AFR COO Named a 2018 Woman of Influence
Laura Brandao Announced as Mortgage and Housing Industry Leader
PARSIPPANY, N.J., Aug. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- American Financial Resources, Inc. (AFR) is pleased to announce Chief Operating Officer Laura Brandao has been named to the HousingWire Women of Influence list.
"Laura is a driving force that has catapulted AFR to the top of manufactured home, one-time close and renovation lending in the U.S.," said Richard Dubnoff, CEO and president, American Financial Resources, Inc. "She is so deserving of this honor and has served AFR as our chief woman of influence for more than a decade."
Among her accomplishments in the past year, Laura Brandao was the linchpin that orchestrated the collaboration between the Association of Independent Mortgage Experts (AIME), AFR and Blend to bring additional world class point-of-sale capabilities to the broker community.
Under Brandao's leadership, AFR has introduced many innovative solutions to the industry. "AskAFR" is the Amazon Alexa skill that integrates AFR with Alexa for its brokers and correspondents to help them complete a variety of tasks without lifting a finger. The One Time Close Portal is the industry's first fully digital end-to-end solution that allows brokers or correspondents their borrowers and builders to combine financing for lot purchase, construction and permanent mortgage into one first mortgage loan. The renovation portal is a technology solution that provides the loan transparency AFR clients, borrowers and contractors need to help manage the loan process during the draw period. Additionally, on-demand processing eliminates the heavy lifting for AFR's broker and correspondent clients, freeing them to focus on originating loans.
In addition to her leadership at AFR, Brandao is actively engaged with a number of organizations and initiatives including AIME and the 203(h) Mortgage Insurance Education for Hurricane Harvey survivors.
"We are proud to work alongside such a dynamic leader," said Bill Packer, executive vice president and chief information officer, American Financial Resources, Inc. "Laura is a trailblazer who truly understands that technology should enable the client to drive how and when they want to interact with us while never losing the human touch, enabling AFR to provide superior service, while our clients maintain a personal local connection to the consumer."
Brandao is recognized among 85 women leading the mortgage and housing industry in the 8th annual list representing a variety of occupations within the housing economy, each demonstrating leadership that inspires those in their own companies, in their communities and in the industry at large.
"This year, above all others, shows all of us the need to recognize powerhouse leadership in the mortgage industry," said HousingWire Editor-in-Chief Jacob Gaffney. "It's our responsibility to recognize women who are at the top of their game, those who improve our industry, day in and day out, and help make a brighter future for every American in search of a place to call home."
Chosen by HousingWire editorial staff based on tangible accomplishments in the last 12 months, winners not only had to excel within their individual companies but show influence in the wider industry through contributions on panels, publications, mentoring and volunteering.
About American Financial Resources (AFR)
American Financial Resources, Inc. (AFR), the leading FHA 203(k) lender for sponsored originations in the country and an innovator in the construction and renovation lending area, is ranked among the nation's leading companies in the annual Top Mortgage Lenders rankings published by Scotsman Guide. AFR utilizes the latest technology and delivers educational resources to mortgage brokers, loan originators and their customers. Learn more at www.afrcorp.com.
SOURCE American Financial Resources, Inc.
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