Jamie Cavanaugh is a 25-year veteran of mortgage who is well known in the industry and universally liked and respected for her warmth, sharp business mind, professional mindset, and willingness to help. Jamie has had her fair share of successes and challenges and believes the journey is about more than achievement and success. Many experiences have led her to the place she stands today as President of Amerifund Home Loans, Inc.

“Without every win and every loss, I wouldn’t be here,” Jamie says. “When I started reminiscing about my early days in the industry, it hit me. The memorable stories I have share a common thread. They involve a person who was more knowledgeable and more experienced than I, who took the time to guide, teach, and encourage me without expectation of anything in return.

One of the earliest memories I have in this business is at a company called Aspen Mortgage. I was hired at the front desk, moved into a junior processing role, and given the opportunity to train into a senior processing role. It was 1997 and I was 19 years old! There wasn’t much in the way of a structured training plan. We were doing mostly FHA loans with eight borrowers applying together in order to qualify. There were no typed 1003s. These loan applications were legal sized, handwritten paper, and if you made a mistake, NO WHITE OUT was allowed. The photocopies were endless!

Most of our clients had challenging credit, mattress money for their down payment, and scraped together every resource they had to realize their dream of homeownership. I had absolutely no idea at the time the immense responsibility I had been given and the role I would play in helping these families to own their own homes. All I understood was how complicated these loans were. Each involved a lot of people and the documentation was extraordinary. Electronic files weren’t a thing. We had paper files in large legal-sized Pendaflex folders with metal prongs to hold them together. It wasn’t unusual for the paperwork of one FHA loan to fill two of these thick folders. A single file could be 10 inches thick!

As a Senior Processor, I reviewed these massive loan files and prepared them for underwriting. I cringe thinking about what my first loan submissions looked like. But fate had plans for me. I was assigned to an Underwriter at Colonial Bancorp named Pam Donlyuk. Pam was a highly skilled FHA DE underwriter who saw potential in me. She took the time to teach me how to put an FHA loan together and process it through to closing the right way.

Pam wasn’t my Manager, she didn’t even work at my company. But she cared about our borrowers, our industry, and she gave me the gift of her knowledge. I went on to earn my own FHA DE Underwriting designation and oversaw the Post-Closing Government Insuring team at a large nationwide lender. Pam’s abundance mentality impressed upon me the importance of paying it forward. Even today, I never miss an opportunity to do so.

I’m still in touch with Pam today and I’ve never forgotten her patience and kindness. The ability to serve the first time homebuyer community with skill and expertise is something I’ve carried with me throughout my career. What a privilege it is to help them. And for the record – I can still process and underwrite an FHA loan with the best of them!”

Jamie believes losses are lessons waiting to be learned. Surviving and rising out of one of the lowest points in her career has taught her much. To understand this story, it is necessary to think back to 1999 when she joined a small group consisting of loan officers, processors, and one broker, 31-year-old Brad Rice.

“Brad is a visionary and he had grand plans to grow his small brokerage,” Jamie reminisces. “From the moment I started working for him I knew he would reach every goal he set out to hit. And I wanted to be a part of it! Brad gave me the opportunity to be an integral part of our growth at every stage. We taught ourselves everything there was to know about lending from negotiating warehouse line contracts to funding and selling our own product on the secondary market. We built teams of Account Executives, Underwriters, Closers and Post-Closers. We trained and installed leaders to run those divisions. We learned every facet of the business until we were experts. And through it all, as success continued to flow through the organization, I rose along with it.”

Over 8 years, he scaled the business into a nationwide retail and wholesale company selling loans directly to Wall Street investors and with a Sales and Operations team of over 200 people. By early 2007 Jamie had worked up to the EVP of Operations role. Business was booming and dozens upon dozens tenured employees were experiencing financial and career heights they never dreamed of.

In late 2007 investors pulled back abruptly on their loan purchasing. Guidelines were changing by the minute and the company found itself on the front lines fighting to stay afloat. After several months of insurmountable challenges and several rounds of layoffs, there was no choice but to close down the business.

“I will never forget the morning we stood in front of our team; the people who had grown with us and shown loyalty, gratitude, and dedication. We knew their stories and every one of those amazing people mattered to us. And we told them that we had to let them go. We said goodbye to almost a decade of working together where we built something truly exceptional.”

Jamie was 29 years old and heartbroken. Brad, her friend and leader, was under unbelievable pressure and stress and he was losing everything he had poured his heart and soul into for all those years. She had no idea where to go from there, needed time to regroup. Jamie spent the following year dabbling in real estate sales, doing Notary work and figuring out what was next. Gone was her desire to be a leader. She lost her passion for the mortgage business. Over the years that followed she found her passion and rose again into executive leadership roles. But her perspective was forever changed by the experiences at Mortgage Corp of America.

“The hard times made me a better person and a better leader. I led with a sense of gratitude and appreciation that was unlike anything I had ever felt before.”

Jamie is considered a fair and honest leader who sets clear expectations for success in her team’s personal and organizational venues. She fearless when venturing out of her comfort zone and bringing her team along with her, recognizing uncomfortable conversations and candid feedback are necessary for growth and forward movement. As a person who favors direct communication, she appreciates honesty and candor. The challenges of the early 2000s taught her how to soften to ensure delivery to ensure reception by the other party.

Jamie finds joy in helping people with the biggest financial transactions of their lives. She recognizes every borrower has a unique story and every family helped matters. Roughly six million homes are sold annually in the United States. About 60% of those have a mortgage. Mortgages in the U.S. total almost $16 trillion dollars. Through the worst of the pandemic crisis in 2020, mortgage thrived. Amerifund continued to fund new mortgage loans and as businesses boomed with loan production, created job opportunities for people who had been displaced in other industries.

“Success for me looks different than it used to,” Jamie shares. “When I was a young executive in my 20s, success was a higher salary or a bigger job title. In my 30s it became about doing work that made an impact. And now in my 40s success means earning credibility and trust from my community of professionals which will allow me to reach as many future leaders as I can. Mentoring, guiding, and coaching them is the single most rewarding task I have the privilege of doing.

Being a part of this business for 25 years has been incredible and I feel fortunate every day! My hope for our future is that the women in our industry today do not have to fight as hard to find their voice as many of us did decades ago. I’m committed to using the lessons I had to learn the hard way to pave a way for others. I want to create a positive and supportive space for industry professionals from all walks of life who share our commitment to serving consumers and referral partners with integrity, honesty and skilled guidance.

Everything I’m doing today is intentional. I’m planting seeds for the future. It’s all about building a leadership structure that supports the company so that I can focus on the things that help us grow. In 10-15 years, I want to reach a point where my time is more evenly balanced. My family will always come first. But with the rest of my time, I see myself doing more coaching, writing and public speaking.  ‘Retirement’ is not really in my vocabulary!”

Despite achieving professional success more than once, Jamie names being a mother as her biggest success. Her daughter Charlotte is 8 years old and Jamie marvels at the kind, confident person she is becoming, a young lady whose unapologetic authenticity is a trait she both admires and wishes she had possessed at such a young age.

Jamie shared this about her own early years, “I never related to popular kids who were easily accepted and had a ton of friends. My teenage years were tough times. I was a smart kid and a band nerd, anything but cool. Other teenagers weren’t always kind. My self-confidence took a beating. I developed a self-preservation technique of being invisible whenever possible. I hid my intellect and didn’t speak up in class when I knew the right answer. I stifled my natural tendency to be outgoing and social.

I had no sense of belonging. I couldn’t wait to graduate and counted down the days. There’s a saying I wish I had known back then. ‘Don’t change so people will like you. Be yourself and the right people will love the real you.’ When I give my daughter a big hug and tell her she is special and perfect just the way she is, I believe I am ensuring she will not share my own self-confidence crises. But if she does, I would tell her there is so much life after high school. It is but a passing moment in a much longer journey. I would give her a glimpse of the future and show her how to find true acceptance – the kind that lives within.

This year I will celebrate my tenth wedding anniversary with my amazing husband Drew who supports me without exception. Without his support I could never accomplish the things that I have nor endeavor to keep reaching for my dreams. Together we are raising our daughter Charlotte who is in second grade. She is a wise and intuitive 8 year old who has a joy for life and who never lets me get too full of myself.”

Recently, Jamie and Brad, with their spouses, celebrated the finalization of a business partnership with Marathon, which had been in the works for a long time. Finally, it was official.

Jamie shared this news with Charlotte, saying, “Buddy, I have great news. Mommy is now the president of Amerifund!” Jokingly she suggested Charlotte should call her President Mommy now.

Charlotte replied, without skipping a beat, “Ehhh. No thanks.”

“This is my daughter,” Jamie lovingly and laughingly said. “She will keep me humble for all of my days on earth and I love it.”

Family truly is an integral part of Jamie’s life and plays an immutable part in defining who she is. Jamie’s mother, Alexis King, was a single mom to Jamie’s two older brothers when she married James King, Jamie’s father. Alexis worked multiple jobs and did whatever it took to provide for her boys.

“Everyone who knows her,” Jamie says, will tell you my Mom has a spirit like no other. She is small in stature but powerful in life. She taught me resilience, kindness, empathy, and most of all, unconditional love. Before retiring she was a top producing Real Estate Agent and I blame- I mean THANK her for introducing me to this industry.”

Her father was drafted to Vietnam while he was in college. This derailed his college plans for decades and changed the course of his life. Today he is a servant leader and a well-respected community member who has been retired for close to 10 years. During his career, he directed his local YMCA and has served on the boards of countless non profit organizations.

“There is no doubt that my years of being ‘voluntold’ to help plant trees and serve meals to those in need led me to the place I am today.” Jamie shares. “He taught me to give abundantly, respect others, work hard and tell the truth.

Recently, I realized how much my father’s example impacted me. I found that I have a soft spot for anybody who is searching and seeking to find someone to connect with, someone who can see them for who they are, and help them realize the beautiful and unique things that they have within them, and bring those things out. I have a strong urge to give a voice to those that don’t have a voice and help people to believe in themselves. When I was a kid being voluntold, I did it because I was told to. Now do I realize how amazing my experiences were and how strongly they shaped who I am now. And yes, I admit to voluntelling my daughter. She comes out to help when we do.”

Jamie shared three tips for those searching success in life and business:

1. Invest in yourself. You cannot pour from an empty cup. Make time for your physical and mental health. This will allow you to see the vision for your future clearly and have the energy to reach your goals.
2. Change your perspective. If you aren’t where you would like to be, or strive for something different, embark on change. Pay attention to what fulfills you. List the tasks you most enjoy, and you will begin to see your purpose. As you raise your level of awareness, new paths will reveal themselves and you will unconsciously invite new opportunities.
3. Audit your circle. If you are the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room. Surround yourself with people who want to see you win and those who offer differing perspectives. Our mindset is the key to everything we wish to achieve in life and business.

“Change used to rock me to my core. It scared me and kept me awake at night worrying. Then came the crash and that great recession of 2007. Letting go of everything I knew and starting over brought about a resilience and a toughness I never knew. I no longer fear change. In fact, I welcome it. It is a necessary part of evolving in life and in business. By embracing change we are given a beautiful gift.

We’re currently in the midst of another market shift. Rates have ticked up and panic and nerves are visible among Loan Officers. Those of us who have been through a couple of these cycles, know it is a season we must push through. Understanding cyclical change provides the keys to survive and grow. The biggest difference in this cycle is the demand for available housing still far outweighing the supply. This creates a bottleneck with more pre-approved homebuyers vying for properties than homes available for sale. It also continues to drive property values up at an unbelievable pace.

Massive opportunity remains in our market for purchases and to leverage home equity while it is at an all-time high to build wealth through property investing. Even with rates higher than they were in 2020/2021 – mortgages are still one of the least expensive ways to borrow money with the longest repayment terms.”

Jamie’s main goal in life is to be a difference maker. This extends into all areas of life and business. She firmly believes when we do the right thing with a genuine heart, abundance will surround us and everyone we help. The word believe resonates with Jamie. For much of her life, she didn’t believe in her abilities and what made her special as a person.

“To anyone else out there” Jamie advises, “who may be struggling with a self-limiting belief system, I say, take the leap of faith and believe in yourself. Keep searching for people who truly see you and want you to succeed. The impetus to embrace my individuality and be okay with me came from the people around me who were lifting me up and almost forcing me to look at myself. They did not allow me to remain invisible.

Be bold and brave and believe what you bring is meaningful, valuable, and special. Never dull your sparkle for anyone or anything. We are each unique and offer something no one else brings to the table. When we allow ourselves to be invisible, or we temper our individuality fit in or conform, what we’re doing is depriving the world of the gifts we bring to improve our own lives and the lives of those around us.”

Written by:  Candy Zulkosky (CaZ)

In March, we celebrate women. The entire month, of course, is designated as Women’s History month. March 8^th, the day before we publish this issue, we celebrated International Women’s Day. Then there’s Universal Women’s Week happening March 13-19. Doubtless there are other celebrations not as well known, equally as important, and sharing the same primary goal—to promote the wellbeing of women across the globe.

Here at WWV Magazine, we don’t have a week, a month, or even a day when we celebrate the accomplishments of women. We do this every day within every issue and beyond. Yes, there is a beyond. WWV Magazine is one face in the multi-faceted gem that is the Women With Vision movement.

“Women of Vision is a  unique sisterhood of professional women who have a common bond of breaking through glass ceilings in order to achieve their goals.  Always with a foot in the present and an eye on the horizon, these women are dynamic and moving forward; never complacent with the status quo.  She promotes other women by igniting the blazes of opportunity, change, and inclusion.  I am proud to be a trailblazer for anyone who wants to fan this fire and lead us far into the beyond.” -Laura Brandao

The idea for Women With Vision came from the fruitful mind of Christine Beckwith, President of 20/20 Vision for Success Coaching. Christine being Christine, the vision was never small. From day one she envisioned a movement spanning at the least the entirety of America. And yet, with all movements the start was small, the first breakout of 20/20 Vision for Success Coaching, the Women With Vision Coaching division, which quicky became the fastest growing women’s coaching division in the country.

It is appropriate that the heart of the WWV movement is education, mentoring, and coaching. It could be argued that these are women’s secret power, even in the boardroom. Every base needs a strong pipeline of leaders and WWV is no different. We are proud to present to you the 2022 Women With Vision Board of Directors. These leaders from across the mortgage industry are giving of their time and hearts to advocate for and celebrate women in all fields.

This is a time to make impactful changes for the better in our industry and in our lives. Christine Beckwith expresses it well in these words, “Ladies, I know you will find your way the only way you know how. The truth is, times are changing and we are bearing witness to a remarkable time in history. A time where what we all do will become part of it. How do you want to leave your mark?”

Thank you, Women With Vision Board Directors! For sharing what you have achieved and is yet to be.

Written by:  Jenny Mason

In tribute to Women’s History Month, I reflected about women whose stories inspire one to face fears, be resolved to overcome insurmountable odds, take action, and possibly even change the course of history.

Queen Esther

One of my favorites is Hadassah, better known as Queen Esther. Hadassah’s name was changed to Esther to hide her identity upon becoming Queen of Persia. Both of Hadassah’s parents died when she was a baby, so she was adopted and raised by her cousin Mordecai. When Hadassah was a young woman, she was taken to be a part of the King’s harem. She quickly won the favor of the chief eunuch, Hegai and the King who made her the Queen. All this took place while keeping her Jewish identity a secret. While she was Queen, her cousin Mordecai learned of the grand vizier Haman’s plot to slaughter the entire nation of Jews.

Mordecai shares the plot with Esther and asks her to plead with the King, but she told her cousin she was not to approach the King unless summoned and she hadn’t been called for in over 30 days, implying at the time she may have fallen out of his favor.

Mordecai begged saying, “If you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but you that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

Esther put her fears aside and became resolved saying, “If I perish, I perish,” and became a woman of action. Esther came up with an ingenious plan to meet with the King by inviting him to a dinner party, only the King invited Haman so she decided to have another dinner party, hoping to rekindle her favor. Her efforts worked out and she was able to say to the King, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life, this is my petition. And spare my people, this is my request. For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed, and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king.”

She revealed for the first time her identity and how Haman was not only going to destroy her but all of her people. The King had Haman executed and gave an edict granting the Jews in every city the right to “assemble and protect themselves; to destroy, kill, and annihilate the armed men of any nationality or province who might attack them and their women and children, and to plunder the property of their enemies.”

What would have happened if Esther had not overcome her fears, and taken action?

Sybil

Sybil Ludington is another favorite of mine. Referred to as the Female Paul Revere, 16-year-old Sybil rode into history. On the rainy night of April 26, 1777, a rider came to the Ludington’s home to let them know the town of Danbury was under attack and being burned by British militia. Most of Colonel Ludington’s men were on leave and had to be called to return to their posts. The courier was too tired to continue. It was Sybil who rode 40 miles through the dark night to warn the surrounding villages and 400 militiamen the British were attacking. Much like Revere’s message, she alerted the militiamen in time for them to battle the British back to Long Island Sound.

Sacagawea

Sacagawea was also only 16 when she helped Lewis and Clark achieve their mission. She guided them across the northern plains through the Rockies and to the Pacific Ocean and back. Her skills as a translator, knowledge of difficult terrain, ability to identify edible roots, plants, and berries, as well as her calming presence were critical to the success of the mission. And she did it all while caring for her infant son, to whom she gave birth two months before departing.

In 1803 through a trade or gambling payoff, Sacagawea became the property of fur trader Charbonneau, well over two decades her senior. Lewis and Clark came upon Sacagawea and her husband in a settlement outside of Bismarck where they realized her skills and ability to speak two languages were invaluable. Her ability to speak Shoshone was crucial as Lewis and Clark knew they would need to trade for horses. Within a month a near tragedy earned her quite a bit of respect when she rescued all the papers, navigational instruments, medicines, and books from a capsizing boat all while assuring her baby’s safety.

Clara

Clara Barton, the angel of the battlefield, founder of the Red Cross began teaching school at 17, founded two schools of her own, then when the Civil War broke out, she began nursing Union Soldiers on the frontlines. Barton worked to improve the fortunes of formerly enslaved people and launched a lecture tour. In 1869 she experienced the Switzerland Red Cross and awed by their work, she returned to America fully resolved to start a Red Cross here. She was turned down by President Hayes, but she was persistent and in 1881 started the Red Cross on her own with a small staff. A few months later forest fires ravaged Michigan leaving 500 dead and thousands homeless. Without waiting for federal aid, she used her agency to raise money, food, and supplies to aid 14,000 people. The next month the Red Cross was officially incorporated in DC.

Irena

Irena Sendler a 29-year-old social worker when World War II broke out, took advantage of her position to help the Jewish people. It almost became impossible with over 400,000 people driven into a small ghetto where lack of food and medical supplies along with poor often dangerous hygienic conditions became the norm.

At great personal danger Irena devised a plan to step in and help. She obtained a permit to enter the ghetto and inspect the conditions. Once inside she gained contacts with the Jewish welfare organization and began helping them, eventually assisting in smuggling over 2,500 Jewish children out of there. Even though arrested and tortured in 1943, she continued her underground activities. Finally released in 1944 she went into hiding under a new identity.

These are a few stories of brave women who inspire me to be resolute, to face my fears, to be a woman of action, to rise up in the face of insurmountable odds, and to stand for what I believe. Who knows but that I have come to this position for such a time as this.

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Our Tell Your Story Marketing option provides the story-based advertising our readers report they prefer. To be seen and remembered and receive the best bang for your buck, experts say to make your marketing personal. Telling your story is about as personal as it gets. Please reach out to us at info@visionyoursuccess.net for our rate card and additional details.