Business is booming.

Female Leaders in Mortgage | Elite Women 2023

[ad_1]

Women on their way

The 2023 MPA Elite Women awards celebrate 50 of the top female leaders in the mortgage industry across the US. To determine the prestigious list, nominations were submitted for strong contenders, who were then reviewed before the final selection was made. MPA asked the nominees, “What do you think makes a woman of influence?” 

The responses reiterate the level of excellence required of 2023’s Elite Women and what’s expected of them: 

  • “strong, present, teachable and has a desire to grow” 

     

  • “someone who makes an impact, changes society and leaves a legacy”

     

  • “an ambitious individual thinker who has experience, drive and a true passion for her craft” 

 

“I believe in setting up my team as a primary goal for the day. If they are running successfully with a full understanding of the capacity of the day, then my tasks will fall in line”

Stacy CaprioliNationwide Appraisal Network 

 

Elite Women creating change 

MPA asked all nominees if there was a lack of female leaders in the mortgage industry. The results are displayed below. 

However, 2023’s Elite Women are changing this dynamic with their outstanding abilities, which have earned them recognition among their peers. 

“There is no job that is beneath me,” says Erica LaCentra, chief marketing officer of RCN Capital. “I find that as people get into positions of management or upward levels like the C-suite, there are a lot of folks that take the mentality that ‘this is beneath me’ and ‘other people can do this work.’ 

“I also have a willingness to be vocal as far as advocating for other women in my space and really calling attention to the disparity between how women are treated versus men in the space.” 

LaCentra has distinguished herself by winning the following: 

  • 2017 AAPL Member of the Year 

  • 2017 NMP Magazine Most Influential Mortgage Professionals Under 40

  • 2018 MPA’s Hot 100 and MPA’s Elite Women 

  • 2019 NMP Magazine Mortgage Banking’s Most Powerful Women 

  • 2020 MPA’s Mortgage Global 100 

  • 2022 Women of NACLB 

Industry expert Kathleen McSharry, senior director of tri-state debt and equity finance at Avison Young, puts forward her rationale for shaping the mortgage sector. 

“A woman of influence puts the clients’ needs first, works diligently, pays attention to detail and shows a willingness or ability to think creatively,” she says. 

Melissa Cohn, regional vice president and mortgage banker at William Raveis Real Estate, Mortgage & Insurance, describes how she is driving change and offering a role model for other women to follow. 

She says, “I think I work harder than anyone else. I don’t have a 9-to-5 mentality. The first thing I do when I wake up is check my emails and the bond market, and I work as long as it takes every day to get the job done. I’m not afraid of challenges. I don’t just take the easy loans.” 

After graduating from Smith College in 1982, Cohn got into the mortgage business, launching The Manhattan Mortgage Company in 1985. Since then, she has: 

  • grown her business into the no. 1 residential mortgage broker on the east coast with over $5 billion in yearly volume

  • been nominated as a leading LO by Mortgage Women Magazine in 2023

  • been nominated as a top LO in the Scotsman Guide in 2023  

  • attained the top-producing LO for William Raveis Real Estate, Mortgage & Insurance 

To make the most of her talents, Elite Woman Stacy Caprioli is guided by her team, even though she is chief appraiser at Nationwide Appraisal Network and has 17 years of industry experience. 

“I believe that my ability to lead with a strong focus on not only where we are but also where we are headed is a trait that has set me aside from peers. I am also always available to assist in any of the roles I lead,” says Caprioli. “There isn’t a day that I do not pivot to assist one of my team members and often start my day with, ‘Where do you need me the most?’” 

Underscoring her ability to add value across a range of operations, Caprioli is:

  • a certified residential appraiser in the states of WI and VA 

  • a real estate sales agent in the state of WI 

  • a candidate for accreditation with the Appraisal Institute  

 

“We have amazing women working in this industry, and I believe now more than ever is the time for them to push into that uncomfortable zone and take the risks they know they need to”

Cristy WardMortgage Connect 

 

Words of wisdom from 2023’s Elite Women

Illustrating the breadth of talent and skills in the industry, MPA asked the nominees, “What do you see as your biggest strength?” 

Feedback ranged from perseverance to loyalty to honesty: 

  • “hard work, knowledge, patience and diligence” 

  • “grit and integrity” 

  • “having a huge book of business and placing myself in the purchase account” 

  • “a great communicator with my clients” 

The Elite Women 2023 are not only leading by example but are also keen to share their advice with younger females following in their wake. 

“Find a mentor and allow them to guide you as you continue to grow professionally,” says expert McSharry. “Form alliances with people you admire and never pass up a chance to learn. Take credit for what you accomplish and don’t apologize for doing so.” 

This theme resonates with Cristy Ward, Mortgage Connect’s executive vice president and chief strategy officer and president and founder of the non-profit organization Women Empowering Women. She admits to a lack of belief in the early stages of her career. 

“My advice would be to stop second-guessing yourself. I see so many women at the highest ranks still second-guessing themselves,” she says. 

Ward’s driven attitude has enabled her to achieve success, and she illustrates that mindset. 

“Be certain of your talents and what you can bring to an organization. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you deserve; if you don’t get it, you have your answer. Make whatever move you need to so that you are valued for what you bring. Be fearless and, most of all, be kind to everyone along the way,” she says. 

To foster more female leaders in the mortgage sector and create mentors, LaCentra also feels it’s important to raise awareness about the achievements of others. 

“Women naturally downplay their achievements because that’s often what we’re told to do,” she says. “We’re not bragging or appearing too headstrong. That mentality needs to go out the window. And I think the more we highlight that, the more women will see that and want to come into this space.” 

Going a step further is Cohn, who agrees that being proactive is the best path to recognition and bringing about meaningful change. 

She says, “Men do not like to be challenged by successful, smart and aggressive women in business. My greatest struggles have been when I have come up against men that are challenged by me and want to hold me back, so they don’t have to showcase their shortcomings.” 

Cohn also shared solutions that would change the face of the sector and create more female leaders. 

“There are really two things that can be done: one is to promote more women, and the other is to work harder to recruit more women into the industry,” she says. 

 

Obstacles conquered by 2023’s Elite Women

in their mortgage careers 

MPA asked all nominees, “What’s the most difficult thing about being a woman in the mortgage industry?” 

 A selection of the responses was: 

  • “Women like to cut other women down, thinking this helps them succeed.”

  • “Managing work-family balance.” 

  • “The Boys’ Club.” 

 

 

“Women naturally downplay their achievements because that’s often what we’re told to do. That mentality needs to go out the window”

Erica LaCentraRCN Capital 

 

The Elite Women of 2023 have endured their own challenging situations where their gender has unfairly worked against them. 

Caprioli openly reveals her own struggles. 

She says, “As a woman, I have faced hurdles with unequal pay, scheduling demands and inadequate communication.” 

Caprioli recounts her strategies for overcoming these issues: 

  • open, honest and direct communication 

  • being logical and factual 

  • increasing knowledge

“The key to growth is expanding your knowledge base and having a supported basis for advancement,” says Caprioli, who actively participates in her firm’s mentorship program. 

LaCentra recounts facing discrimination, harassment and being discounted. 

She says, “There are going to be those people, typically men, who think women don’t know as well as they do, and one of the things that has allowed me to overcome it is just proving these people wrong and working hard. 

“Sometimes that means working twice, three times or five times as hard as one of my male counterparts to get to where I need to be.” 

 

  • Abby Polin

    Senior Vice President of Residential Lending

    Draper and Kramer Mortgage
  • Alicia Brisbane

    National Business Development Director

    Stronghill Capital
  • Allycyn Bennett

    Loan Manager

    Sandstone Financial
  • Anne Nauts

    Managing Partner and Senior Loan Officer

    Arbor One Mortgage Group
  • Annmarie Edwards

    Founder and Chief Executive Officer

    AVE Mortgage
  • Ashley Wood

    Vice President, Mortgage Verification Services

    Equifax
  • Candice McNaught

    Senior Vice President of National Sales

    Supreme Lending
  • Coco Ke

    Treasurer

    Toorak Capital Partners
  • Corrina Carter

    Owner and Chief Executive Officer

    CMS Mortgage Solutions
  • Dawn Van Nieuwenhuyzen

    Senior Mortgage Banker

    Plains Commerce Bank
  • Deborah Robertson

    Director of Sales

    PowerHouse Solutions
  • Denise Panza

    Senior Mortgage Banker

    Total Mortgage
  • Heather Devoto

    Vice President and Branch Manager

    First Home Mortgage
  • Helda Saad

    Assistant Vice President, Executive Project Manager, and Director of Mortgage Lending Operations

    First Independence Bank
  • Jackie Studdert

    Chief Operating Officer

    Polly
  • Jamie Veight

    Senior Vice President, Operations

    Xactus
  • Jane Mason

    Founder and Chief Executive Officer

    Clarifire
  • Jane Floyd

    Loan Originator and SE Regional Manager

    NFM Lending
  • Jennifer Vallinayagam

    Chief Operating Officer

    Sun West Mortgage
  • Katie Sweeney

    Chief Executive Officer

    AIME
  • Kim Krick

    Vice President, Eastern Region Wholesale Division

    Freedom Mortgage
  • Laird Nossuli

    Chief Executive Officer

    iEmergent
  • Lana Izgarsheva

    Chief Operating Officer

    A&D Mortgage
  • Laura Brandao

    Chief Growth Officer and Partner

    EPM
  • Leah Goldmintz

    Senior Vice President, Capital Markets

    CoreVest Finance
  • Leah Sommerville

    Senior Account Executive

    DocMagic
  • Lesley Alli

    Chief Investor and Industry Relations Officer

    Homepoint
  • Linda Davidson

    Branch Manager and Senior Loan Officer

    Fairway Independent Mortgage
  • Lori Lewis

    Branch Manager

    CrossCountry Mortgage
  • Luisa Bedoya

    Vice President and Senior Mortgage Planner

    MSA Mortgage
  • Maria Moskver

    Chief Executive Officer

    Cloudvirga
  • Martha-Rosalind Stainton

    Co-Founder and Partner

    Potomac Point Group
  • Megan Marsh

    Co-Founder and Loan Originator

    Co/LAB Lending
  • Melinda Wilner

    Chief Operating Officer

    United Wholesale Mortgage
  • Melissa Wright

    Chief Sales Marketing Officer

    American Pacific Mortgage
  • Melissa Cohn

    Regional Vice President and Vice President, Mortgage Banker

    William Raveis Real Estate, Mortgage & Insurance
  • Natasha Robinson

    Vice President of Renovation Lending

    Guaranteed Rate Affinity
  • Patty Arvielo

    Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer

    New American Funding
  • Serene Vernon

    President and Shareholder

    LoanStream Mortgage
  • Shana Jones

    Vice President

    The Federal Savings Bank
  • Shannon Johnson

    Program Manager/Business Architect

    Tavant
  • Stacey Maisano

    Director of Business Development

    Polunsky Beitel Green
  • Stacy Caprioli

    Chief Appraiser

    Nationwide Appraisal Network
  • Tawn Kelley

    President

    Taylor Morrison
  • Tiffany Searcy Wright

    Vice President/Mortgage Banker

    Regions Bank
  • Valerie Saunders

    President-Elect

    National Association of Mortgage Brokers

Mortgage Professional America invited industry professionals from across the country to nominate exceptional female leaders for the seventh annual Elite Women list. Nominees had to be working in a role that related to, interacted with, or in some way impacted the industry and should have demonstrated a clear passion for their work. 

Nominators were asked to describe the nominee’s standout professional achievements over the past 12 months, initiatives and innovations, and contributions to the mortgage industry. 

After a thorough review of all the nominations, the MPA team narrowed down the list to the final 50 Elite Women who have made their mark in the industry. 

[ad_2]

Source link