[1]J.K. Huey of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage [2] was presented with the 2014 Five Star Lifetime Achievement Award at the Women in Housing Leadership Summit September 16 as part of the 11th Annual Five Star Conference and Expo.
Huey has worked in the mortgage industry for more than 30 years and has been with Wells Fargo since 2009, where in her position as SVP of mortgage asset management and preservation, she is responsible for managing REO (real estate-owned) and property preservation activities for Wells Fargo's servicing channel. Prior to joining Wells Fargo, Huey held management positions at IndyMac Bank, Washington Mutual, and Homeside Lending. She has chaired many committees and served on several boards over the years, and has been recognized on multiple occasions for her expertise in the mortgage industry. She is active in her community with Big Brothers and Big Sisters.
"When I got into this business 33 years ago, it was a very different environment," Huey told the audience at the Women's Leadership Summit. "In fact, there were hardly any women in leadership at the time, so I had no idea this was going to be the career path that I chose, but I have to say over all these years, it's been a great experience and I can't think of doing anything else with my life."
Huey went on to thank her peers, team members, business partners, and her boss at Wells Fargo as well as her husband, siblings, and kids for their support, and she closed her speech by admonishing the audience.
"I encourage all of you to pursue your passion," she said. "Work hard at what you love to do, be dedicated to those things, and if you do that, then you're always going to be successful."
Regarding the Lifetime Achievement Award it hands out annually, Five Star issued a statement saying, "The selection process for the Lifetime Achievement Award is highly competitive, ensuring only the most innovative professionals receive consideration in order to promote the trailblazing spirit of the award. The Five Star is proud to honor esteemed visionaries that influence the direction of our industry."
Speakers at the Women's Leadership Summit included Jo Ann Kruse, president and CEO of Matt Martin Real Estate Management [3]; Ann Thorn, SVP, liquidation services, Bank of America [4]; Amy Brachio, partner, Ernst & Young [5]; Margaret Kelly, president and CEO, RE/MAX [6]; and Kathy Ireland, CEO and chief designer, Kathy Ireland Worldwide [7].