TheMReport — News and strategies for the evolving mortgage marketplace.
Issue link: http://digital.themreport.com/i/1367362
14 | M R EP O RT MCROWD improvements to how mortgages are processed and underwritten. I'm ex- cited to be building this company and contributing to our future success." "Having Rob on-board will be key to our efforts to transform the lending process and deliver cutting-edge technology solutions that improve the experience for everyone involved," said Alan Tifford, Head of Experience Design Strategy for RealKey. "We are on the threshold of huge growth as we build the RealKey brand and deliver best-in-class products and experi- ences to our customers, and Rob's contributions to our efforts will be invaluable." RICK WEBSTER Top of Mind Networks (Top of Mind), a leader in customer relation- ship management (CRM) and marketing automation software for the mortgage lending industry, announced it has added mortgage and marketing expert Rick Webster as VP of Client Strategy. In this role, Webster will serve as the firm's client-facing liaison, leveraging martech best practices, out-of-the-box automation, and digital marketing expertise to ensure Surefire CRM users achieve their goals. As the leader of Top of Mind's Blueprints for Success initiative, Webster will collaborate with the firm's sales and account management teams to help users maximize Surefire CRM capabilities. In addition to iden- tifying and driving Top of Mind best practices, Webster will leverage both his fintech experience at MonitorBase and considerable insider knowledge of marketing and funnel strategies to guide mortgage lender success. "Rick Webster's rare combination of marketing, technology and mortgage business experience make him an ex- ceptionally valuable evangelist for the Surefire CRM platform and a proven resource for helping mortgage lenders realize topflight marketing outcomes," Top of Mind CEO Bill Hayes said. "With his expertise in mortgage marketing and successful background in digital advertising, Rick will be a strategic asset to advancing our clients' market- ing objectives." In addition to Webster's previ- ous role as Chief Revenue Officer of MonitorBase, a SaaS B2B fintech platform utilizing AI and big data to enhance predictability, marketing, and customer retention for banks, realtors, and mortgage lenders, his career achievements span the mortgage, marketing, and technology industries, including serving as Vice President at Doorway Home Loans and mortgage- related roles at Merrill Lynch and E*TRADE. Most recently, Webster was at the helm of PierBase as an advisor to early-stage SaaS startups providing revenue-generating growth strategies. He is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and events. "I'm extremely honored to join the team at Top of Mind," Webster said. "I look forward to evangelizing the power of the Surefire platform and helping our clients drive deeper out- comes using our technology." INDUSTRY GROUPS FRANK FUENTES TAI CHRISTENSEN KISHA PARKER Three mortgage industry professionals have joined the American Mortgage Diversity Council's (AMDC) advisory board. Founded and operated by Five Star Global, the AMDC promotes diversity and inclusion throughout the mortgage industry by providing a platform for the collaboration of industry leaders aiming to advance diversity- and inclusion-focused dialogue. New advisory board members include council members Tai Christensen, Chief Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion Officer, CBC Mortgage Agency; Kisha Parker, EVP, Corporate Sustainability, PennyMac; and Frank Fuentes, National VP, Multinational Community Lending, New American Funding, who will serve as the AMDC's Vice Chairperson. Incoming members join the exist- ing AMDC board, composed of Chair Lola Oyewole, VP Human Resources and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Ocwen Financial Corporation; April Alexander, National Community Development & Outreach Manager, Prosperity Home Mortgage; Michael Ruiz, Director of Supplier Diversity, Fannie Mae; and Joe Velazquez, SVP Neighborhood Lending, Bank of America. Christensen has served since 2019 as Director of Governmental Affairs at CBC Mortgage Agency (CBCMA), a national housing finance agency that provides down payment assistance. She has spent those years working to increase homeownership in the Black community, because she does not want her own story of success to be an anomaly. "I want it to be the norm for our communities of color," she said. CBCMA, in March, appointed Christensen its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Officer for 2021. CBCMA's leadership says the company's DEI committee, with Christensen at the helm, will leverage its resources to promote a culture of inclusion for all employees and busi- ness partners, regardless of racial, ethnic and gender identity. As the leader of the PennyMac's Corporate Sustainability Program, Parker is responsible for the develop- ment and evolution of PennyMac's corporate sustainability program framework and governance routines that drive enterprise focus on the environmental, social—including diversity and inclusion—and gover- nance impact of conducting business operations. Incoming Chair Fuentes joined New American Funding almost 20 years ago. He was hired by President Patty Arvielo and CEO Rick Arvielo in order to help launch the com- pany's inside call center, specializing in serving the needs to the Hispanic market—his dedication to serving this market quickly earned him a ranking as the #1 Loan Officer in the com- pany. Fuentes was the first Latino and bilingual loan officer hired at New American Funding. With 20 years' experience in the mortgage industry, he has shared his expertise personally assist thousands of Hispanic families with responsible and affordable home loans and refinances. AMDC Director Eileen Kornmeyer says she is proud to welcome new members and those taking on more responsibility and that thanks also are in order for outgoing members. "I am very pleased to welcome Tai Christensen, Frank Fuentes, and Kisha Parker to the AMDC Advisory Council. They join a strong group of industry professionals who are dedi- cated to advancing the conversation on diversity, equality, and inclu- sion," Kornmeyer said. "The AMDC Advisory Board has done outstand- ing work on white papers and webi- nars on timely industry topics. I look forward to the energy, passion, and contributions of our new members in moving our mission forward." Know someone moving up in the industry? Email us at Editor@theMReport.com.