More Than an Underwriter

After earning my degree in marketing, I spent some time in sales, getting my feet under me before moving to Arizona — where I found myself stepping into the world of underwriting almost by chance. I began in the auto lending department of a massive national bank, where I excelled quickly. But after a few years and a major merger, the more talented auto underwriters — myself included — were unexpectedly transitioned into mortgage underwriting.

It was a lucky break. The leap from autos to mortgages was a night-and-day shift, and I found a level of challenge and fulfillment I’d never experienced before. My math skills and ability to multitask helped me thrive in the complexity of mortgage guidelines. With the guidance of my mentor and cube-mate, Brad Winton (RIP), I became a VA expert — learning more from him than I ever did in any classroom.

From there, I earned my FHA Direct Endorsement (DE) and became highly skilled in government loans, further broadening my expertise. After more than a decade as an underwriter, I moved into a management role, leading a team of underwriters through the challenges of the job and helping customers on a deeper level.

When interest rates shot up and the industry shifted, I was caught in the churn — my position, as a newer Lending Manager, was one of the first on the chopping block. I spent some time in tax credit underwriting before deciding to earn my loan officer license, which allows me to help clients from the very beginning of the process — guiding them all the way through to closing.