Finding the Next Generation of Mortgage Professionals with Mortgage Banking Bound
(Image: Barry University Mortgage Banking Bound Spring 2025 Graduation)
Attracting young professionals to careers in real estate finance has never been more important. Or more efficient, thanks to the Mortgage Banking Bound program.
Laura Escobar, MBA 2025 Chair and President of Lennar Mortgage, called Mortgage Banking Bound one of the most important initiatives MBA has ever launched to shape the future of our industry. She noted the idea started with Lennar. “We recognized that we needed a better way to find and cultivate talent, so we formed a focus group to explore new ideas. One of the key outcomes was the concept for Mortgage Banking Bound. I brought that idea to Kristy Fercho during her time as MBA Chair.”
Escobar and Fercho then met with MBA Senior Vice President of Membership, Education, Technology and Strategy Peter Grace, who strongly supported the idea. MBA pulled together content from its existing course library to create a 100-hour college-level course. Working with Lennar Mortgage and other member companies in South Florida, MBA then sourced instructors and developed networking opportunities for the students.
In its inaugural year, 2023, 23 people graduated from Mortgage Banking Bound at Barry University in Miami. The program has since expanded to Middle Tennessee State University in 2024 and Cleveland State University in 2025.
The Academic View
Debbie Hoffman, visiting assistant professor of law at Cleveland State University, said several CSU students have told her Mortgage Banking Bound was one of the most valuable experiences of their college career. “It gave them direct access to working professionals and helped them see how their coursework connects to real roles in mortgage and finance,” she said. “The Mortgage Banking Bound program at Cleveland State University created a rare bridge between classroom learning and industry engagement. It exposed students to real career paths, a professional network, and a field many had never considered.”
Middle Tennessee State University Professor and Director of the Real Estate Studies Program Philip Seagraves continued the bridge metaphor. He said the program “bridges the gap” between the classroom and the industry. “We’ve seen students land interviews, internships and even full-time roles because of the connections they’ve made through Mortgage Banking Bound,” he said.
Seagraves said Mortgage Banking Bound helps both traditional college students and career-changers to see the mortgage industry as a path full of opportunity, challenge and long-term growth. “Several of our students have already accepted positions with mortgage companies after participating in the program, and others are actively interviewing and networking with industry professionals,” he said. “It’s been a true launchpad.”
The Industry View
Marcia Davies, chief operating officer at the Mortgage Bankers Association, agreed that Mortgage Banking Bound attracts both young professionals and individuals looking to change their careers.
“I recently attended a graduation that had people of all ages,” Davies said. “Some were people considering a new career. Others were fresh out of college and looking for a career in the field. So I think it’s a great way to bring people who have yet to encounter what a career in real estate finance looks like. It shows them all of the different aspects and different ways that they can look at tapping their talents and utilizing them in our industry.”
Sherry Wenrich, learning and development specialist with CMG Financial, San Ramon, Calif., and immediate past president of the Mortgage Bankers Association of Florida, called Mortgage Banking Bound a “triple-win” for her training-oriented mind. “It’s a great program. It uses MBA curriculum, MBA speakers and it brings new talent into the industry,” she said.
“You’ve probably heard it said a million times: Very few of us went to college to do to do what we do. But here we are, and we’ve all had very successful careers, and I’m looking for ways to expand it,” added Kim Miller, Senior Account Manager at Arch MI, Greensboro, N.C. Miller also manages continuing education and pre-licensing for the Tennessee Mortgage Bankers Association. “So I’m always interested in new things and how to bring new people into the industry.”
Miller noted she knows of at least two Realtors that joined Mortgage Banking Bound to expand their knowledge of real estate finance. “And we also had a mom who worked for a local lender who sent her high school senior son, because she wanted him to know about the industry. If you know the program, it’s a great overview.”
‘Passion Work’
Karley Bond, AMP, CMB, vice president and mortgage market manager with First Horizon Bank, Memphis, called education “passion work.”
“That’s what it is, right? It’s your purpose,” said Bond, who also serves as the education chair for the Tennessee Mortgage Bankers Association and won MBA’s Willis Bryant Award at the 2023 MBA Annual Convention and Expo, in part due to her success recruiting more young professionals into our industry.
“Students learn everything from the origination to the processing, the underwriting, the closing, the funding and the quality control,” Bond said. “They learn how the secondary market makes decisions on pricing, they learn about servicing. We really stress that there are so many opportunities in this industry. We talk that through with the students. We discuss what their strengths are and where they might want to plug themselves into this industry.”
Get Involved
Escobar said she and Lennar Mortgage are proud to have supported Mortgage Banking Bound from the beginning. She noted Lennar Mortgage has hosted several graduation ceremonies at its Miami headquarters and hired graduates from the program.
“I encourage all MBA members to get involved,” Escobar concluded. “Host an intern, speak to a class, sponsor a class or help spread the word. Every bit of support helps us plant the seeds for a strong future. Together, we can make a lasting impact.”
