Vendor Management Quality Control Coordinator
EMC Residential

“I’d been laid off in 2001 from a promotional product business; before that, I’d been in the real estate industry in San Antonio. I found a job as an underwriting assistant with a realty mortgage company and then moved into a broker-liaison position. I knew I wanted to go to school to learn more, but I didn’t know what was available.

“I was laid off again, and EMC hired me literally when my last unemployment check ran out. They advertised on their employee Web site that North Lake College had classes in Mortgage Banking and that you could earn an associate degree. I made an appointment to see Keith Baker and brought my transcripts — I had taken classes at three previous colleges, and I’d changed majors seven times.

“Dr. Baker told me that with my previous work, I really wasn’t that far from getting an associate degree. I had almost all of the credits, but I just didn’t know what to make of my past experience. Since I was also working full time while going to school, they estimated that I wouldn’t graduate until the spring of 2008. But I really busted it and graduated a year early, in the spring of 2007!

“The best part of my experience at North Lake, honestly, was professor Keith Baker. He was so informative and humorous in his lectures and brought in lots of industry experience relating to the current market environment. He was always helpful and knowledgeable, and I’ve recommended his classes to a lot of friends who are now taking Mortgage Banking classes.

“The most important thing I learned was perseverance. I never thought I’d have a college degree. I had earned my loan officer’s license and taken some college classes, but earning the degree has made me really proud, especially since I was able to put myself through school.

“I’m fortunate in that my company is supportive of its employees earning a college degree. Since classes start at 3:30, they pay you for the hour you’re in class, and my supervisor and co-workers were so supportive. I had my picture on the company Web site when I graduated. It was good I got so much support because there were times I thought I was over my head going to school and working full time. But I kept going. I’d like to earn a bachelor’s degree someday.

“I would recommend North Lake’s program to anybody. Mortgage banking will always be around; people will always buy and refinance houses. There are so many areas where you can work — underwriting, closing, brokering, loan officer, real estate. Mortgage banking is just an industry where there will always be jobs.”

A native of Converse, Texas (in the San Antonio area), Michelle Carr attended San Antonio Community College, San Angelo State Community College and UT-San Antonio before earning an associate degree in Mortgage Banking at North Lake College in May 2007. In her current job, she audits loans to ensure that they are productive for the company.