Board of Directors

Maureen Mckovich, GML

Founder & President

In 1992, with more than two decades in mortgage banking and insurance, Maureen saw the clear need to establish a more educated workforce in mortgage lending as well as informed consumers of mortgage products. To further these goals, Maureen founded the 501 (c) 3 corporation now known as the Mortgage Industry Foundation.

Maureen continued in the industry as co-owner of Mount Vernon Mortgage until her retirement in 2000. She has remained active both as an emeritus and again as an active member of the Foundation Board. Her recognized contributions to education within the industry have always stemmed from the simple belief that any chain is only so strong as its weakest link. Thus, much of her effort has focused on empowering educational opportunities from the lower rungs of the corporate ladder to the top.

Maureen is honored to contribute now to the new direction the Foundation has taken.

Creta Bloxom, GML, CME, CMI

Vice President

Creta is a Lifetime Alaskan Resident and has been in the Real Estate Industry for over 40 years, working in escrow, title, mortgage and construction lending, home inspections and as a licensed REALTOR®.

Creta has been involved for many years in Home Builders and the National Association of Professional Mortgage Women. She has served on the local, Region and National levels of Mortgage Women and was recognized with the National Leadership Award in 1999. She was involved in the creation of the Institute of Mortgage Lending that provides educational designations for those pursuing education in the mortgage industry.

Education is important to Creta which is evident in the multiple mortgage industry and Realtor® Designations she has earned. To help promote education in the industry to professionals and consumers she serves on the NeighborWorks Alaska Homeownership Council and as President of the Alaska Craftsman Home Program

Holly Rittenhouse

Secretary

Holly started her career in 1979 as a Real Estate Broker in Daytona Beach, Florida and moved into several careers within the mortgage banking industry. Over the past several decades half of her career has been in the mortgage insurance space; the other half has been in correspondent lending with national firms. Holly is currently with Caliber Home Loans as Sales Director in the correspondent channel.

Holly attained her undergraduate degree at Ohio State University and her MBA from Nova University. Holly’s dedication to education is a constant in her life. She is pleased to join the Mortgage Industry Foundation Board to work toward higher education within the industry.

Holly was the Charter President of the Greater Orlando APMW and remained a member even though she relocated to the west coast for her career. She remains committed to the importance of promoting women in the mortgage industry.

Mary Ellen Heathcote, GML, MML, CME, CMI

Treasurer

In her fifth decade serving in all phases of the mortgage finance and real estate industry, Mary Ellen retired in 2010, although retirement did not mean that she left the field. Mary Ellen has remained active in promoting education and high standards within the industry.

Mary Ellen has earned each of the designations offered by The Institute of Mortgage Lending, as well designations from various organizations within the real estate and finance industries. She has been an active member of the Association of Professional Mortgage Women since 1987, serving in positions throughout the organization, including National President in 1998-99.

We are fortunate that Mary Ellen agreed to join our board in 2018

Carol Clark

Director

Carol Clark has been in the mortgage industry for more than 30 years, with experience in servicing, underwriting, and sales. For the last 20 years, she has been an Account Executive in Wholesale and Correspondent Lending. Carol is active in industry organizations at the state and local levels, always seeking out educational opportunities for herself, her clients, her coworkers, industry and future industry partners.

Ken Perry

Director

Ken Perry fell in love with reading laws in 2003 and has been researching and delivering seminars and training videos on compliance ever since. Ken has been a featured speaker at numerous industry events and is an expert on countless mortgage laws. Ken is the Founder of The Knowledge Coop, a mortgage training company and has focused on helping compliance officers understand the importance of building a complete compliance management system. He delivers training in a way that people want to experience

Candace McDaniels Smith

Director

A native of the Austin, Texas area. Candace has served the mortgage industry in virtually every capacity. She began as a Loan Secretary and moved forward into Processing. For the last 21 years she has been employed by Certainty Home Loans as a Senior Underwriter.
Candace’s commitment to education in the industry is a passion of hers. In addition to training and mentoring other professionals, Candace was the Charter President of NAPMW Austin and served locally and regionally before becoming National President of the National Association of Professional Mortgage Women. She has been honored with the receipt of several National Awards in leadership and education.
Candace looks forward to continuing to support others in furthering their Industry Career as a Director of the Mortgage Industry Foundation.

Rebecca Van Stralen

Director

As Chief of Staff for Knowledge Coop, Rebecca brings several years of experience in the management of Knowledge Coop’s many strategic partnerships. She has a wealth of expertise in project management, vendor relations and event planning and staffing. She acts as a support base to the CEO for upcoming projects. Before she began her career with Knowledge Coop she worked for Nike for 12 years

Patty Anderson, CAE, IOM

Account Executive

Patty has served as the Foundation Account Executive since its inception.

A native Washingtonian, Patty graduated from the University of Puget Sound with a bachelor’s degree in politics and government. After graduating, she immediately jumped into association management working for the Building Industry Association of Tacoma/Pierce County, followed by the Energy Business Association. After working on the 1990 Goodwill Games held in Seattle, Washington, Patty got her toes wet working for an association management company that later became known as Melby, Cameron & Anderson (MCA) when she joined the company as a partner in 1996. In addition to earning the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential, she is a graduate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Organization Management (IOM). Patty has also had the pleasure of serving eight years as the Executive Director for the Washington Society of Association Executives (WSAE).

Patty joined SBI Association Management in 2016 when SBI acquired MCA. Until departing SBI at the end of 2020, she served as the leader of one of SBI's three client teams and provided senior level of knowledge in strategic, leadership, and event management to the clients with whom she worked.

The common thread throughout Patty’s career has been not only serving, but helping the associations she works with grow and thrive. She is passionate about inspiring her SBI colleagues to deliver exceptional service and value to their clients.