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Women Leaders Recognized at the Five Star Conference

On Tuesday, at the 2018 Women in Housing Awards Banquet, Five Star recognized five women who have made a mark on the industry through The Keystones. The banquet also featured a keynote address by Mrs. Laura Bush, First Lady of the United States (2000-2009).

In his opening address at the banquet, Ed Delgado, President and CEO, Five Star Institute said that the inaugural Keystone awards celebrated the leadership of the women in the industry. “Our business is complemented by women who exemplify characteristics that strengthen and support the industry through their leadership,” Delgado said.

Earlier this year, the industry was invited to submit nominations for the inaugural Keystones. Twenty-five finalists were then selected by a committee of industry veterans who narrowed the field to five candidates within each category.

The Rising Business Leader Award recognized young women leaders who, while still early in their careers, have demonstrated an outstanding capability to lead and drive progress. Finalists included Jennifer Bross, AVP, Client Relations, ServiceLink; Jennifer Carroll Senior Foreclosure Specialist, Fay Servicing; Cara Hardy VP, Loss Mitigation and Bankruptcy, Statebridge Company; and Elizabeth Kameen Project Manager, Fannie Mae. Courtney Thompson, Director, Default Oversight and Operations, Flagstar Bank, received the Keystone in this category.

Joining Flagstar in 2015, was a turning point in her life and was “the best gift that I never asked for,” Thompson said while accepting the award. “Thank you for this honor and I look forward to working with many of you in the future.”

Charmaine Brown, Diversity Director, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Fannie Mae, took home the Cultural Leader Award. This award recognizes industry leaders who have successfully fostered forward-thinking company cultures and workplaces through corporate strategies and initiatives that have led to tangible, positive outcomes for colleagues company-wide and beyond. Finalists included Jan Duke COO, a360 Firm Solutions, Riham El-Lakany VP and CMO, Freddie Mac; Yvette Gilmore VP, Single-Family Servicer Performance, Freddie Mac; and Ann Thorn EVP, Mortgage and Vehicle Servicing, Bank of America.

Accepting the award on her behalf, Bill Fahey, VP, Office of Minority and Women Inclusion, Fannie Mae said that Fannie Mae as an organization was very fortunate to have Brown on their team.

As one who has displayed tremendous leadership and cooperation in local communities, Miriam Moore, Division President, ServiceLink received the Keystone for Community Leadership. Finalists in this category included Timika Cole SVP, U.S. Bank Home Mortgage; Dr. Lynn Fisher Resident Scholar and Co-Director of the Center on Housing Markets and Finance, American Enterprise Institute; Cheryl Travis-Johnson COO, VRM Mortgage Services; and Rullah Price SVP, Community Outreach Director, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. This award includes all commendable community achievements by those in the non-profit, government, small business, and corporate sectors.

“I couldn’t have made it 30 years in this business without the support of such tremendous people behind me and such a tremendous team,” Moore said. “I want to thank everyone I worked with along the way. I appreciate this award.”

This year’s Keystone recipient of the Diversity and Inclusion Award was Susan Somersille Johnson, CMO, SunTrust. All finalists for this award have successfully broken barriers and helped lead the charge in developing diverse workplace cultures by fostering inclusive and welcoming environments for people of every color, creed, and gender to prosper and achieve over adversity. The finalists included Mary Mbiya Director, Diversity & Inclusion, Flagstar Bank; Lola Oyewole Director, Human Resources and Chief Diversity Officer, Ocwen Financial Corporation; Trina Scott VP, Diversity & Inclusion, Quicken Loans; and Karyn Twaronite Partner, EY Global Diversity & Inclusiveness Officer.

Introducing the Laurie A. Maggiano Legacy Award, Delgado said that this was a special award that allowed the industry to carry on the legacy of the Late Laurie A. Maggiano and what she stood for. Maggiano who was the Servicing and Secondary Markets Program Manager at the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection passed away earlier this year.

Marcia Davies, COO, Mortgage Bankers Association, received the Laurie A. Maggiano Legacy Award, which was named in honor of the late industry icon whose distinguished career left an indelible impact on housing. The Laurie A. Maggiano Legacy Award recognizes women, who have powerfully influenced the industry and homeownership nationwide. In addition to Davies, finalists for this award included Dana Dillard, EVP, Corporate Social Responsibility, Mr. Cooper; Jocelyn Martin-Leano President, Servicing Division, Rushmore Loan Management Services; Sharron P.A. Levine Director, Office of Minority and Women Inclusion, Federal Housing Finance Agency; and Caroline Reaves CEO, Mortgage Contracting Services.

Thanking the Five Star Institute for the program and for recognizing women of the industry, Davies said that it was an honor to be chosen for this award. “It is a privilege to be given an award in Laurie’s name,” Davies said. Speaking to Maggiano’s sons Chase and Grey Maggiano, who were present on this occasion and had earlier asked the industry to lift the legacy their mother had left behind, Davies said that she had had the privilege of working with their mother and that she had done some great work. “She served the families and communities our industry touches in different ways,” she said.

After the awards were announced, Mrs. Laura Bush spoke to the gathering in a keynote address that not only congratulated the recipients, finalists, and nominees, but also touched upon important topics such as women’s education, healthcare, and safe and healthy childhoods for children across the world. She said that the good future for the world depended on good education for both women and children and that helping underprivileged children was one of the greatest challenges of our time.

The Women in Housing Awards were indeed a fitting close to an event that saw some of the biggest names in the housing and mortgage industries attending and speaking during various sessions.

About Author: Seth Welborn

Seth Welborn is a Harding University graduate with a degree in English and a minor in writing. He is a contributing writer for MReport. An East Texas Native, he has studied abroad in Athens, Greece and works part-time as a photographer.
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