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MortgagePoint » Your Trusted Source for Mortgage Banking and Servicing News 12 November 2024 M O V E R S & S H A K E R S Movers & Shakers Government HUD APPOINTS 11 TO HOUSING COUNSELING FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) has ap- pointed 11 new members to its Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Commit- tee. The Committee serves a critical advisory role to HUD by helping shape the direction of its Housing Counseling Program and providing guidance on how to better serve prospective buyers, homeowners, and renters with their housing needs. Members represent pro- fessionals from the mortgage and real estate industry, HUD-approved housing counseling agencies, and consumers. The following new Committee members will serve three-year terms and begin their service in January 2025: • Tamara Gifford, Director, Com- munity and External Relations for Onity Group • Leigh Lester, Founder and Execu- tive Director of the Ubuntu Institute of Learning • Helene Raynaud, SVP of Housing Initiatives for Money Management International • Elizabeth Karwowski Sdoucos, CEO and Chief Customer Officer for CredEvolv • Hanna Tester, Homeownership Di- rector for Neighborworks Montana • Carol Ventura, CEO and Execu- tive Director for the Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation • David Young, Director of Capacity Building for Housing Action Illinois These newly appointed members are joined by the following Committee members who have been re-appointed for additional three-year terms: • Lawrence Batiste, Branch Manager and Real Estate Broker with the NID Atlanta Metro Regional Office • Carol Ann Dujanovich, SVP and Director of the Reverse Mortgage Division, University Bank • Angie Liou, Executive Director for the Asian Community Development Corporation • Paul Yorkis, President of Patriot Real Estate Inc. Sherri Eckles, who was appointed last year and serves as SVP of the Ren- ovation and Construction Lending Programs at Norcom Mortgage, will also continue to serve on the Committee. "We are pleased to announce our new Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee members, a diverse group of industry leaders dedicated to addressing the nation's pressing housing challenges," Assistant Secretary of Housing and Federal Housing Com- missioner Julia R. Gordon said. "Their expertise will help guide our collective efforts, ensuring housing counseling is available, accessible, and tailored to meet as many people as possible." HUD established the Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Commit- tee in April 2015 to advise HUD's Office of Housing Counseling on how to carry out its mission. The Committee provides a forum for those involved in housing counseling to offer advice directly to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Housing Counseling on ways to accomplish the objectives of HUD's Office of Housing Counseling. All Committee meetings are open to the public. "We are excited to collaborate with the Committee to drive our mission forward and provide consumers with vital resources to secure, uphold, and preserve their homes," said Deputy As- sistant Secretary of Housing Counseling David Berenbaum. "We'd also like to ex- press our appreciation to the departing members for sharing their expertise to foster the impact of housing counseling providers nationwide." Lenders/Servicers MR. COOPER GROUP ANNOUNCES SENIOR LEADERSHIP CHANGES Mr. Cooper Group has announced several senior leadership updates as the company continues to focus on innovation with investments in new technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) to better support customers on their homeownership journey. Sridhar Sharma will assume the role of EVP and Chief Innovation and Digital Officer. Sharma has been with the company for the last decade serving as Chief Information Officer. Under his leadership, Mr. Cooper developed Pyro AI, the company's patented AI and advanced machine learning platform that has driven the company's ability to grow. In his new role, Sharma will continue to lead Mr. Cooper's digi- tal-first strategy with an even stronger focus on developing and implementing AI and machine learning solutions to give customers and team members a more seamless experience while continuing to push the mortgage industry forward.