Homebridge Financial Services Inc., an Iselin-based nonbank lending firm, has named a chief diversity and inclusion officer, and created an Office of Diversity & Inclusion, in order to bolster diversity both in its lending and its workplace, it announced Thursday.
Brian “Woody” White has been named CDIO, overseeing the new office and leading the company’s diversity and inclusion strategies. The office’s core mission is to ensure the company’s corporate values and best practices on diversity and inclusion are implemented across all business processes and relationships.
“Woody brings a wealth of experience to the position as a 30-year-plus executive, driving technology, business development, product development and entrepreneurship,” Chief Operating Officer Joe Sheridan said in a prepared statement.
Homebridge also said it has committed to extend the opportunity for homeownership to all communities, particularly the underserved; and increase the diversity of its workforce by 10% by the end of 2021, including increasing diversity in leadership roles.
“Homebridge is embarking on a path to focus with diligence our approach to diversity and inclusion across the company, and Woody will help build the roadmap to ensure that we are an industry leader in this regard,” Sheridan said.
The company’s short-term efforts in 2020 and 2021 will focus on projects like homeownership education, enhancing first-time homebuyer offerings and more, it said.
