Team Member Spotlight: Meet Sofia

Meet Sofia Castro, she was born in Brazil and moved to the US with her family when she was 2 years old. Sofia is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish and English. If she could plan a dream trip, it would be to Europe with her parents and her dog Benny. The itinerary would include Greece, Italy and Spain. During college, Sofia was involved in many internships for journalism but found her heart was not in it. This discovery took her down the path of working in the consulting field and feels lucky to have found PhoenixTeam. The inclusivity, leadership and positive work environment are the values that she admires most about PhoenixTeam.

Sofia lives by the advice once given to her, “Work hard and be kind! You never know what someone else is going through.”

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PhoenixTeam is Now a Salesforce Partner!

PhoenixTeam is excited to announce that we are now a Salesforce Partner! Phoenix is no stranger to Salesforce as most of our client engagements involve Salesforce Product and Implementation leadership. The uniqueness of this partnership comes from the combination of our Salesforce strength with our mortgage and financial services industry mastery. Reflecting on the partnership, Jake Artz, a PhoenixTeam Consultant specializing in Salesforce says, “solidifying Phoenix’s position with Salesforce allows us to tell the world what our clients already know, that we are the most specialized mortgage technology industry consultants in the Salesforce space.”

We are a one-of-a-kind consulting firm. Our focus is mortgage technology and delivering high-value outcomes to our clients with speed, precision and quality. It takes skill, focus and confidence to do this regardless of how “hard” the problem is. Paul Weakley, PhoenixTeam Partner speaks for us all when he says, “This is a door opening opportunity to help our clients and future clients leverage Salesforce to solve business and customer problems. We look forward to impacting and adding value to mortgage technology financial services organizations seeking to leverage the power of Salesforce.”

Salesforce has been part of Phoenix’s strategic technology vision and this partnership cements it on our roadmap for years to come. We look forward to showing the industry the power of uniting Salesforce with the Phoenix mindset to deliver impactful changes and outcomes. Visit our website to read our Salesforce blogs and download our Salesforce Leadership fact sheet. So much more to come – Stay tuned and thanks for the support!

Download our Salesforce Fact Sheet here.

Learn about our Three Pillars to successfully implementing Salesforce:
Pillar 1: The Right Strategy
Pillar 2: Defining the Right Process
Pillar 3: The Right Talent

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PhoenixTeam Ranks Among Highest-Scoring Businesses on Inc. Magazine’s Annual List of Best Workplaces for 2021!

Arlington, VA May 12, 2021 – PhoenixTeam has been named to Inc. magazine’s annual list of the Best Workplaces for 2021. The list is the result of a wide-ranging and comprehensive measurement of American companies that have created exceptional workplaces and company culture whether teams are operating in person or remotely.

Long before PhoenixTeam was formed in 2015, PhoenixTeam’s Managing Partners envisioned a company that put its people first. A place where independent thought, growth and learning was paramount and a space where creativity, openness and empathy was celebrated and encouraged. PhoenixTeam holds this vision as close to our hearts today as then because that is what makes us unique and differentiates us from other companies.

Collecting data from thousands of submissions, Inc. singled out 429 honorees this year. Each nominated company took part in an employee survey, conducted by Quantum Workplace, on topics including management effectiveness, perks, and fostering employee growth. The organization’s benefits were also audited to determine the company’s overall score and ranking.

“PhoenixTeam would like to thank Inc. for recognizing us as one of the 2021 best places to work, says Tanya Brennan, CEO and President of PhoenixTeam. “When we started this company, we envisioned a place where we would want to work ourselves. A place that inspires our people and provides them opportunity to achieve their goals and make an impact on the world. Six years later, having grown the team to almost 100 people, we continue our journey to inspire our people to be their very best.” 

“The definition of a positive workplace has changed drastically over the past year,” says Inc. magazine editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. “Stocked fridges and nap pods were no longer perks many companies could rely on once work went remote. So, this year’s list is even more important as it reveals organizations that continue to enrich the lives of its employees amid a pandemic.” 

About PhoenixTeam

PhoenixTeam is a women-owned small business that provides mortgage technology solutions to improve the home purchase experience for borrowers and help financial institutions, technology providers, and government agencies achieve their desired outcomes. PhoenixTeam specializes in serving federal housing agencies and the mortgage industry, helping deliver better business solutions through technology implementation excellence. For more information, visit www.phoenixoutcomes.com. 

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Tanya Brennan Recognized with 2020 Lending Luminary Award

PhoenixTeam’s Managing Partner and President, Tanya Brennan was recently honored by PROGRESS in Lending as a 2nd Annual 2020 Lending Luminary Award Winner. This award honors people in the mortgage banking industry that are inspiring or influencing others and recognizes them for their industry vision and leadership.

Tanya Brennan, PhoenixTeam’s President, exudes a passion and love for seeing our clients succeed and it is her energy that feeds and drives our team to deliver. This year alone, PhoenixTeam was awarded three large contracts, one with the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, one with the United States Department of Agriculture and one with a leader in the mortgage lending space. Brennan’s mastery of three fundamental Phoenix skills was a key factor in these awards. First, she is laser focused on the customer. She has a ferocious understanding of our client’s needs and top challenges. Second, Brennan takes every opportunity to foster, bridge and build healthy relationships with our clients to deliver on an initiative. Third, she believes in investing in our team member’s growth, creating a culture of empathy and continuous learning that is unrivaled by other Financial Services Strategy and Consulting firms.

Read more about the  2nd Annual 2020 Lending Luminary Award here.

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PhoenixTeam Expands Relationship with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 9, 2020 – PhoenixTeam, a leading mortgage technology strategy and services provider, has expanded its long standing partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Loan Guaranty (LGY) Service.

As part of a new contract award to transform how LGY serves Veterans, lenders, appraisers, servicers and other industry stakeholders, PhoenixTeam will modernize LGY technology products to maximize opportunities for Veterans to obtain homeownership, retain their homes during times of financial difficulty and adapt their homes to better accommodate service-related disabilities.

PhoenixTeam is committed to delivering innovative solutions that significantly improve the home loan experience for Veterans. The company and their partners will design, deliver, maintain, and operate all VA technology supporting the LGY program. With vast mortgage industry, technology product management, software engineering and analytics expertise, PhoenixTeam is uniquely positioned to deliver on the promise of this new contract.

“Loan Guaranty has put forth an ambitious plan to modernize its home loan guaranty program with the goal of creating a frictionless home loan experience and making VA loans the top choice in the industry for veterans, lenders and servicers,” said Tom Westerlind, managing partner and CFO of PhoenixTeam. “Our working relationship with Loan Guaranty goes back to 2001. We’re committed to their mission and grateful for the continued opportunity to enrich the lives of those who served in the military.”

About PhoenixTeam

PhoenixTeam is a women-owned small business that provides mortgage technology solutions to improve the home loan experience for borrowers and help financial institutions, technology providers, and government agencies achieve their desired outcomes. With a focus exclusively on the mortgage industry, we delight clients and deliver better business solutions through technology implementation excellence. For more information, please visit www.phoenixoutcomes.com

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PhoenixTeam makes Inc. Magazine’s Annual List of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies—the Inc. 5000

PhoenixTeam Ranks No. 1160 on the 2020 Inc. 5000 With Three-Year Revenue Growth of 389.37 Percent

NEW YORK, August 12, 2020 – Inc. magazine today revealed that PhoenixTeam is No. 1160 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent small businesses. Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.

“It is an honor to be recognized by the Inc. 5000 as one of the fastest growing, privately held companies in the nation,” said Tanya Brennan, managing partner and CEO of PhoenixTeam. “Our growth is a testament to our incredibly talented team that continues to delight our clients and deliver value by finding innovative ways to help address their most difficult challenges. By focusing exclusively on the mortgage industry, we’ve been able to help federal housing agencies and commercial sector clients deliver better business solutions through technology design, delivery, and implementation excellence. We’re fortunate to be in the position that our client’s success results in better outcomes for veterans, farmers, and homeowners.”

Not only have the companies on the 2020 Inc. 5000 been very competitive within their markets, but the list as a whole shows staggering growth compared with prior lists as well. The 2020 Inc. 5000 achieved an incredible three-year average growth of over 500 percent, and a median rate of 165 percent. The Inc. 5000’s aggregate revenue was $209 billion in 2019, accounting for over 1 million jobs over the past three years.

Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000. The top 500 companies are also being featured in the September issue of Inc., available on newsstands August 12.

“The companies on this year’s Inc. 5000 come from nearly every realm of business,” says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. “From health and software to media and hospitality, the 2020 list proves that no matter the sector, incredible growth is based on the foundations of tenacity and opportunism.”

The annual Inc. 5000 event honoring the companies on the list will be held virtually from October 23 to 27, 2020. As always, speakers will include some of the greatest innovators and business leaders of our generation.

About PhoenixTeam

PhoenixTeam is a women-owned small business that provides mortgage technology solutions to improve the home purchase experience for borrowers and help financial institutions, technology providers, and government agencies achieve their desired outcomes. PhoenixTeam specializes in serving federal housing agencies and the mortgage industry, helping deliver better business solutions through technology implementation excellence. For more information, visit www.phoenixoutcomes.com

CONTACT:
PhoenixTeam
Melanie Lewis
904-868-5828
melanie.lewis@phoenixoutcomes.com

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PhoenixTeam Awarded New USDA Contract

PhoenixTeam to Assist Department of Agriculture to Modernize Guaranteed Underwriting System (GUS)

ARLINGTON, Va.; Mar. 30, 2020 – PhoenixTeam has been awarded two contracts by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Single Family Housing National Office (SFH NO) to provide leadership, industry subject matter expertise, MISMO mapping, and program management support services for the implementation of the new Guaranteed Underwriting System (GUS) and USDA’s roll-out of the new Uniform Residential Loan Application (URLA) submission requirements for November this year.

The USDA guaranteed loan program helps low- to moderate-income families in rural and suburban areas achieve homeownership.

By November 2020, USDA expects to modernize GUS and implement an updated Automated Underwriting System (AUS) that collects all data associated with the redesigned URLA. Lenders and brokers rely on GUS to provide underwriting recommendations based on their URLA submission.

“We’re excited to continue our partnership with USDA Single Family Housing to help them achieve this critical milestone” – said Tanya Brennan, PhoenixTeam CEO and Managing Partner.

The two contracts are worth a combined $3.1 million over 8 months. PhoenixTeam has previously worked together with USDA Single Family Housing to support their technology modernization programs.

About PhoenixTeam

PhoenixTeam is a women-owned small business that provides mortgage technology solutions to improve the home purchase experience for borrowers and help financial institutions, technology providers, and government agencies achieve their desired outcomes. PhoenixTeam specializes in serving federal housing agencies and the mortgage industry, helping deliver better business solutions through technology implementation excellence.

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Phoenix Helps Win Major U.S. Veterans Affairs Contract

ARLINGTON, Va. – PhoenixTeam (formerly Phoenix Oversight Group) is part of a group that has been awarded a major contract by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to modernize and enhance the existing loan oversight system for its Office of Information & Technology (OI&T). The VA Loan Electronic Reporting Interface Redesign (VALERI-R) task order, managed by the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Loan Guaranty Division, has an estimated value of $16.3 million over a base performance period of 18 months.

The work done under VALERI-R will improve oversight capability over VA’s loan systems, increase security and reduce the costs to service and liquidate VA-guaranteed loans at the VBA. The group, led by Accenture Federal Services (AFS), will provide solutions that will modernize and replace the OI&T’s current systems with web-interface and integration components to enable automated loading of events and updates from VA mortgage servicers.

“It’s a great honor to be selected to work on the redesign of the VALERI system and help the VBA manage loans for veterans more effectively,” said Shawn Roman, who leads Accenture Federal Services’ work with VA clients. “The redesign will enable the VBA to incorporate new technology capabilities and business intelligence planning into its loan servicing process.”

As part of its work on the VALERI-R solution, AFS will build a cloud-based system using platform-as-a-service and software-as-a-service technologies and leveraging the Salesforce Platform for the case management and workflow components. The solution will also be Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization (MISMO)-compliant, enabling the VBA to move to standardized reporting and data exchange formats that align to the mortgage industry.

As prime contractor, AFS will partner with subcontractors on the VALERI-R task order. Under the contract, PhoenixTeam – a mortgage technology consulting firm that supported the VBA Loan Guaranty Group during the original VALERI system build – will provide functional design leadership, business analysis, test planning and execution, and training services.

Also supporting the contract are Actualize Consulting, a mortgage technology company with many MISMO-certified practitioners that lead the industry in moving organizations to MISMO standards; and Liberty IT Solutions, a mission-centric Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business that supports multiple government agencies across a diverse portfolio of IT projects.

The VALERI-R task order has four optional tasks that may be exercised at the Government’s discretion during the option exercise period, which has a 54-month period commencing on the date of task order award. The overall period of performance shall not exceed 57 months, with a total value of $29 million.

About Accenture Federal Services
Accenture Federal Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Accenture LLP, is a U.S. company with offices in Arlington, Virginia. Accenture’s federal business has served every cabinet-level department and 30 of the largest federal organizations. Accenture Federal Services transforms bold ideas into breakthrough outcomes for clients at defense, intelligence, public safety, civilian and military health organizations.

About Accenture
Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries and all business functions – underpinned by the world’s largest delivery network – Accenture works at the intersection of business and technology to help clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for their stakeholders. With more than 435,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives innovation to improve the way the world works and lives.

About PhoenixTeam 
PhoenixTeam is a small, woman-owned business focused on software product management and technology solution delivery. Phoenix specializes in serving federal housing agencies and the mortgage lending industry, helping deliver better business solutions through technology implementation excellence and closer solution alignment to customer needs.

About Actualize Consulting
Actualize Consulting is a professional services firm specializing in business process engineering and technology implementations for financial institutions. With offices in New York and Northern Virginia, they keep a finger on the ever-changing pulse of the Capital Markets, Treasury, Mortgage and Fixed Income areas. They serve mortgage firms, banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions, Federal and State Government, as well as specific activities of Fortune 1000 firms.

About Liberty IT Solutions
Liberty IT Solutions, a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, dependably delivers innovative change to our customers’ most critical services, helping them achieve digital transformation that makes a measurable difference to the citizens they serve.

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