Member Profile: Tracy Kline, Exchange Bank

Our member spotlight this month comes from Tracy Kline, a Residential Mortgage Representative at Exchange Bank!

I have been in Real Estate lending since 2003 and in 2007 I began working for a local mortgage broker focusing on Reverse Mortgage. While there I was able to develop true hands on approach with my clients. In 2015 I joined Exchange Bank and was able to introduce the Reverse Mortgage product to the bank and their customers. More than just a loan officer, I am a true advocate for my clients; whether it is a senior looking to improve their lives with a Reverse Mortgage or a family member looking for options for their aging parents. I can truly appreciate how personal and emotional mortgages can be and offer a compassionate, straightforward approach which my clients find comforting and reassuring. I am devoted to building relationships with each of my clients and I pride myself on face-to-face communication. I believe that it is crucial to truly understand the wants and needs of my clients by having an open and honest dialogue from day one.

You’re an active member of YPN and the Chamber as a whole. Can you tell us a bit about your roles for each?
A strong believer in strengthening our local community, I have been a longtime member of the Santa Rosa Metro Chamber of Commerce. I served as a SR Metro Chamber Ambassador from 2014 until 2018. In 2018 I took a Board position on the Santa Rosa Metro Chamber’s Young Professional Network (YPN) board. My board position for YPN has me serving as the Chair for Professional Development for both the 2018 and 2019 terms.

What is your favorite part about being a member?
Great question! My favorite part of being a YPN member is seeing connections made and seeing our members learning to navigate the trials and tribulations of being in business and thriving! It is amazing to see new members come in “green and nervous” and turn the corner to being active leaders in our community.

You’re one of the masterminds behind YPN’s biggest annual event - Professional Development Day! What goes into making it such a success?
PDD is a true gem and such a wonderful opportunity for our leaders in the community to share with Young Professionals their stories. For many of us we do not get an opportunity to attend many of the events that are held in Sonoma County where these folks are often found speaking- PPD gives them a chance! The committee works hard to find a balanced group of people to speak and be part of such a jam packed and informative day. My approach over the last two years was to ask speakers to share with us how they got to their positions, what they struggled with and what advice they can offer to people newer to the work force and people making career changes. My greatest pleasure has been seeing how both the speaker and the members both benefit from the exchange of information.

What advice would you give members just starting out in their careers?
Do your best to lean into the process of growing and being slightly uncomfortable. It may be hard for people to believe this but I was once shy when it came to networking events. I didn’t enjoy going initially- I was so nervous! What I found was that the more I got involved the easier it was. I became a SR Metro Ambassador because I needed a job, a task to hold me accountable to going. I quickly realized that I could easily engage other members when I had a job to do! If you are a new member consider taking on a role that forces you to step outside of your comfort zone a little- or a lot depending on what you need to motivate you. Starting something new takes courage and dedication- we all have to push ourselves to do that which makes us a little uncomfortable- This includes asking for help, finding really great mentors who want to see you thrive and expanding our personal sphere of influence to include people of all ages and skill sets.

What is your favorite binge worthy TV series or movie franchise?
Truthfully I don’t watch much tv or even movies that aren’t picked out by my 6 and 7.5 year old sons. When I do get to pick I often am at a loss for what to watch and end up reading instead.

Whether it is “Hakuna Matata” “Carpe Diem” or “Just Do IT” - Do you have a motto in life?
My favorite saying is “It is, what it is”. For me it’s just allowing the thing to be what it is without judgement. Sure live can be tricky, complicated and often downright hard but when I surrender to the idea that it just is what it is, that I don’t have to react to each and everything that is tossed my way it allows me to address it with more care and ease. Plus it stops being so hard when you realize it just is what it is =)