THE HUB STAGE: Sports Talk with Vince Papale

Mark Jones

2024 MBA Chairman; President, Union Home Mortgage

Mark Jones co-founded Amerifirst Home Mortgage in 1983, a company he grew from an individual location in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to over 80 full-service locations and 900 personnel nationwide. In January 2023, Amerifirst merged with Union Home Mortgage to form a top 40 national mortgage lender, where Mark now serves as President. Prior to the merger, Amerifirst was the No. 1 USDA lender and the No. 3 FHA lender in Michigan, and the No. 13 FHA lender in Florida. Amerifirst was also a Ginnie Mae issuer and serviced in-house a $6 billion loan portfolio. Amerifirst ranked as a Best & Brightest Company to Work for in the Nation for five consecutive years (2016-2020) and was named one of the top 50 Best Mortgage Companies to Work For in 2021. In 2016 Mark received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award for Michigan and Northwest Ohio. In addition to his service as MBA’s Chairman-Elect, Mark currently serves as Chairman of MBA’s DEI Advisory Committee. He previously served as co-chair of MBA’s Independent Mortgage Bankers Executive Council. Mark also serves as board member and Public Policy Committee Chair at Southwest Michigan First and serves as Chair of Southwest Michigan First PAC. Mark holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management from Virginia Commonwealth University, where he competed on the Varsity Swimming & Diving team. In 1979, Jones won the 1979 Virginia Intercollegiate State Championship in 1 meter springboard diving and was a two-time NCAA Regional Qualifier. Jones lives in greater Kalamazoo with his wife, close to three adult children, and two grandchildren.

Vince Papale

Former Philadelphia Eagles Wide Receiver, Inspiration for the Movie Invincible

In 1976, at the age of 30, high school coach and part-time bartender, Vincent Papale tried out for the Philadelphia Eagles. He was one of only a few players selected from an open tryout and made history by becoming the oldest rookie non-kicker ever in the NFL – a record he continues to hold today. He went on to play for three seasons with the Eagles, primarily as a wide receiver and special teams player. Papale was recently honored by the Eagles and their fans and was named “Most Outstanding Special Teams Player” during a celebration of the Philadelphia Eagles 75th anniversary. His remarkable journey to the NFL and his inspiring underdog story has been the subject of several books, documentaries, and the 2006 film "Invincible," which starred actor, Mark Wahlberg as Papale. Today, Papale is a motivational speaker, using his experiences on the football field and beyond to inspire others to overcome adversity and pursue their dreams. He is also involved in numerous charitable events and activities.