MBANow: Tony Thompson, CMB, on MBA’s Path to Diversity & Inclusion Scholarships
The Mortgage Bankers Association’s latest MBANow video features Tony Thompson, CMB, vice president of growth and strategy with Silverton Mortgage, Atlanta, and founder of the National Association of Minority Mortgage Bankers of America (NAMMBA).
Thompson discussed his path into mortgage banking, his involvement with the MBA Diversity & Inclusion Committee and the MBA Path to Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship, which supports candidates from diverse backgrounds for MBA Education programs.
“It’s truly a way that allowed me to learn more about the industry, but more importantly, for me to connect and meet a lot of talented and very knowledgeable folks who helped me grow my understanding of the business,” Thompson said.
Thompson said he was serving on a local mortgage bankers’ board of directors when he saw an advertisement for the Path to Diversity scholarships; he then took the MBA Education School of Mortgage Banking series and earned his Certified Mortgage Banker (CMB) designation.
“It allowed me to truly gain a holistic perspective of the industry, while at the same time meeting a lot of individuals who have helped me grow in my career,” Thompson said.
Thompson added now is a “great time” to be in the mortgage industry. “I have a son who is a Millennial, and I would greatly encourage him to get into the industry,” he said. “There’s a tremendous amount of potential for loan originators and those who want to get into the operations or servicing or other aspects of the industry. I think we are heading into an interesting time when we are going to need more loan originators, more managers to be able to service the diverse and unique customer base that we’re seeing in the marketplace right now.”
The Path to Diversity and Inclusion scholarship program offers two scholarship options:
–Professional Development Scholarship: existing industry professionals seeking to advance their careers can receive a voucher to cover registration fees for one Education Program offering, up to a maximum of $2,000.
–Mortgage Banking Bound Scholarship: prospective students and professionals seeking to start a career in the mortgage finance industry will receive a voucher to cover registration fees for MBA Education’s Mortgage Banking Bound instructor-guided online course.
Eligibility for the Professional Development Scholarship:
–Must be currently employed by a member company
–Has worked in the industry for at least two years
–Is part of one or more of the following under-represented groups: non-white or biracial; lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender; or female.
To apply for the Professional Development Scholarship, click https://www.mba.org/conferences-and-education/mba-education/path-to-diversity-and-inclusion/path-to-diversity-and-inclusion-professional-development-scholarship.
Eligibility for the Mortgage Banking Bound Scholarship:
–Is currently enrolled at a college or university
–Has a minimum GPA of 2.5
–Is part of one or more of the following under-represented groups: non-white or biracial; lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender; or female.
To apply for the Mortgage Banking Bound Scholarship, click https://www.mba.org/conferences-and-education/mba-education/mortgage-banking-bound/students/prepare/scholarships.
Scholarship awards are made on a monthly basis, subject to availability of funds. All completed applications that meet the above eligibility requirements will be reviewed and scored by MBA’s Path to Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship Award Task Force.
To view this video and other videos in the MBANow series, click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Swk2VUJeZFI&feature=em-uploademail.
