Her Story
About Paula
Paula Secatore is an accomplished mortgage and financial services professional with extensive experience spanning post-closing operations, mortgage servicing, banking, analytics, and leadership. She currently serves as a Post-Closing Specialist at Village Capital & Investment LLC, where she manages mortgage-related processes requiring accuracy, regulatory compliance, and careful attention to detail. Her responsibilities include working with government systems, managing loan pipelines, handling short payoffs, preparing reports, and supporting title and closing-document functions. She also holds a Maryland Notary Public credential and brings a strong foundation in business and management from Shepherd University.
Throughout her career, Paula has held progressively responsible roles with organizations including Shore United Bank, First Guaranty Mortgage Corporation, and Wells Fargo. Her leadership experience includes managing teams, improving operational processes, strengthening compliance, and developing systems that enhance efficiency and performance. At First Guaranty Mortgage Corporation, she led a team of 10 specialists and helped reduce loan-delivery turnaround time from 20 days to seven through standardized processes and effective pipeline management. During her tenure at Wells Fargo, she held several management and analytical positions, where she contributed to process improvement, risk reduction, reporting, quality control, and large-scale mortgage servicing operations.
Paula is recognized for her reliability, adaptability, creative problem-solving, and commitment to continuous improvement. She takes pride in delivering high-quality work and has developed a professional philosophy grounded in accountability, teamwork, and lifelong learning. Her leadership approach emphasizes open communication, coaching, and supporting the professional growth of others, while her early experiences in her family's business helped instill the strong work ethic she carries throughout her career. Beyond her professional work, Paula has also volunteered with Samaritan's Purse as a warehouse helper, reflecting her commitment to giving back and supporting community-focused initiatives.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Paula
01What do you attribute your success to?
I was in a family-owned business when I was young and was indentured at an early age to be a waitress in the family restaurant. Having grown up in a family business really instilled work ethic in me. I think of every job that I have as my business so I always want to do a good job and make a success. Past management has been supportive and encouraged me to do different things outside my comfort zone like Toastmasters. I've always tended towards leadership my whole life, like captain of the cheerleaders, student council, orientation leader at college, and in a business fraternity and sorority.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
A previous leader said we're not curing cancer, do the best job you can do. It really put everything in perspective for family-life balance as a single mother of three. It means just keep it in perspective that it is your job, do the best you can, but we're not curing cancer.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Make sure you like what you're doing because mortgage is tough to get out of. Be sure that you are happy with what you're doing because you can go places in mortgage but if this is not your thing don't force it for the paycheck and benefits. Follow your path instead. Don't get stuck here because you get used to the money and benefits but it's not everything.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
My biggest challenge right now is ensuring accuracy and quality because I'm doing a lot of reference work to doc closing documents. The accuracy of what I'm doing is my focus to make sure that I put out quality work. It's very sensitive information with the agencies so I want to make sure I'm helping with the resolution.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
In my personal life, family is 100% what I value. I value having my children and the family that I have. Due to so much loss in my life I'm so grateful for what I have left of my family. What I value about work is the satisfaction that I get. I get satisfaction from working and if I know I'm doing a good job I get a real sense of satisfaction and pride from my work.
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