Lender strengthens operations amid market shifts
Kind Lending has appointed Jennifer Folk as its new chief operating officer (COO), bringing a veteran mortgage executive into the C-suite as the company focuses on scaling its operations nationwide.
Folk, a 20-year industry leader known for her experience in organizational transformation and operational strategy, will now oversee company-wide operations at Kind Lending as it aims to expand further into both wholesale and retail mortgage markets.
“Jennifer’s leadership is exactly what Kind Lending needs as we continue to scale and expand,” said Yvonne Ketchum, president of Kind Lending. “Her expertise in operational excellence and her deep understanding of the mortgage industry will help us strengthen our foundation and accelerate our growth.”
Folk has previously led large-scale transitions and efficiency improvements across multiple mortgage platforms. She is also a former senior executive at Stearns Lending, a company founded by Glenn Stearns—who later launched Kind Lending in 2020.
“Kind isn’t just growing—it’s redefining what a modern mortgage company can be,” Folk said in a statement. “The culture here is focused on performance and purpose, and I’m excited to be part of a team that’s truly committed to optimizing operations and delivering a seamless experience for both our customers and partners.”
As COO, Folk is expected to focus on building scalable infrastructure and improving service delivery to meet increasing demand. The company cited her background in analytics, technology integration, and team development as key assets in the evolving mortgage landscape.
Her appointment comes at a time when the mortgage industry is navigating significant challenges. In March 2025, US home sales fell to their lowest level since 2009, with sales of previously owned homes declining by 5.9% from February, according to the National Association of Realtors. This downturn is attributed to high mortgage rates (the recent interest rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage was at 6.8%) and economic uncertainties, including global trade tensions and inflation concerns.
Additionally, rising home insurance costs are impacting affordability. In the Miami metro area, for instance, insurance now accounts for 19% of monthly mortgage payments, up from $306 to $519 over the past decade. This trend is expected to continue, with Insurify predicting a 9% increase in premiums across all states by the end of 2025.
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