Guaranteed Rate's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiatives

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

How we’re making our company, industry and communities better

Before GROW, 52% of GRC employees were women, compared to 57% just two years later!

That’s compared to a finance industry average of 52.9% (according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics 2020 report).

Women supporting women’s growth The Guaranteed Rate Organization of Women (GROW) was developed to create a community that fosters strength, confidence and empowerment.

By providing the perfect platform to learn and exchange ideas, GROW allows us to improve ourselves while supporting the women around us.

Mentorship Program +

Connecting top industry leaders with women who are interested in developing their skills and knowledge to grow their career.

• To date, we’ve had nearly 200 women participate as either mentors or mentees in sales and non-sales positions.

• Many of our mentees were promoted during or after their program.

Monthly Webinar Series +

GROW brings in inspiring women every month to discuss the lessons they’ve learned that can lead to lasting personal growth and change for all of us. We’ve had life coaches, authors, academic experts, a yoga trainer, and even a competitive reality show star.

Monthly Book Club +

Book Club Every month, we get together to discuss a pre-determined book to create a stronger GROW community.

Guaranteed Rate GROW - San Fransico 2020 event

LEADERSHIP, EQUALITY and DEVELOPMENT

Strengthening leaders of color LEAD’s mission is to transform the mortgage industry by building future minority leaders through recruiting, outreach, and training initiatives. Our aim is to increase minority awareness by developing community relationships to promote education around financial literacy and home ownership. The primary goal of LEAD is to foster an inclusive and diverse work environment that will strengthen minority and non-minority relationships in corporate America.

Education & Thought/Workplace Inclusion +

Working for equal access to opportunities and resources in the organization and promoting allyship amongst underrepresented communities of color within GR Companies.

Homeowner Expansion & Financial Literacy +

Promoting mortgage-industry best practices and share resources with tips and tools designed to create further awareness of pathways to homeownership in underrepresented communities.

Recruiting & Outreach +

Diversifying our pipeline by posting open sales positions as a funnel for diverse talent as well as support our ExcelRate program, our in-house program for new loan officers looking to enter the industry.

Volunteering & Community +

Promoting community engagement through outreach and volunteering with the aim to support local underrepresented communities and drive meaningful discussions on social media.

Guaranteed Rate LEAD leadership Guaranteed Rate, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer that welcomes and encourages all applicants to apply regardless of age, race, sex, religion, color, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital or parental status, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy or other reason prohibited by law.

A more welcoming workplace for all While we strive to have a culture of inclusivity and belonging at GR Companies, we want to ensure that all LGBTQIA+ employees feel completely comfortable and at ease being their authentic selves, both at home and in the office.

PROUD’s mission is to create a workplace in the mortgage industry that believes in everyone for who they are, wants them to succeed because of their talents and abilities and makes them feel safe, welcome, and most importantly PROUD.

Safe Zone Project (SZP) Literacy +

A free online resource providing curricula, activities, and other resources for educators facilitating Safe Zone trainings (LGBTQ+ and gender education sessions) and those who are hoping to explore these concepts on their own.

Guaranteed Rate Pride 2018 event

Investing in What Matters Guaranteed Rate, which was recently recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business as a 2020 “Notable Business Championing Diversity and Inclusion”, is dedicated to promoting diversity and expanding its commitment to minority communities and borrowers.

That’s why we created the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) department with exciting initiatives and leadership.

Camilo Escalante

DEI Leadership Camilo Escalante Executive Director Diverse Segments

Camilo aims to ensure that loan officers continue to serve borrowers in diverse communities, enhancing access and improving the quality of their lending experience. In this role, Escalante helps Guaranteed Rate create a more diverse workforce through recruitment and increase the accessibility of our platform to more borrowers.

Valenthia uses her community organizing and mortgage experience to build partnerships between Guaranteed Rate and grassroots organizations across the country to promote financial literacy and homeownership awareness in diverse communities. She leads initiatives designed to help Guaranteed Rate continue addressing borrower needs, including the development of educational kits to reduce and remove barriers to homeownership for underserved populations.

Valenthia Doolin Community Outreach Manager

Turquoise focuses on promoting a diverse culture within Guaranteed Rate through its existing employee resource groups, which help transform the mortgage industry by building future minority leaders through recruiting, outreach and training initiatives. She also works to enhance minority awareness by using community relationships to promote education around financial literacy and home ownership.

Turquoise Peart Community Outreach Manager

CJ aims to help Guaranteed Rate’s executive leadership identify and implement strategies that will help the company become a leader in providing mortgages to diverse communities. He works closely with Camilo, Valenthia and Turquoise to bring initiatives to life that make Guaranteed Rate a better place for all employees, agent partners and customers.

CJ Rose Sr. Director of Strategic Growth & Acquisitions

According to the NAHREP 2020 State of Hispanic Homeownership report, between 2020 and 2040, an estimated 70% of new homeowners will be Latino/Hispanic. Additionally, between 2010 and 2020, Hispanics accounted for 35.9% of household formation growth.

A better partner in our communities + +

We’re partnering with nonprofits and trade organizations, such as NAHREP and NAMMBA, to better service communities of color and be more involved at a local level.

Since our DEI department’s creation, we’ve expanded our Spanish-language marketing library and bilingual operations staff, giving Hispanic loan officers more opportunities to market to referral partners and customers.

Three GRate leaders on the NAHREP Regional Corporate Board of Governors:

Dean Moran

Divisional Manager

Jim Eboli

Division Manager

Andy Rosales Regional Manager

Guaranteed Rate - Garden Cleanup 2021 event

Guaranteed Rate, Inc.; NMLS #2611; For licensing information visit nmlsconsumeraccess.org. Equal Housing Lender. Conditions may apply • AR: 3940 N Ravenswood, Chicago, IL 60613, (866)-934-7283 • AZ: 14811 N. Kierland Blvd., Ste. 100, Scottsdale, AZ, 85254, Mortgage Banker License #0907078 • CA: Licensed by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act • CO: Regulated by the Division of Real Estate, (866)-934-7283 • MA: Mortgage Lender & Mortgage Broker License #MC2611 • ME: Supervised Lender License #SLM11302 • MS: 3940 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, IL 60613 • NH: Licensed by the New Hampshire Banking Department, Lic #13931-MB • NJ: 3940 N Ravenswood, Chicago, IL 60613, (866)-934-7283, Licensed by the N.J. Department of Banking and Insurance • NY: Licensed Mortgage Banker - NYS Department of Financial Services • OH: MB 804160, 3940 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, IL 60613 • OR: 3940 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, IL 60613 • RI: Rhode Island Licensed Lender • TX: 3940 N Ravenswood, Chicago, IL 60613, (866)-934-7283 • WA: Consumer Loan Company License CL-2611. • (20210702-164337) Guaranteed Rate, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer that welcomes and encourages all applicants to apply regardlss of age, race, sex, religion, color, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital or parental status, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy or other reason prohibited by law.