Remembering The Legend Don Currie

Since his passing in March, HTL president continues to inspire other lenders

BY ERICA DRZEWIECKI, STAFF WRITER, MORTGAGE BANKER MAGAZINE

Mortgage professionals are feeling the void left by one of the industry’s top leaders, whom they remember as a “beautiful soul” and a “tireless worker.”

HighTechLending (HTL) founder and President Don Currie died suddenly on March 2 at age 60, leaving behind his wife Vena and daughter Grace. He has been posthumously honored as a 2023 Legend in Lending by Mortgage Banker Magazine.

During his 40-year career, Currie founded and led HighTechLending, Inc. in 2007 with current Chief Operations Officer Erika Macias. The company has since grown to become a Top 10 reverse lender with 45 branches nationwide and platforms in retail, wholesale, reverse and servicing.

“Don was not just my business partner; he was like a brother to me,” Macias told Mortgage Banker.

The two met 23 years ago while working for Impac Lending Group.

“I immediately knew Don was a man of his word, which is what stood out to me,” Macias recalled. “My best memory with Don is when we were opening up HTL. We would sit in his cabana for hours, setting our goals and expectations. Always laughing and having fun while taking care of business.”

Among the wisdom Currie imparted on her was how to be “the bigger person” in a disagreement.

“It didn’t have to be a negative disagreement but even when it was, he was always a class act,” Macias said.

Individual Over Company

Vilyam “Will” Toorosian, an HTL branch manager, recalls the friendly, familyoriented relationship he and Currie established early on.

“When a problem was presented to me or my branch, Don was the first one to jump up and help,” Toorosian said. “He never made me feel like the company came before me or my branch; it was always the needs of the individual employee over the company

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE in my experience working with Don.”

Toorosian had been working closely alongside Currie on new, innovative systems to put HTL ahead of its competition right before he passed.

“We met often, had dinner a couple of times, and worked on strategies of making our company a better place and put the “HighTech” in HighTechLending,” Toorosian said. “It was heartbreaking to see him go, but he left our company in good hands with good leaders who I know will continue to see Don’s vision to fruition.”

Currie grew up in California’s San Fernando Valley, going on to earn a bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance and real estate from California State University, Northridge. Then he jumped right into lending, eventually becoming President of the California Association of Mortgage Professionals Orange County (CAMP-OC).

Impac co-founder Bill Ashmore remembers when Currie joined his company, where he worked up until 2006.

“Don left my organization and was one of the first originators that I know who turned from the non agency Alt-A production market to FHA lending and eventually into reverse mortgage lending,” said Ashmore, now CEO of Vista Mortgage.

“Even when he left my organization he always called me Mr. Ashmore,” he added. “Right up until he passed away.”

‘BAG OF CASH’

Eric Morgenson, director-at-large of CAMP-OC and vice president of business development at Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions, knew of Currie before even meeting him.

“We went and had lunch, and Don had this thing where he would always bring a welcoming gift if he were meeting somebody for the first time,” Morgenson said. “He and I hit it off. We had very similar backgrounds.”

Currie was the one who nominated him for the role at CAMP. The two enjoyed playing golf and working trade shows together.

“His favorite thing to attract people to the booth would be to fill up a paper bag of cash,” Morgenson recalled. “And if you dropped off your business card - put it into his little fishbowl - you would be eligible to win said bag of cash. It would always get people riled up around him.”

This playful approach translated well into mortgage lending.

“Don had no problem building people up around him,” Morgenson continued, adding, “the mortgage industry is going to miss a very enthusiastic man who really knows how to leverage niche lending.”

Inspirational Leader

HTL released a statement following Currie’s passing.

“HighTechLending, Inc will continue to stand strong in his vision of success,” staff said. “We wish everyone could be so lucky to work with someone like Don once in their lifetime. We are so grateful for the time we were able to spend with you and believe that the angels are rejoicing because one of their own has rejoined them.”

The National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association issued the following statement in response to an inquiry from Mortgage Banker:

“The NRMLA was deeply saddened by the death of Don Currie. He was a strong and inspirational thought leader in the reverse mortgage industry for over 15 years. Although he’s no longer with us, we can only hope that the impact he had will continue to inspire future leaders in the years ahead.”

For Macias, Currie’s impact is farreaching and infinite.

“Our industry and HTL lost a leader, a visionary and a man who treated everyone as if they were his best friend,” she said. “He was always so happy. That great big laugh of his will always live in my memory.”

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