mPower Lunch: Anchored Together: The Power of Mentorship

Senior Vice President of Membership, Meetings and mPower, Mortgage Bankers Association

Laura Hopkins is Senior Vice President of Membership, Meetings and mPower at the Mortgage Bankers Association, where she leads the association’s Membership and Meetings departments. Since joining MBA in 2017 as Director of Membership, she has advanced through leadership roles and in 2025 assumed her current position. In this role, Hopkins oversees Member Services, Residential Membership, Associate Membership, and Commercial/Multifamily Membership functions, while also leading the strategic direction and management of MBA’s conferences and meetings, as well as mPower, MBA’s networking platform for women in the real estate finance industry. With a focus on developing, strengthening, and managing relationships with senior executives and their teams at member companies, Hopkins and her team are dedicated to maximizing the value of MBA membership, enhancing engagement, and fortifying member connections across the industry. With nearly two decades of sales, marketing, and management expertise in the mortgage banking sector, Hopkins has built a career centered on expanding business platforms through strategic recruiting, driving program and product utilization, and growing revenue. She is recognized for her unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional service and support to both MBA members and colleagues. A strong advocate for advancing women in the industry, Hopkins has been actively engaged with mPower since its inception and was honored in 2025 with HousingWire’s Women of Influence award. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and Merchandising from Florida State University.

Vice President of Mortgage Lending, A and N Mortgage Services Inc.

Savannah Hooker is a Vice President of Mortgage Lending and a former Division I gymnast at Illinois State University. Starting as a marketing intern at A and N Mortgage (the ONLY 100% Woman-Owned mortgage company in Chicago) in 2020, she quickly rose through the ranks, earning her loan officer license in 2021. Since then, Savannah has closed over $100M in volume, scaling from $10M in her first full year of production to nearly $50M in 2025 at the age of 26. Known for leveraging social media and building strong realtor partnerships, she also founded the Real Estate Power Hour, a monthly panel series attracting 100+ Chicagoland agents.

Director of Legal Operations, NFM Lending

Stephanie Paull is the Director of Legal Operations at NFM Lending, LLC, where she brings over a decade of expertise in residential lending with a focus on legal, compliance, and licensing. With a background as a certified paralegal, Stephanie combines creative problem-solving with a deep understanding of regulatory frameworks. She is recognized for her skills in corporate governance, client relationship management, regulatory compliance, and navigating the complex process of CDFI Certification. Stephanie is passionate about helping clients achieve their homeownership dreams through transparent and ethical lending practices. Her dedication has earned her recognition as Administrative Professional of the Year (2019) and a nomination for the NFM Teamwork Award (2025).

Chief Kindness Officer, Kind Lending

Mindy Stearns is the Chief Kindness Officer at Kind Lending. She leads with one simple belief: when people feel valued, everything grows. She and her husband Glenn Stearns run their company based on the bold idea that kindness is not just good manners – it’s good business. She co-hosts the podcast “Grit Happens,” where real talk meets real heart, sharing stories of resilience, leadership, entrepreneurship, and the beautiful messiness of building both businesses and families. Before Kind Lending, Mindy spent years in the spotlight as an on-air entertainment anchor and reporter in Los Angeles for Entertainment Tonight, KTLA News at 10, and KTLA Morning News. Her media career launched after an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show and grew into radio, television, and film, including a role in Disney’s The Princess Diaries. However, she sees her greatest role as one where she creates spaces for people to feel seen, supported, and celebrated.

CEO and Founder, A and N Mortgage Services Inc.

Neena Vlamis is a respected mortgage executive, entrepreneur, founder and CEO of A and N Mortgage, a 100 percent woman owned independent mortgage bank known for innovation, service excellence, and community impact. With more than two decades of industry experience, Neena has built and scaled high performing lending. Neena is a frequent speaker at national conferences and a trusted voice on leadership, growth strategy, and sustainable mortgage banking. She serves on industry boards and is deeply committed to mentorship, education, and expanding access to homeownership. Recognized for her integrity, vision, and results driven leadership, Neena continues to shape the future of mortgage lending while empowering the next generation of leaders.

President, NFM Lending

Latasha Waddy is the President of the NFM Lending Family of lenders. LaTasha has been with the organization for over 15 years, serving in various roles within the legal and compliance departments. Her tenure includes participation in the growth of the company from 175 to over 1,200 team members nationwide. Her commitment to solving the housing affordability crisis led to the creation of LUCAS Home Loans, an emerging Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that leverages technology to offer down payment assistance and financial education to first time homeowners. LaTasha is a board member of several national affordable housing and government contracting companies where she lends her experience in legal, human resources and corporate governance to advise those organizations. In 2024, inspired by her children and grandchildren, LaTasha published a series of children’s books as a tool to help parents start a conversation with their kids about money. LaTasha graduated with honors from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and the University of Baltimore School of Law.

Founder & CEO, Z Technology Solutions

Suha Beidas Zehl is dynamic technology leader, author, and national speaker whose work sits at the intersection of innovation, leadership, and enablement. With decades of experience in multiple industries, Suha has built a career on connecting the dots between complex systems and the human lives they impact. As the founder of ZTS, she advises organizations on AI, data strategy, and digital transformation; helping leaders embrace change with clarity and purpose. Suha is the recipient of multiple industry awards; she is a Certified Mortgage Banker, a Certified Change Practitioner, and a graduate of MBA's Future Leaders program. In Nov 2025, Suha was inducted into NC State CS Alumni Hall of Fame, the highest award bestowed on an alum of NCSU, her alma mater.