Mortgage Manager Playbook

Brian Vieaux, President & COO, FinLocker. Highlights include: point of thought matters; hybrid sales model; trusted financial educator; customer centric stories and franchise with no rules. Brian has been in the industry for over 30 years.

Michael Cush, Owner, Mortgage Startup Consulting . Highlights include: mortgage industry resists change—and it’s dangerous; AI and outside forces are disrupting the status quo; industry still doesn’t prioritize customer experience; executives are not preparing for the future and bold, not incremental, change is needed. Mike is a 25 year mortgage veteran.

Jeff Scheuren, EVP, President, COO at Fulton Mortgage. Highlights include: volatility is unprecedented and driven by emotion, not fundamentals; hedging must be hyper-responsive and continually reassessed; communication and tools are vital for loan officer confidence; profitability relies on cost control and technology investment and first-time buyers and new construction are driving activity. Jeff...

Rob Robertson, Author . Highlights include: your pain can become your purpose; don’t freeze in the face of life’s hits; support systems matter; the NFL taught him more than football and plug into others when your battery is low. Rob has been in the mortgage industry for over 20 years and is currently with First Citizens Bank.

Connor Bartley, Content Creator and Podcast Host, The LO Down. Highlights include: build by design, not by default; internal alignment and realism are crucial; prioritize quality over quantity; leverage technology and community and recruit through relationship, not just offers. Connor has over 20 years in production and recruiting.

Michael Moorhouse, CEO & Founder, Moorhouse Group. Highlights include: three types of distinct leader groups; sales staff disconnect; failure to recognize “true state”; renting loan officers and retention-proof your staff. Michael is a seasoned executive with over 30 years of experience in business management, leadership, and strategic planning.

Michael Kelleher, Founder, Adopt the Brand and Co-Founder, Easy Mortgage Apps . Highlights include: closed-loop digital mortgage model; loan officers must go digital; Zillow’s “Super App” is a game-changer; data-driven prospecting and mortgage calculator experience. Michael has over 15 years’ experience in the mortgage industry.

Kirk Redding, Co-Founder, President, Promise Home Loans. Highlights include: broker model growth; industry challenges; success factors in the broker model; changing realtor perceptions and the need for strong support system. Kirk has thirty plus years of mortgage banking, brokering and marketing experience.

Kirk Redding, Co-Founder, President, Promise Home Loans. Highlights include: broker model growth; industry challenges; success factors in the broker model; changing realtor perceptions and the need for strong support system. Kirk has thirty plus years of mortgage banking, brokering and marketing experience.

Ralph Armenta, SVP, Incenter Lending Services . Highlights include: growth of private label mortgage securities; shifting trends in mortgage banking; opportunities in Residential Transition Loans (RTL); focus on high volume areas and the four R’s of successful lending strategies. Ralph has spent over 20 years in the mortgage business.

Jeff Schummer, CEO, Financial Independence. Highlights include: the importance of understanding the business situation; right people and change coalition matter; vision and communication drive change success; trust is essential and leaders must stay connected to the front lines. Jeff has over 30 years’ experience. This is Part 2 of a two part series.

Jeff Schummer, CEO, Financial Independence. Highlights include: four managing challenges in 2025; falsehood of training as an expense; need for structured learning process; five key leadership mistakes and culture of continuous learning. Jeff has over 30 years’ experience. This is Part 1 of a two part series.

Chuck Sanders, CEO and Founder at Diverse Mortgage Services . Highlights include: restore the personal touch; minority markets untapped; grass roots engagement opportunity; technology a competitive edge and “Jaime Dimon’s stand”. Chuck has over 20 years’ experience in the mortgage business.

Rick Roque, VP, Growth at NFM Lending . Highlights include: expansion and discipline; small pool of recruitable LOs; automation and lower costs; super brokers and specialized call centers. Rick has experience as a mortgage broker, entrepreneur and a national leader in growth strategies.

Scott Moriarty, Principle Partner, Mountain View Advisors . Highlights include: proactive technology change management is essential; need to leverage existing systems effectively; focus on data-driven decision-making; leadership empowerment and employee dedicated change management team. Scott has over 25 years of experience in the mortgage and financial services industries.

Eric Mitchell, Author and Chief Revenue Officer, Client Direct Mortgage . Highlights include: five key drivers of the 1% in sales; your personal profound experience; true mentorship; restructuring of sales roles and reluctance to change. Eric has over 25 years’ experience in the mortgage industry.

Erica Acie, Head of Originations, Truist . Highlights include: prioritizing the client experience as a foundational KPI; become valued financial advisors; core competencies for sales success; robust on-boarding process and embracing technology. Erica has been in the mortgage industry for over 30 years.

Ruth Stephenson, Area Manager, Guild Mortgage. Highlights include: “power hour” approach emphasizing peer accountability; fostering confidence to overcome call reluctance; quantitative feedback and group discussions and commitment and incentives drive increased lead generation. Ruth has been in the mortgage industry for over 20 years.

Jen Poniatowski, Consultant, Center for Practical Management. Highlights include: tailored goal-setting improves performance; activity goals are key to success; training is crucial and often overlooked; managers need development and cultural investment encourages retention. Jen has been in the mortgage industry for over 15 years.

Jen Poniatowski, Consultant, Center for Practical Management. Highlights include: tailored goal-setting improves performance; activity goals are key to success; training is crucial and often overlooked; managers need development and cultural investment encourages retention. Jen has been in the mortgage industry for over 15 years.

Chris Blevins, National Sales Director . Highlights include: difficulty of managing remotely; less is more; start with center of influence; fund the leader and managing the right way. Chris has been in the industry for over 30 years.

Phil Reichers, SVP, National Sales Manager, ServiceLink . Highlights include: tech stack efficiency; serving your staff; feedback is a gift and adding value with each conversation. Phil is an experienced mortgage and technology executive with over 20 years in the industry.

Katherine Gardner, SVP, Open Mortgage Wholesale. Highlights include: size doesn’t matter; three C’s; value of repeatable process and don’t sell scared. Katherine has been in the industry for over 25 years.

Jennifer Fortier,CMB, Mortgage Banking Consultant . Highlights include: importance of a roadmap; falsity of “little tweaks”; problem of work arounds; focus on speed vs hype? and what does success look like. Jennifer has spent over 25 years in the mortgage industry.

Jay Promisco, President, Sierra Pacific Mortgage. Highlights include: “Amazon Impact”; right now and cheap; slowing down the start; track for success and protect your book. Jay is a mortgage veteran for over 20 years.