In November 2001, Broker Magazine ranked Amerihome Mortgage the 19th largest mortgage broker in the nation. The ranking was an honor for a team of four executives, including Carroll alumnus Jeff Cummisford ’73, who had put together an innovative and unique business headquartered in Brookfield, Wis.

Amerihome Mortgage, founded in 1997, has grown to seven branches in five states. It has earned praise from the industry for its outstanding workplace environment as well as client relationships. “We deliver highly personalized mortgage financing services in branches all over the United States,” said Jeff, senior vice president and partner.

“The strength of this company is due in large part to the quality of the individuals working for us,” said Jeff, a self-starting, motivated individual who encourages and mentors recent college graduates as well as seasoned industry veterans. Amerihome also prides itself on its ability to build relationships with customers and develop a program that is unique to the individual.

Several programs keep employee motivation high and provide constant communication between management and staff. The “Lunch and Lean” program includes a monthly brown bag discussion on several topics related to the industry.

More recently, Amerihome Mortgage was named a “Great place to work in southeastern Wisconsin” in the local “Beyond the Paycheck” program. The related “Workplace Sense of Humor” award was given to Amerihome because of its excellent workplace culture and atmosphere.

“We hire great people who have the desire to succeed, give them what they need and get out of their way,” said Jeff.

Jeff Cummisford
Senior vice president and partner

Jeff Cummisford took the solid finance background he gained at Carroll College, combined it with 24 years of experience and began a successful mortgage company not like any other.

Before he graduated from Carroll in 1973 with majors in business and economics and a minor in secondary education, Jeff was convinced he was going to be a high school teacher and coach. During his senior year at Carroll, Jeff took the advice of a Carroll business adviser and started at what was then Waukesha Savings and Loan to gain experience in the field of finance. “I took that road all the way to the top,” said Jeff.

During an 18-year career at Waukesha Savings and Loan, Jeff held many positions, from bank teller to the head of lending. In 1990, he accepted a position at TCF bank, where he also was in charge of lending. In 1997, he founded Amerihome Mortgage and is now an owner, branch manager and the number two loan officer among 85 in this growing company.

“What Jeff is doing for recent and hopeful Carroll graduates is what all alumni should be doing- helping to bridge the gap from classroom to career,” said Matthias Bollmus ’02, recently hired by Jeff as a loan officer and funding specialist. “Successful alumni can make it possible for recent college graduates to be successful as well. Jeff has done just that.”

Jeff not only remains close to Carroll through his contacts with recent Carroll graduates, but he has remained an active alumnus. He has served on the Alumni Council and was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002 in honor of his football career while at Carroll and his service to the college since.

Tim Zeilstra ’02
Loan originator and processor

Tara Pfeiffer ’01
Marketing and advertising coordinator

Some say Tim Zeilstra ’02 started it all. When he began his internship at Amerihome his senior year, he started where all interns start, at the bottom. His attitude and his hard work soon landed him a full-time position at the company.

As a summer intern, Tim worked as an administrative assistant. Because of the unusually heavy workload that particular summer, Tim began helping out after school and on weekends. One such weekend, Jeff Cummisford ’73, senior vice president and partner, was surprised to see Tim in the office. “Immediately, I knew Tim was someone who had the drive and desire to be here,” said Jeff. “Three days later, I hired him full time.”

“It was a time when I learned a lot about the company and about the industry,” said Tim. “Learning about the company from the inside out is valuable knowledge.”

Shortly after graduation, Tim began full time at Amerihome as a loan originator and processor. At that point, he encouraged Tara Pfeiffer, a recent 2001 Carroll graduate, to join the team.

“Carroll gave me the people skills I needed for this industry,” said Tara, Amerihome’s marketing and advertising coordinator. “Amerihome was a natural fit because everyone was very open and willing to help.”

Jeff has confidence in those with a Carroll background and said he continues to see proof of the quality individuals who graduate from Carroll. “Carroll students are balance students,” he said. “That is due, in part, to the liberal arts education they receive.” In the last several years, seven of the company’s eight interns have been from Carroll College and Jeff has mentored four other Carroll students. “In a changing business, students need to be knowledgeable in various areas and know how to be flexible, yet focused,” Jeff said.

The Amerihome interns agree that their career successes will be due, in part, to their Carroll education and the experience they have gained at Amerihome.