Lodestar's Lending Leaders
By Lodestar Lending Leaders
Episode ideas? Email us at lendingleaders@lssoftwaresolutions.com
Lodestar's Lending LeadersOct 28, 2021
Comics for the Mortgage Industry?!
For this week's special episode of the Lending Leaders Podcast, Alayna Gardner chats with LodeStar's Marketing Content Manager Tim Austen about his original webcomic, "A Tale of Two Mortgages," the cost of content marketing, and the importance of trying new things.
The Secret to Collaboration
LodeStar's Jim Paolino talks with Melissa Langdale, COO of the Mortgage Collaborative, about how they got started in the industry, the future of mortgage lending, and what it really means to collaborate.
The Joy of Problem Solving
This week, Alayna had the pleasure of speaking with Stacy Holindrake, a veteran of the mortgage industry with a strong background in Mortgage Operations. Together they discuss new opportunities and the joy of problem solving.
Building Trust in Mortgage
For this week's episode of the Lending Leaders Podcast, Alayna chats with Monica Raciti of Vesta. Together they talk about technology, how it's changed our industry, and how we can build trust amid the changes.
Homebuying with the Right Tech
For this week's episode of the Lending Leaders Podcast, Alayna chats with longtime friend and industry partner, Olga Faynshteyn, Business Development Manager at LenderLogix. Olga is no stranger to the world of optimizing the loan origination process with key tech—especially since she just got to use LenderLogix products to buy her own house.
Sticking to Core Values
While at TMC's "The Mane Event" in Louisville, Kentucky, Alayna had the opportunity to chat with Stephen Huang, Key Account Director at MeridianLink, about sales, the benefits of being a vendor vs. a lender, and the importance of sticking to your core values.
The Decision Maker Mindset
For this week's episode of the Lending Leaders Podcast, Jim talks with Rich Swerbinsky about his long career, growth over the years, leadership, and developing a decision maker mindset.
Building Bridges with Technology
For this week's episode of Lending Leaders, Jim chats with Allen Pollack, a product innovator, board advisor, and strategist, about the mortgage industry, tech, and how to build bridges and relationships in lending.
The Tech That Matters Most
For this week's Lending Leaders episode, Greg Uttal, President at Cyberlink Software Solutions, was kind enough to talk with us about tech, implementation, the benefits of AI, and what matters most when it comes to implementing automations.
How to NOT Miss Lending Opportunities
For this week's episode of the Lending Leaders podcast, Jim Paolino interviews Josh Friend, the CEO and Founder of InSellerate, a powerful marketing automation platform for lenders. Together they discuss missed opportunities and how to avoid them.
Going Deeper with AI
For this week's episode of Lending Leaders, Alayna chats with Brandon Goldstein of Cape Analytics about how AI can be more than just a buzzword and elevate customer experience.
How to Ace Tech Implementation
LodeStar's Alayna Gardner chats with Lynnette Nuese, Director of Sales at Constellation Mortgage Solutions, about how lenders and vendors can work together to improve the loan origination process and ace tech implementation.
The Homebuyer's Journey in 2023
LodeStar's Jim Paolino chats with longtime friend and recent homebuyer, Brian Popek, about the ups and downs of buying a home in a less-than-ideal time.
Sizing Up Challenges Ahead
Jim Paolino talks with CEO and Founder of BeSmartee, Tim Nguyen, about what's ahead for mortgage in 2024, and how companies should size up various challenges on the horizon.
Which Strategies Have the Biggest Impact
NFM Lending's Greg Sher sits down with Alayna Gardner to discuss the impact of social media, the need for true leadership, and which marketing and leadership strategies really make the biggest difference in today's mortgage industry.
A Person-First Approach to Lending
Alayna Gardner sits down with Travis Dyson, VP of Sales at Flagstaff Bank, on the power of relationships in lending, the importance of planning, and the primacy of putting people first.
Innovation in a Tough Market
LodeStar's Jim Paolino interviews Dave Savage of Trust Engine. Together they chat about the spirit of innovation, how to weather tough markets, and the importance of customer service.
The Credit Union Movement
LodeStar's own Jim Paolino chats with ACUMA President, Peter Benjamin, CMB, about the credit union movement, the American dream of homeownership, and the importance of community engagement.
Emphasizing the Borrower Experience
Alayna chats with longtime LodeStar friend, John Hardesty, General Manager-Mortgage Division at Argyle, about the borrower experience, the importance of education, and how technology moves the industry forward.
Reflecting on 2023
Get ready for an eyeful of holiday sweater... Alayna and Jim sit down with Dave Spektor to reflect on 2023 and look forward to 2024.
The Power of Vulnerability
Raquel Borras, host of Raq the Boat and Women Who Shred, talks with Alayna Gardner about bridging the generational gap, fostering accountability, and bringing a spirit of fun to the workplace.
The Impact of the NAR Ruling
For this week's episode of Lending Leaders, Jim chats with longtime LodeStar friend, Matt Einheber, Principal at TitleEQ and Creator of Title Box, about the impact of the NAR ruling and the future of real estate.
More Than Just Surviving
LodeStar's Alayna Gardner chats with the indefatigable Liz Short, CEO of Short Solutions, about how to do more than just "Survive Till '25."
A Better World Through PMI
This week's guest is a new friend, Nomi Smith, Founder and CEO of PMI Rate Pro. She and Jim Paolino chat about Nomi's amazing story, her journey into mortgage lending, and her expertise in the world of mortgage insurance.
Key Takeaways from MBA 2023
Two hosts for the price of one! Jim and Alayna regroup at LodeStar HQ to recap MBA Annual 2023 in Philadelphia. They discuss key takeaways, shifts in focus in mortgage tech, and—of course—Philly food.
How to Be Unbreakable
This week LendingLeaders features an awesome conversation between LodeStar's own Alayna Gardner and Equity Capital Mortgage Group's Rick Rucker on how to be unbreakable in tough times and tough markets.
Leading with Authenticity
For this week's Lending Leaders episode, Alayna talks with Meg Bennett, AMP, CMB, on the struggle of getting those impressive letters behind her name. Meg is a champion of authenticity, and she brings that to every conversation and endeavor.
Creating Connections in Lending
For this week's episode of Lending Leaders, Jim Paolino talks with Joel Gonzalez, Managing Partner & EVP of Sales MOR Lending, about Joel's journey into mortgage lending and the power of connection in sales.
Competing on More Than Just Cost
For this week’s episode of Lending Leaders, Alayna Gardner and Dustin McClelland, EVP of Sales at Lender Price, talk about the importance of usable data, integrity and respect, and competing on more than just cost.
How Expertise Builds Trust
For this week’s episode of Lending Leaders, Jim Paolino chats with Marina Hubenova, Director of Sales at Inspect HOA. They discuss the fear of changing, navigating difficult markets, the role of tech, and how to build trust with expertise.
Sales and Leadership
During this week's episode of the Lending Leaders podcast, Alayna Gardner and Skip Willcox discuss sales, time management, the importance of investing in your dreams, and the value of leadership.
The Impact of Impact Lending
In today’s episode of Lending Leaders, Heather Horovitz, the SVP of Community Development, Financial Institutions, and Impact Lending at VyStar Credit Union, joins us to discuss her journey into community development and impact lending. Heather’s transition from being a chef to working in finance might seem like an unlikely path, but it was driven by her passion for strategic planning and the desire to make a difference in her community.
Transparency in Mortgage
In this week's episode of Lending Leaders, Alina Gardner interviews Jimmy King, CEO and Co-Founder of Banking Bridge, to discuss the importance of transparency in the mortgage industry and how it can benefit both borrowers and lenders.
Future-Proofing Your Business
Lending Leaders is back for its fourth season. We're kicking things off with Alayna, Jim, and Dave discussing how to build your business with an eye to the future.
Anatomy of a Rebrand
For this week's episode of the Lending Leaders Summer Session, Jim and Alayna dissect LodeStar's much needed rebrand (see last week's episode 😬) and talk about what makes a good brand.
The Ghost of Marketing Past
For this week’s episode of the Lending Leaders Summer Session, Alayna and Jim mark the beginning of LodeStar’s tenth anniversary by resurrecting some old marketing, website materials, and cringe fuel. Let’s just say we’re proud of how far we’ve come…
Lessons from the Office: Part Four
For this week's episode of the Lending Leaders Summer Session, we're back for the fourth and final installment of our ongoing conversation: business lessons from the hit sitcom, The Office.
Lessons from the Office: Part Three
For this week's episode of the Lending Leaders Summer Session, we're back to part three of our ongoing conversation: lessons from the hit sitcom, The Office.
Lessons from the Office: Part Two
For this week's episode of the Lending Leaders Summer Session, we're back to the next installment of last week's conversation: lessons from the hit sitcom, The Office.
Lessons from the Office: Part One
To kick off the Lending Leaders Summer Session, Jim and Alayna begin a four-part discussion on the Office, the beloved TV show about a small-town paper company and the people who work there. This week’s question: is Dunder Mifflin a good company?
Rethinking Hire/Fire Cycles
For this week’s episode of LLL, Jim chats with Leora Ruzin, Founder of Ruzin Creative, to talk about the mortgage industry, hiring and firing cycles, and why those are so unnecessary.
The Importance of Compliance
For this week's episode of LLL, Alayna sits down with Dominique Wiest, VP of Regulatory Compliance with LendingPad. Together, they discuss all things compliance, the importance of knowing how disclosures work, and why lenders can't afford not to know about state and federal requirements.
Data and Accountability
For this week's episode of LLL, Alayna sits down to talk with Steve Sussman, Chief Business Development Officer with Nationwide Appraisal Network (NAN), about the world of appraisal, the importance of data, and the value of accountability.
Industry Update with Jim Paolino
For this week's episode of the LodeStar Lending Leaders podcast, Jim and Alayna sit down to talk spring market, market cycles in the mortgage industry, and the perennial fear: recession.
The Importance of (Re)Branding
For this week's episode of the LodeStar Lending Leaders Podcast, Alayna talks with Robert Palmer, Marketing Manager at Byte Software, to discuss the importance of branding, rebranding, and core marketing principles.
What is Hybrid Automation?
For this week's episode of LLL, Jim sits down with Babar Chaudhary, Founder of Mortgage Automation, to talk about one of the mortgage industry's most overused buzzwords: automation.
The Blockchain Revolution
For this week's episode of the LodeStar Lending Leaders Podcast, Alayna chats with Molly Elmore, Partner at Valhil Advisors and co-host of the new podcast Escape Velocity, about how Blockchain is changing the internet and the economy at large.
Women in Mortgage Tech
For this week's episode of LLL, Alayna and Kelsey chat about their experience as women in the mortgage space and how things have changed since they got their start.
Viewing Challenges as Opportunities
For this week's episode of the LodeStar Lending Leaders podcast, Alayna talks with SimpleNexus CTO Lori Brewer about women in STEM and the impact that unforeseen challenges can have on your career.
The Irreplaceable Value of Mentorship
For this week’s episode of the LodeStar Lending Leaders Podcast, Jim sits down with Michele Kryczkowski, a mortgage industry pro with twenty years of experience, and a passionate advocate of mentorships. They discuss the difference between instilling competence and demanding confidence, and how mentors can best empower their mentees.