s heavyweight in the mortgage arena.
Let’s rewind for a moment and explore how Nova rose to this pinnacle of success. Hailing from Tucson, Jon began his career at just nine years old. A star running back at Amphitheater High School, he went on to dazzle at Stanford University, becoming a three-time All-Pac-10 Academic and a First-Team Football All-Pac-10 nominee, even earning a nod as a Rhodes Scholar.
Jon kicked off his professional journey with the BC Lions in the Canadian Football League, where he shattered five rushing records and was celebrated as the CFL’s Rookie of the Year. His next chapter led him to the NFL as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Steelers – a childhood dream come true.
However, after a few months in the NFL, Jon returned to the CFL with the Las Vegas Posse. Unfortunately, a career-ending injury forced him to hang up his cleats far too soon.
Back in Tucson, Jon reconnected with Ray Desmond, a family friend and the founder of Nova Home Loans, which at that time was a modest business with just 12 employees. Ray saw potential in Jon and welcomed him onboard as a “gopher,” tackling everything from loan closures to ensuring customer satisfaction.
Jon quickly recognized the mortgage industry as a complex web of challenges, particularly for first-time homebuyers who often face financial stress. He saw an opportunity to transform Nova and set out to merge his football discipline with his industrial engineering background, leading to the creation of the Nova Playbook and Training Program.
This innovative program blends Jon’s expertise with nearly three decades of industry insights and feedback from employees, paving a clear path for achieving goals and delighting customers.
The mission? Simply the word “Yes.” Their motto? To underpromise and overdeliver.
Every team member embodies the spirit of DIRTF – Do It Right the First Time. When Nova says yes, customers can bank on it, thanks to their robust training program.
Jon understood that to excel, Nova had to take control of the entire loan process. The company transformed from a broker model dependent on banks and investors into a fully owned mortgage banking powerhouse.
No more middlemen—Nova owns the mortgage journey from start to finish.
To further simplify the loan process, Jon implemented streamlined industrial techniques, bringing time efficiency and quality control into every stage. This strategic approach also included risk management policies that created multiple pathways for successfully closing loans.
Drawing from his football experience, Jon fostered a culture of team training and development. One impactful lesson came from a coach who introduced him to a goal-setting index card, a simple yet powerful tool that helped him chart a five-year plan and review it annually. This philosophy is now a core component of Nova’s training for branch managers and loan originators. As Jon emphasizes, Nova is not just about helping customers realize their dreams; it’s also about empowering employees to achieve their goals.
From humble beginnings as a gopher in 1995, Jon climbed the ranks to managing partner, co-owner, and eventually owner and CEO by 2003. In 2022, Ryan Vondrak stepped up as CEO, while Jon remains the owner and chairman of the board. Under his guidance, Nova has expanded its reach to 19 states.
In 2002, the company launched “Miracle En El Barrio,” an annual event that brings joy to thousands of children during the holiday season through toy donations. Nova also proudly sponsors The Arizona Bowl, ensuring that 100% of the proceeds benefit charitable causes – a condition Jon insisted upon for the sponsorship deal. Their philanthropic efforts today include a remarkable $10 million investment into a trust for non-profits across Tucson and Southern Arizona.
At the heart of Nova’s success are three simple guiding principles: deliver the absolute best for customers and employees, promote from within, and give back to the community.
