Best BDM & Best Underwriter
The entire Glasslake team celebrated a huge moment and milestone last night.
At the 2026 Mortgage Awards of Excellence Gala, where several industry professionals are recognized for their hard work, innovation, and leadership, Glasslake Funding was amongst them celebrating three nominations.
Glasslake Funding Nominated Across Three Categories at the 2026 Mortgage Awards of Excellence
This year, we were nominated across three major categories:
- Private Lender Award of Excellence – Glasslake Funding
- Business Development Manager Award of Excellence – Jake Bannister
- Industry Underwriter Award of Excellence – Ronelle Landicho
We showed up with a bus load of people (we literally took a giant limo bus to the event) and were the rowdiest tables in the room by a landslide. But that’s just how us Lakers do it – we show up for our own, and that’s inclusive of our team and the broker partners we work with.
And by the end of the night, we got back onto that bus with two out of three awards, with Jake Bannister winning the Business Development Manager Award of Excellence and Ronelle Landicho winning the Industry Underwriter Award of Excellence!
Proud? Simply an understatement.
These awards are more than just a piece of hardware we get to take home with us. They represent the hard work, dedication, long hours (and weekends) spent working, the consistency, and tenacity our team has put in over the last few years. They are a reflection of what is possible when people commit themselves to building something unique from the ground up. It hasn’t been an easy ride, and we’re nowhere close to being done, but this was a moment for us to really see how far we’ve come, and to celebrate that as a team.
Both Jake and Ronelle have been with Glasslake since our launch in 2023. They’re part of the OG and founding team that helped start this operation with nothing but a vision and a goal. There was no established pipeline waiting for them when they joined. No brokers in our CRM. No processes in place. Together with the team, they helped start everything from scratch, and turned it into something exceptional.
With now over $1.5 Billion in Assets Under Management, that kind of growth doesn’t just happen overnight and it definitely hasn’t been easy. It’s taken relentless effort, confidence, and a strong TEAM!
Glasslake Funding Takes Home Two Awards
Jake Bannister – Business Development Manager Award of Excellence WINNER
Jake has become known across the industry as a genuine and thoughtful person and sales rep. He takes time to actually connect to his brokers, understand their deals and obstacles, and find solutions when others may stop looking. Last year, Jake earned industry recognition as a Rising Star, highlighting his excellence in performance, service, and leadership. He never looks at things being “transactional” and sees every interaction as an opportunity to connect and build trust. He’s also known for having his phone constantly ringing off the hook, and is always headed somewhere – an event, a broker meeting (he did over 100 of these in 2025 alone..), catching a flight, or taking a broker out for dinner. Since moving to Western Canada in 2024 to spearhead our operation in BC and Alberta, he not only racked up an envious amount of Air Canada points, but he also grew our business out there exponentially, having it now represent over 35% of Glasslake’s total business. And flights across the country don’t stop him from getting deals done – he works tirelessly around the clock, no matter what time zone he’s in.
Ronelle Landicho – Industry Underwriter Award of Excellence WINNER
Ronelle, or as we like to call him, Rockin’ Ronnie, is known for crushing deals, and owning the relationships he’s built. His dedication and commitment is unmatched. To Ronelle, Underwriting isn’t just about reviewing files – he takes the time to understand the story behind every deal, balancing risk with opportunity, and finding the deal within the deal. He’s adamant on practicing the Glasslake UP-UP approach (Underwriters Pick Up Phones) – always on the dials ready to talk through a deal and find a solution that works for everyone involved. During his speech on the stage last night, he mentioned that growing up, his father would tell him 4 words which he lives by every single day, “Show up. Work hard.” – and that he does. He shows up every single day for everyone, personally and professionally, and has built a strong career and reputation within the industry.
On behalf of Glasslake Funding, thank you Ronelle and Jake for representing our brand, culture, and team. We are so grateful for the both of you!
Since our launch in 2023, Glasslake has been nominated for several industry awards year after year. We’ve attended every event with our entire team, bringing our excitement with us every time. Recognition is never the reason we do what we do, but it does mean something to make an impact on the industry and to be acknowledged.
Although we didn’t go home with the Lender of the Year award – this year felt extra special and meaningful since our people were recognized directly.
Supporting The Market We Serve
Over the past several years, brokers and borrowers alike have faced rising rates, tighter qualification standards, shifting regulations, and growing uncertainty. During a time like this, alternative lending has become more important than ever before. There is a very real gap in the market, and borrowers need lending partners who are willing to look beyond rigid boxes and understand the full picture.
That is where Glasslake continues to lean in.
Built on Broker Trust: Glasslake Funding’s Commitment to the Industry
As an alternative lender, we believe it is our responsibility to support brokers with practical solutions, transparent communication, and dependable execution. We understand that behind every deal is a borrower trying to move forward — whether that means growing a business, consolidating debt, refinancing a property, or creating stability during uncertain times.
Our role in this market matters.
And while awards are exciting, what matters most to us is continuing to earn the trust of the brokers we work with every single day.
The truth is, none of this happens alone.
To our broker partners: thank you for trusting us, challenging us, and growing alongside us. Your confidence in our team is what allows us to continue building.
To our internal team: thank you for bringing the energy, care, and commitment that continues to push Glasslake forward. Every deal, every conversation, and every late night contributes to the reputation we are building together.
And to Jake and Ronelle — congratulations. These awards are incredibly well deserved.
This moment is a milestone for Glasslake, but it is far from the finish line. Stay tuned for more!
With all our content, we aim to provide information to better understand the mortgage landscape for both brokers and borrowers. But every situation is unique, so feel free to reach out to us, and we can walk through your specific circumstances to see if there’s a fit for working together. Let’s make a deal.
Contact sales@glasslake.ca to learn more.
