Our March Member Spotlight shines on Carrie Cook, President at Ignite Funding.

To say that Carrie Cook takes the “work hard, play hard” mantra to a new level would be an understatement! She has over 15 years of experience in the private lending industry, is the President of Ignite Funding AND the CEO of Preferred Trust Company, and does both roles at the SAME TIME! She is the the reigning AAPL Member of the Year and says she unplugs from work by jumping in her Jeep with her family (dog included!) and driving their trailer to explore the great outdoors. You may see her out hiking, biking, kayaking, sailing, racing or even snowshoeing (you won’t see us doing any of that… typing that sentence made us tired!).

Read more about the woman who is the next America Ninja Warrior (probably):

How long have you been an AAPL member?

Since 2015

What AAPL benefit do you MOST value?

I would have to say the Annual Conference. Over the years, we have met some great long-term clients by consistently attending these events.

Why did you become a member?

Ignite Funding joined AAPL because we feel that it is important to have an organization to represent the common interests of private lenders as a whole. We want to have a voice in what happens within our industry from a legislation and regulatory standpoint. We also want to positively affect how our industry is perceived and make the changes necessary to keep standards high so that clients can depend on our integrity.

What is your favorite AAPL memory?

Receiving the AAPL Member of the Year award.  It is an honor to be recognized by professionals in our industry and the employees that support my leadership.

Why did you decide to enter the private lending profession?

Buying properties that someone else pays off through rental income, having only outlaid 30% of your own capital, and then selling the property at the height of the market whets your appetite for real estate investing forever. I profited more from what I learned from this experience as it opened my eyes to the potential the world of real estate investing held for me.

What are some accomplishments you are particularly proud of?

There are three moments that stand out to me: 1) When Ignite Funding surpassed $1 Billion in loans funded; 2) When we received the highest rating from our regulatory review; 3) In 2021, coming out of the Covid lockdowns, our entire staff worked together to reach the goals I set and accomplished our best year yet. As my employees will tell you, I don’t rest on accomplishments. I prefer to use them as a springboard to see how much further we can go.

What is your favorite book, and why?

Running two companies I don’t have much time to sit and read, which is why I have started listening to podcasts. I can still get information, knowledge, and entertainment while on the go. My current favorites are The Guilty Feminist, Nobody Panic, and of course I have to mention, “Deeds in the Desert” the Ignite Funding podcast.

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