22 November/December 2015
and engagement with the broader environment of the
industry is imperative.
“It’s really a matter of necessity. What’s going on
Capitol Hill, what’s going on with the financial regulators, especially the CFPB [Consumer Financial Protection Bureau], and at the state level…you have to be
engaged in that conversation. Some people complain
about elected politicians, but, they don’t vote. To be
fully engaged in the industry you can’t be apathetic.
Your voice needs to be heard.
“I got involved in the state MBA very early in my
career, not in a leadership position, but working at
the committee level. Then I got involved on a national
level. Those experiences greatly broadened my per-
spective on the industry and helped me to understand
that what happens in the regulatory and legislative
arena affects your career, the industry, your employer,
and your customers. I think you have to be engaged.
There are benefits to building your career by stepping
outside the comfort zone of what you do every day.”
Increasingly, mortgage professionals are reading
in newspapers and seeing on local and national news
elements of the issues that are the fabric of their daily
work. Regulators and legislators can and do ask for
and accept comments and questions from individuals,
She believes men and women face virtually the
same challenges in the industry; but women create
challenges for themselves both professionally and
personally. “Our expectations of ourselves are our
biggest challenges,” she offers, “whether that is be-
cause of where we come from, our roles in society,
or something else. As far as capability, knowledge, and
dedication, women are on par. I hope all women in
our industry understand that, or, through means like
Mortgage WOMEN Magazine will come to under-
stand that.”
Despite the progress made, women continue to
break personal, social, and professional barriers, and
that is still newsworthy. Chairing the MBA is a signifi-
cant achievement for anyone in the mortgage industry;
however, Regina was the first woman elected to the
position in 2005. It is a distinction held by only two
women thus far (Debra Still was Chairman for 2013),
and Regina recognizes how the opportunity magnifies
the visibility of women in the industry, but that few
may realize what came before.
“It was an honor. I felt I was representing every
woman in our industry. That was the best feeling. I
She also recognizes, for all of the parallel capabili-
ties and skills of men and women, societal pressures
still have an impact on us in certain, very practical
ways. “For professional women who travel, there can
be a real wardrobe challenge! A guy can usually get
away with one suit and three shirts for a three-day
trip. Not so for women, generally. Wardrobe changes
tend to be more noticeable for women, and three
