“What I get most from my job is what I get back from my commitment to assisting those who need me in order to obtain their mortgage loan,” says Deanna McClelland, a senior loan consultant at Guild Mortgage in Vancouver. “We make homeownership dreams come true. We did all start with a dream, right? That is what I love best about what I get to do for a living.”
Name: Deanna McClelland
Job: Senior loan consultant, Guild Mortgage, Vancouver
Age: 50
Residence: Vancouver
Education/professional background: Life’s journeys have gotten me where I am today. I attended Trend Business College and completed my certification as a legal secretary. I worked for a Vancouver commercial broker through a temp service, then spent time with ICA mortgage, learning commercial and residential mortgage processing. From there, my role evolved into origination of commercial properties and developing assisted living and nursing homes and the rehab of existing apartment complexes. Eventually, I began originating residential mortgages and found the right fit for me here at Guild.
Personal/business philosophy: “Leap and the net will appear.”
The most challenging part of the job: Not having the opportunity to talk directly with the powers-that-be before they come out with laws and new behaviors that make our jobs more difficult.
What about dealing with couples who have differing philosophies on indebtedness? It’s important that my team and I meet our consumers face to face. This texting and emailing is out of control when it comes to making the largest purchase of a lifetime. If our borrowers cannot agree within themselves on debts, then it’s not time for them to buy a home together.
