I’m responsible for the review of all Lument construction, renovation, and rehabilitation projects for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Beyond construction reports, I review property condition and environmental reports. Whenever there’s a question from an underwriter — or a problem with a deal that’s related to a building’s condition or an environmental issue — I’ll review it to determine if we can find a solution internally, or if we need to work with our third parties to find a resolution.
I’m very problem-solving oriented – I like puzzles and trying to figure things out, which is what construction is all about. Every few weeks, I’m on the road visiting construction projects. I’ll visit both new construction and renovation sites to assess the conditions before we start, then again halfway through to ensure things are progressing successfully, and finally upon completion. No project is ever the same since they’re in different locations around the country, which keeps things interesting. At this point, I’ve been to almost all our offices.
We have a lot of different groups at Lument —affordable housing, the small loans team, the conventional team, the balance sheet group, etc. — and I’m likely one of the few people here who works with all of them, which I also really enjoy. When a project wraps up, it’s a great feeling to know I played a role in something that impacts lives, like creating and preserving affordable or seniors housing.
I’ve been at Lument and its predecessor companies for nearly 12 years, and I’ve always felt welcome here thanks to our corporate culture — it’s a very collegial and collaborative environment. Beyond the business, I admire the fact that Lument is very active in volunteer initiatives and giving back to the community. That’s not the case at every company, and I try to be involved whenever I can.
Lument also differentiates itself in the marketplace by actively encouraging entrepreneurial thinking. My field doesn’t especially lend itself to thinking “outside the box,” given that it’s difficult to be super-creative with multifamily housing construction. But as a company, we’re always trying to launch new products and expand the ways we can serve our clients. One great example is the ongoing expansion of our multifamily investment sales platform.
As for accomplishments I’m most proud of in my career here, it’s really the problem-solving. When as issue arises in a deal that could potentially send it off the rails, figuring out a solution with my colleagues across the company is always a rewarding process. Whether it costs a little extra effort or money, we’re able to work together to get our borrowers what they need and make our clients happy.
If I were to give advice to my colleagues who are just beginning their Lument careers, the value of communication ranks at the top of the list. Never be afraid to ask a lot of questions — that’s how you learn. When I started out at my predecessor company, I sat in an office with four senior engineers and peppered them with questions, and we’ve stayed in touch to this day. I’m a big believer in office culture because you learn to work collectively. There are many people at Lument who have a wealth of knowledge and experience — some have been here for 25 or 30 years — and 99% of the time, colleagues are happy to share what they know. In all my years here, I don’t think I’ve come across anyone yet who hasn’t been willing or happy to help.
Many people likely don’t know I love to ski, which is crazy because I live in Florida. I was also born in New Orleans and went to Tulane University. I love that city and am so relaxed every time I go back to visit. Speaking of travel, another tidbit few people know is that I’ve visited 49 of the 50 states. If Lument gets a project in Alaska, I’ll be all set.
