But the government reports that it’s not mortgage bankers adding to their ranks, but rather mortgage brokers, a breed of worker some have written off as endangered.

National Mortgage News reported that the jobs report “disappointed analysts who were looking for a sign that the job market had finally turned the corner.”

I’m no analyst, but I find this encouraging news for our industry. The brokers are the first to leave when things turn bad and lenders tighten up credit. They are also the first to return when there is money to be made lending. Perhaps this is a harbinger of better things to come.

“New Media is all about building an audience online, which makes these tools perfect for writers,” said Rick Grant, principal with RGA. “I plan to introduce these folks to blogging, if they are not already there, and talk about how Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and other Social Media sites can help them draw traffic back to what they write.”

Grant has been a writer and journalist for over 25 years. Prior to launching RGA, he founded Texell Interactive Media, a production company delivering electronic audio and video content for Web-based marketing. Before that, he spent more than a decade as one of the nation’s leading financial industry-focused journalists. He writes features for Mortgage Banking magazine and is a columnist for HousingWire magazine and Scotsman Guide. He is also a correspondent for the Times News, Lehighton, Pennsylvnia.

The Black Diamond Writers Group can be found on Facebook.com at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=49363452843.

JIM THORPE, PA—

“I am proud to welcome Matt to our company. This is a clear statement to clients of our commitment to providing excellent products and to hiring superb executives that understand the mortgage business,” said Rick Grant, principal and founder of RGA. “He brings a wealth of mortgage and financial knowledge to the industry, understands technology, and he brings a compelling strategic vision to the firm.”

An award-winning financial journalist, Strickberger is a former editor of Mortgage Technology magazine, where he helped to create the publication’s well-respected technology awards. Most recently, he was the assistant managing editor of InvestmentNews and the managing editor of Fund Action and Operations Management, two publications that are published by Institutional Investor.

About Rick Grant & Associates
Founded in 2007, Jim Thorpe, Pa.-based Rick Grant & Associates provides business leaders with a customized strategic message designed to establish a strong market presence and expand awareness the marketplaces’ awareness of the brand. The RGA team provides clients with innovative communication strategies designed to tell the stories that best complement existing initiatives. To learn more about the company, visit www.rickgrant.net.

“We were happy to be invited to speak about New Media marketing at such a well attended conference,” said Rick Grant. “When some of the smartest people in the industry want to hear what you have to say, you can be certain it is important to the future of their businesses.”

RGA will expand its training offering and take it to other industry events. The company currently offers training on site, over the telephone, or online. RGA also maintains a blog that focuses specifically on the new tools available to marketing executives at http://newmediaobserver.blogspot.com.

Grant spoke alongside Brian Rieger of True Impact Communications, Cleveland, and Charles Cain, an attorney with Alliance Solutions.

About RGA
Founded in 2007, Jim Thorpe, Pa.-based Rick Grant & Associates (RGA) provides business leaders with customized strategic messaging solutions designed to establish strong market presence, expand company awareness and significantly increase sales and revenue. The RGA team provides customers with creative communication strategy designed to tell the stories that best complement existing marketing initiatives. Additionally, RGA creates the content, formatting the final collateral to fit any and all media platforms, including the latest technologies. Finally, RGA distributes its customers’ stories, getting the media coverage to most effectively reach target audiences where it is available and finding innovative ways to get stories directly to prospects where it is not. RGA provides the information necessary, in any form required, to effectively convert prospects into customers. To learn more about the company, visit www.rickgrant.net.

“Everyone is asking how they can use these new tools to get more attention for their businesses,” said Rick Grant, principal with RGA. “In this program, we’ll provide an overview of the tools, talk about how they can best be used by Carbon County businesses—particularly tourist-related businesses—and even help attendees set up their Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter accounts.”

Grant has been a writer and journalist for over 25 years. Prior to launching RGA, he founded Texell Interactive Media, a production company delivering electronic audio and video content for Web-based marketing. Before that, he spent more than a decade as one of the nation’s leading financial industry-focused journalists. He writes features for Mortgage Banking magazine and is a columnist for HousingWire magazine. He is also a correspondent for the Times News.

About RGA
Founded in 2007, Jim Thorpe, Pa.-based Rick Grant & Associates (RGA) provides business leaders with customized strategic messaging solutions designed to establish strong market presence, expand company awareness and significantly increase sales and revenue. The RGA team provides customers with creative communication strategy designed to tell the stories that best complement existing marketing initiatives. Additionally, RGA creates the content, formatting the final collateral to fit any and all media platforms, including the latest technologies. Finally, RGA distributes its customers’ stories, getting the media coverage to most effectively reach target audiences where it is available and finding innovative ways to get stories directly to prospects where it is not. RGA provides the information necessary, in any form required, to effectively convert prospects into customers. To learn more about the company, visit www.rickgrant.net.