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Courtney taking in the views atop of Dallas' Reunion Tower before the 2025 Texas Mortgage Roundup
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By the time this issue goes to print, I’ll be just shy of hitting my fourth year in the mortgage industry. In that time, one thing has become crystal clear: the mortgage industry isn’t always a career people set out to join, yet somehow, everyone seems to find a home here. I’ve been endlessly fascinated by the origin stories of those who end up in this world, and even more intrigued by the people working behind the scenes to connect mortgage professionals to each other. They play a critical role in forming deals, partnerships, and lasting relationships that keep the industry moving.
Coming from a background as a graphic designer, I feel a kindred spirit with those quiet orchestrators who make meaningful connections happen every day. People like Courtney Valvo.
Courtney assists in producing large-scale events for the Originator Connect Network (OCN), and I had the chance to travel with OCN this past September to Dallas, Texas, where I heard her story firsthand. It’s one that proves curiosity, courage, and adaptability are not just assets in this industry. — they are essential.
Much like Courtney’s preference for scenic routes, her career path took the road less traveled. She began managing stylists’ schedules at a busy Charlotte, North Carolina salon. At first glance, working in a salon and managing a trade show floor may seem worlds apart, but in reality, both are high-energy environments fueled by constant movement, tight schedules, and people with highly individualized needs. That early experience laid the foundation for the skills Courtney would continue to build throughout her career.
Feeling the pull to explore something more creative, Courtney dove into art curation and event planning. She co-managed an art collective and ran an underground supper club, blending creativity, hospitality, and operations into one seamless experience. That unique intersection, creating intentional environments where people connect, would later become central to her work producing national mortgage conferences.
Her entrepreneurial streak soon led her into Charlotte’s craft beer scene, where she assisted in the startup of NoDa Brewing, the city’s second brewery. Wearing many hats, from marketing to serving as the face of their first beer, Ramble on Red, Courtney mastered the art of multitasking and public engagement. Today, she channels that same energy into mortgage events, many of which include networking receptions and, yes, drink tickets.
“All experience is good experience.”
> Courtney Valvo's deceptively simple
philosophy about work, through
successes and failures alike.
But Courtney’s career has always been about more than business. She eventually transformed her supper club into a nonprofit, working with community organizations including Heart’s Beat As One. That giving-back mindset aligns seamlessly with OCN’s annual partnership with Homes for Our Troops, where the organization’s largest regional event in Las Vegas combines industry networking with tangible impact for veterans.
Along the way, Courtney accumulated an extraordinary toolkit of skills. From Colorado cannabis farms to CBD startups, cardiology, phlebotomy, and veterinary care, each role added a new layer of adaptability and problem-solving. By the end of 2025, Courtney had become an integral part of nearly 20 Originator Connect Network shows, helping support more than 15,000 live attendees annually.
Courtney’s philosophy is simple: “All experience is good experience.” Through successes and failures alike, she believes we develop unique toolkits that serve us well in the future. She takes each new opportunity or challenge head-on as a chance to grow, because “the more you try, the more opportunity you have to succeed and fail.” Those lessons, she says, are essential to filling in the gaps until you figure out what works.
Today, Courtney orchestrates dozens of moving parts to ensure attendees leave OCN events with meaningful connections, while exhibitors and sponsors are given the platform they need to share their message and build lasting relationships on the expo floor. She also helps facilitate post-conference mortgage education classes with OCN partner MaxClass, an NMLS-approved educator. While Courtney doesn’t originate loans herself, her work directly empowers those who do, helping mortgage professionals network, learn, and thrive in a constantly changing market.
And in between travels and expos, Courtney prioritizes something just as important: rest.
“I would not be able to show up with patience, compassion, or focus without recharging.”
It’s easy to imagine how someone with Courtney’s schedule could burn the candle at both ends, but she is intentional about protecting time at home with family, most importantly her dog, Tula. She values being able to bring her stories of work and travel back to the people she loves most.
“Being able to share my adventures with the people who love me most is always a good time.”
Courtney’s journey is just one example of how eclectic career paths can become powerful assets within the mortgage and financial industries. In just four short years, I’ve met countless creative problem-solvers, multitaskers, and individuals who thrive under pressure. Her story reminds us that a career in mortgage doesn’t always begin with a finance degree. It often begins with curiosity, courage, and connection.
“The more you try,
the more opportunity you have to succeed and fail.”
> Those lessons, Valvo says, are essential to filling in the gaps until you figure out what works.
If you find yourself at an Originator Connect Network event in 2026 — and I imagine many of our readers will — be sure to say hello to Courtney. She will greet you with a warm smile, take a genuine interest in your journey, and perhaps even help steer you in the right direction.
Meghan Golden is the marketing supervisor for Mortgage Women and the Director of Digital Communications for the Mortgage Women Leadership Council.
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By the time this issue goes to print, I’ll be just shy of hitting my fourth year in the mortgage industry. In that time, one thing has become crystal clear: the mortgage industry isn’t always a career people set out to join, yet somehow, everyone seems to find a home here. I’ve been endlessly fascinated by the origin stories of those who end up in this world, and even more intrigued by the people working behind the scenes to connect mortgage professionals to each other. They play a critical role in forming deals, partnerships, and lasting relationships that keep the industry moving.
Coming from a background as a graphic designer, I feel a kindred spirit with those quiet orchestrators who make meaningful connections happen every day. People like Courtney Valvo.
Courtney assists in producing large-scale events for the Originator Connect Network (OCN), and I had the chance to travel with OCN this past September to Dallas, Texas, where I heard her story firsthand. It’s one that proves curiosity, courage, and adaptability are not just assets in this industry. — they are essential.
Much like Courtney’s preference for scenic routes, her career path took the road less traveled. She began managing stylists’ schedules at a busy Charlotte, North Carolina salon. At first glance, working in a salon and managing a trade show floor may seem worlds apart, but in reality, both are high-energy environments fueled by constant movement, tight schedules, and people with highly individualized needs. That early experience laid the foundation for the skills Courtney would continue to build throughout her career.
Feeling the pull to explore something more creative, Courtney dove into art curation and event planning. She co-managed an art collective and ran an underground supper club, blending creativity, hospitality, and operations into one seamless experience. That unique intersection, creating intentional environments where people connect, would later become central to her work producing national mortgage conferences.
Her entrepreneurial streak soon led her into Charlotte’s craft beer scene, where she assisted in the startup of NoDa Brewing, the city’s second brewery. Wearing many hats, from marketing to serving as the face of their first beer, Ramble on Red, Courtney mastered the art of multitasking and public engagement. Today, she channels that same energy into mortgage events, many of which include networking receptions and, yes, drink tickets.
“All experience is good experience.”
> Courtney Valvo's deceptively simple
philosophy about work, through
successes and failures alike.
But Courtney’s career has always been about more than business. She eventually transformed her supper club into a nonprofit, working with community organizations including Heart’s Beat As One. That giving-back mindset aligns seamlessly with OCN’s annual partnership with Homes for Our Troops, where the organization’s largest regional event in Las Vegas combines industry networking with tangible impact for veterans.
Along the way, Courtney accumulated an extraordinary toolkit of skills. From Colorado cannabis farms to CBD startups, cardiology, phlebotomy, and veterinary care, each role added a new layer of adaptability and problem-solving. By the end of 2025, Courtney had become an integral part of nearly 20 Originator Connect Network shows, helping support more than 15,000 live attendees annually.
Courtney’s philosophy is simple: “All experience is good experience.” Through successes and failures alike, she believes we develop unique toolkits that serve us well in the future. She takes each new opportunity or challenge head-on as a chance to grow, because “the more you try, the more opportunity you have to succeed and fail.” Those lessons, she says, are essential to filling in the gaps until you figure out what works.
Today, Courtney orchestrates dozens of moving parts to ensure attendees leave OCN events with meaningful connections, while exhibitors and sponsors are given the platform they need to share their message and build lasting relationships on the expo floor. She also helps facilitate post-conference mortgage education classes with OCN partner MaxClass, an NMLS-approved educator. While Courtney doesn’t originate loans herself, her work directly empowers those who do, helping mortgage professionals network, learn, and thrive in a constantly changing market.
And in between travels and expos, Courtney prioritizes something just as important: rest.
“I would not be able to show up with patience, compassion, or focus without recharging.”
It’s easy to imagine how someone with Courtney’s schedule could burn the candle at both ends, but she is intentional about protecting time at home with family, most importantly her dog, Tula. She values being able to bring her stories of work and travel back to the people she loves most.
“Being able to share my adventures with the people who love me most is always a good time.”
Courtney’s journey is just one example of how eclectic career paths can become powerful assets within the mortgage and financial industries. In just four short years, I’ve met countless creative problem-solvers, multitaskers, and individuals who thrive under pressure. Her story reminds us that a career in mortgage doesn’t always begin with a finance degree. It often begins with curiosity, courage, and connection.
“The more you try,
the more opportunity you have to succeed and fail.”
> Those lessons, Valvo says, are essential to filling in the gaps until you figure out what works.
If you find yourself at an Originator Connect Network event in 2026 — and I imagine many of our readers will — be sure to say hello to Courtney. She will greet you with a warm smile, take a genuine interest in your journey, and perhaps even help steer you in the right direction.
Meghan Golden is the marketing supervisor for Mortgage Women and the Director of Digital Communications for the Mortgage Women Leadership Council.
By the time this issue goes to print, I’ll be just shy of hitting my fourth year in the mortgage industry. In that time, one thing has become crystal clear: the mortgage industry isn’t always a career people set out to join, yet somehow, everyone seems to find a home here. I’ve been endlessly fascinated by the origin stories of those who end up in this world, and even more intrigued by the people working behind the scenes to connect mortgage professionals to each other. They play a critical role in forming deals, partnerships, and lasting relationships that keep the industry moving.
Coming from a background as a graphic designer, I feel a kindred spirit with those quiet orchestrators who make meaningful connections happen every day. People like Courtney Valvo.
Courtney assists in producing large-scale events for the Originator Connect Network (OCN), and I had the chance to travel with OCN this past September to Dallas, Texas, where I heard her story firsthand. It’s one that proves curiosity, courage, and adaptability are not just assets in this industry. — they are essential.
Much like Courtney’s preference for scenic routes, her career path took the road less traveled. She began managing stylists’ schedules at a busy Charlotte, North Carolina salon. At first glance, working in a salon and managing a trade show floor may seem worlds apart, but in reality, both are high-energy environments fueled by constant movement, tight schedules, and people with highly individualized needs. That early experience laid the foundation for the skills Courtney would continue to build throughout her career.
Feeling the pull to explore something more creative, Courtney dove into art curation and event planning. She co-managed an art collective and ran an underground supper club, blending creativity, hospitality, and operations into one seamless experience. That unique intersection, creating intentional environments where people connect, would later become central to her work producing national mortgage conferences.
Her entrepreneurial streak soon led her into Charlotte’s craft beer scene, where she assisted in the startup of NoDa Brewing, the city’s second brewery. Wearing many hats, from marketing to serving as the face of their first beer, Ramble on Red, Courtney mastered the art of multitasking and public engagement. Today, she channels that same energy into mortgage events, many of which include networking receptions and, yes, drink tickets.
“All experience is good experience.”
> Courtney Valvo's deceptively simple
philosophy about work, through
successes and failures alike.
But Courtney’s career has always been about more than business. She eventually transformed her supper club into a nonprofit, working with community organizations including Heart’s Beat As One. That giving-back mindset aligns seamlessly with OCN’s annual partnership with Homes for Our Troops, where the organization’s largest regional event in Las Vegas combines industry networking with tangible impact for veterans.
Along the way, Courtney accumulated an extraordinary toolkit of skills. From Colorado cannabis farms to CBD startups, cardiology, phlebotomy, and veterinary care, each role added a new layer of adaptability and problem-solving. By the end of 2025, Courtney had become an integral part of nearly 20 Originator Connect Network shows, helping support more than 15,000 live attendees annually.
Courtney’s philosophy is simple: “All experience is good experience.” Through successes and failures alike, she believes we develop unique toolkits that serve us well in the future. She takes each new opportunity or challenge head-on as a chance to grow, because “the more you try, the more opportunity you have to succeed and fail.” Those lessons, she says, are essential to filling in the gaps until you figure out what works.
Today, Courtney orchestrates dozens of moving parts to ensure attendees leave OCN events with meaningful connections, while exhibitors and sponsors are given the platform they need to share their message and build lasting relationships on the expo floor. She also helps facilitate post-conference mortgage education classes with OCN partner MaxClass, an NMLS-approved educator. While Courtney doesn’t originate loans herself, her work directly empowers those who do, helping mortgage professionals network, learn, and thrive in a constantly changing market.
And in between travels and expos, Courtney prioritizes something just as important: rest.
“I would not be able to show up with patience, compassion, or focus without recharging.”
It’s easy to imagine how someone with Courtney’s schedule could burn the candle at both ends, but she is intentional about protecting time at home with family, most importantly her dog, Tula. She values being able to bring her stories of work and travel back to the people she loves most.
“Being able to share my adventures with the people who love me most is always a good time.”
Courtney’s journey is just one example of how eclectic career paths can become powerful assets within the mortgage and financial industries. In just four short years, I’ve met countless creative problem-solvers, multitaskers, and individuals who thrive under pressure. Her story reminds us that a career in mortgage doesn’t always begin with a finance degree. It often begins with curiosity, courage, and connection.
“The more you try,
the more opportunity you have to succeed and fail.”
> Those lessons, Valvo says, are essential to filling in the gaps until you figure out what works.
If you find yourself at an Originator Connect Network event in 2026 — and I imagine many of our readers will — be sure to say hello to Courtney. She will greet you with a warm smile, take a genuine interest in your journey, and perhaps even help steer you in the right direction.
Meghan Golden is the marketing supervisor for Mortgage Women and the Director of Digital Communications for the Mortgage Women Leadership Council.
By the time this issue goes to print, I’ll be just shy of hitting my fourth year in the mortgage industry. In that time, one thing has become crystal clear: the mortgage industry isn’t always a career people set out to join, yet somehow, everyone seems to find a home here. I’ve been endlessly fascinated by the origin stories of those who end up in this world, and even more intrigued by the people working behind the scenes to connect mortgage professionals to each other. They play a critical role in forming deals, partnerships, and lasting relationships that keep the industry moving.
Coming from a background as a graphic designer, I feel a kindred spirit with those quiet orchestrators who make meaningful connections happen every day. People like Courtney Valvo.
Courtney assists in producing large-scale events for the Originator Connect Network (OCN), and I had the chance to travel with OCN this past September to Dallas, Texas, where I heard her story firsthand. It’s one that proves curiosity, courage, and adaptability are not just assets in this industry. — they are essential.
Much like Courtney’s preference for scenic routes, her career path took the road less traveled. She began managing stylists’ schedules at a busy Charlotte, North Carolina salon. At first glance, working in a salon and managing a trade show floor may seem worlds apart, but in reality, both are high-energy environments fueled by constant movement, tight schedules, and people with highly individualized needs. That early experience laid the foundation for the skills Courtney would continue to build throughout her career.
Feeling the pull to explore something more creative, Courtney dove into art curation and event planning. She co-managed an art collective and ran an underground supper club, blending creativity, hospitality, and operations into one seamless experience. That unique intersection, creating intentional environments where people connect, would later become central to her work producing national mortgage conferences.
Her entrepreneurial streak soon led her into Charlotte’s craft beer scene, where she assisted in the startup of NoDa Brewing, the city’s second brewery. Wearing many hats, from marketing to serving as the face of their first beer, Ramble on Red, Courtney mastered the art of multitasking and public engagement. Today, she channels that same energy into mortgage events, many of which include networking receptions and, yes, drink tickets.
“All experience is good experience.”
> Courtney Valvo's deceptively simple
philosophy about work, through
successes and failures alike.
But Courtney’s career has always been about more than business. She eventually transformed her supper club into a nonprofit, working with community organizations including Heart’s Beat As One. That giving-back mindset aligns seamlessly with OCN’s annual partnership with Homes for Our Troops, where the organization’s largest regional event in Las Vegas combines industry networking with tangible impact for veterans.
Along the way, Courtney accumulated an extraordinary toolkit of skills. From Colorado cannabis farms to CBD startups, cardiology, phlebotomy, and veterinary care, each role added a new layer of adaptability and problem-solving. By the end of 2025, Courtney had become an integral part of nearly 20 Originator Connect Network shows, helping support more than 15,000 live attendees annually.
Courtney’s philosophy is simple: “All experience is good experience.” Through successes and failures alike, she believes we develop unique toolkits that serve us well in the future. She takes each new opportunity or challenge head-on as a chance to grow, because “the more you try, the more opportunity you have to succeed and fail.” Those lessons, she says, are essential to filling in the gaps until you figure out what works.
Today, Courtney orchestrates dozens of moving parts to ensure attendees leave OCN events with meaningful connections, while exhibitors and sponsors are given the platform they need to share their message and build lasting relationships on the expo floor. She also helps facilitate post-conference mortgage education classes with OCN partner MaxClass, an NMLS-approved educator. While Courtney doesn’t originate loans herself, her work directly empowers those who do, helping mortgage professionals network, learn, and thrive in a constantly changing market.
And in between travels and expos, Courtney prioritizes something just as important: rest.
“I would not be able to show up with patience, compassion, or focus without recharging.”
It’s easy to imagine how someone with Courtney’s schedule could burn the candle at both ends, but she is intentional about protecting time at home with family, most importantly her dog, Tula. She values being able to bring her stories of work and travel back to the people she loves most.
“Being able to share my adventures with the people who love me most is always a good time.”
Courtney’s journey is just one example of how eclectic career paths can become powerful assets within the mortgage and financial industries. In just four short years, I’ve met countless creative problem-solvers, multitaskers, and individuals who thrive under pressure. Her story reminds us that a career in mortgage doesn’t always begin with a finance degree. It often begins with curiosity, courage, and connection.
“The more you try,
the more opportunity you have to succeed and fail.”
> Those lessons, Valvo says, are essential to filling in the gaps until you figure out what works.
If you find yourself at an Originator Connect Network event in 2026 — and I imagine many of our readers will — be sure to say hello to Courtney. She will greet you with a warm smile, take a genuine interest in your journey, and perhaps even help steer you in the right direction.
Meghan Golden is the marketing supervisor for Mortgage Women and the Director of Digital Communications for the Mortgage Women Leadership Council.
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MaxClass is a woman-owned company, and we're offering MWLC members 65% off your continuing education when you use our code WOMENWIN.
MaxClass is a woman-owned company, and we're offering MWLC members 65% off your continuing education. Become a member for our unique code.
The unexpected turns that led Mae Mackey to the industry
Why humanity is the most valuable currency in mortgage lending
Three women leaders on why curiosity, courage, and raising your hand matter more than checking every box
How resilience, adaptability, and voice powered Elizabeth Mix’s rise in mortgage banking
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Why the long way around led to clarity, growth, and a more intentional mortgage career
Strong brands don’t just differentiate — they mentor, inspire, and transform the future of mortgage
The industry keeps repeating old mistakes. Here’s how lenders can pivot, prepare, and protect profitability
A surprisingly powerful break from the chaos of grown-up life.
From Charmed to the mortgage industry
A letter from the editor
MaxClass is a woman-owned company, and we're offering MWLC members 65% off your continuing education when you use our code WOMENWIN.
MaxClass is a woman-owned company, and we're offering MWLC members 65% off your continuing education. Become a member for our unique code.
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Why webinars work
Recent litigagion may bleed into fair lending and agency regulation
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Dive deep into the challenges women face in the professional world.
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This episode focuses on email marketing, where experts Meghan Golden, LaDonnna Lockard, and Erica LaCentra guided attendees through the essentials of crafting successful email campaigns.
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