Lisa Schuman has been a mortgage account executive with Bank of America since March.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“We qualify buyers to purchase a home and find the right product that fits their budget and lending needs.”
WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE?
She started her career with Bank of America as a teller. After working her way up the ladder through customer service and management, she decided to try other companies and spent two years with Countrywide Home Loans as a loan officer and two years with Wells Fargo as a branch manager. “I ‘came back home’ as they say in the mortgage business.”
HOW DID PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE HELP?
“It’s all customer service-type positions. It helped me build a strong pipeline of business of people I know.”
HOW DID SHE GET INTO MORTGAGES?
“I’ve been banking industry since 1977. I decided to get into mortgages to advance my career.”
BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED FROM A CO-WORKER?
“Work smart, not hard.”
what do you LIKE ABOUT LENDING?
“The outcome and helping people get into homes.”
WHO ARE YOUR CUSTOMERS?
Realtors, builders, certified public accountants.
ADVICE FOR REALTORS WHEN DEALING WITH LOAN OFFICERS?
“Make sure the relationship works between you and that mortgage executive. I try to interview the Realtors and make sure we are a match and will work well together. Make your mortgage executive work for you. I do posters and flyers to help my Realtors sell their homes.”
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET CLOSER TO REALTORS AND BUILDERS?
“Being involved in the different networking functions and Realtor and builder meetings.”
HOW ARE REALTORS IMPORTANT TO YOU?
Schuman said Realtors are her strongest source of referrals.
PET PEEVES?
“Honesty is important. People will tell you one thing and then when you dig deeper you find out it wasn’t what they said it was. There is a mortgage out there for everyone, so people just need to be up front so we can help them find the right product.”
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS?
Women’s Council of Realtors, Northeast Florida Builders Association’s Sales and Marketing Council and the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors.
WHY ATTEND THESE ORGANIZATIONS?
“To network and meet new people.”
LESSONS LEARNED?
Schuman said being consistent and persistent pays off in the long run.
HOMETOWN?
Jacksonville.
RESIDES
Westside.
PERSONAL SIDE?
When she is not working, Schuman enjoys boating, running and reading.
She is single and has three children, Joshua 25; Justin, 23 and Jacob, 14.
When traveling her favorite place is the mountains. When relaxing at home her favorite show to tune in to is “Law and Order.” Her favorite movie of all time is “Sleepless in Seattle.” A book she would recommend is “High Trust Selling,” by Todd Duncan. When dining out, she enjoys Pom’s Thai Bistro.
-by Michele Newbern Gillis