Kelly Kaufmann brings over 23 years of experience to the mortgage business. Her journey began in 1997 when she joined a Credit Union as a teller. Over the years, Kelly’s career evolved as she transitioned to consumer lending and eventually found her passion for mortgage lending. Despite the Credit Union not expanding its mortgage department, Kelly took the initiative to pursue her interest by securing a processing job at Citimortgage. Her dedication and quick learning resulted in her training newly hired processors and being presented with two opportunities in operations management or underwriting. Choosing operations management, Kelly thrived in that role for 16 years across various banks.
In January 2017, Kelly joined Success Mortgage Partners (SMP) as a Product Guideline Specialist in the newly created Credit Risk department. Seeking a change from her 16 years in operational management, the position aligned perfectly with her expertise and interests. Since then, Kelly has contributed to SMP in different capacities, including running the Scenarios Desk. In 2019, she was approached to help establish the new role of Account Executive for the National Division. Currently, she serves as the AE Team Lead, finding the experience unique.
What Kelly appreciates most about working at SMP is the culture. After spending many years in corporate America within various banks, SMP stands out as a place where individuals don’t need to be wary of others stepping on them to climb the corporate ladder. The “How can I help” mentality is pervasive, creating a refreshing and supportive environment.
Kelly enjoys spending time with her family and engaging in various activities outside of work. They love camping, golfing, spending quality time north on the water with friends and family, and enjoying bonfires and music. In the winter, they enjoy bonfires and music with friends while snowmobiling. Kelly’s hobbies include bowling and golfing, which she actively pursues in her spare time. She also enjoys watching Lions and Michigan State University football and cheering for her son during his soccer games.
Kelly is married to Mike Kaufmann, and they have been together for 13 years, celebrating their ninth wedding anniversary in October 2023. Together, they have two children. Alexis, their daughter, will turn 21 in July 2023, while Kole, their son, is 16 years old and a sophomore in high school. While they don’t have grandchildren, Kelly cherishes her time with her immediate family.
