Women making an impact across lending, operations, technology, and servicing were recognized on July 8 during the Mortgage Star Conference, hosted by the Mortgage Women Leadership Council (MWLC), where industry leaders gathered to celebrate professionals helping to shape the future of housing finance.
The 2026 Mortgage Star Awards honored women whose leadership, innovation, resilience and commitment are driving meaningful change across the mortgage industry.
"The 2026 Mortgage Star honorees represent the very best of our profession — innovators, mentors, advocates, and leaders who are driving meaningful change and creating opportunities for others to succeed," Kelly Hendricks, managing editor of Mortgage Women, said during the event. "Their stories remind us that leadership isn't measured only by production or titles, but by the lives we impact, the teams we empower, and the legacy we leave behind."
The awards recognize women who are elevating the profession while creating opportunities for others through leadership, collaboration and service. According to the program, the honorees demonstrate that success is measured not only by accomplishments, but also by the teams they empower and the legacy they leave behind.
This year's recipients represented a broad cross-section of the housing finance industry, underscoring how leadership today extends well beyond loan production to include operations, compliance, technology, marketing, servicing, client relations and executive management.
Among those recognized were:
- Jill Frondorf, senior vice president and director of mortgage operations, Fifth Third Bank
- Amber Cowan, first vice president of default operations, Dovenmuehle
- Sue Metzger, senior vice president of operations, Everett Financial DBA Supreme Lending
- Lyndsay Magre, vice president of marketing, Aduvo
- Jennifer McGuinness-Lubbert, chief executive officer, Pivot Financial
- Stephanie McLane, chief executive officer, AREMCO
- Joanna McGinn, executive vice president of client relations, ServiceMac LLC
- Kathy Olsen, senior director of client support, MeridianLink
- Linda Quinto, director of underwriting, Supreme Lending
- LaTasha Waddy, president, NFM Lending
- Louise G. Thaxton, branch manager and CEO of American Warrior Initiative, Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp.
While their backgrounds span every corner of the industry, many of the honorees shared similar themes when discussing leadership: investing in future leaders, building stronger workplace cultures and creating more opportunities for women to advance.
Amber Cowan of Dovenmuehle said broader support for working families — including paid leave and childcare benefits — would help retain talented professionals, while MeridianLink's Kathy Olsen emphasized the need for more intentional sponsorship and clearer pathways into senior leadership roles.
Others focused on leadership philosophy. Sue Metzger of Supreme Lending encouraged professionals to "stop waiting for permission to lead," while AREMCO CEO Stephanie McLane said organizations achieve stronger results by trusting employees with meaningful responsibility early in their careers.
Guiding Light Awards Recognize Founding Support
The conference also presented Guiding Light Awards to three leaders whose early commitment helped establish the Mortgage Women Leadership Council.
The recognition was presented to Elizabeth Mix, vice president of warehouse lending at Western Alliance Bank and an MWLC Advisory Board member; Kelly Hendricks, CEO of MaxClass and managing editor of Mortgage Women; and Meghan Golden, director of digital communications for the MWLC.
According to the award citation, the honor recognizes recipients for their "extraordinary service and commitment to the Mortgage Women Leadership Council." It also celebrates their willingness "to lead, contribute, and believe in our mission from the very beginning," helping build "a community where women in mortgage can connect, grow, and thrive."
The Mortgage Star Awards reflect the industry's continued investment in leadership beyond the sales floor. As lenders and technology providers navigate a rapidly evolving market, organizations increasingly rely on leaders in operations, servicing, compliance, marketing, technology, and executive management to improve efficiency, strengthen customer experience, and develop the next generation of talent.
The Mortgage Star Conference is held in conjunction with the Ultimate Mortgage Expo. Attendees who register for either conference can cross-register to attend educational sessions and networking opportunities at both events. Together, the conferences bring mortgage professionals from across the industry together for leadership development, education, and business growth.
