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September 2023 ยป thefivestar.com 67 2 0 2 3 W O M E N I N H O U S I N G A W A R D S Vanessa Lindow SVP, Right Path Servicing What People Are Saying: "Vanessa transitioned to the Mr. Cooper Group to lead the Right Path Servicing brand. She was able to integrate much of the culture and special servicing techniques to make it a suc- cess. Vanessa is, of course, knowledgeable in all that is mortgage servicing, and she is never afraid to jump into initiatives in order to get the job done." What This Nomination Means to Her: "The nomination of the Keys in Hands Award holds immense emotional significance to me after dedicating over 25 years focused on residential homeownership with a specialty in foreclosure avoidance in residential loan servicing over the last 15 years. Coming from an immigrant family, this recognition not only validates my core values and strong belief in the American Dream but also serves as an acknowledgment of the countless individu- als and families whose lives I have positively impacted throughout my career and a credit to my amazing team, mentors, and leaders, whose guidance, support, and belief in me are the reasons behind this recognition. My great- est professional reward is saving a home and preventing the loss of generational wealth that many will agree is built through homeowner- ship. The nomination for the Keys in Hands Award signifies the positive impact I have made on the lives of homeowners, the dedication I have shown toward their financial well-being, and the recognition of my friendly, creative, and smart approach to helping others. This nomination motivates me to continue being a compassionate helper in the years to come." Erin Persons VP, Government Relations and Community Development, Auction.com What People Are Saying: "Erin Persons is a trailblazer for expanding homeownership. She played a pivotal role in helping HUD start a First Look program and contributed to the Neighborhood Stabilization Initiative of 2014, making more single-family homes available to owner-occupants. Erin is at the forefront of expanding homeownership. She tirelessly champions the expanded First Look program under CWCOT, enlightening buyers, sellers, and government agencies. Erin is a visionary driving homeownership forward." What This Nomination Means to Her: "I am honored to be recognized as a finalist for the Keys in Hand Award for 2023. This nomination resonates with my commitment to ensuring that every family with the desire to own a home can turn that aspiration into reality. This award symbolizes a collective dedi- cation to the fundamental principle that safe and stable housing is not merely a privilege but an essential right for all. I am humbled to be considered among this remarkable group of nominated women, who have dedicated in- numerable hours addressing housing inequal- ity and raising awareness about the plight of marginalized communities. This nomination serves as a reminder to continue the mission of providing keys to homes for all who dream of homeownership, regardless of socio-economic background. It fuels my passion to champion affordable housing initiatives. With this recog- nition, I am further empowered to advocate for a future where everyone can unlock the door to a brighter, more equitable tomorrow." Stacey Walker Director, Single-Family Affordable Lending, Freddie Mac What People Are Saying: "Stacey Walker, a more than 20-year veteran of Freddie Mac, leads our efforts nationwide in consumer and homeowner education, propel- ling thousands into homeownership. She and her team oversee Freddie Mac's network of Borrower Help Centers and other non- profit housing counseling agencies to prepare consumers for homeownership. In 2022, along with other partners, these centers provided homebuyer education to more than 104,000 consumers, one-on-one prepurchase coun- seling to 40,000 individuals, and foreclosure avoidance education and counseling to more than 41,000 households. Her dedication led to the successful overhaul of the CreditSmart housing education and financial capability curricula, which were created more than 20 years ago. Under her leadership, CreditSmart has been translated into multiple languages to reach more potential homeowners." What the Nomination Means to Her: "It is an honor to be recognized as a finalist for the Keys in Hand award, not just for me but also for our devoted team at Freddie Mac working to advocate and prepare consum- ers for sustainable homeownership. This award, which spotlights our efforts to expand homeownership in America, especially for first-time homeowners, low- to moderate- income homeowners, and those in historically underserved markets, aligns with our mission of making home possible for all. Thank you to the Five Star Conference and to the leaders at Freddie Mac who continue to support this crucial work."