SPECIAL REPORT
ELITE WOMEN 2018 LAUREN KETCHUM Director, member experience Lenders One
Lauren Ketchum joined Lenders One from its parent company, Altisource, where she led marketing for eight origination business units. Immediately recognized for her impactful marketing strategies and client relations, Ketchum was tapped by Lenders One to serve as their director of member experience, responsible for overseeing all programming for the 230-plus members of the Lenders One Mortgage Cooperative. Since Ketchum joined in 2017, Lenders One had its strongest ever year for profitability and also celebrated its strongest year in membership growth with the addition of 31 new members. Ketchum has also been instrumental in
NIKKI GROFF Chief marketing and business development officer Wallick and Volk Mortgage
With more than 15 years of experience in the industry, Nikki Groff has been ranked among the top mortgage originators in the nation and has been recognized as a successful branch manager and thought leader on loan production and mortgage production systems. Her other achievements include being named a Distinguished Mortgage Professional and receiving NAWRB’s Roaring Thirty Award and the Duncan Group’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017. She was also named one of So Scottsdale magazine’s People to Watch in 2018. In addition, Groff is the founder a nonprofit called Giving Back, which was developed to assist community heroes with the financial aspects of the home-buying process.
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increasing member engagement rates. She oversaw the launch of Engagement Returns, a benefit program designed exclusively for Lenders One members and preferred providers. She has also played a critical role in launching many of the proprietary technology offerings available to members, ensuring that the products solve critical member needs and are effectively rolled out to the cooperative. Ketchum actively promotes female leadership throughout the mortgage industry. She recently worked with MBA to launch a women’s networking event, mPower, at the Lenders One Winter Conference in March. Earlier in her career, she served in AmeriCorps for Teen Voices, an award-winning nonprofit news service covering issues that concern women and providing women’s perspectives on public policy.
JENNIFER KATZ Vice president The Federal Savings Bank
Finishing in the top five of her division since 2013, Jennifer Katz has closed more than $100 million in loans in the past three years and finished 2017 as number two in funded volume and units at The Federal Savings Bank. Katz is a former member of the US Army National Guard, making her an excellent fit at The Federal Savings Bank, a veteran-owned and -operated bank. After her time in the military, Katz volunteered with the Buddy Baseball Program, a nonprofit started by her father to allow handicapped children to play baseball in an organized league. Today, she continues to dedicate her time to local nonprofits, including the Ribbon Riders and Cats for the Cure. “Even though she is a single mother of two, she always manages to juggle her personal life and her professional life and excel at them both,” a peer says.
MICHELLE EVANS President/owner Evans Home Loans
Michelle Evans started Evans Home Loans in 2003 after seeing the need for more quality mortgage brokering services in Ohio. From 2013 to 2016, the company was named Small Business of the Year by the BG Chamber of Commerce. Evans is highly involved in her community, serving on the boards of ACT.BG, Alicia’s Voice and the American Cancer Society, and continues to inspire the women around her through her work ethic, positivity and consistent ability to rise to the occasion.