Mortgage Lending

Ben learned about having grace and compassion through trials in his personal life. MCU helped him with a mortgage when everyone else told him no. He now extends that same grace and compassion to others. “I’m not selling mortgages,” Ben explained. “It’s about building relationships. I’m helping them to realize how life can change when finances are handled successfully.”

From Australia to Hawaii and Alaska, Kelly has lived all over the world and the U.S., but shared she found “home” in Hokah, Minnesota and at Marine Credit Union. “I fell in love with this company,” she shared with a smile. “I am definitely an MCU-er for live.”

Becky is clearly passionate about at least two things; horse riding and helping MCU members achieve their financial goals. Becky shared she was certified as a Credit Union Financial Counselor just prior to her Heart of MCU interview. “At MCU,” she said, “there are always opportunities to grow and improve ourselves so that we can help members.”

Having lived homeless three different times in his life, Andrew Gouff found a passion to help others and feels he can do so now building relationships with Marine Credit Union members and volunteering for organizations, such as the Salvation Army, that helped him in his past. “I lived there for three months,” he shared. “I would have given anything to have one person who cared.”

Scott Runke is a senior mortgage loan representative at Marine Credit Union (MCU). He lives in Green Bay and covers the Green Bay and surrounding areas, “Basically Northeast Wisconsin,” he explained. “We are the mortgage lenders for the MCU field representatives.”

Bob Holtz, Inside Mortgage Specialist is a self-aware man. He said that MCU employees, like himself, might be “different from the norm” because they have the courage to have tough conversations and the compassion to help their members – however they can. “I wouldn’t change anything,” Bob said of his job at MCU. “I’m loving it.”

Following in the footsteps of her mother, who worked in banking for 36 years, Carrie Cimler, MCU Senior Mortgage Loan Representative, said she gets her caring heart from her mother. Mom always told me I had a good heart,” Carrie shared. “I like helping people. I have compassion for people who go through tragedy. Tragedy,” she added, “changes you and makes you a stronger person. Everyone goes through them … life events … that’s what makes a person.”

After nearing death during her battle with breast cancer, Chris Pace said she believes God had a plan for her. As a busy and successful realtor, Chris began asking herself, “Is this the life I want?” Soon after, she was recruited for a position at MCU. As an MCU Mortgage Loan Officer, she said of the first couple she was able to help, “They took a leap of faith with MCU. It’s a special place.”

Nick Palen said there is a “homey” feel at MCU. “Community is everything,” he said of the organization. He added that being encouraged to volunteer and fundraise locally gives him the feeling that he is “personally making a difference” in his community.

Reggie Franklin has over 20 years of experience building relationships in sales, yet it wasn’t until coming to Marine Credit Union (MCU) 1 1/2 years ago that he felt he was a part of something bigger. He said, “A true commitment to helping the community” wasn’t something he was used to but has found at MCU. “I really like it.”

Using a difficult past to become “the person others need,” Valerie Williams now serves her community and MCU members with compassion and empathy. She “steps up” at work and in her personal life and says she aligns personally with the MCU core values of compassion, collaboration, commitment, and courage. “MCU,” Valerie said, “aligns with who I am as a person.”

George French III shared that he got his passion to serve the community growing up with a midwestern farm family mentality. It was all about helping your neighbors. “People helping people is a smart business model,” he said, and he gets to do so every day as a mortgage lender at MCU. “My job is great,” he shared. “I get to help people for a living.”

Ed recalled a memory when he was only five years old seeing his father break down and cry when he closed on their family home. Ed uses his experiences growing up in a family who immigrated to the U.S. to now help individuals with what he called “challenging credit” and “unique lending needs”.