TheMReport — News and strategies for the evolving mortgage marketplace.
Issue link: http://digital.themreport.com/i/868742
48 | TH E M R EP O RT Leading Ladies Linda Erkkila GENERAL COUNSEL AND EVP, SAFEGUARD Linda Erkkila is the General Counsel and EVP of Human Resources at Safeguard. She oversees regulatory issues, risk mitigation, human capital, train- ing, and litigation and claims management, and provides counsel related to mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures. As a key member of the execu- tive team at Safeguard, Erkkila has made an impact as a stra- tegic leader in both the Legal and Human Resources depart- ments. She also has influenced the mortgage servicing industry via partnerships with government regulators and by offering her expertise through articles and conference panels. As a strategic executive, Erkkila identifies operational issues that could invite regulatory challenges and potential weak- nesses in procedures. She cre- ated a committee to respond to technological needs relating to consumer complaint reporting and has met with govern- ment regulators to educate them about the industry and Safeguard's focus on improv- ing quality. Erkkila recently added the Human Resources and Training departments to her oversight responsibilities. In this new role, she works closely with senior management to assist with implementing key human capital and training initiatives. Robin Gordon CHIEF DATA OFFICER, CORELOGIC As Chief Data Officer at CoreLogic, Robin Gordon is responsible for the acquisition and transformation of 10,000 data sources, which provides the content needed to power the company's product suite. She also leads a team of 400 professionals to deliver a multi- year enterprise data strategy that fuels the company with fast, reliable content that feeds the digital underwriting solutions. Gordon has focused on building a corporate culture of "One CoreLogic" and as CDO, she has successfully set the stage, inspiring a data- driven culture that promotes innovation and transformation throughout the company. Under her leadership, her group is now embracing the value of data by using it to tell a story. Gordon serves as a key sponsor of the CoreLogic Women in Leadership Forum and proponent of advancing the development of high-performing women into impactful and influential leadership roles. As a mentor, Gordon cultivates young female professionals through sponsorship and advocacy. She instills confidence and works hands-on with mentees, helping them plan a roadmap for a successful career. Casey B. Hicks MANAGING ATTORNEY, WELTMAN, WEINBERG & REIS CO., LPA, CHICAGO OFFICE In all of the firm's 87-year history, Casey B. Hicks is just the second woman named as managing attorney for one of its offices; she's also a junior shareholder. Actively participating in the housing and mortgage industry for upwards of 10 years, Hicks is well versed in even the subtlest nuances of the business. "Her integrity, professionalism, and consistently positive attitude earn her the trust of everyone she interacts with," a fellow employee said. "She is also exceedingly innovative. … Casey epitomizes a Woman of MPact. She has made noteworthy contributions to the success of our firm and its clients." Whether she's pouring over contracts at work or running errands on the weekend, Hicks "sets an example for young female professionals both in the workplace and in her community, where she serves as a mentor to young women, encouraging them to pursue a healthy lifestyle, have a positive self-image, and seek educational opportunities." Cheryl King VP STRATEGY AND INNOVATIONS, INVITATION HOMES Always ready, willing, and extremely able to face new professional challenges head- on, Cheryl King didn't back down when her company put her at the forefront of a fledgling program. "Cheryl has an entrepreneurial spirit and cannot only conceive of exciting new ideas, but she can also carry them through to successful execution," said Dallas Tanner, Founder, EVP, and CIO of Invitation Homes. In the fall of 2015, King took a prominent seat on CEO John Bartling's internal think tank, where she pinpointed an opportunity for the company to sell some of its properties to residents. She then worked with Bartling, other members of the executive team, and Tanner to create the Resident First Look program. The fact King leads the charge on high-profile national projects, Tanner noted, has "raised the visibility of women within the organization and led to informal mentorship opportunities for Cheryl with female rising stars and summer interns." Karen Lanning VP HUMAN RESOURCES, FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORP. Karen Lanning is quite literally a people person. Spearheading the HR leadership post at First American Financial, Lanning helps shapes the company culture and employee experience. And that's a significant undertaking, given that First American comprises dozens of business units distributed across more than 700 offices. "Karen plays an integral role in in supporting and fostering First American's 'people-first' culture," a peer said. "Her ability to advance initiatives designed to increase employee engagement and enhance our talent-planning process have given our organization an edge in our ability to deploy capital and broaden our services." Seemingly armed with a sixth sense at understanding customers' needs, Lanning helps employees meet those needs and, consequently, grow their value to the organization. Lanning also was an architect of the company's Women in Leadership program devised to cultivate female leaders. And Lanning has a large talent pool from which to draw: 70 percent of First American's workforce is women.