NRL Mortgage
NRL Mortgage (Nations Reliable Lending, LLC) is a national residential mortgage lender based in Houston, Texas, with a large presence in presence in Cincinnati, Ohio. They offer a range of home loan products with a focus on reliability and a seamless lending experience.
AUDIENCE: Real estate professionals, including 500+ realtors
LOCATION: Cincinnati, Ohio
CHALLENGE: Fluctuating interest rates and housing affordability, which directly impact loan demand while navigating the complexities of regulatory compliance and striving to adopt cutting-edge technologies to improve operational efficiency and deliver competitive, personalized services.
CARA BROOKINS’ SOLUTION:
1-hour keynote: “RISE: How a House Built a Family” + live Q&A
Presented at the Cincinnati Art Museum during NRL’s Realtor Appreciation Event
Coordinated with Liz Foster and executive leadership from NRL
Attended pre-event cocktail meetup with NRL team at the Hyatt Lobby Bar
Attended breakfast with the NRL team the morning of the event
Partnered with Keppler Speakers for event logistics and booking
NRL Mortgage (Nations Reliable Lending, LLC) is a national mortgage company headquartered in Houston, Texas, with a large presence in presence in Cincinnati, Ohio, known for its commitment to delivering a dependable, client-focused lending experience. In November 2019, the company hosted a high-energy Realtor Appreciation Event at the Cincinnati Art Museum, designed to motivate and celebrate hundreds of real estate professionals from across the region.
With over 400 realtors in attendance, NRL sought a speaker who could deliver both inspiration and practical perspective, someone who could connect on an emotional level while offering real-world insights into perseverance and achievement. The goal was to create a memorable experience that would leave a lasting impression on their key partners in the field.
Cara Brookins delivered the keynote, “RISE: How a House Built a Family,” which powerfully bridged the personal and professional. Her story of building a house from the ground up with her children deeply resonated with a room full of realtors—professionals who understand what it means to build lives, families, and futures through homes. Over the course of an hour-long presentation and Q&A, Cara provided an empowering message about resilience, purpose, and taking ownership of change.
Before the event, Cara connected personally with NRL leadership and speaker liaison Liz Foster during a cocktail meetup at the Hyatt Lobby Bar, helping build rapport and set the tone for a personalized experience. The morning of the event, she met the NRL core team for breakfast to learn more about the foundation of the organization. The combination of her relatable narrative and actionable mindset left attendees inspired and ready to bring new energy to their businesses.
The response was overwhelmingly positive. Realtors praised the session’s emotional impact and practical relevance, and NRL leadership described Cara as someone who “went above and beyond.” Her message aligned seamlessly with the values of the real estate and mortgage industry, making her a standout motivational speaker for appreciation events, sales teams, and housing-related conferences.
“She couldn’t have been better. She went above and beyond for us and our event. It was great. What an amazing woman and story! She is an amazing person, with a story that really resonated with our crowd.”
— NRL Mortgage, November 2019
