With more than 30 years of experience in financial services and mortgage, Steve knows that customers value expertise, integrity, and accessibility when choosing who to trust when financing their home. Since joining PrimeLending in 2011 and being named President in 2017, Steve has been a driving force behind our mission to simplify the mortgage process. The results have been extraordinary, as the company has consistently received a 96% average customer satisfaction* rating (five years running), as well as maintaining a 4.9-star national rating on Google and earning 22,000+ 5-star Zillow reviews.

Steve places a high priority on fostering a PrimeLending team that shares the company’s people-first values and dedicated to delivering service beyond expectations. During his tenure, PrimeLending’s employees have remained deeply engaged and committed to the company’s mission. In fact, 97% of the company’s employees are proud to work at PrimeLending according to their 2023 employee engagement survey administered by Great Place to Work^®. Steve is a two-time HousingWire Vanguard honoree (2023 and 2017), as well as being recognized as a 2024 Inman Best in Finance winner and being named Top Leader by The Dallas Morning News 2021 Top Places to Work program.

*Survey administered and managed by an independent third party following loan closing. 96% satisfaction rating refers to the average overall satisfaction rating our customers gave during the period 01/01/24-12/31/24.

Equal parts technician, strategist, and teacher, Eric leads all aspects of PrimeLending’s accounting, financial reporting, and planning, as well as overseeing our loan servicing division. Since joining the company in 2011, he has helped to establish the company’s high standards for all financial policies and procedures. As a crucial link between PrimeLending and Hilltop Holdings, Eric makes sure everyone knows where the company stands by regularly sharing key financials with employees. His leadership traits and drive for success contributed to his recognition as a HousingWire 2022 Finance Leader. Eric spent the first 10 years of his career in the Dallas audit practice of Price Waterhouse. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Central Michigan University and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant.

Known for her encyclopedic knowledge of mortgage programs, guidelines, and regulations, Kristi Harris oversees every step of processing home loans, from application to underwriting to closing and beyond, plus leads our product management team. But what really drives Kristi is her passion for simplifying the mortgage process so we can always deliver outstanding service and create loyal customers for life. Kristi started her career working for her mom, a successful chief underwriter, and has worked her way up through a wide range of operational roles since joining PrimeLending more than 28 years ago. She frequently serves as an expert panelist for mortgage-related conferences and has been recognized with a HousingWire Vanguard Award (2016) and a Mortgage Women Magazine’s Women with Vision Award (2019).

With over 30 years of experience in the financial industry, Brian McKinney is a forward-thinking strategist focused on driving growth and innovation while supporting PrimeLending’s mission of empowering homeownership. He has a proven track record of building successful business lines by delivering exceptional experiences that earn the trust of customers and partners. Before joining PrimeLending, Brian served as CEO of a national mortgage lender and held senior leadership roles in several financial services firms. His passion for anticipating trends drives his collaboration with our team to ensure PrimeLending has the people, products, and technology to build lasting relationships. A dynamic leader, Brian believes that streamlining the home financing process can make a significant positive impact on the lives of all the people we serve. He holds a BBA in finance from The University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business.

Andrew brings a customer-focused and solution-oriented approach to leading our capital markets division, the team responsible for managing our interest rate risk, and ensuring we have the best execution strategy possible. He began his Capital Markets career at PrimeLending 10 years ago, left to broaden his experience at various other mortgage lenders, and rejoined the company in his current role in 2023. Andrew returned to a home that shares his belief in valuing people, operating with integrity, and pursuing excellence. A graduate of The University of Texas at Dallas, he calls on his background as an Eagle Scout to solve complex challenges and was recognized with a 2024 HousingWire Finance Leader award.

Cindy is responsible for overseeing all of PrimeLending’s legal, compliance and fair lending, quality assurance, and appraisal departments. More than just an expert attorney, Cindy is a strategic leader with a talent for finding win-win solutions and a passion for developing future leaders. Cindy joined PrimeLending in 2010 as EVP and General Counsel after serving as Assistant General Counsel for PlainsCapital Corporation. Prior to that, she spent 11 years with Southwest Airlines serving as Associate General Counsel. Before going in-house, Cindy was a litigation associate in Dallas with the law firms of Carrington, Coleman, Sloman & Blumenthal, as well as Johnson & Gibbs. She is an honors graduate from Southern Methodist University School of Law, where she served on Law Review (Journal of Air Law and Commerce) and holds a BBA in accounting from the University of Texas at Austin. Cindy is licensed in Texas and is a member of several local and national industry and bar associations and was named a 2021 HousingWire Vanguard Award winner.

A difference maker in the mortgage industry for more than 40 years, Gene leads PrimeLending’s national sales expansion efforts and drives homeownership growth strategies nationwide. From building our talented and experienced team of mortgage professionals to developing homeownership outreach and education opportunities in traditionally underserved markets, Gene’s team focuses on opening doors to homeownership throughout the country. Gene also leads our advocacy efforts in the mortgage industry as a whole, currently serving as the Chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) Residential Board of Governors and as a member of the MBA Executive Board. He previously chaired the MBA’s Mortgage Action Alliance Committee and was President of the Maryland Mortgage Bankers Association. In 2022, Gene was recognized as a HousingWire Vanguard winner, recognizing his meaningful service to the industry.

Overseeing all branch production and operations in the Western Division, Al spends much of his time on the road visiting every branch and get to know team members. Al has been part of PrimeLending’s leadership team since joining in 2009 and plays a key role in ensuring our branches and loan officers are equipped with the latest tools and industry knowledge serve today’s modern homebuyers. A true hands-on leader, Al spent the first ten years of his mortgage career working as a loan originator himself, gaining frontline experience doing what it takes to successfully guide customers through financing a home. Throughout his career, Al never loses sight that mortgage is a people business, and that building a team of experienced, trustworthy, and caring loan professionals is a priority. That’s why Al always makes time to help mentor emerging leaders and guide young loan originators. His forward-thinking leadership style earned him the 2018 HousingWire Vanguard award.

A 25-year veteran of the mortgage industry, including more than 18 years as part of PrimeLending’s leadership team, Susie oversees our joint venture initiatives with home builders, a program that provides new construction homebuyers high-quality financing options through their homebuilder. She also leads our Licensing Department, ensuring PrimeLending and our loan originators are compliant and in good standing with all state and federal licensing requirements. Susie also oversees our national, award-winning training team, taking pride in ensuring PrimeLending team members are the most knowledgeable mortgage professionals in the industry. A 2018 HousingWire Women of Influence honoree, Susie is passionate about the role homeownership plays in helping to transform our communities and provide financial stability for generations.

A marketing and branding expert with 20-plus years of experience in mortgage and financial services, Cheryl Hayes is PrimeLending’s forward-thinking, dynamic SVP of Marketing. Cheryl has her finger on the pulse of today’s marketplace, developing progressive, customer-centric strategies that resonate with diverse homebuyers throughout the country. Overseeing all of the company’s marketing initiatives, she’s a passionate advocate for our customers and business partners, placing a high priority on doing the market research and consumer testing needed to create authentic connections and relevant programs. She knows how to turn high-impact ideas into tangible results, always with the customer experience in mind. Cheryl’s vision and dedication earned her a 2024 HousingWire Woman of Influence Award and a 2022 HousingWire Marketing Leader Award.