Top Women in Finance 2012: Center Board Member Vicki Shipley

The Minnesota Homeownership Center congratulates US Bank Vice President, and Vice President of the Center’s Board of Directors, Vicki Shipley for being selected as one of Minnesota’s “Top Women in Finance” by Finance & Commerce Magazine.

The Top Women in Finance award is given to principals, partners, executive vice presidents, CFOs, CEOs and managing directors at corporations in the finance industry as well as small and large business leaders throughout the state who have shown innovation, leadership, or some other notable qualities in the area of finance.

In her role as Regional Manager for Community Affairs, Vicki  has worked tirelessly to build strong connections between US Bank (and other financial institutions) and local community-based nonprofits.  As just one example of Vicki’s efforts, Finance & Commerce recognized Vicki’s innovative initiative that allows several community-based organizations to utilize unused US Bank office space.  The Minnesota Homeownership Center is just one beneficiary of this program.

Vicki is not the only connection the Center has with Finance & Commerce’s annual Top Women in Finance edition.  In 2010 (and 2007), another Board Member, Muffie Gabler, was a recipient and this year Commissioner Mary Tingerthal of Minnesota Housing, the state’s Housing Finance Agency that works closely with the Minnesota Homeownership Center on affordable housing issues, was also selected.

For a complete list of honorees, visit the Finance and Commerce article here.

Hennepin County Recieves Award from National Association of Counties

Hennepin County has been awarded a 2009 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo) for its Foreclosure Prevention and Response Program. Not only did the Foreclosure Prevention and Response Program win an Achievement Award, it also won this year's "Best In Category" award from NACo!

Here's a picture of just some of the people that have worked together on Hennepin County's award-winning efforts:

(Photo Courtesy of Hennepin County Public Affairs)

The award was granted for the outstanding efforts that Hennepin County has undertaken to assist homeowners that are facing foreclosure. The abstract from the award states:

... In response to the mortgage meltdown, commissioners formed a cross-departmental Foreclosure Task Force to focus on prevention, stabilization, and recovery. Among the Task Force’s chief recommendations was the creation of a lead staff person to serve as a central contact for county foreclosure information and resources. The county designated two staff members to implement the education and outreach of the Task Force’s recommendations which included the following: $1.25 million for the city-county initiative to remove vacant and boarded houses from severely impacted neighborhoods; the creation of a data center to improve the county’s ability to track the foreclosure issue and allow such data to be easily shared; the mailing of over 10,000 foreclosure information inserts in tax-delinquent notices to home-owners; and the creation of foreclosure mini-workshops for home owners and renters in Hennepin County. Thus far, over 200 people have attended the county’s twelve workshop seminars. Because tenants of properties are often unaware of the potential for foreclosure, many are left in vulnerable situations. The county’s effort to keep its residents informed and offer them financial counseling is a helpful tool that can reduce the amount of foreclosures and help to stabilize its communities.

The Minnesota Home Ownership Center is pleased to be a partner of Hennepin County in their outreach efforts, we assisted in the creation of the foreclosure information inserts, and the mini-workshops for homeowners and renters.

Information about the materials that Hennepin County used to mail to delinquent taxpayers... and how these materials can be customized to reach YOUR consumers/constituents, click here.

For a list of upcoming workshops held at Hennepin County Libraries this fall, click here.

Center Partners Win Several Awards

The Minnesota Home Ownership Center is pleased to partner with several award winning agencies and organizations that are working with us on our foreclosure prevention efforts to help keep Minnesota families in their homes:

Hennepin County:

Hennepin County has been honored by the National Association of Counties (NaCO) with a 2009 NaCO Achievement Award for the County's Foreclosure Prevention and Response Program. Not only was the County an award winner, but they were declared "Best In Category" for 2009. Congratulations to Jeff Strand (Administrative Supervisor Foreclosure Prevention & Response Program Tax-Forfeit & Property Revenue Program Taxpayer Services [That's quite a title, Jeff!]) for the award.

Hennepin County has worked with the Center at a number of levels from marketing and outreach to direct homeowner assistance through workshops at the County Libraries. For more information about upcoming workshops at the Hennepin County Libraries, click here.

If you live in Hennepin County and are having difficulty with a foreclosure or mortgage payments, click here.


City of St. Paul:

The City of St. Paul Planning and Economic Development Department - who not only partners with the Center on foreclosure prevention outreach efforts - but also oversees the foreclosure counseling program for City of St. Paul homeowners, was recently honored by the Minnesota Association of Government Communicators, winning TWO separate awards in the 2009 Northern Lights Contest.

Award of Excellence Presented For: Best Use of a Promotional Product
Don't Lose Your Home to Foreclosure

and

Award of Excellence Presented For Visual Design - Themes
Don't Lose Your Home to Foreclosure

Congratulations to Cecile Bedor, Michelle Vojacek and the entire St. Paul PED team for their award-winning, innovative approach to foreclosure outreach using magnetic bumper stickers on City-Owned vehicles.

If you live in the City of St. Paul, and are facing foreclosure or having difficulty with your mortgage payments, click here.