Bree Gerlach

As a loan officer, I am responsible for a host of information that ranges from a customer-centric purpose to navigating the complexities of institutional, state, and federal guidelines and compliance. Of the many attributes needed for this position, the most relatable include:

• Financial Analysis: proficiency in analyzing financial statements, tax returns, and other financial documents to determine credit worthiness of clients.
• Risk-Assessment: ability to evaluate and mitigate risks associated with different loan application, i.e., credit history, income stability, and DTI.
• Compliance: intimate understanding of local, state, and federal regulations related to lending practices to ensure adherence to legal and regulatory requirements.
• Problem-Solving and Adaptability: ability to digest complex scenarios and issues that most certainly arise in every transaction. Ability to pivot in dynamic situations during a mortgage that involve changes to technology, regulations, and market trends.
• Communication: Communication is the single-most important skill in this job. Not only am I responsible for navigating the needs and education of a variety of borrowers during the lending process, but also business partnerships, operations, and secondary markets. I am responsible for orchestrating several moving parts, at once, and closing the transaction successfully. Each mortgage is its own project with unique issues.

As a research analyst with IDOC, I worked with the Sex Offender Management Board, more specifically, Treatment, Education, and Reentry. In this position I was responsible for the following tasks:

• Data Analysis: proficiency in statistical analysis and data management, including the ability to work with large datasets to identify trends, patterns, and correlations in data.
• Research Methodology: a strong understanding of qualitative and quantitative research methods including data collection, analysis, and interpretation to provide valuable insights for the offender population with regard to treatment, education, and reentry.
• Critical Thinking: ability to critically assess research findings, policy implications, and program effectiveness to provide evidence-based recommendations.
• Report Writing: excellent written communication skills to prepare detailed and comprehensive research reports, policy briefs, and other documents that effectively communicate research findings and recommendations.
• Ethics and Confidentiality: adherence to strict ethical standards, including maintaining the confidentiality of sensitive information and ensuring the privacy of individuals.