Academy Mortgage
Academy Mortgage is one of the nation’s largest and most respected independent mortgage lenders, with over 200 branches and a mission to deliver sustainable homeownership by inspiring hope and building prosperity.
AUDIENCE: Mortgage and financial professionals attending Academy’s Annual Sales Leadership Summit
LOCATION: Salt Lake City, Utah
CHALLENGE: dealing with shifting interest rates and changes in the housing market, which can make it harder to help people get loans while staying updated with strict mortgage regulations and offering excellent customer service and modern tools.
CARA BROOKINS’ SOLUTION:
1-hour keynote: “Building Teams: Lay the Foundation for Effective Teamwork”
Delivered live at The Grand America Hotel during Academy’s 2024 Sales Summit
Theme integration: “Follow Your Compass” & “Formula One”
Participated in Academy’s community service project with Sleep in Heavenly Peace
Attended post-event dinner at Garage Grill with event organizers and company leaders
Coordinated via Keppler Speakers after initial web outreach
Founded in 1988, Academy Mortgage has grown into one of the nation’s most trusted independent mortgage lenders, serving communities through a vast network of branches and a deeply rooted mission: to inspire hope and deliver sustainable homeownership. In January 2024, Academy gathered its top-performing sales and leadership professionals in Salt Lake City for the Annual Sales Leadership Summit, an event designed to align the company’s future vision with personal purpose and peak performance.
Held at The Grand America Hotel, the conference embraced themes like “Follow Your Compass” and “Formula One,” emphasizing clarity of direction, speed to execution, and legacy through leadership. To kick off the event with purpose and impact, Academy Mortgage brought in Cara Brookins to deliver the keynote “Building Teams: Lay the Foundation for Effective Teamwork.”
Cara’s 1-hour keynote addressed the importance of resilience, communication, and trust, especially in fast-paced industries like mortgage lending where effective teamwork can make or break both personal and company goals. Through her own story of building a house with her children, Cara delivered powerful metaphors and real-world takeaways for how individuals can take ownership, lead from within, and construct the kind of teams that endure through challenge.
Beyond the stage, Cara further deepened her connection with the company by participating in a hands-on service project with the Sleep in Heavenly Peace initiative and attending a post-event leadership dinner at Garage Grill. These moments of personal connection made her presence more than a keynote, they made it a cultural contribution to Academy’s mission.
Feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Cara’s courageous story and delivery style struck a chord with attendees, many of whom described her message as unforgettable and transformational. For sales-driven organizations seeking a motivational speaker who aligns heart with performance, Cara Brookins delivered lasting value to Academy Mortgage’s summit and its people.
“You blew everyone away at the Summit! Thank YOU for your courageous story and incredible method of delivery. You’re definitely an inspiration to all of us.”
— Academy Mortgage
