CHRISSI RHEA NAMED 2020 WOMAN OF INFLUENCE
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KNOXVILLE, TENN. – Mortgage Investors Group President Chrissi Rhea has been named a 2020 Woman of Influence within the mortgage lending industry, company officials announced today.
Rhea co-founded MIG in 1989 and has guided the Knoxville-based company’s growth over the past 30 years to become a respected leader in the residential mortgage lending industry.
HousingWire, an influential source of news and information for the U.S. mortgage and housing markets, recognized her contributions by naming her to its 10th annual Women of Influence list honoring 100 women who are shaping the future of the mortgage, real estate and fintech industries.
“When Chrissi co-founded Mortgage Investors Group in 1989, she set out to create the kind of customer-focused and loan officer empowered company she wished existed in the mortgage lending industry,” MIG Director of Marketing Moneek Langston said. “Her investment in employees, clients and the communities we serve has allowed MIG to become a model for how to not only thrive during good times, but also survive economic recessions, housing slumps and, now, a global pandemic.”
The Women of Influence are selected by HousingWire’s Editorial Selection Committee based on their professional achievements within their organizations, but contributions to the overall industry, community outreach, client impact and personal success also factor into the committee’s decision, according to a HousingWire press release.
“This year’s Women of Influence represent leaders who have faced some of the most unprecedented challenges the housing industry has seen in years,” HousingWire Magazine Editor Kelsey Ramírez said in the release. “Their strength set an example of leadership that impacted not just their teams or companies, but the industry overall. This was one of the most competitive years we have ever seen for the award.”
In the past year, Rhea has spearheaded MIG’s expansion across the Southeast, bringing the firm’s brand of mortgage lending services to borrowers across two new states, including Georgia and North Carolina, and growing the company’s digital and social media presence with the development of a Digital Consumer Interface team to improve customer interactions.
“Chrissi is a generous mentor, sharing her experience with up-and-coming mortgage professionals and industry peers and reminding them that sometimes, the most valuable lessons are learned during the most challenging of circumstances,” Langston said. “The company’s high employee retention rate, including the number of employees with more than 20 years of service, is a testament to her leadership philosophy.”
In addition to mentoring members of the Knoxville and Memphis Mortgage Bankers Associations, Rhea serves on the Board of Directors for the Tennessee Housing Development Agency and on the THDA Audit and Budget Committee and its Lending Committee.
In naming her to its Women of Influence list, the HousingWire also recognized her ability to creatively and quickly adapt to economic and market fluctuations, evolving industry regulations and rapidly changing technologies, Langston said, as well as her firm belief that helping people become homeowners is one of the best ways to ensure a bright and vibrant future for tomorrow’s leaders.
“The winners of our 2020 Women of Influence award are truly outstanding,” HousingWire Editor in Chief Sarah Wheeler said in the press release. “Their leadership, initiative and innovation have positioned their companies to thrive even in this very challenging time, and have set a new standard for excellence.”
MIG is a growing residential mortgage lender in the Southeast building on a proven track record as a long-time industry leader. The company employs more than 400 people and has been the THDA’s top lender annually since 2003, as well as Tennessee’s leading USDA lender every year since 2014. As it continues to expand its footprint, MIG remains committed to serving borrowers across the Southeast.
