Meeting Challenges continued from page 29 them the financial stability and security they need to remain in their homes.” Kellogg advises women to learn the basics of real estate lending first, starting in the mortgage industry’s forward side but “with the transparent goal to be involved in the reverse mortgage space.” “The company you choose to work for should be 100 percent committed to the reverse mortgage space,” she advises. “You should understand financial planning. You should have a robust, sincere goal to be a difference-maker so you can be a part of a financial tool to enhance a senior’s ability to age in place.” Few women seek out careers in reverse mortgages, but once in, “some, like me, develop a passion for it because of the intent of the program and how it’s helping seniors age in place,” Batiste says. Women intrigued by the profession can start by using existing skills to get a foot in the door. “And then they can look at the various facets of the industry to determine what aligns with their skills or interests—sales, operations, servicing, compliance, etc.,” she says. “Stay focused and take advantage of the numerous resources available, such as information and archived webinars on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) website.” For working women, including mothers, finding a job that brings “balance, pride and fulfillment” is essential, Awalt says. “I believe in the product and the customers we serve,” she says. Awalt also reminds women that reverse mortgage careers are not monolithic but encompass an array of specialties and fields within companies that differ in approach and culture. “Take the time to make sure to find the right fit,” she advises. “There are pros and cons at every company, but in the end, having the right people around you will make all the difference in the world.” Women bring interpersonal skills that help open doors to leadership, according to Cosentini. “Jump in,” she says. “Whether it be counseling or Megen Lawler President and CEO, Bay Docs Megen Lawler Megen Lawler could be called a reverse mortgage pioneer. She interviewed to be a reverse mortgage analyst for a proprietary provider in 1990 and got the job. In 1991, the company began handling HECMs, developing a method for doing documents as a service. Then came a bumpy moment, when a publicly traded company bought the firm, not knowing its abundance of equity was tied up in reverse mortgages. As the firm and its partners sought to regain their footing, one of the lenders wanted to go into servicing, and Lawler’s boss asked if she would take it on. “I hemmed and hawed,” she says. “I said I didn’t want to type for a living.” But the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development allowed only document processors with their own companies to charge fees. Plus, a customer reminded Lawler that she would be independent—and running her own company. Lawler founded Bay Docs in 1994 and has been at the helm since. The firm continues to provide HECM document services and has also evolved as a technology-enabled provider of an origination system for HECM and proprietary reverse mortgages on its platform, Reverse ExpressTM. Lawler serves on the NRMLA Board of Directors and has attended and supported almost every conference since NRMLA was founded. “We’re trying to build an avenue where we can stay on top of the ins and outs of the industry,” she says. Her proudest moment came from persevering through the downturn of 2008–09. “We had a relatively small customer base, but when we came out of it, we found a large lender and came out swinging,” she says. 30 REVERSE MORTGAGE / JULY–AUGUST 2023
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