Candy Pagan
Miramar
Summary
Mortgage professional with 17 years of expertise in credit policy and AI-assisted underwriting. Proven ability to optimize workflows, enhancing credit decision accuracy and operational efficiency. Experienced in leading scalable lending operations and modernizing underwriting processes with a focus on risk management. Strong leadership skills in team management and project execution, resulting in improved efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Business Development Manager
Whetstone Holdings LLC
01.2025 - 11.2025
- Led launch and operations of two core products: Invoice Factoring and SBA Lending Solutions for partner banks.
- Built AI-powered invoice-factoring platform with OCR invoice validation, automated KYC/KYB, Plaid integrations, fraud detection, and risk-tiering models enabling 24-hour pre-approvals.
- Designed SBA workflow architecture including eligibility checks, intake, financial/tax review, and compliance preparation.
- Implemented AI-driven document parsing and verification workflows improving accuracy and SBA approval readiness.
- Developed underwriting guidelines, decision frameworks, policy documentation, and exception processes.
- Trained underwriting and sales teams on SBA eligibility, documentation standards, and packaging workflows.
- Collaborated with engineering, compliance, and legal teams to scale product operations.
- Fostered cross-functional teamwork, aligning engineering and compliance efforts to streamline product development and operational efficiency.
DE Senior Mortgage Underwriter
DHI Mortgage
06.2021 - 01.2025
- Underwrote FHA (DE) and Conventional new-construction loans under HUD 4000.1, VA, TRID, and investor guidelines.
- Completed income analysis, layered-risk evaluation, collateral reviews, and complex exception reviews.
- Streamlined underwriting processes by implementing new evaluation protocols, reducing loan approval times.
- Trained underwriting staff on documentation standards to ensure compliance with industry guidelines.
- Collaborated with processors, builders, and loan officers to achieve timely completion of construction projects.
- Supported quality control audits by providing detailed underwriting rationales for decisions made.
- Mentored new underwriting staff on best practices to foster continuous improvement in compliance adherence.
- Fostered strong relationships with builders and loan officers to enhance communication efficiency.
- Reviewed property appraisals for compliance and accuracy.
- Analyzed market trends to inform appraisal decisions and recommendations.
- Evaluated applicant financial status, credit, and property evaluation to determine feasibility of granting loans.
Senior Mortgage Underwriter
JPMorgan Chase
01.2020 - 01.2021
- Underwrote FNMA, FHLMC, FHA, Jumbo, and portfolio loans, ensuring compliance with investor and agency guidelines.
- Reviewed property appraisals to ensure accurate valuation and underwriting standards.
- Evaluated loan applications to ensure compliance, leading to reduced risk exposure and improved approval turnaround times.
- Conducted thorough risk assessments on mortgage applications, identifying discrepancies that enhanced underwriting accuracy.
- Partnered with loan officers to streamline communication, resulting in expedited decision-making and enhanced client satisfaction.
- Maintained comprehensive documentation for all loans processed, ensuring adherence to regulatory standards and facilitating audits.
Business Development Services
Easy Access Lending
03.2019 - 01.2021
- Directed operations for loan origination, equipment financing, MCA, SBA workflows, and invoice factoring.
- Oversaw underwriting pipelines ($2.5K–$2M) using financial-statement review, cash-flow analysis, and layered-risk assessment.
- Implemented automation, underwriting tech, verification systems, and scoring models.
- Built lender partnerships, compensation programs, and scalable QC/compliance frameworks.
- Advised lenders on underwriting modernization, AI-driven verification, and risk-reduction strategies.
- Designed SBA documentation pathways improving approval readiness with banking partners.
- Aligned underwriting, operations, compliance, and sales to strengthen performance and communication.
- Conducted in-depth cash-flow analyses to refine underwriting strategies, leading to improved risk assessment accuracy and reduced default rates.
Operations Manager
UpLyft Capital
09.2015 - 03.2020
- Directed underwriting, servicing, collections, renewals, and investor reporting for MCA portfolios.
- Built MCA infrastructure including OCR bank-statement parsing, ACH monitoring, and automated scoring.
- Managed NSFs, payment plans, pre-default triggers, and legal escalations.
- Established QC, compliance, and credit-governance frameworks.
- Trained underwriting, servicing, and ops teams for consistent execution.
- Implemented advanced data analytics tools for portfolio monitoring, enabling proactive risk management and more informed investment strategies.
- Oversee daily operations to optimize efficiency and effectiveness.
- Develop training programs for staff to improve skills and knowledge.
- Managed scheduling, training and inventory control.
- Resolved customer complaints in a timely manner while ensuring customer satisfaction remains at optimal levels.
- Managed staffing needs through recruitment, selection, onboarding and training, disciplinary action as necessary.
Mortgage Underwriter II
Waterstone Mortgage
01.2013 - 01.2014
- Reviewed and approved FHA and Conventional loans, ensuring compliance with all regulations.
- Collaborated with processors and loan officers to resolve documentation issues efficiently.
- Utilized analytical skills to assess borrower risk, contributing to a high approval rate.
- Streamlined underwriting processes to enhance team productivity and reduce turnaround times.
- Evaluated risk assessments to ensure compliance with lending guidelines, reducing potential losses and maintaining portfolio integrity.
Senior Mortgage Underwriter
JPMorgan Chase
01.2008 - 01.2013
- Underwrote FNMA, FHLMC, FHA, Jumbo, and portfolio loans ensuring compliance with investor and agency guidelines.
- Evaluated loan applications to identify risk factors, enhancing approval accuracy and minimizing potential losses.
- Streamlined underwriting processes, leading to faster turnaround times and improved borrower satisfaction.
- Partnered with loan officers to clarify documentation requirements, fostering strong relationships and ensuring seamless operations.
- Executed comprehensive risk assessments on diverse loan types, significantly reducing default rates and safeguarding company assets.
- Maintained rigorous documentation standards, ensuring compliance with agency guidelines while streamlining the review process.
Loan Analyst / Loan Adjuster
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
01.2008 - 01.2009
- Supported loan modifications, repayment plans, document review, and property financial analysis.
- Streamlined the loan modification process, significantly reducing turnaround time and enhancing client satisfaction through effective communication.
- Conducted comprehensive property financial analyses, identifying key trends that guided strategic decisions and improved loan approval rates.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop tailored repayment plans, ensuring that client needs were met while minimizing risk exposure.
- Maintained accurate documentation for all loan transactions, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and reducing discrepancies.
- Provided exceptional customer service by addressing client inquiries and concerns, fostering trust and long-term relationships.
Education
Associate Degree - Business Management
Milwaukee Area Technical College
05.2012
Skills
- Encompass and DU/LP
- MSP and Salesforce
- Power BI and Tableau
- OCR technology
- AI underwriting
- KPI dashboards
- Quality control and assurance
- SQL databases
- Excel Power Query
- Credit policy adherence
- Workflow automation
- Risk management strategies
- Documentation compliance
- Risk evaluation
- Loan origination
- Team training
- Problem solving
- Effective communication
- Team leadership
- Business development
- Quality control
- Business intelligence and analysis
- Pipeline management
- Compliance analysis
- Underwriting guidelines
- Financial analysis
- Debt-to-income ratios
- Income verification
- Asset appraisal
- Jumbo and super jumbo loans
- LoanMaster loan servicing
- Underwriting support
Languages
Spanish
Full Professional
Certification
MLO NMLS #1841391
Timeline
Senior Business Development Manager
Whetstone Holdings LLC
01.2025 - 11.2025
DE Senior Mortgage Underwriter
DHI Mortgage
06.2021 - 01.2025
Senior Mortgage Underwriter
JPMorgan Chase
01.2020 - 01.2021
Business Development Services
Easy Access Lending
03.2019 - 01.2021
Operations Manager
UpLyft Capital
09.2015 - 03.2020
Mortgage Underwriter II
Waterstone Mortgage
01.2013 - 01.2014
Senior Mortgage Underwriter
JPMorgan Chase
01.2008 - 01.2013
Loan Analyst / Loan Adjuster
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
01.2008 - 01.2009
Associate Degree - Business Management
Milwaukee Area Technical College