Anne Marie Danko, CMB
Director of Education
JCReed
Franklin, Tenn.

About Anne Marie:
Currently, I am Director of Education for JCReed, my largest responsibility is to lead and develop our national advisory and operations teams. JCReed advisors are our educators in the field. They work to bring 'big city' mortgage and financial planning programs to their smaller hometown communities. Our advisors are leaders in their communities and they work first to educate our clients on the mortgage programs and financial planning resources available to them, ultimately building a customized plan to meet their personal and financial goals. It is my responsibility to ensure that our advisors are equipped with leading edge tools and resources to deliver the 'best in class service' that JCReed is known for, allowing them to show our clients how they can achieve their financial goals. I currently live in Nashville, TN, and enjoy live music and practicing yoga.

CMB Motivation and Challenges:
I completed the CMB process in August, 2007. As a School of Mortgage Banking (SOMB) graduate I was motivated by the incredible network of CMB professionals to complete my designation process. I completed one SOMB class per year and worked to build my points through participation in industry committees and events held through the MBA. Over that time, the mortgage industry was in flux, going through several changes; I personally followed suit, I moved jobs and moved cities while working to complete the CMB program. Through the incredible support of my sponsor, John Reed, I was able to remain active in the national mortgage community; I had the encouragement and dedication that I needed to complete the program.

Career Impact:
The CMB is very new to my career; however, I look forward to all of the opportunities it brings to remain active in such a well respected mortgage community. The CMB alumni are dedicated to the industry and their own personal development, two things I also hold in very high regard. I look forward to having the opportunity to encourage others to complete the program and join this amazing network of industry leaders.

Business Impact:
The CMB process has exposed me to all areas of mortgage lending. Through this exposure I have learned valuable tips, tools and resources that I can build into our educational curriculum at JCReed. Education at JCReed doesn't stop after 'New Employee Orientation' we are committed to education at all levels and we pride ourselves not only in the knowledge of our management team, advisory team and support staff but also in the continuing education of our clients.

Importance:
The CMB is important to JCReed because it shows our dedication to the industry as well as our desire to be the best at what we do. Ultimately we are striving to become the organization with the most CMBs throughout the Mortgage Bankers Association.

What is the most significant issue facing the real estate finance industry today?
I believe the most significant issue facing the real estate finance industry today is the issue of product suitability. Over the last several years, a lot of borrowers have suffered financial losses due to holding a loan product that does not meet their personal goals or lifestyle. It is by no fault of the product, but in the way the product was implemented. As an industry we must work together to educate our loan originators to place consumers in products that meet their needs, as well as educate our clients on choosing the best loan program. We have a responsibility as members of the Mortgage Bankers Association to afford our clients the best product and service available to meet their goal.

What are the hottest trends you see that will impact the industry in the future?
I believe strongly in technology in the mortgage business both to improve efficiency and accuracy throughout our processes. I also believe that the users of the technology must have a solid understanding of how those same processes work without it. New workflow models and custom designed workflow engines will help us push a loan through our systems rather then pull it. Instantly notifying users of their next action and the results of the previous task will streamline the process as we continuously stride towards a paperless industry.

How has your experience as a CMB prepared you to handle the issues and trends you listed above?
My experience as a CMB has awarded me the opportunity to discuss the issues and trends that are affecting the industry with a group of people who are at the leading edge of making the decisions necessary to implement the future of mortgage banking. I consider myself very lucky to be a part of it and I have met some amazing professionals and friends along the way.

What advice do you have for those interested in obtaining the CMB Designation?
My advice to industry professionals interested in pursuing the CMB is to start early! Early involvement in industry committees both nationally and locally are a wonderful starting point when learning about areas that are outside of your daily routine. If you're in sales, join the secondary marketing committee or the capital markets committee. Learn something new. You need to push yourself to think outside of your daily routine to really reap all of the benefits that the program has to offer.

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