Anthony Holt
Branch Manager
Education: BS, criminal justice, North Carolina Central University
Company Name: New American Funding
Industry: Mortgage
Company CEO: Rick Arvielo
Company Headquarters Location: Tustin, California
Number of Employees: 4300+
Words you live by: “… lifting as we climb …” –Mary Church Terrell
Who is your personal hero? My mother
What book are you reading? Raving Fans: A Revolutionary Approach to Customer Service by Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Bowles
What was your first job: Dishwasher at a restaurant called The Silo
Favorite charity: Urban Prep Academies in Chicago
Interests: Car enthusiast, attending car shows, gardening, interior decorating, watching movies, spending time with family and friends, and traveling
Family: One 11-year-old daughter, Gabrielle or “Gabby”
Giving Is Essential to My Success
I wake up every day and ask myself, “What can I do as an individual to make this world a better place?” I truly believe in being a blessing to others through giving and practicing random acts of kindness.
When I cross paths with people, I never truly know the burdens they carry. A smile, a compliment, a quick phone call to say “hey, you were on my mind,” opening a door, paying for a meal, offering a listening ear, or just saying thank you may be the small gesture that provides hope and inspiration for that person to keep going.
A spirit of giving is the one trait I consider essential to my success. I believe in the law of attraction and positivity, and how it affects culture in organizations. The words I live by daily are “lifting as we climb.” I ask what I can do to support and uplift my fellow team members, friends, and family members, as well as complete strangers.
Helping team members work through challenges, finding solutions, and seeing them succeed in helping families achieve the dream of homeownership drives me. There is an amazing feeling of joy that comes from knowing you’ve been an integral part of what may be one of the largest financial achievements of their lives.
I was recently nominated to chair New American Funding’s New American Dream initiative. This initiative was launched in 2016 by NAF President Patty Arvielo, with the goal of increasing black homeownership across America. In this new role, I will be working diligently to address the many barriers to black homeownership. I will be working tirelessly with other organizations, as well as internal team members, to create actionable solutions to increase black employment and leadership opportunities in the mortgage industry and financial literacy platforms for aspiring homeowners.
My ultimate wish is to help create meaningful ways to bring financial literacy to the dinner table in the black community.