Careers at Ross Mortgage: From Loan Officer Assistant to Loan Officer in One Year
Upward mobility and employee satisfaction are important to us at Ross Mortgage, which is why we have the necessary tools and training programs in place for our team members to grow in their professional roles. When our employees are ready to take a step forward in their careers to a role that suits their particular interests, we are ready to support their goals and lend a helping hand every step of the way.
Flo Cannon joined our Brighton team in February 2017, and over the past 10 months she has proved to be a go-getter and vital asset to our company. As a result of her professionalism, determination and dedication, Flo was recently promoted from a loan officer assistant to a full-time loan officer at our Brighton branch.
We sat down with Flo to learn more about her impressive journey at Ross Mortgage, and to ask her how she had so much success in such a short amount of time.
Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in mortgage lending, and what motivated you to transition into the role of becoming a loan officer?
The real estate industry intrigues me! Through the years, my husband and I have been involved with house rentals and flips, and this is another avenue in the market that I find very exciting.
I’ve always been interested in real estate because I enjoy being able to help get someone into a home they’ve always wanted and make their dreams come true. It’s exciting to help first-time homebuyers. I actually had my real estate license at one point, but I never had the chance to get off the ground with it because I started a family and my life went in a different direction.
Q: Why did you choose to join the Ross Mortgage team, and how did you get your start with the company?
I talked with a friend of mine who had been with Ross for more than 25 years. After chatting about his successful career and my interests in real estate, I was inspired to dive into the mortgage industry. I had the opportunity to work as a loan officer assistant under a loan officer at Ross Mortgage’s Brighton branch, where I learned a lot. This knowledge allowed me to move into the role of a loan officer after several months.
I’m not worried about making such a big jump in my career so quickly because I have an amazing amount of support at Ross Mortgage. No matter what I need, I know I can go to anyone for advice or a helping hand along the way. I was convinced Ross would be a company that would allow me to grow and have my best interest at heart, but I had no idea how much I would learn in my first few months as a loan officer assistant.
Q: How did you advance your career within the company? What motivational factors, goals and/or opportunities helped you get where you are today?
I knew I wanted to become a loan officer eventually. When I started at Ross, I felt that I needed to spend some time as a loan officer assistant to gain some necessary experience. As it so happened, I developed at a more advanced rate and was able to achieve that goal of mine sooner than expected.
The leadership team at the Brighton branch helped me develop a career pathing plan to follow in accordance with my personal goals, and I was given access to online programs and resources for additional training support.
If I had any questions, everyone at my branch was always willing to answer. When I was a loan officer assistant, I job shadowed different roles in the company, including other assistants, loan officers and processors, to learn more about their individual roles and how each department supported the larger mortgage process. More than anything, I think those experiences helped me understand my role in the process (and mortgage lending as a whole) in an extremely valuable way. I firmly believe that learning other roles will make you a better and more well-rounded professional.
Q: What would you say are some of your most notable career accomplishments thus far?
Being able to rally as a team to move a loan through the system was a really rewarding way to start my career at Ross Mortgage. The support network available to loan officers within the company, and the Brighton branch specifically, is just so motivating.
Q: In terms of career opportunities, what do you think sets Ross apart from other employers?
Ross Mortgage has a strong reputation as a local, family-owned mortgage company and is structured in a way that makes company leadership and support personnel very accessible to employees. My colleagues are always available to answer questions, and the company offers a collaborative environment.
Q: What are you looking forward to accomplishing in your new role?
In 2018, I plan on continuing to advance my career at Ross Mortgage by establishing myself as a trusted loan officer. In general, I hope to expand my relationships with real estate agents in the local community to be able to serve more homebuyers. Additionally, I would love to increase my production volume by 20% and earn a spot in the Ross Mortgage President’s Club. I’m excited to work hard and achieve my goals in 2018 with help from my amazing team at Ross Mortgage!
Q: What can other lending professionals do to be more successful in their careers?
I feel that every lending professional must be customer-service oriented. I owned my own gym and yoga studio for 10 years, and as a business owner, I learned how to help others, manage my time and put the customers first. At Ross Mortgage, I learned on the job, asked a lot of questions and enjoyed the experience sharing from others. I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to learn as an assistant before jumping in as a full-time loan officer, and I think taking your time and learning as much as possible are vital elements to the success of your career in this industry.
Q: Tell us, a fun fact about yourself. This could be a hobby you enjoy doing in your spare time, volunteer work, etc.
I love to travel! This past summer, I went to Greece for the first time in 25 years. It was an amazing trip. I also love to spend time with my twin daughters, who are both currently attending Michigan State University.
If you’re interested in learning more about the career opportunities we offer, please visit our website or send us a message with your interest.
