E. Michael Rosser Lifetime Achievement Award

Founded 1998

Presented annually to an individual within a member firm who has demonstrated outstanding performance and commitment to the Association through committee work or service on the Board of Directors. Presented periodically to an individual within a CMLA member firm, whose career exemplifies a lifetime of dedicated service and contribution to the mortgage industry, and who in doing so, has personified the highest principals, ethics and professional values of Colorado Mortgage Lenders Association.

The 2024 award winner is Jeff May

Mortgage Bankers Association, Board of Governors, 1984-1992
Chairman, Society of Certified Mortgage Bankers, 1999-2001

Mr. Rosser is a Denver native, a graduate of East High school and a third generation mortgage banker. He graduated from Colorado State University in 1964 and received his graduate degree from the University of Northern Colorado in 1973. Mike is a 1979 graduate of the School of Mortgage Banking. He received his Certified Mortgage Banker (CMB) designation from MBA in 1988.

At Colorado State University he has served as a Board member and Board President of the Alumni Association.  He co-founded the Center for Real Estate Finance now known as the Everett Real Estate Center. Mike received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the CSU College of Liberal Arts 1984 and the Henry Alumni Service Award in 2001.

He began his career at Kassler and Company as a builder loan originator. He then spent four years in property management before joining Service Investment Company in 1969. The company was then acquired by United Banks of Colorado and became United Mortgage Company. After a year of public service as a member of the staff of the Colorado Land Use Commission he opened the mountain states region for PMI Mortgage Insurance Company in 1975. He retired in 2006 as Vice President, National Accounts at AIG United Guaranty.

His MBA activities included faculty member of the School of Mortgage Banking, Chairman of the Society of Certified Mortgage Bankers, and Chair of MORPAC the political action committee. In 2002 he received MBA’s Distinguished Service Award. He is a past president of CMLA.

Proper land use and land conservation is a Rosser family tradition. Mike serves on the Colorado Advisory Board for the Trust for Public Land, the national board of The Conservation Campaign and the Aurora and Arapahoe County Open Space and Trails Advisory Boards. He is also a member of the Urban Land Institute

He also serves on the Board of Rocky Mountain Communities and finished nine years of service on the Colorado State Housing Board. He also co- founded the Colorado Foreclosure Taskforce and Hotline where he served as its chair for four years.

Past Award Winners