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EXPOSURE
A SPECIAL LOOK AT THE 2016 FIVE STAR DIVERSITY SYMPOSIUM
2. 3.
FIVE STAR CHAMPIONS
DIVERSITY AND
INCLUSION IN
MORTGAGE INDUSTRY
Five Star Institute President & CEO
Ed Delgado addressed a group of mortgage
industry and government leaders June 16 at the
Belo Mansion in Dallas, Texas.
During his opening remarks at the Five
Star Diversity Symposium, Delgado said,
"We simply cannot ignore that the absence of
diversity fosters an environment of bigotry,
racism, and prejudice—fueled by ignorance."
Delgado called for broad industry
commitment and support toward an agenda
of inclusion and action and driving progress in
the mortgage banking industry. "e fact that
we have and continue to deliver century old
products to a current consumer base ignores the
vast cultural differences and needs of the future
American homeowner," Delgado said.
Keynote speakers at the event were Sharron
P.A. Levine, Director of the Office of Minority
and Women Inclusion, Federal Housing
Finance Agency (FHFA); Tujuanna Williams,
VP, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer,
Fannie Mae; and Stuart Ishimaru, Director,
Office of Minority and Women Inclusion
and Director, Office of Equal Opportunity
and Fairness, Consumer Financial Protection
Bureau.
"We must learn that conflict does not have to
breed confrontation," Levine said. "Rather, from
conflict we can derive innovation and progress."
e day's program included diversity
messages and presentations from leaders
representing the Consumer Financial Protection
Bureau, Fannie Mae, JPMorgan Chase, Freddie
Mac, the FHFA, and various Federal Home
Loan Banks.
"I think it builds awareness," said ZVN
Properties CEO Bryan Lysikowski, who was
a featured speaker at the event. "One of the
biggest things we heard in there today was
communication and awareness of what needs to
happen as far as diversity and how we can make
our industry more diverse."
e Five Star Diversity Symposium followed
a planning and strategy session among members
of the American Mortgage Diversity Council
(AMDC), an independent organization of
mortgage industry leaders championing the
agenda of diversity, minority-owned businesses,
and inclusion.
1.
