TheMReport — News and strategies for the evolving mortgage marketplace.
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34 | TH E M R EP O RT TOP 25 INDUSTRY LEADERS & INFLUENCERS Special Section Jeffrey Bode CEO, MID AMERICA MORTGAGE YEARS IN INDUSTRY: 37 A s a leader, Jeffrey Bode seeks to empower those around him and help them to grow as leaders themselves. He works to hire the smartest, most capable talent available and provide them with the tools and support they need in order to succeed. While Bode got his start in mortgage banking, he could perhaps best be described as a serial entre- preneur, having established a successful tax lien business after selling the first iteration of Mid America Mortgage back in 2003. Bode acquired Schmidt Mortgage Company in 2010 and relaunched Mid America shortly there- after. Bode spearheaded the firm's conversion to eMortgages across its retail, wholesale, and correspondent channels—a mortgage indus- try first. In addition, Bode helped build the industry's largest Section 184 lender, 1st Tribal Lending, and has provided much-needed market liquidity through Mid America's Whole Loan Trading division, which special- izes in purchasing hard-to-sell loan products such as scratch-and-dent, delinquent govern- ment loans, and orphaned VA loans, among others. Bode tries never to let his ego get in the way of progress, even if this means hear- ing and receiving constructive criticism. A firm believer that "honesty is the best policy," Bode prefers an open and direct approach to providing direction to struggling employees and is willing to have the tough conversa- tions with employees to help them course- correct and flourish. To mentor the next generation, Bode invites a group of talented young employees to lunch on a monthly basis to share his vision for the company and to seek a more youthful perspective. Ray Brousseau PRESIDENT, CARRINGTON MORTGAGE SERVICES YEARS IN INDUSTRY: 30 L everaging his extensive background of 30-plus years spent dealing with several facets of mortgage lending, Ray Brousseau built the lending platform at Carrington Mortgage Services from the ground level up—growing the team from 500 associates to more than 2,000 team members. Prior to his current role, Brousseau served as EVP of Mortgage Lending Division at Carrington. Brousseau specializes in leading diverse and geographically dispersed teams and developing strategic business plans to ad- dress market changes. Brousseau is a thought leader and a published author in many lead- ing industry publications. Among his peers at Carrington, Brousseau is considered a master communicator and a hands-on visionary who actively promotes a positive and dynamic cul- ture. Innovation, collaboration, and excellent customer service are at the heart of his lead- ership style that sets a clear vision to all in the company. As a leader who has the busi- ness' best interest in mind, Brousseau actively encourages feedback or criticism that brings about positive change and forward progress. Brousseau embraces the FISH Philosophy based on the world-famous Seattle fish market, which is a technique to make happy individuals alert and active in the workplace. Its central ideas are: choose your attitude; play; make someone's day; and be there. "At CMS, we're committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment," Brousseau said. "Our associates have backgrounds and experiences as diverse as the many customers we serve." He is a champion of Carrington's leaderSHIFT, a nine-month leadership pro- gram for top performers in the company. Charmaine Brown DIRECTOR, EXTERNAL OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT, OFFICE OF MINORITY AND WOMEN INCLUSION, FANNIE MAE YEARS IN INDUSTRY: 23 N amed a Five Star Conference Keystone Award Winner in 2018, Diversity Journal's Woman-Worth Watching in 2018, and a "Lead- ing Lady in Housing" by MReport in 2016, Charmaine Brown is recognized as a diver- sity and inclusion innovator and advocate instrumental in growing awareness of the significance of inclusive leadership to the bot- tom line. At Fannie Mae, she is responsible for diversity and inclusion outreach strategies both internally and externally. Brown holds a master's degree from Johns Hopkins Univer- sity and completed the Diversity Management Program at Cornell's ILR School, as well as the Harvard Kennedy School for Executive Education, Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Program. Brown serves as the Vice-Chair of the American Mortgage Diversity Council and sits on the Housing Advisory Board of HomeFree USA. She is also the recipient of the Council for Inclusion in Financial Services' Prism Award and the National Urban League's McGannon award for stewardship in promot- ing diversity and inclusion. "Over my career, I have served as a trusted resource, collaborat- ing with executives who are committed to driving diverse and inclusive cultures in their organizations. Focused on creating increased value for the workforce, workplace, and marketplace, I have been at the forefront of the D&I efforts on behalf of Fannie Mae, a leading source of financing for mortgage lenders in America and one of the most diverse compa- nies in the financial services industry," Brown shared. Brown's core competencies include development and execution of impactful diver- sity and inclusion strategies; thought leadership and relationship cultivation; executive coaching and employee engagement; and business needs identification and assessment.