Iowa Governor Honors LenderClose for Supporting the State’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem – NMP Skip to main content

Iowa Governor Honors LenderClose for Supporting the State’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

May 22, 2018
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds says it’s important to be brief when speaking to an entrepreneurial community, something she did recently at the LenderClose launch party in Des Moines, Iowa

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds says it’s important to be brief when speaking to an entrepreneurial community, something she did recently at the LenderClose launch party in Des Moines, Iowa.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds says it’s important to be brief when speaking to an entrepreneurial community, something she did recently at the LenderClose launch party in Des Moines, Iowa
“Our goal is to have a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem that supports startup companies like LenderClose at all levels of growth,” said Gov. Reynolds who went on to offer praise to the fintech startup and its leadership.
 
LenderClose is a Web-based platform that digitizes the underwriting process and speeds up the lending cycle. The digital hub gives Loan Officers instant access to the latest real estate lending technology, products and solutions so they can become dominant lenders in their local markets.
 
“We appreciate you having your headquarters here in Des Moines,” said Gov. Reynolds said to LenderClose Founder and CEO Omar Jordan and COO Ben Rempe. “As a fintech startup, you’re building a stronger reputation. We love the disruptive lending platform that continues to empower lending institutions to compete on a national level by streamlining the process and increasing their footprint. I love it when we can streamline and innovate. Anything disruptive, I love.”
 
Kara Miner, who will serve as an Operations Specialist for LenderCloseThe event celebrated the recent investment LenderClose secured from Next Level Ventures, a venture capital firm that invests in growing companies based in Iowa. The funding will allow LenderClose to add 25 employees to the fast-growing company. The first of the incoming is Kara Miner (pictured right), who will serve as an Operations Specialist for LenderClose.
 
Miner brings more than 15 years of experience in mortgage, real estate tax sale and customer service to LenderClose. She joins LenderClose from Premier Lending Alliance, an Iowa Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO) that provides mortgage products and services to consumers and financial institutions. Prior to serving as a Loan Processor for Premier Lending Alliance, Miner was a Loan Originator for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage in West Des Moines.
 
As Operations Specialist, Miner will assist LenderClose’s credit union and community bank clients with reporting, customer service and vendor follow ups. Miner’s core objective will be to maintain the connections Loan Officers need to close loans as quickly and efficiently as possible.


 
About the author
Published
May 22, 2018
More from
Tech
New AI-Run Mortgage Startup Builds Database Of 224,000 LOs

LenDb.ai is making LO records available to AI assistants, offering a potential new way for borrowers to find originators

Nov 05, 2026
Gateway Taps ICE For Servicing Overhaul After $2.4B MSR Sale

The lender is consolidating servicing operations on ICE's MSP platform after disclosing regulatory capital constraints that have limited its ability to retain MSRs

Nov 05, 2026
Rocket's New Tool Lets Brokers Counter Rival Refi Offers On The Spot

Born from a broker's winning Big Pitch proposal, Quick Counter analyzes competing Loan Estimates and generates alternative offers during borrower calls

Nov 03, 2026
Dark Matter Expands AI Ambitions With House Numbers Acquisition

The deal builds on a series of automation initiatives as the tech provider moves toward AI agents capable of executing tasks throughout the loan lifecycle

Nov 02, 2026
Friday Harbor Expands AI Appraisal Reviews As UAD 3.6 Deadline Nears

The new capability adds more than 350 automated checks as lenders prepare for the November 2 mandate

Oct 27, 2026