I landed in the mortgage industry purely by accident.  I had moved from a small village in the Finger Lakes region of New York to Northern Virginia after graduating from Syracuse University hoping to get a job with the federal government.  A close friend who had started working as a shipper for a mortgage lender encouraged me to come in for an interview.  Although I had no experience, I was hired and started the next day.  The shipping position led to working in other facets of mortgage lending including processing, origination, wholesale sales and mortgage insurance.

From the start I loved everything about the mortgage industry.  It's a business where you develop very strong relationships with people you work with.  It's also an exciting business with very little staying static.

Karyn Wilson who was President of the MBA M/W in 2001 was instrumental in getting me on the Board for my first two year stint on the Board of Governors.  Once on the Board and after, I chaired and served on several committees.

Larry Grist the President of the MBA/MW in 2007 approached me about making the commitment to get on “the ladder” of the Exec Board.  The ladder was a five year engagement culminating as President in the fourth year and Chairman of the Board in the fifth year.

I enjoyed my time on the Exec Board immensely.  I was so fortunate to be asked.  It was an opportunity for me to give back to the industry I loved and to get to know and work with so many incredible mortgage professionals.