Robert Wade

Background

About Robert Wade

Community wealth builder and affordable housing activist, Robert Ellis Wade, Jr, has spent much of his adult life advocating for fair and affordable housing for all. This has taken him throughout much of the country but specific work to bridge homeownership gaps in Birmingham, Memphis, his birthplace of Nashville, and his current home of Atlanta have created a dedication to teaching homeownership rules of engagement. A specific focus in helping minority and LGBTQIA+ families in their journey to homeownership changed the trajectory of Wade’s career focus and led to a passion for building and training more educators to further this important work. Living his own mantra of “when you stop learning, you stop living”, Robert considers himself a mission driven mortgage professional who is all in with ensuring his team has the education and skills needed to make every client feel included, inspired, and informed when working toward their dream of homeownership. Wade currently serves as a Community Development Manager for Southern Bancorp, a renowned CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution) formed provide credit and financial services to underserved markets and populations. Robert oversees sales growth, education & training, and sales team development as the company begins its national expansion initiative. Prior to his current role, Wade helped launch the FirstBank Forward Division of a TN based mortgage bank focused on bridging the homeownership gaps among minority families and was recognized by the National Mortgage Bankers Association with the 2020 Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Award for the division’s successful market outreach strategies. Previously he served as Public Housing Director and board member for a large market in the southeast as well as Director Consultant for Business Networking International, and board member of Atlanta area Paulding, Dekalb, and Cobb County Chambers of Commerce Young Business Professionals.