TheMReport — News and strategies for the evolving mortgage marketplace.
Issue link: http://digital.themreport.com/i/1503450
July 2023 » thefivestar.com 15 July 2023 M O V E R S & S H A K E R S Jeff Walsh. This action is expected to further integrate the company's digital products and unify its customer offerings. As a result of this organizational change, LDI Digital Pres- ident Zeenat Sidi will be transitioning out of the organization. PHIL SHOEMAKER ASSUMES ROLE OF THE LOAN STORE'S CEO The Loan Store, Inc. has named Phil Shoemaker to the role of CEO. Shoemaker was named incoming CEO on April 7 when it was announced that The Loan Store had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire certain assets of Homepoint's wholesale originations channel. Mark Lefanowicz, who has served as The Loan Store's president and CEO since 2019, will continue as Chairman of the Board. Shoemaker is a 26-year veteran of the mortgage industry, and joins The Loan Store after most recently serving as President of Originations at Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Homepoint for the past five years. There, he successfully guided Homepoint from a start- up into a top-10 nonbank mortgage lender and the nation's third-largest wholesale mort- gage lender for four consecutive years. "Phil Shoemaker is a proven builder, and we are thrilled to have him leading The Loan Store into its next chapter," Lefanowicz said. "Phil has consistently been one of the foremost voices in promoting and expanding the wholesale channel, and he has an out- standing track record of developing compa- nies from new entrants in wholesale lending into well-known, perennial top performers. His vision and leadership will help drive sustainable growth for The Loan Store and wholesale mortgage lending overall." Previously, Shoemaker was a founding executive at Caliber Home Loans, an orga- nization he helped scale into one of the top wholesale lenders in the nation. "Leading the team at The Loan Store is a dream opportunity for me, and I'm excited to work with so many talented people who are passionate about making a positive impact in mortgage lending," Shoemaker said. "We're in expansion mode and focused on enhanc- ing our platform to make The Loan Store a sustainable and reliable option for wholesale loan originators." Shoemaker taking on leadership of The Loan Store following the Homepoint acquisi- tion signals a significant growth point for the young company, which was founded in 2019. At the time of the acquisition, The Loan Store enhanced its partner services by onboarding approximately 100 of Homepoint's top-per- forming sales and operations personnel. The company also expects to expand its state licensing footprint to nearly all 50 states and roll out several unique product offerings within the next few months. "The wholesale channel benefits from having multiple lenders that loan originators can consistently rely on," Shoemaker said. "Our goal at The Loan Store is to combine a best-in-class sales and operations team with an easy-to-use process, competitive rates, and a unique product mix so that we're a top choice for wholesale loan originators looking to win clients and real estate agents." LAMONT WATSON NAMED GUILD MORTGAGE'S VP OF DIVERSE TALENT DEVELOPMENT Guild Mortgage, an independent mortgage lender and member of the American Mortgage Diversity Council (AMDC), a subsidiary of Mort- gagePoint's parent company Five Star Global, has announced the appointment of Lamont Watson as the company's first VP of Diverse Talent Development. In this new role, Watson will spearhead Guild's initiatives to recruit, develop, and empower a diverse workforce, while fostering an inclusive environment where Guild employees feel valued and supported. Watson brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new position, having spent the past 11 years with Guild Mortgage, serving clients in South Carolina, managing "Our goal at The Loan Store is to combine a best-in-class sales and operations team with an easy-to-use process, competitive rates, and a unique product mix so that we're a top choice for wholesale loan originators looking to win clients and real estate agents." — Phil Shoemaker, CEO, The Loan Store, Inc.