WOMEN WHO CLOSED BIG — AND OFTEN
2025'S LEADING LOs SHOWED WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE
2025 WOMEN OF TECH SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON THE WOMEN DRIVING MORTGAGE TECH FORWARD
CLAIM YOUR SEAT AT THE TABLE CONFIDENCE ISN'T GIVEN — IT'S EARNED. TAKE UP SPACE, AND MAKE IT COUNT
THE SHIFT LIST FROM AI TO BLOCKCHAIN, HERE’S HOW WOMEN IN MORTGAGE ARE DRIVING WHAT’S NEXT BREAKING UP WITH BROKE
PATTIE EHSAEI EXPLAINS WHY FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE IS THE KEY TO A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP
How Nicole Andrews leaned into Dodd-Frank, dodged doubt, and led Fastapp to the forefront
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I’ve always made it a point to steer clear of discussing politics and religion — especially in the workplace. But given the recent events and the actions taken by our current president, it’s hard not to acknowledge that these are incredibly challenging times, particularly for women and minorities. Decades of hard-fought progress seem to be slipping away in the blink of an eye, and it has only reinforced for me just how invaluable this magazine, the Mortgage Women Leadership Council (MWLC), and other great women’s organizations truly are today.
I never imagined we would find ourselves moving backward, but that certainly seems to be our reality. In times like these, the importance of supporting and uplifting one another cannot be overstated. Our network must be stronger than ever — interconnected like the mighty Redwood forest, where roots intertwine to support every tree, allowing them to stand taller and withstand any storm. Alone, we may struggle, but together, our collective strength is unmatched. With the support of organizations like MWLC, we can continue to rise, achieve, and create lasting change.
On that note, I am thrilled to announce that nominations are now open for the Mortgage Star Awards! (https://link.mwlcouncil.com/MortgageStar) This prestigious recognition is the cornerstone of the Mortgage Star Conference, a dynamic event that celebrates the brightest and most influential women in our industry. It’s more than just an award — it’s a day dedicated entirely to education, leadership, and empowerment, with a 100% focus on women in mortgage.
After recently attending the New England Women in Banking and Mortgage Conference in January, I can personally attest to the power of these events. The inspiration, leadership, and camaraderie were truly remarkable, and I have no doubt that the Mortgage Star Conference will be just as impactful. I strongly encourage you to not only submit nominations for the Mortgage Star Awards but also to attend this extraordinary event. It’s an opportunity to connect, grow, and celebrate the incredible women who continue to shape and lead our industry.
Together, we can stand tall. Together, we can achieve greatness.
Kelly Hendricks Managing Editor, Mortgage Women Magazine
VINCENT M. VALVO CEO, PUBLISHER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
ALISON VALVO PRESIDENT & CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
ANDREW BERMAN CEO, NATIONAL MORTGAGE PROFESSIONAL
BEVERLY BOLNICK ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER & VP OF SALES
KELLY HENDRICKS MANAGING EDITOR
JENNIFER RIDGEWAY MANAGING EDITOR
ANDREW BROOKS BAKER, KATHRYN FITZPATRICK, KATIE JENSEN, AARON MARSH ASSOCIATE EDITORS
TIFFANY E. ANDERSON, TINA ASHER, LAURA BRANDAO, SLOAN BREWSTER , EMILY CHAVARRIAGA, SHELLEY DUFFY, LORRAINE GIRON, KIM HARE, MARY MARGARET HOGAN CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
NAVINDRA PERSAUD DIRECTOR OF EVENTS
MELISSA PIANIN VP OF ORIGINATOR CONNECT NETWORK
KATHERINE SALA MARKETING MANAGER
KARA COLLETTI MARKETING ASSOCIATE
COURTNEY VALVO EVENTS COORDINATOR
JULIE CARMICHAEL PROJECT MANAGER
MEGHAN GOLDEN DESIGN MANAGER
STACY MURRAY, CHRISTOPHER WALLACE GRAPHIC DESIGN MANAGERS
KRISTIE WOODS-LINDIG ONLINE ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST
KRYSTINA COFFEY MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR
MATTHEW MULLINS MULTIMEDIA SPECIALIST
Nicole Andrews turned fear into
proving in the mortgage industry — and life — it pays to try.
BY LAURA BRANDAO
6 The Mortgage Business Gets Real
Three women share how rediscovering their ‘why’ transformed their mortgage careers — and their lives.
14 Doing The Work, Owning The Space
Empowerment starts within — push past doubt and claim what's yours.
18 Leading Through The Lenderscape
Adapt, innovate, and lead your team to success in a constantly shifting industry landscape.
22 Hustle, Heart, And The High Cost Of Dependence
Pattie Ehsaei shares the hard lessons of taking control of your finances and your life.
30 Grit Goes Digital
Veteran women mortgage pros thrive in a tech-first world.
44
With costs up and patience down, servicers turn to machine learning for a hard reset.
Female change agents are rebooting the mortgage industry, one tech stack at a time
88
Set boundaries, find clarity, and carve a path to career-life harmony.
48
They’re not just working in mortgage technology — they’re changing it. This year’s Women of Tech award winners are advancing innovation, opening doors for others, and proving that tech is better with more women in the room.
64
This year’s Leading LOs are a mix of powerhouse producers and highefficiency experts, all united by their drive to deliver for clients and close strong, even in a challenging market.
When your career fulfills your purpose, success follows
HBY SHELLEY DUFFY, CONTIBUTING WRITER, MORTGAGE WOMEN MAGAZINE
ave you ever completed a workplace personality assessment — or used one to help you better manage and motivate your mortgage team? Many executives rely on these “tests” to understand what really drives their people. Who finds it rewarding to help others? Who loves to sell and persuade? Who gains a burst of energy simply from mastering a new skill? These insights about team members’ “hardwiring” empower leaders to truly engage them. In the process, management helps fuel each of these individuals to be a superstar.
The same principle applies to all of us in the mortgage industry. No one has to tell us how challenging the housing finance sector is. As of this writing, we’re still fighting the forces of high home valuations, high interest rates, and borrowers struggling with student loans and other preexisting debt. And it remains rare to see as many women in the boardroom as our male counterparts. With all these headwinds, what makes so many mortgage women not only stay in this industry — but rise to the top?
We stay and thrive because this profession feeds our “why”. Our roles aren’t separate from who we are; they’re just an-
other manifestation of what’s in our hearts. They’re the priority that we want to focus on because we love the mortgage world, and that drives us to be our best.
My own story is a case in point. At the beginning of my professional life, I had never even considered the mortgage industry. I worked in telecommunications for more than a decade, and would probably have remained if my employer hadn’t gone out of business. Facing this crossroads, I decided to explore other careers, and got a job with a mortgage insurance (MI) firm logging in loans.
I was naturally curious about the business, began asking lots of questions, and before I knew it, I was addicted. Reading the “MRI book” of Fannie/Freddie guidelines showed me that there was a whole new universe to master. I gobbled up the information in every training program, and still, I wasn’t full. I loved this industry and wanted to become an expert at everything about it. Not only had I discovered my why, but doing so had also motivated me to find my how. I needed to find, or forge, my path to building a successful mortgage career.
What, in particular, motivated me? I was excited that in the mortgage industry, I’d have the opportunity to help more people realize their dreams. Therefore, my how was to become as knowledgeable as possible about every product, service or regulatory change in order to put homeownership within more borrowers’ reach. That formula of 100% expertise has propelled my career ever since and been immensely gratifying.
Product mastery, though, is only part of the “how.” I am also a big relationship person. When I first entered our industry, I was shocked at how many people didn’t return clients’ or partners’ phone calls. I pride myself on being 100% responsive to everyone. When people become part of my network, they know that they always matter.
Finally, I consider my team’s success to be my success. Being able to harness employees’ individual strengths while coaching them to get over the finish line is a delicate and incredibly satisfying process. The smiles on their faces when they realize improvement because of a strategy or tactic I’ve suggested make my day.
When we all grow and develop together, it’s a thrill. And as we rise, so do the mortgage industry partners we serve, and the borrowers that they support. It’s a win/win for everyone.
Marketing & Sales Executive/Consultant
Standing in the career counseling office at the University of Northern Iowa, I flipped through a binder filled with internship opportunities and stumbled upon one that seemed to align with my education and skill set: “Instructional Design Intern” at GMAC Mortgage. My first thought was, “What’s a mortgage?”
Over two decades later, I’m excited to share eight life lessons that have not only led me to success but also helped me make a meaningful impact on the mortgage industry as it transitions to the digital age.
In school, we’re taught to raise our hand when we have an
answer. Teachers and professors ask a question, we raise our hand to answer. But as we grow, we’re not always encouraged to raise our hand to participate, offer expertise, or take initiative. For me, raising my hand has been key to advancing professionally. If I hear about a project that interests me, I raise my hand. If there’s a topic that sparks my curiosity, I dive into research and raise my hand to contribute.
The projects you choose might be outside your normal scope of work, particularly challenging, or aligned with your unique qualifications. When asked what trait I value most in people I hire or collaborate with, my answer is always the same: initiative (hand-raising).
Being authentic means living in alignment with your values. I take pride in being authentic, so people don’t have to guess who I am or what I stand for. One of my favorite authors, Gretchen Rubin, calls this “Being Gretchen.” Similarly, I’m proud of “Being Amy” and bringing my whole self to my work and relationships. If you know me, you know what drives me and what to expect from me — like my unwavering commitment to fulfilling my promises.
For me, authenticity also includes vulnerability. A few years ago, I started sharing my personal experiences through “Moses’ Musings” on LinkedIn, revealing both triumphs and tribulations. This openness wasn’t always easy, but it has helped me connect with others on a deeper level. Authenticity isn’t about oversharing; it’s about showing up as your true self, even when it’s difficult.
Pano Christou, CEO of Pret a Manger (a British sandwich
shop that is my go-to when in Heathrow Airport), said, “I think there’s luck along the way, but overall, if you work hard and are very intentional, you can achieve things. I am a big believer that you make your own luck.”
Intentionality has been a guiding principle in my life, shaping both my broader purpose and daily actions.
Start each day by setting your intentions. Be clear about your goals for meetings, projects, and interactions. Intentionality helps you manage time effectively, prioritize tasks, and stay adaptable when things change. Time is our most valuable resource; use it purposefully.
When asked what trait I value most in people I hire or collaborate with, my answer is always the same: initiative.
Growing up in Iowa, I learned the value of hard work. I spent my childhood walking through bean fields pulling weeds with my hands and picking up rocks. The latter process consisted of walking the rows, spotting a rock, picking it up, walking over to the loader tractor my dad was driving and tossing the rock in the bucket. Inevitably, my dad, ever the quality control manager, would point out a rock I had missed — “five rows to the right, 11 steps back!” — and send me back to get it.
What I loved most about this work wasn’t the task itself but the result: a clean, rock-free field that helped my farm family meet its goals. That pride in seeing the tangible outcome of my efforts became a core value, woven into the fabric of my professional life. Passionate work isn’t just about the task — it’s about the impact and fulfillment that come from doing it well.
Each year, I choose a “word of the year” to guide my focus and decisions. Unlike traditional resolutions, which can feel restrictive, this practice gently nudges me toward living with intention.
Many people emphasize working smart over working hard, but I believe you should do both — with passion. Hard work means rolling up your sleeves, tackling the tasks others shy away from, and putting in the effort even when recognition is absent. When you’re passionate about your work, the sense of accomplishment becomes its own reward.
Authenticity isn’t about oversharing; it’s about showing up as your true self, even when it’s difficult.
One central theme has defined my career: helping people and organizations improve. It’s my true passion. I find greater fulfillment in helping others grow, develop, and learn than in anything else I do. If I’ve helped someone acquire a new skill, gain knowledge, or enhance a process, my day feels like a success.
Always look for opportunities to teach, offer support, encourage others, and make yourself a valuable resource. In my view, the key difference between a manager and a leader is that a leader actively helps their team members learn, grow, and develop. A leader not only shows what needs to change but also explains why, fostering understanding and collaboration. Look for opportunities to recognize others, providing gratitude or bringing awareness to their accomplishments.
Over the years, I’ve intentionally placed myself in diverse environments with unique people and dynamics, even if I’ve felt imposter syndrome. Every room offers opportunities for growth, whether immediate or long-term. I say yes to meetings, conversations, and serving others because these experiences broaden my perspective.
Instead of seeking a single mentor, build a network of mentors — a community of people you can turn to for guidance in various areas. Foster new relationships and invest in old ones. A robust support system can help you navigate challenges and seize opportunities.
Growing up in a family of educators, I’ve always valued learning. Staying curious and committed to growth has been a cornerstone of my life. In my family, when one of us shares something we’ve come across, another often responds, “Lifelong learning!”
Staying committed to learning, researching, and keeping up with trends — especially in our industry, with its evolving regulations and emerging technologies — is essential. Ask questions, then dig deeper into the answers. Challenge assumptions. Get to the heart of things. Lifelong learning keeps you adaptable and engaged, ready to tackle the unknown.
Change is inevitable. According to author Bruce Feiler, the average adult faces 30 to 40 disruptions in their lifetime —
roughly one every 12 to 18 months. Disruptions can be positive, such as the birth of a child or an extended trip, or can be the opposite, such as a loss or layoff. Instead of waiting for life to stabilize, embrace change as an opportunity for growth.
Take action now to become your “Superstar Self” — even amid challenges like a tough mortgage market, an impending M&A deal, caretaking, or personal upheaval. These disruptions often play a key role in shaping your “why” and moving you closer to your goals.
By living your “why” and embracing these principles, you can achieve not only professional success but also a meaningful, fulfilling life.
EVP of Relationships
Loan Officer Autopilot
The phone call that changed my life was the one that informed me my dream of being a mom and building a family would have to happen through adoption. Adoption wasn’t a devastating concept for me; what truly crushed me was the prospect of waiting another two years to complete the process.
The bigger issue was that I absolutely disliked my job. I was a tax accountant, and after three grueling tax seasons, I wanted a change. I believed that change would come from starting my family and working parttime. I remember sitting in my office and asking God to give me something I could love while I waited.
Karen Bates
I didn’t want to dread Mondays. I didn’t want to resent the people I loved who were growing their families. This plea led me down the path of
changing careers and starting a mortgage business.
When it came to the “how” of running my business, I thought, “Business is business; let’s see how everyone else is doing it.” Here’s the strategy I encountered at nearly every guru training session: target a handful of top-producing referral partners, say yes to everything, do whatever it takes to close their most challenging deals, focus on keeping everyone happy, and always keep an eye on your competition!
something significant happened: our adoption was finalized, and we brought our precious daughter home. I realized that things had to change. My time was no longer mine to give away, so I became focused and strategic about who and how I served.
Building a database of people you want to spend time with is the key to becoming a superstar in your business.
What a mistake! That strategy left me at the mercy of whatever loans came my way for years, and I painfully realized that hard work alone wasn’t enough. If it were, we’d all be rich! To build my business, I aimed for no less than 15 events each week, said yes to every type of loan, and attended every business training I could fit into my schedule. This plan led to me working over 65 hours per week, including weekends. The most frustrating part was that my earnings didn’t exceed what I made in my previous fulltime, salaried position.
Consequently, my health, relationships, and finances all suffered. What kept me going was the belief that I was paying my dues. Sound familiar?
Then, something else happened: as I shifted my perspective on myself and my time, my business transformed. Ultimately, I went from 15 events per week to 15 events per year, from fewer than 15 leads per month to over 30. I experienced my first of many 7-figure years, all while working 40 hours per week and no weekends. This transformation marked the beginning of my superstar season, and I know it can begin or refine your superstar season, too.
In my early years, my biggest mistake was being visible in multiple areas but not consistent anywhere long enough to build credibility.
After several years in my “learning the hard way” phase,
Before I share this proven path to a transformed business, it’s important to note that I’m not a celebrity lender; I didn’t have a million followers online, and my company didn’t grow by 800% in a year. But I consistently got 7 hours of sleep most nights, completed my to-do list each day, enjoyed vacations without my laptop, and had ample time to care for my
family and myself — all while setting my own hours and making great money doing it. This freedom and relief is also within your reach.
Clarity. How can I be sure it’s within your reach? Because the truth is, we are all a 10 somewhere. Through numerous trials and errors, I gradually discovered that identifying my stacked talents was the initial step to finding where I was a 10 and ultimately building a successful business.
To see where you are a 10, reflect on this combination of five essential elements you have likely already recognized about yourself: your personality style, strengths, learned skills, experiences, and passion. This doesn’t need to be complicated; selecting one preference from each element will show how your stacked talents differentiate you in your marketplace.
Here is an example: Based on my personality style from the DISC personality assessment, I enjoy speaking and teaching. My strengths, clarified further by StrengthsFinder, are a voracious appetite for learning and a desire to make learning enjoyable for others. As revealed by my resume, I have acquired skills in bookkeeping, accounting, and taxation. Regarding my experience, I served in the Navy, which gave me an advantage when working with military and veteran clients. I discovered that I immensely enjoyed sharing with them the benefits of homeownership. I began holding classes for veterans, and my business improved significantly.
Within months of promoting VA seminars, I noticed real estate agents made up nearly all attendees at the training, even though I was advertising to the military. This was an important lesson. You don’t have to get it perfect when you start. Focus on identifying where you are a 10, then step out in faith. As you serve, the results will guide you on where to adjust.
I discovered how much I enjoyed teaching Women Realtors, my fellow business owners who faced many of my same challenges. With this realization, I shifted my focus to collaborate with them to serve veterans. It was a win-win situation. I focused on positioning myself to create maximum impact in the business and lives of my realtor partners and the veterans we served. The fear of losing to the competition that troubled me during my early years in business lost its hold, and I felt free to serve and share everything I was learning.
Community. The second step in launching my superstar sea-
son was building a community. I discovered that sponsoring Women Realtor organizations was the most efficient way to grow quickly. This decision allowed me to limit my events to 15 per year. The women were already gathered; I only needed to identify the 12 local monthly events and three state events to sponsor and attend. I appeared as a preferred vendor with speaking opportunities and demonstrated how we could partner to transform the lives of veterans. Those who visited my vendor table after my pitch were self-selected as my ideal clients. After each event, I always added them to my database to continue nurturing our relationship. Each year, I learned more about their needs and how to serve them at a higher level. Building a database of people you want to spend time with is the key to becoming a superstar in your business. If you do just one thing for your business, focus on creating and nurturing it. The momentum of inbound leads generated year after year will keep your business healthy, regardless of market conditions.
Consistency. The final step to creating your superstar season is consistently enjoying what you love. I used my database to send invitations to two classes each month. This invitation helped me stay at the forefront of my referral partners’ minds while maintaining our message about partnering to serve veterans. We taught our partners how to find veteran buyers and get VA loan offers accepted. It was an incredible process — I was fulfilling my purpose, surrounded by people I enjoyed serving, and we supported a community needing our expertise.
In hindsight, I learned why this approach worked so effectively. I realized that visibility must lead to credibility before you can achieve profitability. In my early years, my biggest mistake was being visible in multiple areas but not consistent anywhere long enough to build credibility. Consequently, business became simpler when we embraced the clarity, community, and consistency formula. This resulted in profound credibility.
With my business thriving, I had the time and energy to prioritize my family, friends, and health. You are a 10 somewhere. Once you discover where you are a 10, it will unlock your full potential and lead to your most remarkable superstar season yet. ■
Shelley Duffy is Executive Vice President, National Accounts, Incenter Lender Services
SBY MARY MARGARET HOGAN, CONTIBUTING WRITER, MORTGAGE WOMEN MAGAZINE
omehow, it’s 2025, and there are still debates about the value and merit of women in professional spaces. As a result, countless women continue to face everyday challenges — ranging from mundane mansplaining to inequitable pay and treatment, and the harsher realities of being silenced — affecting their confidence, mental health, work ethic, and more.
But as these obstacles persist, so do we. Albeit exhausting, it is our obligation — not only to ourselves but to the female population as a whole — to navigate these professional spaces with as much self-assurance as any other professional counterpart and transform our environments into equitable spaces for the next wave of professionals.
You deserve to be heard. You deserve to be respected. You deserve to take up space.
To disrupt gendered biases in the workplace, we must choose to eradicate any preconceived notion that there isn’t enough room for all of us to thrive professionally.
So, how do we stay committed to this path while continuing our professional pursuits despite the seemingly never-ending and infuriating odds stacked against us?
YOU’RE PROBABLY ALREADY DOING IT)
Until we witness the long-awaited shift in mindset that women can, in fact, do anything, it is of the utmost importance that we turn inward, using these doubts as motivation to self-educate and self-empower to push ourselves forward in our careers.
Empowerment starts from within. Maneuvering professional spaces as a woman can be incredibly difficult if one does not do the work to build up courage and self-esteem along the way. Whether picking up the triedand-true Gloria Steinem reads, diving into female-empowerment-centered podcasts and webinars, or advancing your expertise within your field elsewhere, there is no formula for boosting one’s confidence in their intelligence, self-worth, and beyond. The harsh reality of the world doubting one’s intelligence and skillset for merely being a woman never seems to dissipate, but being able to prove these dated assumptions wrong is the best tool available in your belt.
Now with transparency, there is hesitancy in advising, “Do the work,” because frankly, it’s clear that the work is already being done. The unfortunate truth heard far too often from women, especially in male-dominated industries, is the phrase, “I had to work twice as hard to get to where I am today.” While the sentiment that
most women must put in twice the effort to make it to the same place and positions as their male counterparts is endlessly frustrating, there’s a key takeaway: women can and will work twice as hard. From seeking out extra educational resources to navigating biases to proving their competency repeatedly, the uncomfortable actuality is that women are hard workers by default due to societal demand. So, the question arises, how can one still question your work ethic and value in the workplace?
With constant external voices telling women that they are not good enough, valuable enough, or experienced enough, it can be very easy to feel this pressure and shrink away — whether from the physical workspace or the world at large. Yet doing so would mean falling into the trap of a dystopian realm where women step back from the spaces they’ve worked twice as hard to earn.
Far too often, the ever-pesky imposter syndrome fills our heads with self-doubt and derails all intentions of asserting authority. However, it is integral to push these invasive thoughts aside and move forward with the utmost confidence. Feeling like you are undeserving of an opportunity, unqualified for a new job, or “not ready” for a given promotion, tends to be common territory for a woman navigating the professional world. So, it remains in our hands to discover ways to stand firm in our power and confident in our abilities While the declaration is easy to say,
it is far more intimidating to commit to. However, this is where solidifying one’s sense of self comes into action. With your library of expertise and toolkit of self-assurance, claiming space should be a far easier feat. You deserve to be heard. You deserve to be respected. You deserve to take up space.
While claiming one’s space is hard enough, it is much harder to do so alone. Perhaps the most comforting thought while navigating biases in the professional world is that we can do so more effectively together.
As one’s career progresses, it becomes evident that the daunting act of taking up space almost always paves the way for more women to do the same, whether in the current workforce or for future generations. That being said, making space for others does come with its share of hurdles.
In some twist of disseminated mythology, even within communities of professional women, there is still an overwhelmingly prevalent misconception that there is not enough room for multiple women in a given space. Often resulting in dynamics of competition and intimidation instead of camaraderie and encouragement, viewing another female colleague as a foe strips away priceless opportunities for mentorship and support from women with shared experiences.
To disrupt gendered biases in the workplace, we must choose to eradicate any preconceived notion that there isn’t enough room for all of us to thrive professionally. This concept
is a complete fallacy, and it would be to our professional detriment to let it exist any further. As women, we must continue to connect and lift each other up, for when we do so successfully, navigating the professional world becomes a lot easier.
Luckily, there is no shortage of established, supportive, and welcoming groups dedicated to empowering and promoting women across various industries. From one-off networking opportunities to councils advocating for equity and celebrating trailblazers along the way, there is a wide array of communities to join that provide spaces for mentorship, encourage personal growth, and overall, amplify women’s voices.
Now, if you find that these transformational groups haven’t made their way to your professional neck of the woods, there’s no time like the present to rise to the challenge and lead the way in crafting a space for women to seek empowerment and find community.
Despite living in the decade once imagined to have flying cars and robot companions, society still struggles to conceptualize the valuable contributions of women in the workplace. With this relentless and erroneous belief still prevalent, now more than ever, it is so paramount to challenge the systemic obstacles laid before us. By empowering ourselves, claiming space, and rising together, there is still hope for breaking these barriers and proving, once and for all, that we deserve to take up space. ■
Mary Margaret Hogan, Event Marketing Specialist at RCN Capital.
By empowering ourselves, claiming space, and rising together, there is still hope for breaking these barriers and proving, once and for all, that we deserve to take up space.
BY KIM HARE, CONTIBUTING WRITER, MORTGAGE WOMEN MAGAZINE
Today’s mortgage servicing leaders face the multifaceted task of addressing industry disruptions while providing steadfast guidance to their teams amid economic fluctuations. Leadership in our evolving field extends far beyond operational management — it requires foresight, innovation, and the ability to position teams for long-term success in an ever-changing environment.
Confidence in decision-making is essential, but so is the humility to learn from missteps.
My professional journey has underscored the critical role of transformation and continuous adaptation in mortgage servicing. Effective leadership demands a forward-looking perspective, where identifying opportunities for innovation and improvement is essential to remaining both competitive and compliant in this complex industry.
In an industry where regulations loom large and market dynamics are in constant flux, leaders must ensure their teams are resilient, well-prepared, and aligned with compliance standards. Building teams capable of thriving in this environ-
into new product categories, such as high-performing jumbo loans. This required overhauling communication strategies, rewriting call center scripts, and providing thorough training to ensure the team fully understood their new responsibilities. These changes represented a complete evolution in expectations, not just procedures.
Additionally, we’ve navigated the complexities of scaling our business while maintaining our identity as a specialty servicer. While growth allowed us to compete on pricing and process efficiencies, it also demanded agility in addressing unique client needs. For example, expanding our expertise in business-purpose loans naturally led to developing processes for products like debt-service coverage ratio (DSCR) loans,
Leadership is rarely a solo endeavor — success depends on shared effort and mutual support.
ment hinges on fostering a culture of growth, innovation, and accountability.
Over the past five years, the mortgage servicing landscape has undergone significant transformations, particularly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The widespread adoption of remote work and hybrid models created new demands for managers, who had to balance maintaining productivity, meeting service-level agreements, and sustaining employee engagement without traditional oversight tools.
In my own organization, we’ve experienced a comprehensive shift — from being a default-focused servicer to expanding
multi-collateral loans, and lines of credit. Each step required not only strategic planning but also careful adherence to regulatory requirements.
Effective leadership begins with clear communication and a commitment to transparency. Explaining the rationale behind decisions fosters team alignment and reduces resistance to change. By emphasizing the positive aspects of transformation and maintaining open dialogue, leaders can help their teams approach change with confidence and focus.
To lead effectively in this space, it’s vital to regularly observe and analyze every aspect of operational processes. This enables the identification of opportunities to streamline workflows and enhance training. At Fay Servicing, we’ve implemented a
and best practices not only builds credibility but also equips you to lead confidently and make well-informed decisions. Equally important is the ability to make decisions and take ownership of them. Confidence in decision-making is essen-
begins with clear communication and a commitment to transparency.
Core Servicing Functional Training program designed to immerse team members in our diverse product offerings and compliance requirements. This allows employees to transition between roles and better handle emerging challenges.
In a heavily regulated industry, building robust communication channels between governance teams and operational staff is essential. This approach ensures regulatory requirements are understood and seamlessly integrated into dayto-day processes. For example, when we expanded into commercial servicing, our operators needed in-depth training to manage these accounts effectively while also adhering to compliance standards. Similarly, introducing new payment technologies required collaboration across departments to ensure compliance protocols were upheld without disrupting service quality.
Through my years of experience, I’ve learned invaluable lessons that aspiring leaders — particularly women — can apply in the dynamic mortgage servicing industry. First and foremost, developing deep expertise in your field is indispensable. Staying informed about regulatory updates, industry trends,
tial, but so is the humility to learn from missteps. In this fastpaced industry, hesitation can lead to missed opportunities, yet thoughtful reflection on outcomes fosters personal and professional growth.
Leadership is rarely a solo endeavor, and leveraging your network is critical. Knowing when to seek input, collaborate, or rely on the collective expertise of your team can make all the difference. Success often depends on this shared effort and mutual support. Additionally, it’s important to embrace the fact that career progression in this industry is rarely linear. Aligning yourself with leaders who provide honest, constructive feedback — both positive and critical — creates opportunities for meaningful development and long-term success.
By adhering to these principles, I’ve been able to lead with purpose, ensuring my teams are empowered to excel in a compliance-driven, dynamic environment. As leaders, our ultimate responsibility is to support our teams’ growth, cultivate resilience, and prepare them for the evolving challenges of our industry. When we achieve this, everyone benefits — from our employees to our borrowers and clients and the communities we serve. n
Kim
Hare, President, Fay Servicing
BY KATHRYN FITZPATRICK, STAFF WRITER, MORTGAGE WOMEN MAGAZINE
There’s a lot of things you can say about Pattie Ehsaei. She’s a lawyer, a finance professional, an immigrant. She’s been at the wrong end of a credit card bill and the right side of a red power suit. She’s a social media powerhouse, with over 1 million subscribers to her credit, and she’s been a correspondent for Good Morning America, MSNBC, and Forbes, to name just a few.
Now, she’s adding “author” to her resume.
Mortgage Women Magazine sat down with Ehsaei to discuss her upcoming book, Never Date a Broke Dude: The Financial Freedom Playbook. Part guidebook, part memoir, and part manifesto, Never Date a Broke Dude takes readers on Ehsaei’s journey as she immigrates with her family from Iran all the way through her current life as a content creator. Weaving together all things financial — investing, saving, credit management — with her personal story, Ehsaei’s book
is a tour de force of empowerment, a love song to so many women who’ve been sidelined by a lack of financial autonomy. Throughout, Ehsaei stresses the importance of finding a man who will match your work ethic and meet your expectations for your financial future. Because, as she instructs readers, “there is no romance without finance.”
*This interview has been edited for length and clarity*
You already have a platform. Tik Tok, Instagram. What made you want to write a book?
Pattie Ehsaei: I’ve always wanted to use my mother’s story as an inspiration for women. And my mother, unfortunately, due to her financial dependence on my father, was forced to put up with mental abuse and saw no way out. Their relationship got progressively worse.
I was in Chicago. I’d gone to law school. My brother left for undergrad. And the mental abuse got worse to the point where my mother saw no way out. So she took my father’s life and then she took hers. And I did not want my mother to die in vain. I wanted to use her story not just to honor her, but as a catalyst for change in women being financially dependent from men. I
Ehsaei’s book, Never Date a Broke Dude: The Financial Freedom Playbook, drops May 6th, 2025
was like, what’s the best way to do this?
At the end of the day, I wanted this to be a book that any woman can read really at any age, but especially earlier, when we’re making the stupid mistakes about finances and men and relationships.
This is the playbook on how to be not just financially successful, but how to navigate your relationships, how to gain your power in your life and in the workplace. And all of these things go together. And I don’t think that there’s been a book out there that encompasses a holistic approach like this.
Not only is Never Date a Broke Dude a guide book for finance, but it’s also a memoir. Could you speak to the experience of writing [your mother’s] story? I’m sure that was difficult.
PE: It was, considering there’s only a handful of people that know about the truth around how my parents passed. I think I would be lying to say there wasn’t shame. Earlier in my life, I felt a lot of shame because stuff like that doesn’t happen and it’s a poor reflection on your family.
PE: I’m so glad to hear that because I really want it to stick with people so it’s not something they forget as soon as they put the book down.
You write, “Whoever controls your money controls you.” Could you talk about how that shows up in relationships?
You may be making your money, but if you’re not controlling it, there’s no point. You might as well sit at home.
I didn’t want to see the look on people’s faces when I told them the true story because when they say, “Okay, how did your parents pass?” And you tell them and you see the look on their face and then now you have to explain it. And I didn’t want it to be a thing. So, it was really hard for me to share it in the beginning for those reasons, but I’m like, if she’s actually going to make an impact in people’s lives, then you’ve got to tell the truth. And that’s the truth. Truth is the most impactful thing at all times.
Absolutely. I know that really stuck with me, for sure.
PE: I’m financially independent. But that’s not always the case. Although most women work, 60% still hand over their finances to their men. And we think, “We’re independent now. We’re going to hand it over to our men.” Because there’s still this idea that men are better at finances, better at money than we are, when study after study shows that we’re better investors and we’re better with money. But we haven’t let go of the stigma. You may be making your money, but if you’re not controlling it, there’s no point. You might as well sit at home. And 30% of women in the United States still rely on their husbands or their significant others for their finances.
The issue is when you rely on somebody else for your finances, that gives them a lot more leeway to do and say stupid s*** that they normally wouldn’t because they’re thinking, “Where’s she going to go?” The number one reason that women stay in abusive relationships is due to financial dependence. This is why it’s so important to control your own money.
And what are some early signs to look for in terms of losing that financial independence?
PE: Do you know where your money is going? Can you account for every single penny of your money being spent? That’s the first thing. And are you the one that has full control over your money? You have to have your money in a separate
account that only you have access to. Nobody has access to that account. You can contribute to a joint account for household expenses. Another red flag is if he keeps telling you, I got it. Don’t worry about the money. I’m handling it. No, that’s a huge red flag. You need to have a complete accounting. This is like a business.
You define a broke dude as someone unable or unwilling to match their partner in ambition, drive, commitment, or work ethic. And that’s very all-encompassing. How can you tell the difference between someone who’s going through a hard time and someone who’s financially irresponsible?
PE: There’s a big difference. And I always say you don’t have to match me dollar for dollar. You have to match hustle for hustle.
I have fallen on hard times. I have lost my job. But guess what? I was out there working, getting a temporary job. When I lost my job in 2008, I had all these side hustles and I had a huge career in finance. But I wasn’t sitting on my butt going, “Let me just keep looking for jobs.”
PE: Any self-respecting human being as an adult is not going to be comfortable letting somebody else pay for them constantly. When someone is happy letting you pay for everything, that says a lot about their character.
And a lot of times women are so desperate for love. That’s why I did that. We’re so desperate for love that we’re like, “It’s okay. I have the money. I can pay for it. Just don’t leave. I want to show you how much I love you. I want to show you that I’m the ride or die chick.” And that is a huge mistake. We’ve been conditioned to believe that you want to be the ride and die chick. You want to support your man. You want to stand by him. But he has to stand by himself first before you can stand by him.
You want to support your man. You want to stand by him. But he has to stand by himself first before you can stand by him.
Ups and downs happen in life, but hustle doesn’t change. So that if that person has lost their job, they’re going through a hard time, they can work at Starbucks. Today especially, you could do ride share, there’s so many side hustles, you can do it from your home. So, as long as you see them hustling, that’s okay. But the second that you see that you’re the only one that’s hustling and he’s sitting on the couch eating Cheetos, watching the game the whole day, that’s the red flag.
I love that anecdote you have in the book about the one man who always makes you pay.
Money can be a taboo subject in relationships. How can women introduce it without feeling too materialistic? And when is too soon? I’ve definitely seen on Tinder, “I need to know your credit score.” I think that could come off as a little crass.
PE: The timing is important. Tinder? You don’t want to put that on your dating profile, come on. When you think that this person has potential to be a long-term mate, that is when you start the conversation about finances. And the way you start the conversation is first of all, you have to be confident. It has to be a business transaction and say, I see a potential in us to be in a relationship. I think it’s really important that before we go down that path that we are on the same page financially and we have the same financial goals. Here are my financial goals.
I think it’s always easier if you just put yours out there first because then that takes the armor off the other person to be like, “Look, she’s sharing with me.” These are my financial goals. I
want to own a home. I want to have investment properties. I want to go on vacation every year. I want to save for retirement.
Also, I think you need to share your financial habits. Are you a saver? Are you a spender? How do you manage your money? Be upfront with them and say, “I want you to understand me.” Finances are one of the top reasons that relationships end. Why don’t we do a financial disclosure where it’s like being naked financially? Let’s be naked financially and talk about what our financial habits are to make sure that we’re on the same page. Because if we’re not, then the relationship is doomed.
You believed that if you found the right man, he’d solve your financial problems. Not the case. Could you talk about coming to that realization and what you’d say to someone who still believes that?
PE: Women have been inculcated to believe the prince and princess fallacy, right? The little girls dress up as princesses and they’re looking for their prince. And the prince is a person who is going to come and take all your problems away, take your loneliness away, take your sadness away, support you financially. You don’t have to do anything because the prince is going to do all of that.
for you. Your finances are yours — they’re your responsibility and nobody else’s.
We have to stand on our own two feet. We have to be whole as humans in order to have a successful relationship and to be with the right person. Because the tendency is, if we don’t feel secure in who we are, if we’re always looking for somebody else to complete some aspect of our lives, then we fall prey to people that will tell us that they’re going to fulfill those aspects in our lives. We will ignore red flags only to find out down the line that your prince is a turd.
You shouldn’t wear clothes that have holes in them, and this is a fundamental thing, because when you do, you are telling yourself that you don’t deserve better.
Speaking of being secure in yourself, how do you get there? I know it’s easy to say be confident in yourself, use positive self-talk, but I know from experience, sometimes that’s easier said than done.
PE: Right. First of all, I think therapy is really important. I went through therapy to try to figure out why I was choosing the wrong men.
But I think one of the most important things that we can do that we often overlook, is to act “As if.” A lot of us don’t do that.
Unfortunately, just like every other fairy tale, it’s false. And the second that you start thinking that a man is going to solve your problems, whatever types of problems, you’re setting yourself up for huge disappointment because nobody is here to solve your problems. Nobody is here to bring happiness into your life. You are the one that has to do that
We think that people are naturally confident. I come off as very confident, but I have impostor syndrome constantly. And the way that we overcome it is to start actually believing and acting in accordance with who we want to be — even if you don’t believe it. Doesn’t matter. What you believe about yourself and how you act is the number one determining factor in who you become. Act confident. The first time it’s going to feel weird. The second time it’s going to feel weird. But the 10th time it’s going to feel a lot easier.
For example, a lot of people don’t have confidence asking for a raise. The first time you ask for a raise, you’re going to be flubbing. You’re not going to know what to say. But if you keep doing that, you keep working on that muscle, you’ll eventually become how you’re acting and how you’re behaving.
You mentioned the importance of dressing “As if,” too.
PE: Yeah, absolutely. Dion Sanders has a great line which I love. “When you look good, you feel good. When you play good, they pay good.” I love this quote because it’s so true. The way you carry yourself is inside out, it changes you. You shouldn’t wear clothes that have holes in them, and this is a fundamental thing, because when you do, you are telling yourself that you don’t deserve better.
Everyone’s always told me, “Why are you dressing so well at work? Why?” And I’m like, “Because I don’t want this job. I want that other person’s job.” So, if I want that other person’s job, I’ll have to look and act and behave and think exactly like that other person. So, I think that’s why dressing is so important.
cy and how that can be counteracted?
PE: Social media is all about clickbait. It really is at the end of the day. You have to say something provocative in order for people to comment on it. And the more likes and comments you get, the more people see your video, the more people are going to follow you.
Rejection is part of the game because this is what differentiates someone who gets the job from someone who never will. It’s the grit and the determination to keep moving forward despite failure. Period.
Let’s talk a little bit about social media. That’s your primary platform. In the book you mention trends like girl math, trad wives, the soft boy, and you say despite these being jokes, they’re legitimately harmful. Can you speak to how social media contributes to financial illitera-
Even the social media trend, “I want a man in finance.” We don’t understand how harmful that is because those men in finance are typically assholes. I have been with those investment bankers.
The “I’m just a girl” trend. Do you know how much you’re minimizing yourself by saying that? Anytime you add ‘just’ in front of anything, you’re minimizing it. That’s why I never use ‘just’ in emails.
Girl math. They think it’s funny. “Haha, look, I don’t count it if it’s a return or whatever, a discount.” What you’re saying is that you don’t have common sense enough to understand finances. You’re jumping on a bandwagon.
Same thing with the tradwife trend. There’s this video that’s been going around — every time I see it, I’m going to throw up. “He’s the provider and protector. I’m the nurturer.” And it’s just, watching the woman taking care of the kids. What about the dreams that you have? You always dreamed of just cooking and cleaning and taking care of kids? Is this it? You have no other skills or desires? When women celebrate this, it takes us back to the dark ages. It takes us back
to women belonging in the home, which is so dangerous. One of the top reasons that we had to suffer abuse for so long is because we didn’t have financial independence. That is such a dangerous position for any woman to be in.
What would your response be to women who say, “No, this is my dream. I want to be a stay-at-home mom.” Because, in spite of all the strides that have happened for women, that’s pretty common now. I’m 28 and I have friends and that’s their dream.
PE: I’m not going to tell anybody how to live. But the reason that dream is a problem is because you’re financially dependent on a man. So, if you’re going to have that dream, you need to be able to put some money away for yourself to do what you want with it. It’s not the dream of being a homemaker that’s bad. It’s the consequences of not being financially independent.
One of my friends is a high-powered attorney. Her husband wants her to stay at home and take care of the kids. She said, “Fine. You need to pay me my salary. You need to pay me what I’m making. I need a 401k or you’re going to put money in it so my investments will grow. You need to give me the equivalent of my finances that I’m getting at work.” Guess what? He didn’t want her to do that anymore.
Yeah, nobody wants to be trapped. If something goes horribly wrong, that’s it.
PE: That’s the problem. No one goes into a marriage thinking they’re going to get a divorce. Everyone thinks this is going to be my happily ever after. And over 50% of the people are wrong. Those are not good odds. You have to prepare for that situation if it happens.
In the book you call failure your second favorite “F” word. I think especially in corporate America, people say that a lot: to learn, you have to fail. But I do think after enough failure it’s very easy to become discour-
aged. How can you reframe that?
PE: Think of it this way: You’re starting way ahead of where you were. Each time you fail, you’re still moving up, you’re getting a little closer. You’re learning a little bit more.
I have a friend that’s applied for hundreds of jobs that she hasn’t gotten, right? Rejection is part of the game because this is what differentiates someone who gets the job from someone who never will. It’s the grit and the determination to keep moving forward despite failure. Period.
The only reason that I am successful in social media is because so many people that were better than me just quit. They didn’t get the followers. They didn’t get the likes that they wanted.
Success is built on the back of failure. That’s the only way you succeed. As I mention in the book, I have never learned anything from my successes. The only time I’ve learned something is through my failures. When you succeed, you’re already good at that thing. You already know how to do it. But it’s the failures that make you a better person.
Regarding social media, you had said you made a hundred videos all at once, publishing three a day. I mean, that’s a lot of work.
PE: I know. You have to play the long game. This is no joke. This was between Christmas and New Year’s. And I locked myself in my office for days. While everyone’s going out, relaxing, I didn’t do that. I sacrificed a lot.
You have to be able to do the work. You have to do what other people aren’t willing to do. A lot of people are not willing to give up three whole days of their lives and record a hundred videos every month. Mind you, I did that for months and months and months.
If there’s one lesson you think readers should take away from your book, what would it be?
PE: A man is not a financial plan. n
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How veteran female mortgage professionals are thriving in a changing industry
BY LORRAINE GIRON, CONTIBUTING WRITER, MORTGAGE WOMEN MAGAZINE
The mortgage industry has undergone a seismic shift in the past two decades, transforming from a world of cold calls, face-toface meetings, and physical documents to digital platforms, social media marketing, and online engagement. For women like Kiesha McFadden, Jeanine Robbins, and Cynthia Baker, each of whom entered the industry when it was largely male-dominated and often offered a culture that resembled the 2000 film, Boiler Room, this new era offers both challenges and opportunities. Their journeys are marked by grit, determination, and a willingness to adapt — an inspiring roadmap for veteran women seeking to thrive in today’s digital mortgage landscape.
The early days for women in the mortgage industry often meant breaking into male-dominated environments and proving themselves.
Kiesha McFadden (The Mortgage Chick, NMLS 198458) began her career unexpectedly in November 2000. “I was selling vacuum cleaners door-todoor,” she recalls, laughing at the memory. “One day, a friend saw an ad in the Phoenix New Times that said, “Make good money … Cash fast finance.”
“I didn’t know what it was, but I went to this beautiful building on Camelback and 24th Street. I interviewed, and the guy was like, ‘Let me teach you how to do mortgages,’ and I’ve been doing them since.” The men who taught her how to do mortgages, Andy Jacob and Hal Jolly, were brokers with whom she worked for many years.
altor, I liked numbers, so I thought, ‘Let me try mortgages.’ ”
It turned out she was very good at mortgages and within nine months Ameriquest made her a branch manager in 2001 with nine male colleagues. “I had all these men in a male-driven industry, so it was very tough, but I learned,” she says. “I sacrificed as a woman and as a mom because I had to work so many hours … And being not just a woman, but a black woman, I felt I needed to be better, more knowledgeable, sell more, everything more.”
broker for many years.”
But like many women in the industry, she encountered challenges navigating the male-driven industry “I started in 1999, and I worked in a broker shop … and that was a time when it was the good old boys club. Being a woman in the Mortgage Industry was not easy.”
As the mortgage industry evolved, personal branding emerged as a key strategy for distinguishing oneself from the competition.
“I used to tell people, ‘I’m the mortgage chick, call me!’ and it just stuck.”
> Kiesha McFadden
Jeanine Robbins (The Loan Angel, NMLS 198078) didn’t set out to become a mortgage professional. “When I got my real estate license, I actually used it to sell timeshare,” Jeanine recalls, “I got a very good understanding on sales because they’re so hardcore, but at the end of the day, I thought I was going to go to time share hell because of the way the sales and antics are.” Although Jeanine had her real estate license, being a realtor didn’t catch her interest. “Instead of becoming a re-
Cynthia Baker (NMLS 56202) found her way into the mortgage world by happenstance. “I got here by accident. I started at a company in car finance. It was like a, ‘Buy here, pay here’ type of institution and so that’s kind of how I started in credit. Reading credit was very fascinating to me; you learn a lot about people when you see their credit … I had several sales managers that I had a good relationship with and one of them went to a mortgage company and they took me with them. So, I started in management in that similar role but on the mortgage side and worked for a
Kiesha McFadden: “The idea for ‘The Mortgage Chick’ came naturally,” Kiesha McFadden recalls. “I used to tell people, ‘I’m the mortgage chick, call me!’ and it just stuck.” What began as a casual nickname quickly felt like a perfect fit for her vibrant, authentic approach to the mortgage business. When a colleague dismissed the idea as, “Too much,” Kiesha leaned into her instincts. “I said, ‘Nope, I’m doing this,’ ” she remembers. She created a logo, secured the LLC, and copyrighted the name. “I wanted something people would remember.” Today, ‘The Mortgage Chick’ is more than a brand — it’s a reflection of Kiesha’s confidence and her belief that standing out means owning who you are.
Jeanine Robbins: Around 2008, during the housing crash, loans were notoriously difficult, and many borrow-
ers faced significant obstacles. Jeanine found herself consistently working on a series of challenging loans for a key referral client. “When I had my branch at Geneva, I had a group of clients, referral partners, and a lot of those loans were hard,” she explains. After successfully closing another tough loan, the client told her, “You know, you’re just a loan angel. I’m just going to start calling you ‘The Loan Angel.’ ”
The nickname stuck, and Jeanine carried it with her. But it wasn’t until 2019 that she truly understood the power of personal branding. “That’s when I put ‘The Loan Angel’ on everything, and I’ve really pushed it hard these last couple of years,” she says. Today, the brand represents not only her ability to tackle difficult deals but her dedication to guiding clients through the complexities of homeownership with persistence and care.
Cynthia Baker: Her unique identity as “The Cartoon Lady” emerged from her decision to break away from conventional marketing. “I don’t like being like everybody else. I hate the whole posed picture,” she explains. When she was pushed to take traditional headshots, Cynthia chose a different route. “I hired an artist, and I told her, ‘I just want you to draw me. I don’t know what it’s going to look like, and I don’t know how I’m going to use it.’”
The response was overwhelming. “I got such a huge response out of it, that I was like, okay, I just need to run with this.” Over time, people began recognizing her by the playful image, referring to her as “the cartoon lady” when they couldn’t recall her name. Though
unofficial, the nickname has become part of her recognizable presence, reinforcing her belief that creativity and authenticity can set you apart in powerful ways.
For years, companies prioritized corporate branding over individual loan officers’ identities. But as personal branding proved to drive business, many companies began supporting their MLOs.
Jeanine Robbins: Jeanine has seen a clear shift in how mortgage companies approach personal branding, and she credits much of that progress to supportive leadership at her company. “I wasn’t always supported,” she admits, reflecting on past experiences where promoting herself was not encouraged. But at Geneva Financial, that changed. “James [Polinori] is amazing. He provided the tools I needed to grow my brand, and I’m grateful for that support.” Jeanine believes that companies now recognize the value in loan officers building personal brands that connect with consumers on a deeper level. “It’s not just about the company anymore — it’s about giving loan officers the tools to stand out and be seen as individuals,” she says, emphasizing the importance of this shift in helping professionals stay relevant in a digital-first world.
Cynthia Baker: Cynthia has experienced firsthand how the industry’s approach to personal branding has evolved. “I was always promoting the company, and when I left, nobody knew who I was,” she recalls, reflecting
on an earlier time when loan officers weren’t encouraged to prioritize their own brands. Now, she sees companies like Geneva Financial embracing the shift and providing better support. “We got lucky with James [Polinori] because until he came, I was really clueless,” she admits. “I was doing my own research.”
Cynthia appreciates the tools now available, but she believes that companies are following Geneva’s lead. “They give you the tools, and it’s like, ‘Go out and get us some business.’ ” For Cynthia, this shift empowers loan officers to build something lasting—something that can follow them wherever they go.
Kiesha McFadden: For Kiesha, promoting her personal brand is non-negotiable, even when faced with resistance from employers who pushed her to prioritize corporate branding over her own. “I’m the one that has a following. I’m the one that worked to get my following,” Kiesha says, emphasizing the importance of self-sufficiency. When companies offered to take over aspects of her branding, she politely declined, knowing her capabilities and believing their resources were better spent on loan officers who needed the support. “I’m not costing you any money. I’m not asking for your marketing. This is something I’m doing,” she explains. With full control over her brand as “The Mortgage Chick,” Kiesha ensures that no matter where she goes, her identity and success are fully hers to carry forward.
As marketing shifted to digital plat-
forms, video content and social media became essential for staying visible. Kiesha, Jeanine, and Cynthia share some insight into their journey including their challenges and successes.
Kiesha McFadden: For Kiesha, social media has become a driving force behind her success, helping her generate a steady flow of leads and loan applications. “Probably 90% of my business comes from social media,” she says, emphasizing the power of her online presence. Of the leads she receives, about “60% [are] consumer direct” from so-
also stays engaged with her past clients by liking, commenting, and congratulating them on life milestones, ensuring she is a constant, trusted presence in their lives. By thoughtfully weaving in these aspects of her life, Kiesha ensures that her social media presence is warm, relatable, and engaging. Her content reflects her belief that business isn’t just about transactions — it’s about creating genuine, lasting relationships.
Jeanine Robbins: For Jeanine, social media and video marketing have been
both a challenge and a game changer. “In the beginning, I wasn’t comfortable in front of the camera,” she admits. “But now, I just do it.” Despite her progress, Jeanine found the process of creating and posting content herself daunting and time-consuming. “If I didn’t have to do it at all, I wouldn’t,” she says. To help alleviate the burden and bring her vision to life, she hired expert videographers and a company specializing in video marketing and branding. “I have a specific vision of how I want my content to look,” she explains, and working with
“I sacrificed as a woman and as a mom because I had to work so many hours … and being not just a woman, but a Black woman, I felt I needed to be better, more knowledgeable — sell more, everything more.”
> Jeanine Robbins
professionals allows her to ensure that vision is executed properly. By leaving the heavy lifting — like editing, branding consistency, and strategic posting — to experts, Jeanine can focus on building relationships with clients and referral partners. Her YouTube series, American Dream TV, which highlights local businesses and real estate, has been a key component of her strategy. “It’s been a game changer,” she emphasizes. Through consistent, professionally produced content, she has built credibility and positioned herself as a trusted community expert. “You have to show up regularly — whether it’s social media or video content
— because the more you do, the more you’re seen.” By combining her authentic community focus with professional support, Jeanine has created a digital presence that continues to expand her network and business.
Cynthia Baker: Cynthia approaches social media and video marketing with a mix of caution and determination. “Every day, I try pushing myself more outside of my comfort zone,” she says, acknowledging that being in front of the camera hasn’t come naturally. “It’s back to this confidence thing with my face on the video,” she admits, but she’s found some success with faceless video content but admits creating faceless videos can be time consuming. Another social media obstacle for Cynthia was posting content that engages and connects in a personal way. “I don’t like to share things related to my family; it’s a security thing,” she explains. But she found a new way to connect when she began posting pictures of her clients’ closings and celebrating their achievements. “I take pictures at closings and post them. Clients love it because they get to share their accomplishments without feeling like they’re bragging.” The shift in focus paid off, with clients asking, “Are we going to get our picture taken? Are you going to post it?” Cynthia believes
this strategy resonates because, “most people don’t feel comfortable bragging about themselves, so me bragging for them is great.” By shining the spotlight on her clients, Cynthia discovered an authentic way to engage her audience and grow her business.
When asked what social media platform has performed the best for her, Cynthia explains that she has found the most success on Facebook, a platform that aligns perfectly with her target audience. “Facebook’s probably my strongest,” she explains, crediting the multigenerational connections it facilitates. “I don’t think the younger generations are on Facebook, but their parents are, and their grandma is, and they are the ones telling the younger kids to call me.” Recently, she’s also gained traction on TikTok, though she’s still testing its effectiveness.
CRMs are valuable tools for managing relationships, but they come with a learning curve and time challenges for many veteran professionals. For seasoned mortgage professionals like Kiesha McFadden, Jeanine Robbins, and Cynthia Baker, balancing face-to-face client work with the in-
tricacies of CRM systems has been an ongoing challenge. While they agree on the importance of CRMs, each woman has approached integrating them differently, depending on time constraints, cost, and their existing workflow.
Kiesha McFadden: Prefers personal interactions but carefully evaluates time and cost when adopting new tools. “Operating in a smaller shop where I cover all my expenses, I prioritize tools that offer a clear return on investment. If I’m not using it enough, it’s got to be worth it to me.”
Jeanine Robbins: Relies on her assistant and Geneva’s marketing team for CRM management. “I’m not the greatest with any of that, but it’s been helpful for client follow-up and automating key processes.”
Cynthia Baker: Uses Surefire by Top of Mind and manages it hands-on. “I’m
learning as I go, but the personalized campaigns have been effective. I don’t send something every day — when you get something from me, it’s going to be important.” However, she admits the learning process isn’t always smooth. Recently, she struggled to include a video in an email campaign, describing the frustration of not finding the “how-to” resources quickly. “I couldn’t find anything, and trying to get assistance when I needed it was frustrating,” she says, acknowledging that mastering CRMs comes with trial and error.
Looking ahead, each woman has a clear plan for growth, blending professional outreach, personal branding, and community involvement to adapt to the
“When I had to take traditional headshots, I said, ‘I don’t want to be like everybody else.’ I told an artist, ‘Just draw me!’ That’s when people started calling me ‘the cartoon lady,’ and I realized I had found my brand.”
> Cynthia Baker
evolving industry.
Kiesha McFadden: Kiesha is ready to re-enter the video marketing space after putting it on pause in 2024. “I put video on hold because I had to handle some personal matters,” she explains, but she’s determined to make it a priority in 2025. Her plan includes ramping up her presence on platforms beyond Facebook and Instagram, especially LinkedIn. “I’m starting to see the potential in LinkedIn, and I want to learn more about how users engage with content there,” she says. By combining video content with new platform exploration, Kiesha aims to broaden her influence and reach.
Jeanine Robbins: For Jeanine, 2025 is about expanding her video presence and reigniting her passion project, American Dream TV. “I took a little pause, but I’m trying to come back by March,” she says, referring to her YouTube series. The show focuses on community, lifestyle, and real estate, giving Jeanine a chance to showcase local businesses and build relationships with referral partners. “It’s not just about real estate — it’s about connecting with the community and creating lasting partnerships,” she explains. By relaunching the show and expanding her YouTube channel, she plans to position herself as both a trusted mortgage expert and a community leader.
Cynthia Baker: Cynthia’s primary focus for 2025 is on creating engaging reels and expanding her outreach through financial literacy workshops for high school students. “Every day, I try pushing myself more outside of my comfort zone,” she says about creating videos. “I
do think reels reach more people, so I’m going to continue with that.” But she also wants to make an impact beyond social media by teaching young adults about credit. “If we reach them early, we can help them avoid credit pitfalls,” she says. Through 30-minute workshops at local schools, Cynthia hopes to educate teens on saving and credit management to help them become financially responsible homebuyers in the future.
The mortgage industry’s digital evolution may have introduced new challenges, but if there’s one thing we can learn from women like Kiesha McFadden, Jeanine Robbins, and Cynthia Baker, it’s that grit and determination don’t have an expiration date. The same tenacity that helped them carve out space in a male-dominated industry has fueled their ability to adapt, innovate, and thrive in today’s fast-paced digital world. Their stories remind us that growth doesn’t mean abandoning our roots — it’s about leveraging the lessons we’ve learned along the way to power forward.
For veteran women who’ve been in the trenches since the early 2000s, navigating rejection, bias, and late nights closing deals, this is your moment. The shift to personal branding, video marketing, and CRMs isn’t about reinventing who you are. It’s about amplifying the strength you already possess and applying it to new tools that connect with today’s borrowers. You’ve been breaking barriers since the beginning, and there’s no challenge ahead that you can’t overcome.
Remember, it’s not about being perfect or mastering everything overnight. It’s about showing up — authentically, unapologetically, and with the same resilience that got you here. As you step into the future, know that you’re not alone. The women who’ve thrived in this industry are just like you — proving every day that grit is timeless, and determination is the driving force that turns challenges into success. The digital revolution isn’t the end of an era — it’s a new chapter waiting for you to write it. n
Lorraine Giron is the founder of Standout Mortgage Marketing.
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BY LAURA BRANDAO, CONTRIBUTING WRITER, MORTGAGE WOMEN MAGAZINE
Nicole Andrews believes in leaving a legacy that uplifts others. She is the majority owner and CEO of Fastapp, an appraisal management company which provides the legislative space required between lenders and appraisers due to the passage of the DoddFrank Act. The Act was precipitated by the market upheaval in 2007 and sought to provide appraisers with the independence they needed to provide accurate appraisals without undue pressure and to preserve the integrity of the appraisal system.
Nicole was adopted as an infant and grew up in Hemet, California, a small city community in the San Jacinto Valley. She left home and joined the Air Force after high school and then married and had her sons.
She says her desire to be available for her kids as they grew up was the main motivation for her to find work that would accommodate that need. She owned and operated a couple of coffee carts in her early career that allowed her the flexibility to be with her children and still provide her with employment. Nicole decided very early on that she wanted to be her own boss and that working for someone else might be a necessity but not her end career goal.
Nicole has faced some significant challenges in her life and says those difficulties have made her a stronger and more confident person in both her professional and personal life. She credits her willingness to take on the risks of being an entrepreneur to having to overcome obstacles that could have caused her to shy away from opportunities but, instead, pushed her to try anyway.
How did you get your start in the mortgage industry?
NA: I began my career as a licensed appraiser in 1997. When the 2007 housing crash struck, I partnered with a title company to start an Appraisal Management Company (AMC). Although that venture was short-lived, it paved the way for me to join a national AMC in a sales role. Fast forward to 2020, I became the majority owner (51%) of Fastapp.
What does being a trailblazer mean to you?
NA: Being a trailblazer is about breaking barriers and creating pathways for others, especially in industries where women are often underrepresented.
As the CEO and majority owner of Fastapp, and through years of leading multiple businesses, I’ve experienced both the challenges and triumphs of
entrepreneurship. For me, it’s about demonstrating that women can lead with strength, resilience, and innovation while building successful enterprises.
Trailblazing comes with responsibility — to inspire, mentor, and foster a culture where others, particularly women,
For women in the industry, I see immense potential. Technological advancements and customer-centric solutions will drive significant shifts, and women are poised to be at the forefront of these changes. Women bring a unique and balanced perspective to the
ous businesses for success, even in the face of economic shifts.
Whether it’s leveraging cutting-edge technology or adapting to changing customer expectations, I pride myself on staying proactive and innovative. My ability to spot a product or service that
Trailblazing comes with responsibility — to inspire, mentor, and foster a culture where others, particularly women, feel empowered to pursue their dreams and redefine what’s possible.
feel empowered to pursue their dreams and redefine what’s possible. It’s about paving the way and leaving a legacy that uplifts others.
Where do you see yourself and women in general in the industry over the next five years?
NA: Over the next five years, I envision leading Fastapp to new heights by focusing on innovation and exceptional service in the mortgage industry. My goal is to position the company as a leader in efficiency, transparency, and customer satisfaction.
mortgage industry that has allowed it to grow and become a broader and more inclusive and influential part of the American economic engine.
What is your professional superpower?
NA: My professional superpower is the ability to anticipate what is next in our industry.
I have always had a keen eye for identifying trends and opportunities before they fully emerge. This skill has allowed me to position Fastapp and my previ-
will mesh seamlessly with our current processes and provide an improved and more efficient experience for our clients has and will continue to serve our business well as we move into the future.
Tell us something about your career in the mortgage industry that was pivotal to your achievements today.
NA: A pivotal moment in my career was during the 2007 housing crash. The appraisal industry faced significant uncertainty, but I saw an opportunity amidst the turmoil. With the impend-
ing changes brought by the Dodd-Frank Act, I shifted my focus to the AMC side of the industry, adopting a business model aligned with the new regulations.
When the industry seemed to be burning in spots, there was a glitter of diamond in the ashes, and it was this that caught my eye. I realized that there was a niche to be filled, and it was one that could be transformative and profitable for all of us.
This decision taught me the importance of adaptability, foresight, and taking calculated risks. This moment not
only shaped my career but also laid the foundation for my success as the leader of Fastapp.
What advice would you give to a woman entering or trying to move up in their mortgage career?
NA: My advice is simple: don’t give up. The mortgage industry is dynamic and competitive, but perseverance is key. Believe in yourself, educate yourself, and remain confident, even when faced with obstacles.
Surround yourself with mentors and
peers who support your growth, and don’t hesitate to seek guidance. Trust your instincts and take risks when opportunities arise. Remember, you bring your own individual perspective and value to the table — own it. Success doesn’t happen overnight, but with determination and resilience, you can break barriers and achieve incredible milestones.
If I could go back and give my younger self advice, it would be to try. Even if the odds are bad and there’s risk, try. You’ll either fail and learn or succeed. There are things that I would go back and try now if I could, so I know there
are always more opportunities that we can see in any given stage of our lives.
What does success mean to you?
NA: Success, to me, is about happiness and fulfillment in both professional and personal aspects of life. While fi-
I also have a passion for traveling and seeking new adventures. Exploring new destinations and trying daring experiences allow me to recharge and gain fresh perspectives. Adventure reminds me to live fully and stay curious.
thrive in a dynamic environment. We are possibly going to have some challenging times ahead economically. My preparation for potential upheaval has been to keep our business as lean as possible so, should something unexpected occur, we can keep our staff em-
While financial achievements are significant, true success lies in building something meaningful, leading with purpose, and positively impacting others.
nancial achievements are significant, true success lies in building something meaningful, leading with purpose, and positively impacting others.
It’s also about balancing ambition with gratitude, learning from challenges, and celebrating wins. Success is creating a life and career that align with my values and bring genuine contentment.
What do you enjoy doing outside of our industry?
NA: Outside of the mortgage industry, I cherish spending time with my family, who are my foundation and greatest source of joy.
How do you recommend navigating change in an industry that is always changing and growing?
NA: Navigating change requires a proactive mindset. My recommendation is to prioritize education and stay informed about laws, regulations, and industry trends. Knowledge is power, and staying ahead equips you to adapt confidently.
Listening to your clients’ needs is equally important. The industry evolves with customer expectations, so staying attuned to their feedback is essential. Combining continuous learning with a client-focused approach ensures flexibility, innovation, and preparedness to
ployed and our doors open to our clients without having to stretch too far.
Do you think it’s important to have a mentor?
NA: Absolutely. Having a mentor is invaluable. They provide guidance, support, and insights to help you navigate challenges and seize opportunities. Mentors inspire confidence and encourage growth, often helping you step out of your comfort zone.
For me, mentorship has been instrumental in my journey. I encourage everyone to find a mentor whose values and achievements align with their goals
— it can make all the difference.
I didn’t have a specific mentor, but I do have a person whose judgement I trust and to whom I reach out when I need to make a tough decision and require an experienced and impartial opinion. Having that backup gives me the confidence to move ahead or step back, depending on the situation.
What do you want to be remembered for in our industry?
NA: I want to be remembered as someone who led with integrity and passion. I hope my legacy reflects a person who made a positive impact on peers, cli-
ents, and the industry by staying true to my values.
Beyond building successful businesses, I aspire to inspire others to take risks, embrace change, and lead authentically. My goal is to uplift others and leave the mortgage industry better than I found it.
How do you find your voice?
NA: Finding my voice has always come naturally because I’ve never been afraid to speak up for myself or others. I learned early on the importance of standing firm in my beliefs and advocating for what’s right, even when it’s uncomfortable.
Over the years, I’ve realized that find-
ing your voice is about trusting your instincts, being authentic, and having the courage to express your thoughts. It’s about using your voice to create change, empower others, and leave a lasting impact. Being unapologetically myself has been key to embracing my voice.
NA: My biggest fear is being hungry. As a child, my family experienced extreme poverty, and the memory of not having enough to eat left a lasting impact on me. Even though I’ve built a successful career, that fear still lingers. I have reframed it as a motivator, but it will always be something that I remember and never want my kids to have to endure.
It’s a reminder of how fragile circumstances can be and fuels my passion for giving back to others in need. This experience shaped my resilience and drive, motivating me to create stability and security for myself and others.
How do we propel more women into leadership roles within our industry?
NA: To propel more women into leadership roles, mentorship and peer support are vital.
Women in leadership have a responsibility to mentor others, share experiences, and provide resources. Being a supportive peer — offering encouragement and advocating for each other’s growth — is equally important.
By creating a strong network of women supporting women, we can break down barriers, foster confidence, and inspire the next generation of female leaders. This collaboration will create lasting change across the industry. n
Your mortgage servicing has run into a problem and needs to restart. We're collecting some error info and then your servicing will restart.
MBY EMILY CHAVARRIAGA, SPECIAL TO MORTGAGE WOMEN MAGAZINE
ortgage servicing as a viable industry is at a crossroads. We can no longer afford another decade of catchy change management buzzwords or incremental tweaks. This is a moment of reckoning — an existential crisis where the very survival of the industry hinges on its ability to adapt and redefine itself. The question is not merely about growth but about enduring in a rapidly shifting landscape.
In today’s environment, size no longer guarantees success. In fact, it may be a liability. Consider the exit patterns of major players like JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America from significant portions of the servicing space. Their unsustainable cost structures, combined with an ever-tightening regulatory spotlight, have made large loan origination platforms an albatross in an era where capital is increasingly expensive. Investors are seeking safer alternative risks, leaving massive institutions struggling to justify their models.
Smaller servicers, meanwhile, face their own challenges. Acquisition targets are abundant, but these firms often lack the resources to grow organically. Independent mortgage servicers are now squarely in the crosshairs of new financial risk assessments from regulators, increasing costs and headcount precisely when leaner operations are needed. These dynamics underscore the precarious nature of the industry as it stands.
Adding to these systemic pressures are shifts in customer demographics and preferences. Borrowers today demand seamless, digital-first experiences that many servicers are illequipped to provide. At the same time, servicers are grappling with inflated interest rates, rising home costs, supply chain disruptions, and annual loss mitigation updates. Liquidating assets has become a near-impossible task in some markets, adding another layer of complexity.
Borrower interactions represent the single largest expense in mortgage servicing, yet ironically, many customers prefer minimal interaction altogether. They want automated, intuitive solutions that reduce friction. This creates a paradox: servicers must invest heavily in technology to reduce costs while battling increasing compliance expenses and economic headwinds. Without a clear strategy, these challenges could render the industry unsustainable.
Machine learning offers a way forward, not just as a tool but as a paradigm shift for how servicers approach operations and borrower engagement. Here’s how:
What do today’s borrowers truly want? Machine learning can reveal actionable patterns by analyzing vast amounts of data. For instance, Netflix’s “taste communities” group users by viewing habits to deliver tailored recommendations. Mortgage servicers can apply similar clustering methods to segment borrowers. One group might frequently call about escrow issues, while another simply wants to make payments. With this intelligence, servicers can design interactions that cater to specific needs, improving efficiency and satisfaction.
Consider a borrower who repeatedly calls about escrow questions. Machine learning could recognize this pattern and streamline their experience:
“Press 1 for Escrow Help and Questions.”
For borrowers focused on payments, the system could prioritize quick solutions. As Jeff Bezos once said, “Know what
your customer needs before they need it.” Machine learning enables servicers to do just that.
Imagine a borrower inquiring about an escrow shortage. Instead of a manual response, an automated system could handle it:
“Press 1 if you’d like to reduce your payment. ::Processing:: After a quick review, we see that we can lower your payment to $X. Press 2 to confirm, or Press 3 to receive an agreement by email or mail for execution.”
Automation not only enhances customer satisfaction but also significantly reduces operational costs.
Machine learning can extend beyond operational efficiencies to deliver curated borrower experiences. By analyzing demographic data, interaction styles, and cultural preferences, servicers can create more meaningful connections. For instance, a Colombian customer service agent might better assist a first-generation Colombian-American borrower, fostering trust and understanding. Similarly, data might reveal that cer-
This is a moment of reckoning — an existential crisis where the very survival of the industry hinges on its ability to adapt and redefine itself.
tain borrower groups prefer specific interaction styles, such as engaging with male or female agents. Personalization like this build’s loyalty and satisfaction, a vital edge in today’s competitive landscape.
Looking ahead, imagine a world of truly smart mortgages — products that proactively assist homeowners in managing their lives. These mortgages could:
• Automatically dispute increased escrow payments.
• Recommend local service providers with top reviews.
• Offer home warranty options tailored to borrower needs.
• Auto-pay HOA fees and set up smart home systems like Nest thermostats and sprinklers.
One servicing shop is already paving the way. Their system reviews borrower call histories and routes calls directly to the appropriate department. They’ve also implemented Agent Assist technology, which standardizes conversation summaries and allows agents to quickly verify and edit notes. These innovations reduce errors, improve efficiency, and enhance the borrower experience.
To navigate these turbulent times, servicers must adopt a structured approach to transformation:
Problem
• Reduce borrower call volume.
• Increase customer satisfaction.
Plan
• Identify data sources (e.g., call center interactions).
• Ensure sufficient data for pattern analysis.
• Define storage and processing protocols.
• Address ethical considerations, such as data privacy and bias.
Analyzing historical data can uncover actionable insights to develop machine learning models that improve borrower interactions and automate repetitive tasks.
Machine learning has the potential to revolutionize mortgage servicing by addressing operational inefficiencies and borrower frustrations.
Machine learning has the potential to revolutionize mortgage servicing by addressing operational inefficiencies and borrower frustrations. By embracing this technology, servicers can reduce costs, enhance experiences, and avoid the pitfalls that have plagued the industry. But time is of the essence. The crossroads we face demand bold action, not incremental change.
The mortgage servicing industry is no longer navigating gentle challenges; it is grappling with existential threats. Size is no savior, and complacency is no strategy. Whether through machine learning, smart mortgages, or a radical rethinking of operational models, the future belongs to those who adapt and evolve. The time to act is now — let’s shape the industry’s next chapter together. ■
Emily Chavarriaga, Principal, Enterprise Program Management & Vice President, The Women’s Network.
In this issue, Mortgage Women Magazine proudly spotlights the Women of Tech — visionary leaders and innovators who are shaping the future of mortgage technology. These honorees are pushing boundaries, solving complex problems, and helping the industry evolve through smarter, more inclusive tech solutions.
Recognizing their contributions isn’t just about celebrating success — it’s about amplifying the voices of women who bring new perspectives to a traditionally male-dominated field. Their achievements pave the way for more women to enter and lead in mortgage tech, driving diversity, closing equity gaps, and building a better industry for all.
Chief Information Officer AMERICAN PACIFIC MORTGAGE
What inspired you to pursue a career in technology, and how have your experiences shaped your path?
My career journey took an unexpected turn early on. With a degree in biology and aspirations of becoming a teacher, I began as a junior document drawer at a mortgage company, starting my career in mortgage finance. Everything changed when I joined IMX Exchange, a dotcom company, and was introduced to the development of a groundbreaking product, pricing, and locking engine. I used the software to price mortgage loans, but it had flaws. I started collaborating with the inventor and development team, discovering I had a knack for visualizing solutions. When the software was upgraded with my ideas, it was incredibly empowering. This experience sparked my passion for technology, shaping my career and igniting my drive to create innovative solutions.
How have you navigated challenges unique to being a woman in the tech industry?
Navigating the tech industry as a woman has presented unique challenges, particularly being one of the few women at the table in a male-dominated field. To overcome this, I focused on building confidence in my knowledge, skills, and talents, ensuring I didn’t feel intimidated. It was important for me to remain authentic and trust in my abilities. I’ve been fortunate to have had several male mentors who took me under their wing, offering guidance and support. Their belief in me helped solidify my confidence and empowered me to contribute meaningfully to various organizations. These experiences have shaped my approach to overcoming challenges and continue to inspire me to pave the way for other women in tech. What’s been exciting over the last several years is that I am now seeing more and more women in the field
and at leadership levels! But we still need to encourage more young women into the technology field.
What are your thoughts on the future of technology and the opportunities it presents for women in the field?
The future of technology is incredibly exciting, and the opportunities for women in the field are limitless! I’ve always believed that with time and resources, anything is possible through technology. Women have a unique advantage in tech, as we’re natural problem solvers and bring diverse perspectives to the table. There are countless areas where women can thrive, from AI to automation. One area I’m particularly excited about is generative AI, which is revolutionizing productivity and streamlining processes. In document-heavy industries, AI’s ability to understand context at a deeper level is breaking through limitations that once held us back. This presents immense opportunities for women to contribute, innovate, and lead the way in shaping the future of tech. The sky truly is the limit! n
VP, Technology Operations XACTUS
What personal values or principles guide you in your work and decision-making?
In my work and decision-making, I take a risk-averse approach, carefully evaluating potential outcomes before moving forward. I always consider key factors such as impact, risk, and overall implications for the company. Rather than making impulsive choices, I prefer to ask for permission and ensure alignment with company policies and objectives. I weigh the potential effects on the business, including the size of the customer and the broader organizational impact. By prioritizing thoughtful analysis and accountability, I strive to make decisions that minimize risk while supporting the company’s long-term success and integrity.
How have you navigated challenges unique to being a woman in the tech industry?
Throughout my career, I have been a passionate advocate for advancing women in the workplace, particularly within the mortgage and technology industries — both of which continue to face significant gender disparities. Recognizing the challenges that women often encounter in these fields, I have made it a personal and professional priority to support, mentor, and empower female colleagues.
One of the most rewarding experiences in this journey has been mentoring a talented female team member, guiding her through key professional milestones, and providing the encouragement and strategic insights that contributed to her growth. Seeing her develop the confidence and skills needed to take on new responsibilities and ultimately earn a well-deserved promotion was incredibly fulfilling.
Beyond one-on-one mentorship, I actively engage in broader initiatives that promote gender equity. I regularly participate in women’s leadership conferences, panel dis-
cussions, and industry webinars, where I share insights, learn from other thought leaders, and advocate for policies that support women’s professional advancement. Through these efforts, I strive to create opportunities, remove barriers, and cultivate an inclusive workplace culture where women not only succeed but also feel empowered to lead and shape the future of their industries.
What are your thoughts on the future of technology and the opportunities it presents for women in the field?
The future of technology is promising, especially for women in the field. I’ve already seen a significant increase in female representation, which is exciting compared to when I first started. More women are not only entering the tech industry, but also securing valuable leadership roles, a shift that wasn’t as common before. Opportunities continue to grow as companies embrace diversity in hiring. During my mentoring program at Northwestern University, I noticed an equal number of women and men in the data science program, reflecting this progress. The industry is moving in the right direction, creating more opportunities for everyone. n
VP of Customer Success JARO
What inspired you to pursue a career in technology, and how have your experiences shaped your path?
My family. My Dad was an owner in a technology company and naturally when the need for me arose to pursue a career, I went back to those roots. I’ve had incredible opportunities to work with amazing and smart people as investors, clients, and colleagues. The saying to surround yourself with people smarter than you has been very true for me and has always driven me to be better and learn.
How have you navigated challenges unique to being a woman in the tech industry
Early on in my career I didn’t think there was any type of prejudice. It wasn’t until I was promoted to do a role for half the pay of the man doing it before me that it became so in my face. I think it’s good to recognize there are men and women who want you to be successful and will make sure you have those opportunities. I also think it’s important to recognize your worth and put yourself in environments that will help you grow and for your voice to be heard. Don’t waste time where you aren’t supported.
What personal values or principles guide you in your work and decision-making?
Be honest, your words are your bond.
The smartest person in the room isn’t always the loudest. You learn more if you listen and then form a response.
Don’t let emotions drive decisions. If you think you are right, stand by it, but more can be solved when you seek to understand.
Loyalty doesn’t mean you have to agree. You can show your respect when there are differences of opinion, however, and understand other points of view.
We have more in common than what divides us. You go a lot further when you understand that people have good intentions and are fighting for the same things.
Data tells a story, but your gut is the missing context. Just like AI can’t tell that a picture of rust isn’t rust, our brain picks up so many things subconsciously. Don’t underestimate the value of that context and dig deeper when your gut is telling you something. n
COO DOCMAGIC, INC.
How have you navigated challenges unique to being a woman in the tech industry?
One of the ongoing challenges I see for women entering the mortgage technology space is access to mentorship. Having trusted mentors who are genuinely invested in a young woman’s career growth is invaluable. I cannot stress enough the importance of seeking out mentors who can provide guidance, advocate for opportunities, and help navigate the complexities of both the mortgage industry and the broader fintech ecosystem.
How do you stay up-to-date with the latest advancements and trends in the tech industry?
Staying current with tech trends comes naturally in my role. Overseeing operations at an innovative mortgage technology firm means I’m surrounded by software architects, developers, engineers, and technologists. With this daily exposure, osmosis kicks in and I’m up to speed whether I like it or not!
At DocMagic, I have held hands-on, tech-centric positions. As Director of Client Services, I was responsible for onboarding lenders to DocMagic’s Total eClose platform. This gave me firsthand experience with lender technology stacks, third-party integrations, and ever-evolving digital mortgage solutions.
Now as COO, my responsibilities span all functional areas of the business. While I’m comfortable in this C-level role, it requires a broader, strategic perspective to ensure operational efficiency, foster innovation, and maintain our company’s leadership in a fast-paced and dynamic industry. Staying ahead of technological advancements isn’t just a priority — it’s a necessity to drive growth and deliver the best solutions to our clients.
What are your thoughts on the future of technology and the opportunities it presents for women in the field?
Change is the only constant in technology. The digital mortgage ecosystem is still growing and building value for the mortgage supply chain. This rapidly evolving landscape creates endless opportunities for women to contribute, innovate, and lead.
As technology reshapes the mortgage industry, there is a growing need for diverse perspectives to drive progress. Women bring unique problem-solving approaches and leadership styles that are critical to shaping the future of mortgage fintech. My advice to women entering the field is to embrace challenges, take risks, and not be afraid to fail — because that’s where the greatest learning happens. Be confident in your abilities, roll up your sleeves, and dive in.
I’m grateful to be in a position to mentor the next generation of women in mortgage fintech, helping them navigate their careers and step into leadership roles that will shape the industry’s future. n
Director of Product Strategy DOCUTECH, A FIRST AMERICAN COMPANY
What inspired you to pursue a career in technology, and how have your experiences shaped your path?
I began my career in the mortgage industry by chance and quickly recognized the potential for tech-driven change when I realized many operational tasks were redundant and time intensive. I quickly took interest in using technology to streamline processes and automate tasks wherever possible.
A pivotal moment came when I traveled to India for Bank of America when my son was one year old. This trip not only broadened my horizons but helped me build lasting professional relationships, including with a mentor who has supported me for more than 22 years.
Having close mentors is not just a privilege, it’s vital for women to break barriers, navigate challenges, and accelerate their growth in the technology industry. My relationship with my mentors, along with my dedication to advocating for other women in the workforce, have helped bridge the gap between technology and practical, on-the-ground needs.
What personal values or principles guide you in your work and decision-making?
My motto is: Don’t be afraid to fail, but fail fast if something isn’t working. I believe in using data to guide decision-making and measure success. I constantly challenge myself to think outside the box and approach challenges in new ways.
How have you navigated challenges unique to being a woman in the tech industry?
I lead with emotional intelligence, which has helped me navigate the challenges that come with being a woman in the tech industry. I believe women offer a distinct perspective to workplace challenges and solutions, which can be particularly valuable in a predominantly male-dominated field.
I’m a strong advocate for women in the mortgage technology industry, and I dedicate time and effort to networking, professional development and outreach, and community involvement. I regularly attend mortgage industry conferences for women, both online and in person, and participate in networking and growth opportunities through virtual events.
Beyond my work, I’m dedicated to advocating for women in the workforce and am actively involved in online groups supporting moms of military members — my son is on active duty with the U.S. Air Force. n
What personal values or principles guide you in your work and decision-making?
My leadership is built on four key principles: Care, Accountability, Visibility, and Support.
I believe that strong leadership starts with genuinely caring for people — team members, clients, and the communities we serve.
Accountability is essential; I take ownership of my decisions and ensure that my team operates with integrity. Visibility matters, too — transparency in communication builds trust and alignment.
Support is at the heart of my approach. Whether it’s guiding my team through challenges or ensuring clients feel heard and valued, I prioritize creating an environment where people can thrive.
At its core, my leadership philosophy is to lead from the heart and make a meaningful impact.
How do you stay up-to-date with the latest advancements and trends in the tech industry?
As a leader in finance and tech, staying ahead of industry advancements is essential. I prioritize continuous learning through a mix of industry reports, thought leadership, and networking. I actively engage with emerging technology by collaborating with experts and leveraging insights from our teams working on AI and automation. Additionally, I make it a point to mentor and connect with other women in tech, ensuring diverse perspectives shape my approach to innovation.
How have you navigated challenges unique to being a woman in the tech industry?
Navigating the tech industry as a woman comes with
unique challenges. I’ve encountered moments where I had to push beyond expectations and prove that my insights, skills, and leadership were just as valuable as anyone else’s. Rather than letting these challenges discourage me, I’ve used them as fuel to lead with confidence and authenticity.
Mentorship has played a crucial role in my journey. I’ve had incredible mentors who encouraged me to take risks, embrace challenges and trust my instincts. These experiences have shaped my leadership approach — I actively mentor and advocate for women in technology, encouraging them to step outside their comfort zones and pursue growth opportunities.
At Rocket, I’m committed to fostering an environment where diverse perspectives are not only welcomed but celebrated. Technology evolves rapidly, and we need strong, diverse leaders to drive innovation. My goal is to continue empowering women by ensuring they have the support, visibility and opportunities to lead and succeed. True progress happens when we lift each other up, and I take pride in contributing to a workplace that values both innovation and inclusivity. n
B2B Scores Vice President and General Manager
FICO
Written from nomination using chat GPT
How have you driven Innovation in Mortgage Technology?
As Vice President and General Manager of FICO B2B Scores, I have had the privilege of leading innovation in mortgage technology. I oversee global strategy, product development, and operations for the FICO® Score, which is used by 90% of top U.S. lenders and available in over 40 countries. With a career spanning sales, consulting, and product management, I have developed deep expertise in advanced analytics, fraud management, and strategic partnerships.
In 2024, I led the adoption of FICO® Score 10 T, the industry’s most predictive credit score, helping lenders increase loan approvals while managing risk. Under my leadership, 20 early adopters implemented the model, representing $244.2 billion in originations and an eligible servicing portfolio of $1.33 trillion. I have been a strong advocate for the use of trended data analytics to improve credit decisioning, benefiting both lenders and borrowers.
How have you championed Women in Mortgage Technology?
I am deeply committed to supporting and advocating for
women in mortgage technology. Under my leadership, the FICO Mortgage and Capital Services team has grown to ten members, six of whom are women. Through mentorship, I have helped team members achieve notable successes, with two earning prestigious industry awards. I also actively support professional development by participating in MBA’s MPower events and Women in Securitization initiatives.
As a former Executive Sponsor of Women @ FICO, I have championed programs that empower women in tech. I have shared my insights through SheCanCode and led discussions at FICO® World, reinforcing my commitment to equity in lending. My goal has always been to create opportunities for women to grow and lead in this industry. n
What inspired you to pursue a career in technology, and how have your experiences shaped your path?
It’s my passion which made me choose this career. Evolving technology is enabling me to learn new things daily while nurturing my curiosity.
I strongly believe that when you look back, it’s not your success but your actions that determine your value. I have learned key principles from great leaders while a few have shown me what to avoid in my career. An example of the former: I am currently trying to apply reinforcement learning to optimize my decision making.
How have you navigated challenges unique to being a woman in the tech industry?
Any social inequality often manifests through both conscious and unconscious bias, creating barriers to progress. Every woman has to remind herself that she’s not running for her alone, but for the upcoming generations too. Also, the fight must begin from within. Self reflection, adaptability and resilience are the key strengths that empower me to overcome challenges. Swiftly analyzing situations then implementing and embracing the ensuing changes has always helped me to keep moving forward.
What are your thoughts on the future of technology and the opportunities it presents for women in the field?
We are at a pivotal moment where AI is set to transform the way we work. While some existing roles may diminish, opportunities will increase for evolving positions like AI Product Manager, Ethics Specialist, and Cybersecurity
Analyst. These roles will demand a blend of tech expertise, critical thinking, creativity, and deep understanding of business processes for automation. Different perspectives are much needed to build AI with inclusivity, so the opportunities for women are going to increase. Also, organizations believe that gender diversity is very important to foster a culture of innovation, so it is essential to equip ourselves with the right skills to seize opportunities at the right time.
What personal values or principles guide you in your work and decision-making?
This question is very important because at the leadership level, our personal values play a key role in influencing our leadership style, which in turn impacts the culture of the team and the organization. Integrity and empathy are the key values that I consciously uphold in every decision I make. I believe these values help me to create a positive and meaningful impact in the team. n
Founder & CEO
MEGASTAR FINANCIAL CORP & TAKE 3 TECHNOLOGIES
How have you navigated challenges unique to being a woman in the tech industry?
Being a woman in both the mortgage and tech industries, I’ve often been underestimated. Early on, I learned that confidence, preparation, and expertise are the best ways to gain respect in any room. Rather than focusing on obstacles, I focused on results — proving the value of my technology and demonstrating how it solves real problems. I’ve also built a strong team and surrounded myself with people who share my vision and are committed to changing the industry.
How do you stay up-to-date with the latest advancements and trends in the tech industry?
I study every night, constantly researching advancements in AI, automation, and security to ensure our solutions remain cutting-edge. I listen to my users because their real-world experiences drive meaningful innovation. I enjoy collaborating with other tech companies to explore new possibilities and enhance our technology. Most importantly, I am the CEO and owner of an independent mortgage banker, responsible for my employees, buybacks, cost to produce, and growing my team. My role requires me to stay ahead of industry shifts — not just in technology, but in the broader mortgage landscape — to ensure long-term success and sustainability.
What are your thoughts on the future of technology and the opportunities it presents for women in the field?
The future of technology is rich with opportunity, especially as AI reshapes industries. In mortgage banking, AI should enhance — not replace — human expertise, helping seasoned professionals work smarter while equipping new mortgage bankers with the tools to succeed. I’m passionate about supporting independent mortgage bankers, especially young women advancing in both mortgage and tech.
Starting as a receptionist in 1999, I know the value of hard work, mentorship, and opportunity. I love fostering growth for those eager to learn but needing the right support. As more women step into leadership, technology will better reflect diverse perspectives, driving meaningful change. I encourage women to be bold, trust their knowledge, and actively shape the future of tech. n
What inspired you to pursue a career in technology, and how have your experiences shaped your path?
I’ve always been drawn to technology because of its power to solve problems, drive meaningful impact, and transform organizations. What excites me most is how it can improve experiences and enhance people’s quality of life. Early on, I realized my passion for problem-solving, which led me to pursue a degree in engineering and, eventually, a path in technology leadership.
How do you stay up-to-date with the latest advancements and trends in the tech industry?
For me, staying current means consciously investing time in upskilling and maintaining a continuous growth mindset. I keep up with quick updates through tech newsletters like TLDR, and when I want to deepen my expertise, I pursue formal training, certifications, or courses tailored to my interests. I also make it a priority to attend industry events, not just to stay informed, but to connect with like-minded professionals and gain a well-rounded perspective.
What personal values or principles guide you in your work and decision-making?
Openness and clarity are two values that strongly influence my leadership style. When making decisions, I prioritize having a clear understanding of the objectives and ensure that others do as well. I also strive to create
an environment that fosters openness and welcomes diverse viewpoints. The best outcomes are achieved when the entire team feels heard and is aligned on your goals.
What are your thoughts on the future of technology and the opportunities it presents for women in the field?
I see plenty of opportunities, particularly for women in technology, as they bring a unique perspective that can truly enrich forward-looking organizations. In the last couple of years, AI has been a game-changer, especially in how it has democratized access to information. I believe this has opened the barrier to entry for STEM and technology-oriented careers, not just for women, but also for other groups that may not have previously had the tools and exposure that are now available to us. n
Women leaders are molding the mortgage industry with tech-driven transformation
BY TIFFANY E. ANDERSON, CONTIBUTING WRITER, MORTGAGE WOMEN MAGAZINE
Historically, the mortgage industry has been dominated by cumbersome, paper-heavy processes. Today’s borrowers demand convenience, speed, and transparency, necessitating a shift toward digital workflows. As we approach the end of Q1 2025, the mortgage industry finds itself at a pivotal crossroads, balancing tradition with the necessity of innovation driven by technological advancements and digital transformation.
Just as a potter shapes clay into new forms and functionalities, women leaders in the mortgage industry hold the potential to mold the future of the sector, guiding it toward a more adaptive and progressive landscape.
Women leaders are like catalysts sparking transformation in the mortgage sector. With their fresh perspectives and empathetic understanding, they can effectively tackle the pain points borrowers often face, creating user-centered solutions that enhance customer experience and redefine what it means to serve clients in today’s fast-paced world. These changemakers position their organizations at the forefront of technological progress, setting new standards, and ensuring every borrower feels valued and understood.
Let’s consider some key technologies at our disposal, and how we can adopt them to drive digital transformation.
Imagine a world where cumbersome manual tasks vanish and loan approvals happen at lightning speed with minimal human bias. That’s the magic of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Platforms like Blend and Ellie Mae’s Encompass are already demonstrating how AI can turn a tedious process into a seamless workflow, whether it’s through quick document processing, automated underwriting, or timely compliance management. Looking toward the future, we can expect even more exciting developments, like expanded natural language processing (NLP) that enhances customer service, and sophisticated fraud detection systems. These advancements will empower teams to focus on strategic goals, making AI a vital ally for leaders who want to drive the industry forward.
Think of blockchain as a sturdy, transparent umbrella covering the mortgage transaction process, making it safer and more trustworthy. Innovators like Figure Technologies showcase how blockchain can streamline secure processes, including digital escrow and title verification. As emerging projects like Provenance Blockchain gain momentum, women in leadership roles have a unique opportunity to champion these technologies, potentially revolutionizing trust and efficiency in our sector.
With rapidly changing customer expectations, borrowers now seek seamless digital experiences. Platforms offering online applications and self-service portals, like LoanDepot’s Mello and Rocket Mortgage, are setting high industry standards. We anticipate trends such as AI-driven virtual assistants and enhanced mobile app functionalities to elevate the borrower experience even more, all while keeping operational costs in check.
Cloud computing enhances data accessibility and security, while advanced analytics delve deep into borrowing patterns and market trends. AWS and Google Cloud are examples of platforms that offer the necessary infrastructure for secure data storage and processing.
We expect to see a greater emphasis on predictive analytics within lending strategies, enabling organizations to tailor services using powerful tools like Tableau and SAS. By harnessing insights from platforms like IBM Watson, they can spot patterns and potential risks within loan portfolios. For instance, utilizing AI to analyze payment histories could allow organizations to intervene proactively before loans slip into delinquency.
This approach doesn’t just rely on guesswork; it provides actionable insights that help leaders develop a nuanced understanding of borrower behavior, and respond thoughtfully, in
turn, to the evolving needs of borrowers. This calls for leaders to build data analysis skills and become adept at navigating and interpreting said data.
As we adopt digital tools, it is important to consider additional essential competencies.
Cybersecurity Awareness
We must remain vigilant about cybersecurity threats. A proactive approach is vital in protecting sensitive borrower information. Cyber risk is synonymous with business risk. Protective measures are a cost-saving over system breaches. Strong encryption, savvy password management, and regular software updates are essential defenses against threats like data breaches and phishing attempts.
Compliance with regulations such as GDPR and CCPA is essential for data protection. Platforms like OneTrust can help organizations meet these global data privacy standards, while regular audits, assessments, and ongoing employee training can protect against risks that stem from human error.
Project Management For Digital Transformation
Successful digital transformation is an art that requires effective project management to turn ideas into reality. Clear communication and well-defined project timelines are essential for maintaining alignment within the team. Regular updates and adjustments help address risks and unforeseen challenges.
Collaboration among cross-functional teams from IT, marketing, operations, and HR is crucial for smooth technology integration into daily operations. Each team member plays a vital role in shaping the future of the organization; user adoption through training and feedback should be emphasized.
Resistance to change is a natural reaction, but empathy-driven leadership can overcome it and usher in innovation.
Partnering with FinTech firms allows organizations to leverage advanced solutions without significant in-house investment. For instance, Quicken Loans’ collaboration with Blend has streamlined mortgage applications, leading to faster approvals and increased customer satisfaction. Leaders who effectively manage vendor relationships can replicate such successes, fostering innovation and optimizing efficiency.
Resistance to change is a natural reaction, especially in industries deeply rooted in tradition. It’s essential to engage stakeholders, addressing their concerns while effectively communicating the transformative benefits of digital initiatives. Establish a unified vision that emphasizes shared growth and progress.
You may face resistance within teams, even with the need to be adaptable and ready for the future. Promoting specialized training programs that equip team members with essential skills — particularly in data analysis and technology integration — can help turn this resistance into acceptance.
For instance, organizations like Fannie Mae have implemented comprehensive training programs that enable employees to understand the benefits of new technologies, facilitating a smoother transition. Another notable example is Wells Fargo’s reskilling initiatives, which have successfully assisted employees in transitioning to technology-focused roles, thereby maintaining workforce relevance while minimizing displacement.
Empathy-Driven Leadership
Women leaders are uniquely positioned to promote inclusive design thinking, enabling the creation of digital tools that cater to a diverse range of borrower demographics. For example, they
can spearhead initiatives like remote notarization tools that enhance accessibility for borrowers with mobility constraints. Additionally, launching analytics-driven dashboards can improve decision-making for cross-collateral teams. This empathetic approach ensures that technology aligns with real-world needs.
Navigating the complexities of technological transformation requires exceptional change management skills. Leverage your emotional intelligence to maintain team cohesion while guiding them through transitions. Work toward cultivating a culture that embraces progress, innovation, and collective success. For instance, establishing open forums where employees can express their concerns about technological changes demonstrates transparency and facilitates a smoother adoption process.
Leaders can introduce reverse mentorship opportunities, connecting tech-savvy professionals with less experienced team members. This approach reduces resistance to change, and encourages a growth mindset, strengthening the organization.
The mortgage industry is poised for a thrilling transformation, with cutting-edge technology unlocking incredible opportunities for women leaders to become powerful agents of change! As we gaze into the future, our dedication to driving technological innovation is essential to meet the rising expectations of borrowers and to propel the industry’s growth and resilience. We stand at the forefront of this exciting movement, ready to shape a vibrant future that champions innovation, inclusivity, and an unparalleled customer experience. Let’s embrace this journey together and redefine what’s possible! n
Tiffany E. Anderson, Consultant, Default Mortgage Special Asset Management
In a year marked by challenges across the mortgage industry, these women rose above. Mortgage Women Magazine is proud to honor the top-performing female originators and brokers of 2024 — professionals who didn’t just weather the storm, but found ways to thrive in it. Whether by closing high-dollar deals or consistently delivering for dozens of clients, these Leading LOs showed that excellence comes in many forms. Their numbers reflect determination, adaptability, and the power of women at the top of their game.
Kristy Cormier | Branch Manager I, Producing Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $128,408,135
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 268
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Dollar Volume: $128,408,135
Total Unit Volume: 268
States licensed: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO
Ellen Schuler | Loan Officer Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $118,677,433
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $5,677,650
Total Dollar Volume: $124,355,083
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 233
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 8
Total Unit Volume: 241
States licensed: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO
Nancy Moreland | Branch Manager — Producing Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $123,306,740
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $123,306,740
States licensed: AZ, CO, FL, TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 303
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 303
Jessica Dragae Eaves | Loan Officer
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $97,038,811
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $97,038,811
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 254
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 254 States licensed: CO, TX
Lisa Michelle Wright | Loan Officer
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $93,300,657
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $93,300,657
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 190
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 190 States licensed: AZ, FL, TX
Lori Bowman | Personal Mortgage Advisor Nations Lending | Scottsdale, AZ
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $86,908,227
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $2,007,000
Total Dollar Volume: $88,915,227
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 138
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 2
Total Unit Volume: 140 States Licensed: AZ
Julie Velasco | Loan Officer
Network Funding, LP | San Antonio, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $81,915,162
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $1,554,775
Total Dollar Volume: $83,469,937
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 263
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 7
Total Unit Volume: 270 States licensed: AL, AZ, AR, CT, FL, GA, IL, LA, NM, OK, SC, TX, WA
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $80,788,720
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $80,788,720
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 272
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 272 States licensed: TX
Kelly Chumbley | Loan Officer
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $77,947,105
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $875,130
Total Dollar Volume: $78,822,235
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 176
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 2
Total Unit Volume: 178 States licensed: TX
Lisa Gabbert | Senior Vice President, Mortgage Loan Officer Merchants Bank of Indiana | Carmel, IN
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $39,049,221
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $32,644,349
Total Dollar Volume: $71,693,570
States licensed: All U.S. States
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 56
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 58
Total Unit Volume: 114
Melissa Beth Staller | Loan Officer
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $71,629,213
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $71,629,213
States licensed: AZ, CO, FL, TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 187
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 187
Mary Catherine Steinmeyer | Loan Officer
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $70,071,088
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $70,071,088
States licensed: AZ, CO, FL, TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 152
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 152
Sharon Ross Fults | Loan Officer
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $64,636,218
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $64,636,218
States licensed: TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 125
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 125
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $62,651,744
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $62,651,744
States licensed: TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 134
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 134
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $56,833,537
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $56,833,537
States licensed: AZ, FL, NC, SC, TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 191
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 191
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $55,894,984
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $55,894,984
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 160
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 160
States licensed: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $55,887,772
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $55,887,772
States licensed: AZ, FL, NC, SC, TN, TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 143
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 143
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $55,804,083
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $55,804,083
States licensed: AZ, FL, NC, SC, TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 181
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 181
Tammy Saul | Owner/CEO
Federal Hill Mortgage, Inc. | Baltimore, MD
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $145,054,753
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $55,488,390
Total Dollar Volume: $200,543,143
States licensed: DC, DE, MD, PA, TX, VA
Nora A. Ziel | Loan Officer
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $49,041,679
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $2,662,650
Total Dollar Volume: $51,704,329
States licensed: AZ, CO, UT, WY
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 401
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 175
Total Unit Volume: 576
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 112
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 2
Total Unit Volume: 114
Rebecca Jackson Savois | Loan Officer
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $51,359,427
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $201,750
Total Dollar Volume: $51,561,177
States licensed: TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 109
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 1
Total Unit Volume: 110
Tina Nicole Clark | Loan Officer
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $51,533,230
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $51,533,230
States licensed: AZ, FL, TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 134
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 134
Raelee Nicole Gafford | Loan Officer
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $51,491,141
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $51,491,141
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 231
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 231
States licensed: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $50,887,887
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $50,887,887
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 98
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 98 States licensed: TX
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $50,644,511
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $50,644,511
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 135
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 135 States licensed: AZ, FL, TX
Become a member of the Mortgage Women Leadership Council today. Membership not only guarantees your subscription to the digital magazine but also provides you with a wealth of benefits designed to empower and elevate women in the mortgage industry.
Tammy Saul | Owner/CEO
Federal Hill Mortgage, Inc. | Baltimore, MD
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $145,054,753
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 401
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $55,488,390
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 175
Total Dollar Volume: $200,543,143
Total Unit Volume: 576
States licensed: DC, DE, MD, PA, TX, VA
| Branch Manager — Producing Cornerstone | Houston, TX Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $123,306,740 Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 303 Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0 Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Dollar Volume: $123,306,740
Total Unit Volume: 303 States licensed: AZ, CO, FL, TX
Officer
Julie Velasco | Loan Officer
Network Funding, LP | San Antonio, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $81,915,162
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $1,554,775
Total Dollar Volume: $83,469,937
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 263
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 7
Total Unit Volume: 270
States licensed: AL, AZ, AR, CT, FL, GA, IL, LA, NM, OK, SC, TX, WA
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $128,408,135
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $128,408,135
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 268
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 268
States licensed: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $97,038,811
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $97,038,811
States licensed: CO, TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 254
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 254
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $118,677,433
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $5,677,650
Total Dollar Volume: $124,355,083
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 233
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 8
Total Unit Volume: 241
States licensed: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $51,491,141
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $51,491,141
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 231
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 231
States licensed: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO
Alicia Michele Arum | Branch Manager I, Producing
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $40,318,481
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $40,318,481
States licensed: AL, AR, OK, TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 214
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 214
Alondra Velasco | Loan Officer
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $39,910,133
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $39,910,133
States licensed: AL, AR, FL, IN, KS, OK, TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 192
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 192
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $56,833,537
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $56,833,537
States licensed: AZ, FL, NC, SC, TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 191
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 191
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $93,300,657
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $93,300,657
States licensed: AZ, FL, TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 190
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 190
Melissa Beth Staller | Loan Officer
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $71,629,213
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $71,629,213
States licensed: AZ, CO, FL, TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 187
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 187
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $34,856,889
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $34,856,889
States licensed: AL, AR, OK, TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 184
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 184
Tammy Kennedy | Personal Mortgage Advisor
Nations Lending Corporation | Southhaven, MS
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $47,127,737
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $2,108,031
Total Dollar Volume: $49,235,768
States Licensed: MS, TN
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 174
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 9
Total Unit Volume: 183
Victorine Smith | Branch Manager 1
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $55,804,083
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $55,804,083
States licensed: AZ, FL, NC, SC, TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 181
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 181
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $44,244,828
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $44,244,828
States licensed: AL, AR, FL, IN, KS, OK, TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 179
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 179
Chumbley | Loan Officer
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $77,947,105
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $875,130
Total Dollar Volume: $78,822,235
States licensed: TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 176
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 2
Total Unit Volume: 178
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $47,365,771
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $525,300
Total Dollar Volume: $47,891,071
States licensed: TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 166
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 2
Total Unit Volume: 168
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $32,691,957
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $239,112
Total Dollar Volume: $32,931,069
States licensed: AL
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 166
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 1
Total Unit Volume: 167
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $55,894,984
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $55,894,984
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 160
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 160
States licensed: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $48,714,764
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $48,714,764
States licensed: TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 160
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 160
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $46,495,147
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $46,495,147
States licensed: TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 157
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 157
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $70,071,088
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $70,071,088
States licensed: AZ, CO, FL, TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 152
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 152
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $55,887,772
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $55,887,772
States licensed: AZ, FL, NC, SC, TN, TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 143
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 143
Lori
| Personal Mortgage Advisor Nations Lending | Scottsdale, AZ
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $86,908,227
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $2,007,000
Total Dollar Volume: $88,915,227
States Licensed: AZ
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 138
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 2
Total Unit Volume: 140
Prysma Lending Group, LLC | Danbury, CT
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $40,210,650
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $3,428,650
Total Dollar Volume: $43,639,300
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 123
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 13
Total Unit Volume: 136 States licensed: CT, FL, MA, NY
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $50,644,511
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $50,644,511
States licensed: AZ, FL, TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 135
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 135
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $62,651,744
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $62,651,744
States licensed: TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 134
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 134
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $51,533,230
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $51,533,230
States licensed: AZ, FL, TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 134
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 134
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $21,652,262
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $721,500
Total Dollar Volume: $22,373,762
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 130
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 4
Total Unit Volume: 134
States licensed: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $37,639,559
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $37,639,559
States Licensed: AZ, FL, NC, SC, TN, TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 133
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 133
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $38,914,893
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $38,914,893
States licensed: AZ, FL, TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 129
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 129
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $64,636,218
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $64,636,218
States licensed: TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 125
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 125
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $26,645,799
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $26,645,799
States licensed: AL, AR, FL, IN, KS, OK, TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 123
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 123
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $34,089,524
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $714,074
Total Dollar Volume: $34,803,598
Branch Manager 1
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 117
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 3
Total Unit Volume: 120
States licensed: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $44,683,743
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $44,683,743
States licensed: AZ, CO, UT, WY
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 119
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 119
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $40,653,611
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $40,653,611
States licensed: AZ, FL, NC, SC, TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 119
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 119
Alexandria Lynn Rodriguez | Branch Manager 1 Team Lead Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $31,421,639
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $990,111
Total Dollar Volume: $32,411,750
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 112
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 5
Total Unit Volume: 117 States licensed: Federal — NC
Victoria Grace Henke | Loan Officer
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $44,248,091
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $44,248,091
States licensed: AZ, FL, NC, SC, TN, TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 115
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 115
Nora A. Ziel | Team Lead LO III
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $49,041,679
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $2,662,650
Total Dollar Volume: $51,704,329
States licensed: AZ, CO, UT, WY
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 112
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 2
Total Unit Volume: 114
Lisa Gabbert | Senior Vice President, Mortgage Loan Officer Merchants Bank of Indiana | Carmel, IN
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $39,049,221
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $32,644,349
Total Dollar Volume: $71,693,570
States licensed: All U.S. States
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 56
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 58
Total Unit Volume: 114
Christina Rose Ledesma | Mortgage Branch Manager 1
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $25,913,900
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $7,546,747
Total Dollar Volume: $33,460,647
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 83
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 29
Total Unit Volume: 112
States licensed: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO
Rebecca Jackson Savois | Loan Officer
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $51,359,427
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $201,750
Total Dollar Volume: $51,561,177
States licensed: TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 109
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 1
Total Unit Volume: 110
Tracy Mock | Mortgage Sales Manager
Gateway Mortgage | San Antonio, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $19,020,362
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $3,386,339
Total Dollar Volume: $22,406,701
States licensed: TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 95
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 12
Total Unit Volume: 107
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $37,440,580
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $37,440,580
States licensed: CO, TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 100
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 100
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $45,556,592
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $45,556,592
States licensed: AZ, FL, NC, SC, TN, TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 99
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 99
Elizabeth Miller | Loan Officer
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $50,887,887
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $50,887,887
States licensed: TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 98
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 98
Kelly Lynn Zitlow | EVP Strategic Sales & Eng.
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $41,272,249
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $2,429,484
Total Dollar Volume: $43,701,733
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 86
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 10
Total Unit Volume: 96
States licensed: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO
Amy Bailey Oehler | Mortgage Branch Manager 2
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $31,776,260
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $1,479,015
Total Dollar Volume: $33,255,275
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 91
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 5
Total Unit Volume: 96
States licensed: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO
Robin Gifford | Loan Officer
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $37,793,609
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $37,793,609
States licensed: TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 93
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 93
Marie Waters | Loan Officer
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $17,219,116
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $17,219,116
States licensed: AL, AR, FL, IN, KS, OK, TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 93
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 93
Nouri Iskander | Mortgage Loan Originator
NEXA Mortgage LLC | Keller, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $30,629,901
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $3,896,000
Total Dollar Volume: $34,525,901
States licensed: CA, FL, TN, TX
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 85
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 8
Total Unit Volume: 93
Laura Ponce Aguilar | Senior Loan Officer
Nova | Tucson, AZ
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $15,631,273
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $4,147,589
Total Dollar Volume: $19,778,862
States licensed: AZ
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 70
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 22
Total Unit Volume: 92
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $31,466,675
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $31,466,675
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 90
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 90
States licensed: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $25,377,141
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $320,215
Total Dollar Volume: $25,697,356
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 82
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 1
Total Unit Volume: 83
States licensed: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $29,626,070
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $5,496,838
Total Dollar Volume: $35,122,908
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 57
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 25
Total Unit Volume: 82
States licensed: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO
Heather Ann Smith | Loan Officer
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $33,046,110
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $33,046,110
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 81
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 81
States licensed: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO
Amy Jane Dussett | Branch Manager II, Producing
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $18,012,301
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $2,937,768
Total Dollar Volume: $20,950,069
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 72
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 9
Total Unit Volume: 81
States licensed: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO
Hannah Joplin | Senior Loan Officer
Nova | Tucson, AZ
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $16,341,368
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $1,381,437
Total Dollar Volume: $17,722,805
States licensed: AZ, CA, OR, WA
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 66
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 12
Total Unit Volume: 78
Debra Sue McCloud | Loan Officer
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $22,090,686
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $11,215,734
Total Dollar Volume: $33,306,420
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 48
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 28
Total Unit Volume: 76
States licensed: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $41,073,910
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $5,967,205
Total Dollar Volume: $47,041,115
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 66
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 8
Total Unit Volume: 74
States licensed: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO
Heather Robert | VP/Branch Manager
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $19,858,533 Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 57
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $4,710,584
Total Dollar Volume: $24,569,117
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 17
Total Unit Volume: 74
States Licensed: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $32,204,907
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $1,533,000
Total Dollar Volume: $33,737,907
States licensed: CO, FL, TX, WY
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 67
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 3
Total Unit Volume: 70
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $16,917,720
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $1,681,165
Total Dollar Volume: $18,598,885
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 62
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 7
Total Unit Volume: 69
States licensed: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $12,903,134
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $284,050
Total Dollar Volume: $13,187,184
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 64
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 2
Total Unit Volume: 66
States licensed: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $23,955,816
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $3,656,900
Total Dollar Volume: $27,612,716
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 54
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 10
Total Unit Volume: 64
States licensed: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO
Roxana Lopez | Vice President/Senior Loan Officer
Nova | Tucson, AZ
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $14,836,963
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $2,938,476
Total Dollar Volume: $17,775,439
States licensed: AZ
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 52
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 12
Total Unit Volume: 64
Lisa Ann Bellman Cortez | Nat'l. Dir. Builder Outreach Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $22,124,944
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $276,760
Total Dollar Volume: $22,401,704
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 58
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 1
Total Unit Volume: 59
States licensed: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO
Joanna Daly Hansen | Branch Manager I, Producing Cornerstone |Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $23,032,412
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $3,179,008
Total Dollar Volume: $26,211,420
States licensed: CO, FL, TX, WY
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 50
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 8
Total Unit Volume: 58
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $21,120,682
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $157,000
Total Dollar Volume: $21,277,682
States licensed: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DE, DC, FL,
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 54
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 1
Total Unit Volume: 55
Jill Davis | Vice President/CLD Branch Manager
Nova | Tucson, AZ
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $13,470,985
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $3,867,791
Total Dollar Volume: $17,338,776
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 38
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 16
Total Unit Volume: 54
States licensed: AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, FL, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, WA, WY
Brandi Siefkas | Senior Loan Officer
Nova | Denver, CO
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $31,585,500
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $1,320,153
Total Dollar Volume: $32,905,653
States licensed: CO
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 50
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 3
Total Unit Volume: 53
Cornerstone | Houston, TX
Purchase Volume By Dollar Amount: $16,485,693
Refi Volume By Dollar Amount: $0
Total Dollar Volume: $16,485,693
Purchase Volume By Number of Units: 50
Refi Volume By Number of Units: 0
Total Unit Volume: 50 States licensed: TX
Connecting you to the story of your success.
Don't miss out! These recent events were huge successes — providing great educational and networking opportunities. Make plans to attend the next one nearest you!
We want every broker and originator to feel empowered, informed, and connected to the resources needed to develop your career. The Originator Connect Network, the nation's largest producer of mortgage events, is about fostering a community founded on professionalism, collaboration, and personal and professional growth.
Bold moves and better boundaries for a career that clicks
HBY TINA ASHER, CONTIBUTING WRITER, MORTGAGE WOMEN MAGAZINE
ave you ever felt like your career and the life you want are running on two different tracks? It’s more common than you might think, and the truth is, realignment isn’t just possible — it’s essential for long-term success and happiness.
Whether you’re a professional climbing the corporate ladder, or a mid-career employee looking for that next big step, bold decisions often must be made. But where do you even start?
Before diving into any career change, let’s pause for a moment — what does your ideal lifestyle look like?
• Do you crave flexibility, or are you energized by structure?
• Do you want more time for hobbies, family, or just to breathe?
• Are boundaries in place, or are you burning the candle at both ends?
• Am I consistently working late hours when I don’t want to?
• Is my current career or business aligned with my core values?
Clear boundaries allow you to say yes to the right opportunities and no to the things that no longer serve you.
Once you’ve dialed in your lifestyle needs and boundaries, it’s time to determine what your ideal job fit looks like. Consider:
• What industries or roles interest you the most?
• Does the company culture align with your values?
• Is this role flexible or structured enough for your lifestyle?
Realignment isn’t just possible — it’s essential for long-term success and happiness.
It’s not just about what job you’re doing, but how it aligns with the life you envision. Knowing what works best for you is the foundation for any career decision.
We talk about boundaries a lot, but why? Because they protect your time, energy, and emotional well-being. If your current role or business is pushing those boundaries, it might be time to ask yourself:
• Do I feel drained because I’m over-committing?
The right job or business should feel like an extension of your personality and aspirations, not just a paycheck.
Career changes don’t have to be overwhelming, but they do require clarity, confidence, and sometimes a fresh perspective. If you’re ready to dive deeper into aligning your career with the life you want, I’m here to help. ■
Tina Asher is a coach and founder of Build U Up Consulting.
A warm welcome to you! I’m Kelly Hendricks, the Managing Editor of Mortgage Women Magazine and Senior Vice President of Delmar Mortgage, and it brings me great joy to extend this invitation to you. Throughout my career in the mortgage industry, I’ve been fortunate to have leaders and mentors who played pivotal roles in shaping my journey. I am thrilled to introduce a transformative initiative – the Mortgage Women Leadership Council, created by Mortgage Women Magazine.
In my role, I’ve experienced the challenges that women face in leadership within the mortgage sector. These challenges led to a profound realization — the need for a dynamic network to empower women in our industry. This realization is the driving force behind the creation of the Mortgage Women Leadership Council. I believe in the power of collective support, and I am excited about the opportunity to share and benefit from each other’s experiences.
Our mission is clear: to promote and empower women’s leadership in the mortgage sector. The council aims to create a supportive environment for professional growth, mentorship, and networking. Joining the
council comes with various benefits, including networking opportunities and access to industry-specific professional development resources. We understand the unique challenges women face in mortgage leadership and have tailored mentorship and support systems to address them.
I invite you to join this movement to empower women in the mortgage industry. The Mortgage Women Leadership Council is committed to fostering a welcoming and supportive environment. Your involvement will not only contribute to your personal and professional growth but also play a crucial role in advancing women’s leadership in our industry. To join or get involved, simply click here to apply.
Thank you for considering this invitation to join the Mortgage Women Leadership Council. For further inquiries about the council and details on how to join, please contact Beverly Bolnick at bbolnick@ambizmedia.com. Let’s work together to advance women’s leadership in the mortgage industry — because collective action brings about meaningful change.
Kelly Hendricks Managing Editor, Mortgage Women Magazine
Access to a Powerful Platform: Amplify your voice and influence through Mortgage Women Magazine, exclusive sponsored programs, email newsletters, and impactful events.
Editorial Opportunities: Showcase your expertise and insights through editorial features in Mortgage Women Magazine, gaining visibility and recognition among industry peers.
Awards and Recognition: Receive well-deserved recognition through our award programs, celebrating your achievements and contributions to the mortgage industry.
Community Support: Become part of a dedicated community committed to celebrating and driving meaningful progress in the mortgage sector. Connect with likeminded women leaders, share experiences, and foster collaborative initiatives.
Mortgage Women Magazine: Enjoy your complimentary digital subscription to Mortgage Women Magazine, the premier publication for women in mortgage. Read advice, learn about industry updates, and take in the inspiring stories of your peers.
Become a member today.
Join us and be a driving force in creating a more inclusive and thriving mortgage industr y. Together, as a united community, we believe we can make real change.
Enjoy 1 year of your individual membership free! Use code MWM25
mwlcouncil.com
