originating, you will never get bored. The reverse mortgage industry is constantly evolving, keeping you on your toes, forcing you to learn and be creative.” Lawler adds that careers in reverse mortgages are especially appropriate for women entering or reentering the workforce later in life, perhaps after their children are in school. “It is so niche that you can go in and get the training,” she says. “You don’t need to walk in the door with 25 years of mortgage experience.” Industry Involvement Women are increasingly assuming leadership roles in the reverse mortgage industry, but there is always more to do. “Seeing more women in leadership roles is essential,” Cosentini says. “Having strong female leaders on your leadership team will help attract more talented women. It allows them to see a potential career path in the industry. This is about more than just gender equality, ethics or inclusivity. Diversity in leadership is good for business.” Kellogg sees growth in the ranks of women leaders. “It’s happening,” she says and then suggests that companies continue to showcase opportunities by promoting from within. Most of the female managers she knows have performed almost every role in the reverse mortgage process, building their knowledge bases and skills. “Women roll up their sleeves to learn what they’re trying to manage,” Kellogg says. When Awalt interviews prospective team members, the message that the senior borrower comes first “really resonates with women,” she says. “We’re not just selling a product or service. Women thrive when we feel like Deborah Winslow Senior Vice President of Commercial and Reverse Servicing, PHH Mortgage Deborah Winslow It took three years of work, but Deborah Winslow was leading the charge when PHH Mortgage launched its in-house reverse mortgage subservicer in October 2021. Winslow’s entire 30-plus years in mortgage servicing have all been with PHH Mortgage, a primary brand of Ocwen. She rose from the ground up, assuming various roles as she learned all aspects of the industry. Winslow is active in Ocwen’s Global Women’s Network and supports two additional affinity groups within the diversity, equity and inclusion platform at her company—LEAP Black Professionals Network and FREE, a group for LGBTQ+ employees and allies. PHH is “no stranger to the reverse industry,” Winslow notes, having originated HECMs since 2011 through Liberty Reverse Mortgage, its reverse origination platform. She was a senior servicing leader with experience in executing strategic initiatives and corporate acquisitions when the firm decided to leverage its loan servicing expertise and bring its HECM loan portfolio in-house. Winslow was tapped for the job of planning and executing the strategy, which included the acquisition of Reverse Mortgage Solutions’ reverse servicing operations. With support from a “seasoned team of reverse subject-matter experts,” she led the effort to expand reverse servicing. In 2020–21, Winslow served on the NRMLA Board of Directors. “As an industry, I cannot stress enough how important it is that you and your company participate in NRMLA committees to work alongside your peers to make a difference and provide valuable input on the headwinds that our industry is facing,” she says. “Your voice is important and valued.” Meeting Challenges continued on page 32 REVERSE MORTGAGE / JULY–AUGUST 2023 31
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