Today we’d like to introduce you to Dorian Rogers.
Hi Dorian, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstory.
I have been in the mortgage industry right out of college. After graduating, I just wanted my call center job, the “go-to” job back then. I started working in the Bank of America call center for mortgage payments and was cursed out so much because people did not know that their payments could increase due to property taxes and insurance. It bothered me so much that I had to figure out who the person at the front of the link was who had not warned the borrower this could occur. This sparked my passion for mortgages, and I started looking for other jobs. I went from servicing to appraisals to underwriting. While working underwriting, I realized the person at the front of the line was the loan officer, which was my role. (Especially since I always got in trouble for not staying at my desk as an underwriter and socializing too much.) During my first year as a loan officer, I did not make as much money as I expected to keep my family afloat, so I became a loan officer assistant. That branch manager fed my soul by letting me know I could run the whole branch, so I was promoted to management. For the last 5 years, I have managed, but in 2023, I am not a full-time loan officer, helping as many families as I can instead. It has been a blessing to make the switch, support my family, and educate and help other families become homeowners and start down the path of generational wealth.
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road; trying to figure out the best role for me was my biggest struggle. As I have switched roles within the mortgage world, learning where I could touch hearts and change lives was where I wanted to be, but I did not know how to get there. It took me getting into a branch and around people who believed in me to believe in myself. I can now be a confident loan officer. I know how to be an underwriter and the natural support a loan officer would need because I have managed loan officers.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As the Mortgage Lady In Red, I’m always ready to come to the rescue. My specialty lies in making loans work. While many in the industry have learned to structure loans within a set framework, a more creative approach is needed. I strive to guide people to a better understanding, even if it means thinking outside the box. I aim to provide actionable action plans, not reject loan applications.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
As I do not live in Utah, whenever I am in the city, I have to do something in the snow whenever it is. Being from Texas, we rarely experience snow, and I love how you can find some activity related to the snow year-round. Also, the family environment in Salt Lake City is fantastic! I would move my family there just for the culture. And lastly, the mountains! I could stare into the mountains all day! I cannot think of anything that I dislike about the city.
