It’s that time again. The deadline for entering the Mortgage Technology Magazine Awards Competition this year is one week from today, June 30th to be exact. You can enter yourself or your company in one of our seven categories by filling out a nomination
I could go on forever about the awards, but it won’t mean much coming from me given that the awards are put on by my company and I’m one of the judges. Instead I thought it would be meaningful to see what past winners thought about the experience. Each year we honor an outstanding mortgage technology innovator, visionary or evangelizer with our Steve Fraser Award. Given that some may not remember Steve Fraser we’ve decided to further clarify the award by calling it the Steve Fraser Visionary Award from now on.
We give out seven awards in total, but the Steve Fraser is the only award specifically developed to go to an individual over a company. It’s a very personal award that honors someone who isn’t just a talking head about a given topic, but really has the vision to see where the industry is going and who actively helps get it there. So, I asked the last five Steve Fraser winners to reflect on what the award means to them.
Keep in mind, I had no idea how many would respond or what they’d say. I feel very fortunate that in the end all five responded and what they had to say truly touched me. Here are their thoughts on the Mortgage Technology Magazine awards.
SCOTT COOLEY
President, Cooley Consulting2007 STEVE FRASER WINNEROver the 25 years that I’ve been in this industry, I’ve felt that I accomplished a number of achievements. Receiving the Steve Frasier Award is the first time I received recognition for those accomplishments, though. Beyond this being the only award on my desk, it signifies to me that my hard work meant something to those that are important to me.
My colleagues can see that I worked for the betterment of the industry and for the advancement of technology. It’s been a great honor for me. There have been so many in our industry that have worked hard to propel us forward. Often, these individuals do so out of the goodness of their heart and too often, go unrecognized. The awards program recognizes those accomplishments go beyond just the pocketbook — that success isn’t only recognized through monetary gains.
BILL ADAMOWSKI
Group President, General Partner and Co-Founder of ISGN
2006 STEVE FRASER WINNER
It was a huge honor to be the recipient of the Mortgage Technology Magazine Steve Fraser Award.
It has not only helped to elevate my standing as a professional and industry leader, but also helped further position MortgageHub as a leading-edge innovator within the realm of mortgage technology.
I am very pleased to be part of Mortgage Technology Magazine's Awards Program legacy, which provides the mortgage technology space and the industry as a whole with an objective third party evaluation of today's industry players, while giving both new and established companies an even playing field to demonstrate their excellence and commitment to innovation.RUTH THOMPSONSenior Principal, Mortgage Doc Prep, Wolters Kluwer Financial Services
2005 STEVE FRASER WINNER
Mortgage Technology Magazine’s Steve Fraser Award is an important symbol to the industry of how the innovative application of technology can help lenders overcome some of their most complex operational challenges in order to grow revenue and better serve their borrowers while operating in a highly regulated, changing industry. Each year, a new winner illustrates the importance of closely listening to and thoroughly understanding lenders’ unique needs, and helping them address those needs, whether serving in a role of technology innovator, visionary or evangelizer. That means not being afraid to navigate uncharted waters to help the lenders develop a new, unprecedented approach to solving a problem.
To be recognized by your peers for being an outstanding mortgage technology innovator, visionary, evangelizer in our industry was one of the high points of my career. For me it supported the idea that to shape change you must be willing to listen deeply to what a market needs and what a market can adopt to achieve their business goals. It also said to me that, as the provider of services and technology, you have to be willing to go into uncharted waters to get to the goal.
ROGER GUDOBBAChief Strategy Officer, Compliance Systems Inc.2004 STEVE FRASER WINNERThe Steve Fraser Award is given annually to an outstanding mortgage technology innovator, visionary or evangelizer. Being a visionary requires one to “think outside the box” and the foresight to perceive how a concept will improve the industry. The innovator then brings this concept to reality and the evangelizer has the fortitude and perseverance to stand behind those beliefs. Sometimes these viewpoints were not easily recognized or accepted. Throughout my career I have always been intrigued by the tremendous potential of computer technology. I’ve always said, “It’s all about the data,” but in reality data must be processed and understood to be meaningful. This is the power of computers. The ability to conduct business at warp speed is here. The industry is at the forefront of an evolutionary change.
Each of the past winners has made significant and valuable contributions in a number of areas. They had an unwavering commitment and conviction to their ideas. It is extremely satisfying to be recognized for your efforts. I was truly humbled and honored to receive this award. It is important for the industry to be aware of these individual efforts. The Annual Mortgage Technology Magazine Awards are the industry’s Academy Awards and are to be treasured and passionately sought after.
TIM ANDERSONPresident, SigniaDocs2003 STEVE FRASER WINNERThe Steve Fraser Award is special since it is the only one of the Mortgage Technology Awards that specifically recognizes an individual rather than a company. As such, it is especially gratifying to have won this award for my involvement in evangelizing on behalf of e-mortgages and the value of SMART Docs. Winning the award has been both professionally and personally rewarding.
Professionally, it gives the winner an enhanced credibility and validation in the industry that is impossible to quantify. Personally, it is gratifying because there were times when I felt I was talking to myself, trying to educate and show people that there is a better way. To receive recognition for that means I was successful in getting others to listen.
I was surprised and humbled to receive it and will always be grateful to Mortgage Technology for recognizing me with this prestigious award.
*****
It’s good to be recognized. Everyone wants to be told that they’re doing a good job. Sometimes you have an employer that’s real quiet and says nothing to you. Sometimes you have an employer that wants to control everything and allows for zero creativity. Sometimes you only hear from your employer when you’ve done something wrong. And if you’re the boss there’s no one to tell you that you’re doing a good job at all. I’m proud to be associated with the awards so I can be a part of telling these hard-working executives and companies that they’re doing an excellent job.
Again, you can apply
