In this episode of Miked Up, we sit down with Adam Mason, President of Gershman Mortgage’s Residential Division, for a powerful conversation on what it really takes to build a mortgage company that lasts.

Titled “Mortgage Across Decades,” this episode explores how a generational independent mortgage bank stays competitive, profitable, and culturally strong in an industry defined by cycles, regulation, and rapid change.

Adam’s journey is anything but typical. Trained as a real estate attorney, he joined Gershman Mortgage during the height of post-Dodd-Frank regulatory overhaul. What began as an in-house legal and compliance role quickly evolved into executive leadership. Within a few years, Adam transitioned from General Counsel to Chief Operating Officer, and ultimately to President—bringing with him a disciplined understanding of compliance, structure, and long-term strategic thinking.

Gershman Mortgage, founded in 1955, has built a reputation as a stable, respected regional lender with deep Midwest roots. In an era where many legacy names have disappeared, Gershman has not only survived—it has thrived. In this conversation, Adam shares how a company with over 70 years of history continues to evolve without losing its identity.

Key themes we explore:

• Why legacy is not a constraint—but a catalyst for growth
• How empowering subject-matter experts creates stronger leadership
• The difference between collecting feedback and taking action
• Why local “zip code dominance” still matters in a digital age
• The balance between data-driven decisions and executive instinct
• How leadership changes when you move from transactional thinking to relationship-driven culture

Adam also discusses the importance of people over product. In his words, success at Gershman has never been about a single program, technology, or marketing tactic. It has always been about investing in talent, protecting culture, and giving employees the professional autonomy to own their roles.

As a former athlete and now father of three, Adam shares how parenting shaped his leadership philosophy—teaching him that communication, empathy, and understanding personality differences are just as important in business as they are at home.

We also examine the evolution of data in mortgage banking. From early business intelligence dashboards to today’s AI-driven analytics, Adam provides insight into how executives must avoid “analysis paralysis” and still trust informed instinct when making decisions.

If you are a mortgage executive, branch manager, loan officer, fintech founder, or simply someone interested in how sustainable leadership is built inside independent mortgage banks, this conversation offers real-world perspective grounded in experience—not hype.

This episode is proudly sponsored by:

TrueWork
Income verification built for modern lenders. TrueWork simplifies VOIE by combining multiple verification methods into a single platform, helping lenders reduce costs and improve completion rates.
https://www.truework.com/2026-mikedup?utm_source__c=MikedUp&utm_medium__c=Podcast-Sponsorship&utm_campaign__c=Q1-2026-MikedUp

FundingShield
Real-time wire fraud prevention and closing risk management. FundingShield protects lenders and investors from cyber fraud and validates closing parties and documents before funds move.
https://www.fundingshield.com

In this episode, Jeremy Davis, President of Mortgage at Southern Bancorp, breaks down why the future of customer acquisition in lending is built on connection first and conversion second. As the leader of the mortgage division for one of the nation’s oldest and largest Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), Jeremy is redefining how lenders expand responsibly while staying grounded in mission.

Southern Bancorp hired Jeremy following a nationwide search, tasking him with expanding its mortgage footprint across the South and Mid-South, with a particular focus on serving Black and Hispanic homebuyers. The goal is clear: help close the nearly 30-point homeownership gap minority households face compared to white households. But this isn’t about headlines. It’s about execution.

Jeremy brings more than 20 years of mortgage and financial equity experience to the role. Before Southern Bancorp, he served as President and CEO of InQlusion Mortgage Capital, a diversity-focused home lending company operating across the Southeast. He also led mortgage operations at FirstBank, where his team earned the 2020 National Mortgage Bankers Association Diversity & Inclusion Award for market outreach strategies promoting fair lending and minority housing access.

In this conversation, Jeremy explains how acquisition in today’s mortgage market cannot rely solely on rates, incentives, or ad spend. Instead, it requires:

• Deep community presence
• Responsible and affordable lending structures
• First-time homebuyer education
• Cultural competency within lending teams
• Long-term trust over short-term transactions

Southern Bancorp operates as a standalone mortgage division under a broader CDFI structure that balances mission and margin. The organization includes a bank holding company, a community development bank, and a nonprofit loan fund—all working together to expand economic opportunity. Jeremy discusses how this structure allows for disciplined growth while maintaining strong underwriting standards and financial sustainability.

This episode explores how community development banking intersects with modern acquisition strategy, why trust is now a competitive advantage, and how lenders can grow without abandoning purpose. For leaders navigating purchase-heavy markets, underserved communities, and tightening margins, Jeremy offers a clear message: connection is not a soft metric—it’s the foundation of sustainable growth.

Polly
https://www.polly.io
Polly is a modern mortgage capital markets platform that helps lenders optimize pricing, automate rate lock workflows, and improve margin control through data-driven execution.

Floify
https://www.floify.com
Floify is a point-of-sale and loan origination workflow platform that streamlines borrower document collection, communication, and loan processing from application to closing.

Truework
https://www.truework.com
Truework provides automated income and employment verification, helping lenders reduce friction, accelerate underwriting, and improve borrower experience.

FundingShield
https://www.fundingshield.com
FundingShield protects lenders from wire fraud and closing risk by validating transactions, ensuring clean funding, and safeguarding the mortgage closing process.

Ed Powell, SVP & Licensed Regional Manager, Angel Oak Solutions | NMLS #407491

Customer acquisition in today’s mortgage market is no longer about volume alone—it’s about precision, trust, and meeting borrowers where they actually are. In this episode, we sit down with Ed Powell, Senior Vice President and Licensed Regional Manager at Angel Oak Solutions, to unpack what consumer direct lending really looks like when it’s done right.

Licensed across more than 25 states, Ed Powell has built a reputation for helping borrowers navigate complex financial situations with clarity and confidence. His approach centers on understanding the full picture of each client’s circumstances and aligning them with mortgage solutions that are realistic, responsible, and sustainable. In a market where many consumers believe homeownership is out of reach, Ed and his team focus on expanding access through thoughtful product design and disciplined execution.

Throughout the conversation, Ed shares how Angel Oak’s consumer direct strategy prioritizes long-term relationships over short-term transactions. By offering both traditional loan products and a robust portfolio suite of alternative programs, his team is able to serve borrowers who don’t always fit inside conventional lending boxes—without compromising on risk management or service quality. This includes self-employed borrowers, credit-challenged consumers, and those navigating non-traditional income structures.

We also explore how trust plays a critical role in consumer direct lending. Ed explains why clear communication, realistic expectations, and consistent follow-through are the real drivers of referral-based growth. Many Angel Oak clients don’t just close loans—they become advocates, referring friends and colleagues because of the experience they received.

This episode goes beyond surface-level marketing tactics and dives into what actually converts in today’s environment: listening, advising, and delivering outcomes that align with borrower goals. Whether you’re a lender looking to strengthen your consumer direct channel or an industry leader focused on sustainable growth, this conversation offers practical insight into customer acquisition that works in real life—not just on a slide deck.

Polly
Polly is a next-generation capital markets technology platform that modernizes pricing, lock, and hedging workflows for mortgage lenders.
https://www.polly.io

Floify
Floify provides a secure, point-of-sale solution that improves the loan application experience for borrowers and increases efficiency for lenders.
https://www.floify.com

TrueWork
TrueWork delivers fast, accurate income and employment verification to help lenders reduce friction and close loans with confidence.
https://www.truework.com

FundingShield
FundingShield protects lenders from wire fraud, payoff fraud, and title risk through real-time transaction validation and compliance tools.
https://www.fundingshield.com