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Mission & Purpose
Committee Name:
Processing Committee
Strategic Identity:
The backbone of every transaction
Mission Statement
The Processing Committee exists to support, empower, and elevate mortgage processors by creating standardized practices, providing training and resources, and fostering collaboration across the mortgage industry.
Primary Objective
Bridge the gap between loan officers and processors by fostering collaboration, sharing best practices, and improving overall efficiency for smoother loan operations across the wholesale channel.
Why this committee Exists
Processors are the backbone of every transaction. Yet their role is consistently under-recognized, under-resourced, and misunderstood by other industry participants. The Processing Committee corrects that — by building standards, sharing knowledge, recognizing contribution, and advocating for the profession within AIME and across the industry.
Core Values
Teamwork
Supporting each other to succeed together.
Respect
Recognizing and valuing the critical role processors play in every closed loan.
Excellence
Holding ourselves to the highest professional standards in our craft.
Advocacy
Speaking up for processors at every level of the industry.
Innovation
Continuously improving how we work, what we use, and how we teach.
Committee Structure
The Processing Committee operates through six specialized sub-committees, each led by a Captain. Together, these sub-committees cover the full lifecycle of processor support: from education and compliance to technology, marketing, engagement, and membership growth. The Committee Chair provides overall direction and serves as the primary relationship owner with AIME leadership.
| Role | Name | Organization/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Committee Chair | Gina Wariebi | Innovative Edge Processing, Inc. |
| PR & Marketing Captain | Michelle Hewitt | |
| Engage & Elevate Captain | Seat on Hold | Social Media Content |
| Connect & Cultivate Captain | Rebecca Penner | Membership Growth |
| Train & Transform Captain | Kaylee Frech | Education & Development |
| Advocate & Advance Captain | Kerry Webb | Industry Standards & Compliance |
| Innovate & Improve Captain | Cassie Lucier | Tools & Technology |
Sub-Committee Role Descriptions
Each sub-committee is a focused unit within the Processing Committee. Captains are responsible for leading their sub-committee, owning their deliverables, and reporting updates to the Committee Chair. All captains operate with support from and coordination through AIME’s BMR Team.
PR & Marketing
External Visibility
Captain: Michelle Hewitt
Purpose:
Drive external visibility, branding, and public presence for the Processing Committee.
Responsibilities:
Engage & Elevate
Social Media & Community
Captain: Seat Open
Purpose:
Keep the processor community active, connected, and engaged through consistent digital presence.
Responsibilities:
Connect & Cultivate
Community Growth
Captain: Rebecca Penner
Purpose:
Grow the processor community and strengthen relationships within it.
Responsibilities:
Train & Transform
Education & Development
Captain: Kaylee Frech
Purpose:
Provide training, resources, and professional development tools that elevate processor capability.
Responsibilities:
Advocate & Advance
Standards, Compliance & Recognition
Captain: Kerry Webb
Purpose:
Monitor guideline updates, advocate for processor standards, and celebrate member accomplishments.
Responsibilities:
Innovate & Improve
Tools & Technology
Captain: Cassie Lucier
Purpose:
Help processors work smarter through technology evaluation and workflow enhancements.
Responsibilities:
Operating Standards
Meeting Cadence
Frequency: Monthly (All committee members and captains)
Format: Virtual (platform determined by the Committee Chair)
Agenda Owner: Committee Chair, in collaboration with sub-committee Captains
Minutes & Reporting: Key updates and recommendations shared with AIME leadership and the broader processor community after each meeting
Communication Standards
- Captains are responsible for communicating sub-committee updates to the Committee Chair prior to each monthly meeting.
- All external communications representing the Processing Committee must be reviewed by the PR & Marketing Captain before publication.
- Social media content must be coordinated with the Engage & Elevate Captain to maintain consistency.
- Internal member communications should be channeled through the Connect & Cultivate Captain for roster accuracy.
Accountability & Reporting
- Each sub-committee Captain is responsible for maintaining a brief monthly activity log covering: initiatives in progress, initiatives completed, and any blockers requiring Chair or AIME support.
- The Committee Chair aggregates sub-committee updates and presents a consolidated report to AIME’s BMR Team on a regular cadence.
- Captains are expected to be active contributors to committee meetings and available for brief check-ins between meetings as needed.
Decision-Making
- Day-to-day decisions within a sub-committee are owned by the Captain.
- Decisions that affect the full committee, the AIME brand, or member-facing communications require Committee Chair approval.
- Escalations to AIME leadership are managed through the Committee Chair in coordination with AIME’s BMR Team.
Processor & Loan Officer Responsibilities
A core function of the Processing Committee is establishing and promoting clear role boundaries between processors and loan officers. The following represents the standard delineation of responsibilities that the committee educates on and advocates for across the AIME community.
Processor Responsibilities
Responsibilities:
Loan Officer Responsibilities
Responsibilities:
Clean File Submission Standards
One of the Processing Committee’s primary educational priorities is establishing a clear, consistent standard for how loan officers submit files to processors. The following template represents the information that must accompany every file submission. The committee produces and maintains education materials that equip LOs with the knowledge to submit clean files — reducing delay, rework, and frustration on both sides.
Loan Submission Template – Required Fields
| Field | Notes |
|---|---|
| Submission Type | Purchase or Refi |
| Borrower(s) Name | – |
| Lender Name | – |
| File Registration Status | Is file registered/disclosed? If so, provide the loan number. |
| Loan Type / Program Name | Provide the specific program name and confirm it works for this file if not yet registered. |
| Doc Type | – |
| Property Type | – |
| Lender Paid or Borrower Paid & Comp Amount | Include both percentage and dollar amount. |
| Processing Fee Paid By | Broker or Borrower |
| Escrow | Full or Waived |
| Commitment Date & Closing Date | – |
| Title Held / Names on Title | – |
| Cash to Close Expectation | – |
| Title Order Timing | At loan submission or ITP? |
| Appraisal Order Timing | At ITP or loan submission? Include urgency: ASAP, Wait, or Rush. |
| Anti-Steering Information | Rate, cost, or credit — include dollar amounts. |
| Special Considerations | Seller/realtor concessions, solar panels, HOA dues, payoff of debt to qualify, gifts, 401K movement, SIMO, rental retention. |
Key Initiatives & Focus Areas
The following represent the Processing Committee’s primary active focus areas. These are not aspirational — they are the deliverables and programs the committee is building and maintaining in service of the processor community.
Collaboration & Communication Tools
- Time-Savers Toolkit – Batch email templates, keyboard shortcuts, and LOS system hacks for processors.
- “What Processors Wish You Knew” Guide – A resource for loan officers and brokers that demystifies the processor role and explains how to set files up for success.
- LO Onboarding Packet / Video – A short-format resource (e.g., Loom video) titled “How to Send Me a Clean File,” designed to be used by processors when onboarding new LO relationships.
Standards & Best Practices
- Establish and publish documented best practices for common processing workflows.
- Develop compliance guides and alerts to help processors stay current with changing guidelines.
- Create SOPs and checklists that processors can adopt and adapt for their own businesses.
Training & Development
- Monthly educational sessions: webinars, Title Talks, and Table Talks.
- Office Hours: recurring open Q&A format for member peer learning.
- Cross-role training: educating LOs and brokers on what processors do, what they shouldn’t be asked to do, and how to work with them effectively.
Recognition & Industry Advocacy
- Recognition programs celebrating member wins, anniversaries, and professional achievements.
- Coordination with AIME to introduce a dedicated Processing category at the Hall of AIME.
- Amplification of the processor voice across AIME channels and industry forums.
Technology & Innovation
- Ongoing identification and vetting of tools and platforms that reduce processor workload.
- Published vendor and tool reference guides for member use.
- Workflow improvement recommendations updated as new technology is evaluated.
The Case for Processors
The Processing Committee is built on the conviction that processors are not support staff — they are core to every transaction. This section articulates the value proposition of a professional processor, and serves as a foundation for the committee’s advocacy and education work.
“Processors are the backbone of every transaction.”
– Gina Wariebi, AIME Processing Committee Chair
What a Professional Processor Delivers
What Processors Should and Should Not Do
Processor DOES
- Manage the file from submission through closing
- Order appraisals, title, and third-party items when authorized
- Communicate with borrowers, agents, and title on paperwork
- Review conditional approvals and collect conditions
- Coordinate and schedule the closing
- Keep the LOS updated at all milestones
Processor DOES NOT
- Determine loan structure or program (that’s the LO)
- Make income decisions or qualify borrowers
- Lock or extend rates without LO direction
- Submit files to underwriting without a complete package
- Promise closing dates without CTC confirmation
- Handle broker compliance disclosures (LO’s responsibility)
Contacts & Escalations
Committee Contacts
| Role | Name | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Committee Chair | Gina Wariebi | 508.731.6178 | innovativeedgeprocessing.com |
| PR & Marketing Captain | Michelle Hewitt | |
| Engage & Elevate Captain | Seat on Hold | |
| Connect & Cultivate Captain | Rebecca Penner | |
| Train & Transform Captain | Kaylee Frech | |
| Advocate & Advance Captain | Kerry Webb | |
| Innovate & Improve Captain | Cassie Lucier | |
| AIME BMR Team | Broker & Processor Relations | Via AIME member portal |
Escalation Path
| # | Level | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sub-Committee Captain | Day-to-day decisions, sub-committee-specific questions or blockers |
| 2 | Committee Chair (Gina Wariebi) | Cross-committee issues, member concerns, brand or communications decisions |
| 3 | AIME BMR Team | Issues requiring AIME organizational involvement, policy questions, or formal escalations |

