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» VISIT US ONLINE @ DSNEWS.COM 77 Anderson said he was prepared. During the time he worked at Quicken, he also worked as a self- employed real estate investor, buying REOs, repairing them, and then offering them for rent. Eventually, he owned 25 such properties, both single-family and duplexes, which provided him with a substantial income. "When I was laid off, there was not much change in my finances," he explained. "I was making more money from my real estate properties than I made at Quicken." He believes that anyone working in the housing industry, even in servicing, needs to have a backup plan and the possibility for multiple sources of income. Instead of being distressed at the loss of his job, Anderson said he felt that this was a good opportunity to re-evaluate the course of his career and begin the next step. He decided to sell all of his properties in Detroit, coincidentally doing so "just before the bottom fell out." He also assessed his skills and compared them to the requirements for other industries, eventually deciding that helping financial firms accomplish their public relations goals was a chance for him to apply the experience he already possessed to new purposes. But he realized that accomplishing his new goal would require a greater degree of education, so he went back to school. Surely enough, he was able to obtain a position with a public relations firm at the end of his scholarly endeavors, representing several companies in the mortgage banking industry. Anderson believes that anyone who is successful in the housing industry has flexible and dynamic characteristics. "ose same skills that make someone a good loan officer can help that person get another job," he explained. "ese skills can be transferred to other careers." He said that he learned the value of building relationships, and that these skills enable him to be an effective public relations representative. "What we do in the agency world is to build relationships, and this is critical. I use that skill in PR on a daily basis with the media and with clients," he explained. When he started pitching media, Anderson said that skill paid off in spades. "Every time I picked up the phone to call someone in the media, I focused on what I could give them," he said. "Finding out what their interests are and consistently delivering that to them guarantees success." Another skill that Anderson acquired in the industry is developing a results-oriented mindset. He explained that in a sales environment, he had to deliver on a consistent basis and focus on producing. "at's what I brought to my present job, and that's what my clients expect me to deliver," he said. Whatever the cause, increased migration at all levels of the industry is a trend likely to continue for the foreseeable future. Industry leaders are wrestling with the steps required to draw and maintain the best talent and to develop the strategies that will move their businesses forward in the next phase of this recovery. For those contemplating a move, the prospect of starting over can be daunting, but the evolving industry in times like these is a place wherein we adapt or die. It may take some creativity, but the housing industry still offers plenty of opportunities to those willing to seize them. As Bill Carr put it: "If you've built relationships, there is always opportunity out there, but you've got to go out and make it happen." COVER STORY M ARKET PUL SE INDUSTRY INSIGHT DATA & RESE ARCH The Grass is Not Always Greener In a culture that places immense value on immediate gratification, it's no secret that younger professionals are more prone to " job hop" than any previous generation. Some attribute the trend to boredom or a sense of entitlement that the employee feels, but demographics also tell part of the story. e record-level numbers of college graduates entering the work force create a high level of competition for jobs with desirable career trajectories. If a young professional wants to get ahead, they often feel that job hopping is the only reasonable alternative. But for others there is value in staying the course. Take Megan Reese for example. "I started with MCS right out of college," she said. "It was a totally new adventure for me because it was my first real job that put me on the career path that I'm traveling now." Reese began her career at Mortgage Contracting Services eight years ago at the entry- level position of "asset preservation coordinator." She worked hard. Really hard. She held multiple positions within the company, each change offering a chance to take on a larger role with progressively greater amounts of responsibility. She now serves as the vice president of operations, by which she is responsible for the oversight and management of the company's inspection portfolio for all clients, and she also maintains operational responsibility for multiple client teams. At just 31 years of age, she is perceived by observers both inside and outside the company as a rising star and a standout among industry executives. Reese credits her longevity with MCS to the company's culture of cultivating a supportive family atmosphere where the focus is on collaboration to deliver the best possible product for the customer. "I've had some really great mentors that have invested a lot into me," she said. "Maybe I'm old-school. I've never even looked for another job because I have a really good job here. It's been really great to see how our company has grown while still staying true to its core values."

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