TheMReport

December 2016 - Getting Serious About Diversity

TheMReport — News and strategies for the evolving mortgage marketplace.

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TH E M R EP O RT | 19 COVER STORY accident or through natural progression, however. It takes effort from those in the industry—a combination of a general change in attitude combined with experience and exposure, Caldwell said. "As more people work in global companies and around dif - ferent types of people, the more comfortable people get in those settings," Caldwell said. "I think it's a virtuous circle, if you will. Experience, if it's good experience, begets change, which then creates more people with experience and more change." It Starts at the Top L ike any change in attitude, culture, or way of thinking at large organizations, diversity and inclusion at Ocwen start with the company's leadership and trickle down. Ocwen's eight-member Board of Directors includes two women, two African-Americans, and one member who has worked largely outside the United States and has dual citizenship. Caldwell was chosen to be a member of the company's Board of Directors in January 2015 because of her extensive experience in the housing and financial services industries both in the private sector and in government. She was elected Chair of the Board in March 2016. A month earlier, former Federal Housing Administration Commissioner Carol Galante was named to Ocwen's Board of Directors. The members of Ocwen's Board come from a variety of professional backgrounds— from business consulting, to housing, to government, to banking, and even the clergy. "I think we're a racially, ethnically, and internationally diverse Board," Caldwell said. "Plus we bring diverse experiences. I think it's important to think of Ocwen as diverse all the way from the top of the house at the Board of Directors through the workforce onto the clients which we serve." The diversity of Ocwen's customer base— the 1.4 million mortgage loans in the United States that Ocwen services—include customers from all walks of life, all demographics, and all types of profiles. "Because the customer base is diverse, diversity in our own workforce is a business imperative," Caldwell said. "We have a work - force that is about 42 percent people of color. It's a global diverse force because of our huge offshore presence in India, plus the diversity of teammates across the United States. Diversity and inclusion are not only a core value of the company, but are also just a critical way in which we do business." The industry will never reach a point of perfection as far as diversity and inclusion, Caldwell pointed out; the need for diver - sity and inclusion initiatives is perpetual. The challenge of making the industry more diverse and inclusive will always be there. In other words, the fire will always burn. And as long as it does, Phyllis Caldwell will accept the challenge and run toward that fire. BRIAN HONEA'S writing and editing career spans nearly two decades across many forms of media. He served as sports editor for two suburban newspaper chains in the DFW area and has freelanced for such publications as the Yahoo! Contributor Network, Dallas Home Improvement magazine, and the Dallas Morning News. He has written four non-fiction sports books, the latest of which, The Life of Coach Chuck Curtis, was published by the TCU Press. A lifelong Texan, Honea received his master's degree from Amberton University in Garland. Two Brands, One Solution { { We cover the territory. Futura Title & Escrow Corp.'s brands offer a single point of contact for all of your title and escrow transactions. Regionally focused, our footprint consists of 69 convenient branch locations serving 58 counties throughout Idaho and Oregon, and parts of Montana, Washington and Wyoming. While we are one of the largest title and escrow groups in the Northwest, you'll find that our local emphasis is reflected in our market expertise. Committed to maintaining compliance with the American Land Title Association's (ALTA) Title Insurance and Settlement Company Best Practices, our brands are distinguished as the trusted settlement service providers in the region. When your transactions cover more than one county, Futura Title & Escrow Corp. is your regional title and escrow solution. orders@futuratitle.com www.alliancetitle.com www.amerititle.com www.futuratitle.com Jenny Martin Senior VP & Corporate Business Development Director 208.955.9681 office 208.891.0481 cell jenny.martin@futuratitle.com "We've figured out that not only do you need to have a diverse employee base that reflects the customers in which you serve, but you need a culture of inclusion to allow those voices to be heard."

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