Meet our 2023 Rising Stars!

Dominic Brancato
Mortgage Administrator
Salem Five

Dominic was hired in early 2020 as a temporary employee to assist with volume during the time of the pandemic. He was asked to assist in a variety of technology and platform changes and ended up being the lead on successful implementation. Dominic continued to add to his knowledge and in March of 2021 was hired full time as a permanent employee. Dominic continues to increase his knowledge and his job duties now include loan disclosure, pre-underwriting and the development of written operating procedures. Dominic's drive and dedication will continue to grow his success in the mortgage industry.

Jordan Mezoian
Senior Loan Officer Assistant
Academy Mortgage

Jordan Mezoian is a Loan Officer Assistant at Academy Mortgage, where she uses her strengths in organization and communication to help buyers achieve their goal of home ownership. Jordan’s career in the mortgage industry started in 2013. After graduating from Providence College with a degree in accounting, she began working in the accounting department at a local mortgage bank. In 2015, she transitioned to her current role as a Loan Officer Assistant, working with Tamika Donahue on The Donahue Team at Academy Mortgage. As a part of this team, Jordan has had the opportunity to support multiple local charities and be involved in several local real estate organizations. Jordan’s father has been a general contractor for 25 years, which provided the spark for her ongoing interest in the housing and real estate industry. When she is not working, Jordan enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and golden retriever named Ruby. She and her husband are also grateful to be parents to their one-year-old daughter, Everly.

Ryan Richards
Loan Officer
Northpoint Mortgage

Ryan got his first taste of the real estate industry as a young child, hearing his parents talk about mortgages around the dinner table and seeing his dad pacing around the house on work calls at all hours. He was enthralled by the hustle and bustle of the real estate world. His passion for the industry grew upon accepting a role at age 19 working as a project management intern for a local developer. The following summer he started as a finance intern at Northpoint Mortgage, which led to him obtaining his MLO license at age 20 while in college and his real estate agent license at age 22 just before graduation. Now, he is proud to say that he closed over $10 million in volume in his first year in the industry. He is excited to continue his growth in 2023 and he looks forward to making the most of the resources that this award, and the MMBA, have opened up for him.

Peter Seguin
Secondary Market Specialist II
Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU)

Peter’s career in the mortgage industry started in 2010 as a contractor during college winter recess. He continued as an intern with a focus in quality assurance with stints in both post-closing and BSA office.

As he was finishing his business degree from UMASS Dartmouth Charlton College of Business, he transitioned to a full-time employee as a Compliance and Disclosure Specialist. After a few years of refining his compliance and operational knowledge, he progressed to his current role working in the Secondary Market.

After his first role in the mortgage industry, Peter knew this was where he wanted to establish his career. He is honored to be recognized as one of MMBA's 2023 Rising Stars and is inspired to improve the mortgage industry.

Ashley Solares-Depaz
Mortgage Operations Team Leader
Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU)

Ashley Solares-Depaz is a mortgage closing Team Leader with Digital Federal Credit Union. Ashley began her career with DCU three years ago as a mortgage processor. She was quickly promoted to a processing Team Lead, before landing her current role as a closing Team Lead. She enjoys helping members complete a huge milestone through the joy of home ownership. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and a Masters Degree in Management from Worcester State University. In her free time, Ashley enjoys baking, bowling and traveling.

Janessa White
Loan Officer Assistant
Academy Mortgage

Janessa is a Loan Officer Assistant for The Donahue Team of Academy Mortgage serving Maine and New Hampshire. She started her career in the mortgage industry in 2016 after graduating from the University of Southern Maine with a degree in Business Administration. With 7 years’ experience in the mortgage banking industry and receiving many accolades such as a Rising Star and A+ Achievement Award, she strongly believes the power of consistent communication with her clients is the key to making the homebuying process seamless and efficient. Janessa has also had the opportunity to be involved in various local real estate offices and organizations. Janessa has embraced involvement with events to support local charities including Camp Sunshine, Polar Dip and the Academy Mortgage South Portland Thanksgiving event where over 200 Thanksgiving meals are provided to Veterans’ and their families.

Janessa currently lives in the Falmouth, ME community with her boyfriend and yellow lab. When she is not helping clients achieve their dream of homeownership, you can find her on her lobster boat in Casco Bay during the summer or skiing down Sugarloaf Mountain in the winter.

Stephanie White
Mortgage Quality Assurance Specialist I
Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU)

Stephanie White is a Mortgage QA Specialist at Digital Federal Credit Union. She is also participating in the 2023 Aspire Leadership program. She started at DCU in 2015, but recently found her home in the Mortgage Department in November of 2021. She is part of the QAQC team where she focuses on member resolutions. Stephanie graduated from Framingham State University with a major in Business Management and a minor in Information Technology. She also is a licensed Realtor in the state of Massachusetts and a Notary Public. During her time off she enjoys spending summers at the Cape, being outdoors, and checking out new coffee shops.

Dustin Wirzburger
Senior Vice President
Security First Mortgage Funding

Dustin Wirzburger is the Senior Vice President of Security First Mortgage Funding, a subsidiary of Millbury Federal Credit Union. He has been in residential lending since 2013, and has worked as a Closer, Operations Manager, Loan Originator, and his current role as SVP. Dustin and his team at Security First Mortgage pride themselves on delivering high quality service and products to borrowers all throughout Massachusetts.

Dustin is a 2010 graduate of Assumption College, and currently resides in Rutland, MA with his wife and three lovely daughters.

Katherine Zeliff
Customer Service Analyst
MassHousing

Katherine began her career at MassHousing in 2020 as a Customer Service Analyst in the Homeownership department. She quickly grew an interest in educating first-time homebuyers and assisting and supporting those who experienced a hardship due to COVID-19. After a short time in the mortgage servicing industry and the support from her co-workers, Katherine has recently accepted a new position at MassHousing as a Senior Escrow Specialist. She is very eager to begin this new role and expand her knowledge.