Meet the Team
Colonial Mortgage Corp.
Meet the Owners
Colonial Mortgage Corp is a licensed mortgage broker business with corporate offices located at 339 6th Avenue W, Bradenton, FL 34205. Established in 1998, Colonial Mortgage Corp is dedicated to providing the best mortgage products with the best level of customer service to their clients. With over 30 years of financial and mortgage-related experience, Colonial Mortgage Corp offers. financing solutions for almost every type of buyer scenario.
We’ve got you covered in all stages of life, from first-time homebuyers, 2nd home/vacation properties, to multi-family investment/commercial properties. We do it all! Whether you are purchasing a home or looking to refinance your existing mortgage to help with debt consolidation, Colonial Mortgage Corp. offers products to meet your needs.
Connect With Us
Edward Tonitis
Owner / NMLS# 280335
Ed is a Florida native, living in Sarasota & Manatee County for over 50 years. He graduated from Sarasota High School and attended the University of Florida and the University of South Florida. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance.
Edward Tonitis is fueled by an entrepreneurial spirit that guided him into the mortgage industry in 1995. There, he discovered a genuine passion for helping people secure home financing, starting his own mortgage brokerage business in 1998. This has led to him earning a solid reputation as a skilled and knowledgeable Mortgage Broker.
With over 30 years of experience in mortgage lending, Ed brings abundant knowledge to assist each client in structuring the best mortgage solution for their financial goals. Dedicated to ensuring his clients feel both personally and financially cared for, Ed works hard to find the optimal loan solutions for all clients, making the entire process easy, efficient and fast. Ed's extensive knowledge of available programs, problem-solving abilities, and unwavering commitment to customer service guarantee that his clients receive unparalleled service as they move forward on one of the most significant financial commitments in their lifetime.
Tracy Tonitis
Owner / NMLS# 2349439
Tracy, originally from the city of Boston, MA, made the life-changing decision to relocate to the Sunshine State in 2012. Embracing the warm climate and the laid-back Florida lifestyle, she quickly fell in love with the unique charm of her new surroundings.
With a deep-seated passion for assisting others, Tracy dedicated many years to a fulfilling career as a Physical Therapist. After meeting Ed, and recognizing a shared vision, they decided to combine their strengths and work collaboratively to help as many individuals as possible realize the dream of homeownership. This dynamic partnership created a formidable team committed to guiding clients through the intricate process of home buying.
Tracy prides herself in being an innovative thinker, with excellent communication skills, and builds and maintains a strong network with industry professionals. This network not only enhances her ability to stay informed about market trends but also ensures that her clients have access to a wealth of resources, further facilitating a smooth and successful home buying experience.
Meet the Team
Frank Podeswa - Mortgage Loan Originator
Loan Originator / NMLS #2361599
Frank was born in Frankfurt, Germany, and moved to Orlando at the age of six. His parents instilled in him a love of lifelong learning, a strong work ethic, the importance of treating people with kindness and respect, as well as a deep sense of patriotism and belief in the “American Dream.”
Frank is a licensed mortgage loan originator with over 35 years of experience in business administration, marketing, and investment. A graduate of the University of Central Florida with a B.A. in Communications and Business Administration, his career has spanned educational marketing, property management, corporate leadership, and entrepreneurship. His passion for real estate, finance, and problem-solving led him to join Colonial Mortgage Corp., where he helps clients navigate the loan process with expertise and care. Let Frank and the team make your mortgage journey smooth, fast, and easy.
Whether you’re a first-time buyer, upgrading, or investing, Frank’s approach is simple: listen to your goals, find the right mortgage at the best rate, and guide you every step of the way. Outside of work, Frank enjoys cycling, tennis, fishing, and music, and treasures time with his wife, Kerry, his daughters, and four step-children.
Elizabeth Gomez - Mortgage Loan Originator | Se Habla Español
Loan Originator / NMLS #2771043
Originally from New York and now proudly serving homebuyers throughout Florida, Elizabeth Gomez brings a unique blend of aviation leadership, attention to detail, and exceptional customer service to the mortgage industry. With years of experience in aviation maintenance management, she understands the importance of precision, communication, and delivering results when it matters most.
As a bilingual Mortgage Loan Originator, Elizabeth is passionate about helping both English- and Spanish-speaking families navigate the home financing process with confidence. She understands that purchasing a home can feel overwhelming, especially when language barriers exist, and she is committed to ensuring her clients fully understand every step of the journey.
What sets Elizabeth apart is her dedication to education, transparency, and personalized service. She takes the time to listen, answer questions, and develop mortgage solutions tailored to each client's financial goals. Whether you're purchasing your first home, refinancing, investing in real estate, or utilizing your home's equity, Elizabeth works tirelessly to make the process smooth and stress-free.

"Whether you speak English or Spanish, my goal is to provide honest guidance, clear communication, and a mortgage experience that leaves you feeling confident from application to closing. I'm here to help make your dream of homeownership a reality."
Charlie Alvarez – Mortgage Loan Originator | Se Habla Español
Loan Originator / NMLS #2844280
Originally from New York and a Florida resident since 2007, Charlie Alvarez brings over three decades of aviation maintenance experience and nearly two decades of leadership to Colonial Mortgage Corp. Throughout his career, he has built a reputation for precision, accountability, and leading high-performing teams in one of the world's most safety-critical industries.
In aviation, every checklist matters, every detail counts, and every process must be executed with precision. Charlie brings that same disciplined approach to every mortgage transaction. His mission is simple: make the home financing process as smooth, transparent, and stress-free as possible while ensuring no detail is overlooked.
Charlie believes every client deserves honest guidance, timely communication, and a loan strategy tailored to their financial goals—not a one-size-fits-all solution. Whether working with first-time homebuyers, military families, self-employed borrowers, or seasoned real estate investors, he takes pride in educating clients and helping them make informed decisions with confidence.
As a bilingual Mortgage Loan Officer fluent in English and Spanish, Charlie is passionate about expanding access to homeownership throughout Florida's diverse communities. He is committed to building lasting relationships with clients, Realtors, builders, and referral partners by delivering exceptional service long after the closing table.
When you work with Charlie, you're partnering with someone who understands that buying a home isn't just another transaction—it's one of life's most important milestones. His aviation mindset, leadership experience, and unwavering attention to detail ensure your loan receives the care, professionalism, and dedication it deserves from application to closing.
"Precision. Integrity. Leadership. Helping you navigate the path to homeownership with confidence."
How We Obtain Financing On Behalf Of Our Clients
Colonial Mortgage Corp. maintains business relationships with hundreds of quality banks and lending institutions who offer mortgage loan financing to the public. We also work with some of the largest wholesale lenders in the nation. Since wholesale lenders do not work directly with the public, Colonial Mortgage acts as the liaison between you (the borrower) and the wholesale company (the lender) to secure funding for your new mortgage loan.
Since wholesale lenders do not work directly with the consumer, it is necessary to secure these loans by using a mortgage broker such as Colonial Mortgage Corp. More often than not, utilizing a wholesale lender can result in a significantly lower rate than that of a traditional bank.
Wholesale lenders are often offering more liberal financing requirements versus the requirements of a traditional bank or lending institution. Since Colonial Mortgage Corp. has working relationships with a full spectrum of wholesale lenders and banks, we are able to offer our clients competitive rates on Conventional, Government, Sub-Prime, Home Equity Lines and Commercial products. Ask one of our trained mortgage professionals today what programs are available for you.
Take advantage of our FREE pre-approvals every day. Take advantage of our Free / No Obligation consultation to determine exactly how low your new mortgage rate can be. We appreciate you choosing Colonial Mortgage Corp. for your financing needs. We look forward to serving you and your friends and family for many years to come. If at any time you have a comment on how we can serve you better, please do not hesitate to let us know.
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