Sarah Kopke
Sarah Kopke is a Closing and Disclosures Manager at Member First Mortgage LLC, where she leads both the closing and disclosures teams with a focus on helping borrowers successfully reach the closing table. Based in Lowell, Michigan, she has built her career in the mortgage industry over 14 years, developing a reputation for dependable leadership and strong customer service. In her current role, she oversees critical parts of the loan process that ensure homebuyers can move smoothly from application to ownership.
Sarah began her career in her early 20s after working in service jobs and looking for a more stable career path. She entered the mortgage industry through a disclosures desk role at a large credit union service organization and quickly discovered a passion for the field. Over time, she advanced from disclosures associate to team lead, then to disclosures manager, and ultimately into her current leadership position overseeing both disclosures and closing operations. Her steady progression reflects both her work ethic and deep understanding of the mortgage process.
Throughout her career, Sarah has been driven by a commitment to helping people achieve homeownership. She values being an approachable manager whom colleagues feel comfortable turning to for guidance and support. Personally, she finds meaning in knowing that her work contributes to one of life’s most important milestones—helping families get into their homes and easing the challenges along the way.
• Mortgage Compliance and Regulations Certifications
• Grand Rapids Community College
What do you attribute your success to?
For me, a 14-year mortgage veteran, the path to leadership wasn’t just about climbing the corporate ladder—it was about finding my purpose. After five years in the trenches, what started as a job became a true passion, propelling me from team lead to manager of the closing and disclosures team today. My proudest accomplishment isn’t a sales record or a promotion; it’s becoming the manager everyone feels safe talking to.
With a deep customer service background, I live for the moment I help someone—especially a first-time homebuyer—get to the closing table. “Knowing I had a small part in that is worth everything,” I often say. My advice to young women entering the field is to embrace constant change. Laws and regulations shift constantly—go with the flow, be kind, put on a happy face, put your head down, and get it done. Focus on the positive.
When I’m not guiding teams and helping turn houses into homes, you’ll usually find me belting out tunes at karaoke nights or soaking up the energy of live concerts—because I believe every good leader knows when to work hard and when to sing loud.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say be open to constant change, because this industry is just constantly changing - there's constantly new laws, there's constantly new regulation, and sometimes you just have to kind of go with the flow and be open to it. And then just continue to be kind, because we all get frustrated, but put on that happy face and put your head down and get it done. Focus on the positive end, and not your negative moment. I'm a woman for a woman kind of person, and I'm here to support other women, because I know we have not had it easy. We are making strides in this day and age, and we're showing that we are smart, we can do it, and there's a lot of us that do it single. It just goes to show the strength of a woman and what we can accomplish. We need to support each other and make sure we know that none of us are alone in any of this.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field right now is constantly adapting to regulatory changes and staying current with evolving laws and compliance requirements.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in my work and personal life are kindness, strong customer service, and mutual support among women.