"To me Blue Culture means many things. I always look at it's building relationships with our broker partners but it's also building relationships with team members and it's building relationships with our sales team."
Patty Schotsch, Associate Director, Inside Sales
Patty Schotsch has been with MCAP for more than 33 years. “That means I’ve known some of my co-workers for over half my life!” she says. Having started in what she describes as ‘the trenches’ in 1989 when MCAP was part of Mutual Life, Patty has taken on many different roles within the company – in residential mortgages, refinancing, underwriting, busines development and now as Associate Director of Inside Sales for Eclipse – MCAP’s alternative lending solution. Patty admits she didn’t know much about mortgages when she first started but learned quickly – at first through a ‘sink or swim’ approach and later through the comprehensive training, education and best practice sharing offered at MCAP. “I’m happy now that the company puts a lot of focus on education, a lot of focus on training and a lot of focus on turning to your peers for best practices to improve processes for colleagues and clients.”
“I’m happy that the company puts a lot of focus on education, a lot of focus on training and a lot of focus on relying on your peers for best practices to improve processes for colleagues and clients.”
Moving through the ranks at MCAP, Patty has developed enduring relationships with co-workers, many of whom have long tenures like hers. Patty credits the power of these relationships with her ability to tackle new challenges and positions throughout her career. It’s also what defines Blue Culture for her. “I’ve known some of the people here for over half my life, so I can rely on them for any help or guidance I might need. It’s very rare that you work at a company where people have been there for 20 or 30 years – in many cases we started out together and moved up together.”
“I’ve known some of the people here for over half my life, so I can rely on them for any help or guidance I might need.”
The Blue Culture promise also manifests itself with broker relationships, as Patty cites the strength of MCAP’s reputation as supportive and experienced with a ‘we always go out of our way to help’ attitude. “We have a reputation of being there to help brokers with whatever they need, which helps us form strong and long-lasting relationships. They always come to us for support and information knowing we are up-to-date about the marketplace.” In her position with Eclipse, Patty is further able to demonstrate MCAP’s desire and ability to work with the broker community by providing alternative lending options, which in turn help them with their clients. “Offering B-Lending options has made us a one stop shop. This helps brokers and homeowners, because especially in today's market, many people need a bit of extra help to buy a home.”
“We have a reputation of being there to help brokers with whatever they need, which helps us form strong and long-lasting relationships. They always come to us for support and information knowing we are up-to-date about the marketplace.”
While Patty cherishes the relationships she has with her veteran colleagues, she’s equally excited about sharing experiences and best practices with new employees and encourages newcomers to MCAP to meet as many people as possible to get the full effect and benefit of Blue Culture. “If you’re new and coming into the company, I would suggest you get to know your teammates, get to know the people here. And don’t be afraid to move around and make new connections. This is a place where you’re allowed to grow and develop, and you’ll get more out of it with the more people you know – because you’ll have more people helping you get to wherever you want to go.” She recommends joining committees and taking advantage of volunteer opportunities, which also helps new employees discover the opportunities that exist in other areas.
“If you’re new and coming into the company, I would suggest you get to know your teammates, get to know the people here. This is a place where you’re allowed to grow and develop, and you’ll get more out of it with the more people you know.”
It’s advice she would pass on to her younger self, if given the opportunity. “I would tell myself: Don’t be hesitant to try something new. Don’t pigeonhole yourself into one job and be open to do something more and different. Keep an open mind to new ideas and be a bit of a risk taker. Life is about always learning.” With over 33 years at MCAP behind her, Patty continues to be open to learning, forming new relationships and trying new things. For her, Blue Culture is apparent in every old – and new – relationship that demonstrates at MCAP, someone always has your back.
