mPower Visionary Award

Introducing the mPower Visionary Award program—a celebration of leadership, impact, and the power of women supporting women.

To us, a visionary is a woman who lights the way forward, who sees what’s possible, and dares to imagine more. A visionary leader turns bold ideas into direction, inspires others to follow, and shapes the future through clarity, courage, and action. She is a visionary by nature, a leader by impact, and inspires others to think beyond the present and pursue what is possible.

This is our first year offering this award program and we are so excited to announce the recipients on stage at mPowering You, MBA's Summit for Women in Real Estate Finance, on October 10 in Chicago. Join us in celebrating the leaders who are shaping our future and who remind us what’s possible—together. Until then, we're proud to announce the 2026 nominees below!

Congratulations to the 2026 Visionary Award Nominees!

• Alexandra Cooley, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Nuveen Green Capital
• Alexandria Zarrick, Home Loan Specialist III, Pennymac
• Aleyna Groves, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Groves IQ
• Alisha Sears, J.D., Director and Regulatory Counsel, Mortgage Bankers Association
• Amanda Padd, Chief Revenue Officer, Secure Insight
• Amber Coleman, Vice President, Capital Markets – Debt & Structured Finance, CBRE
• Amber DeKeyzer, Compliance Supervisor, Highlands Residential Mortgage
• Amber Houston, Implementation Manager, DocMagic
• Amber Lawrence, Vice President, Opportunity and Engagement, Mortgage Bankers Association
• Andrea Malis, Executive Strategist, Special Projects & Customer Experience, PRMG – Paramount Residential Mortgage Group
• Anita Padilla-Fitzgerald, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Megastar Financial Corp
• Barbara Roach, Senior Director, Resilience Insurance Analytics
• Bhumika Sequeira, Team Lead, Moder India Solutions
• Caren Castle, CA Managing Attorney, The Mortgage Law Firm
• Carolyn Dalkiewicz, Senior Vice President, Operations, Cenlar FSB
• Catherine French, Senior Vice President, Corporate Initiatives Group, Cenlar FSB
• Chante Coury, Senior Vice President and National Sales Leader, Originations    Mortgage Connect, LP
• Christy Bunce, President, New American Funding
• Christy Field, Senior Vice President, Corporate Performance Initiatives, MLD Mortgage, Inc. dba The Money Store
• Christy Moss, CMB, Vice President, Scores Mortgage and Capital Markets Liaison, FICO
• Coleen Bogle, Chief Marketing Officer, MLD Mortgage Inc. dba The Money Store
• Dana C. Abernathy, CMB, AMP, Vice President, Servicing Business Development, Cornerstone Servicing
• Dana Georgiou, Chief Revenue Officer, Dunmor
• Dawn Hooper, CMB, AMP, Vice President, National Accounts, Anza Mortgage Insurance
• Deb Jones, CMB, Senior Vice President, Director of Capital Markets, Citizens Bank
• Debbie Hoffman, Visiting Assistant Professor of Law (Corporations), Cleveland State University College of Law
• Debbie Sousa, Executive Director, Massachusetts Mortgage Bankers Association
• Desiree Townsend, Manager, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, NewRez, LLC
• Diane Yu, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, TidalWave
• Erica Acie, Head of Originations, Truist
• Erin Wester, Chief Product Officer, Optimal Blue
• Haley Rader, Head of Product, Ardley
• Ingrid Jaschok, Senior Vice President, Default Servicing, Cenlar FSB
• Jane Kennedy, Executive Vice President, Servicing Products, Sales and Strategy, Mortgage Connect, LP
• Janet Newton, Senior Vice President, Operations, First American
• Jean Bradley, Senior Vice President, Strategic Business Development, Essent Guaranty, Inc.
• Jelaire Grillo, Assistant Vice President, Martech Strategy & Adoption, Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC
• Jen Peachman, Vice President, Director of Strategic Lending, GVC Mortgage, Inc.
• Jennifer McGuinness Lubbert, Chief Executive Officer, Pivot Financial, LLC
• Jennifer Whip, Principal, Cambridge One, LLC
• Julia Brown, Founder, Teloscope Advisors
• Kamara Green, Executive Vice President, National Director of Affordable Housing Production, Bellwether Enterprise Real Estate Capital, LLC
• Karla Martinet, Vice President, National Field Sales Manager, Essent Guaranty, Inc.
• Kasey English, Director of Business Development, Advisent
• Katelyn Watkins, President, Mortgage Bankers Association of the Bluegrass
• Kathy Farrell, Head of Truist Asset Finance, Executive Vice President, Truist
• Kathy Keller, Senior Vice President, Mortgage Servicing and Support, Navy Federal Credit Union
• Kim Collins, Senior Vice President, Marketing, eRESI Mortgage
• Kim King, AMP, CMB, Senior Vice President, Mortgage Operations, Hope Credit Union
• Kim Nichols, Chief TPO Production Officer and Senior Managing Director, Pennymac
• Kimberly Lanham, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Client Services, Digital Risk, LLC
• La Tawnya Belén, Assistant Vice President, Navy Federal Credit Union
• Laird Nossuli, Chief Executive Officer, iEmergent
• Laura Brandao, AMP, CMB, President, Wholesale and Correspondent Division, and Owner, MLB Wholesale
• Laura LaRaia, CMB, AMP, Chief Legal and Enterprise Risk Officer, MLD Mortgage, Inc. dba The Money Store
• Leah Price, Vice President, Tinman AI Platform, Better Mortgage
• Leslie Winick, Co-Founder and Board President, CapitalW Collective
• Lili Grbavac, Vice President, Debt and Structured Finance, CBRE
• Lisa Rose, Investor Compliance Specialist, DocMagic
• Mandi Feely, Executive Vice President, Production, Premier Mortgage Resources LLC
• Marcetta Rhodes-Gaines, Senior Vice President, Head of Mortgage Lending Fulfillment, TD Bank
• Maria Lamas, Vice President and Senior Associate General Counsel, Rocket Companies
• Melanie Cornelius, Senior Vice President, Business Development and Partnerships, Moder
• Melanie Coulton, CMB, AMP, Regional Vice President, Correspondent Sales, Plaza Home Mortgage, Inc.
• Melissa Langdale, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Praxis Lending Solutions
• Michele Terry, Vice President, Risk Mitigation and Quality Control, Highlands Residential Mortgage, Ltd.
• Mickey Schilling, CMB, Executive Vice President, Chief Revenue Officer, Megastar Financial Corp.
• Nada Saifan, Vice President, AAA Appraisal Management Company LLC
• Nancy Arciga, Mortgage Community Development Loan Officer, Bell Bank Mortgage
• Natalie Overturf, Vice President, Divisional Sales Leader, CMG Financial
• Neena Vlamis, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, A and N Mortgage Services, Inc.
• Nomi Smith, Senior Vice President, Business Development, LoanPASS
• Nora Guerra, Senior Vice President, Community Lending Solutions, Guild Mortgage
• Pam Forrester, Senior Vice President, Operations, First American
• Patty Campbell, Executive Vice President, Chief Compliance and Risk Officer, Highlands Residential Mortgage, Ltd.
• Rebecca Lorenz, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Infinite Success Strategies
• Sage Nichols, Senior Vice President, Collateral Solutions, Cotality
• Sally Garrison, Chief Executive Officer, The Mortgage Law Firm, PLC
• Sara Holtz, Chief Marketing Officer, Optimal Blue
• Sasha Hewlett, AMP, Associate Vice President, Secondary and Capital Markets, Mortgage Bankers Association
• Sasha Stair, CMB, Chief Marketing Officer, Xactus
• Stacy Ackermann, Global Managing Partner, K&L Gates
• Stephanie Marie Shipley, Branch Manager and Senior Loan Officer, Guild Mortgage
• Stephanie Mclane, Chief Executive Officer, AREMCO
• Stephanie Ruiz, Senior Vice President, Default Servicing Operations, Celink
• Sue Meitner, CMB, Chief Sales Officer, Success Mortgage Partners, Inc.
• Suha Beidas Zehl, CMB, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Z Technology Solutions
• Susan Galloway, National Account Executive, Mortgage Quality Management & Research (MQMR)
• Tammie Gravlee, CMB, AMP President, Mortgage Bank of Tennessee
• Tammy Brown, Mortgage Underwriter (CRU/FHA DE, VA Underwriting & SAR, Certified Encompass Administrator), First Western Bank & Trust
• Tara Healy, CMB, Chief Compliance Officer, Lennar Mortgage, LLC
• Tara Williams, Senior Vice President, Operations, AREMCO
• Taylor Potter, Chief Operating Officer, Ardley
• Tiffany Fletcher, Senior Vice President Compliance, Operational Support and Vendor Management, VRM Mortgage Services
• Tisa JD Clark, CMB, President and Chief Executive Officer, J.D. Clark Professional Services, L.L.C.
• Valerie Ausband, Senior Vice President, National Field Sales and Strategic Accounts, Arch MI
• Venita Murray, AMP, Director, Member Relations, Mortgage Bankers Association
• Veronica Vazquez, Mortgage Originator, Guild Mortgage

Nomination Categories

Community Builder: A leader who brings people together and strengthens the fabric of the industry through connection, collaboration, and shared purpose. This award recognizes a woman who actively creates spaces for others to engage, learn, and grow—whether by building networks, fostering partnerships, mentoring peers, or championing initiatives. She is a connector, collaborator, and champion for a stronger, more engaged community.

Change Maker: A woman who drives meaningful progress by challenging the status quo. This honors a leader who identifies opportunities for improvement and works boldly to create positive change. She is shaping a better future for the next generation.

Grit and Grace: Celebrates perseverance, adaptability, and strength while navigating personal and/or professional challenges. This spotlights a woman who has remained steadfast in the face of obstacles while continuing to move forward with integrity and mission-driven purpose. She is resilient and knows that true leadership is not only about achieving results, but about how challenges are met and overcome.

Nomination Criteria

• All nominations must be for female industry professionals whose companies are MBA members.
• Self-nominations are welcomed.
• You may submit multiple nominations.
• Share specific skills and examples of meaningful contributions to our industry and community.