Candid Conversation with Summer Kim-Davis shares her journey and her contribution through IKON Mortgage, Inc.
Q. Brief us about the CEO/Founder of the company.
Founder and CEO of IKON Mortgage, Summer Kim-Davis is a devoted Christian who actively serves in her local church, Grace Plano as a way to fulfill her passion and calling but also to contribute a positive role model to those whom she meets. Summer is also a wife and devoted fur baby mother to 2 dogs and always in search of her newly rescued puppy. She has a passion for animals in need which is why she founded ProsForPaws, a 501c3 Non-profit that raises funds for neglected, abused, and homeless animals in need of forever homes and medical care. A common denominator to Summer’s motivation in life is the drive to serve and help those in need, and you can say she has the “giver” mentality. Summer’s focus is also on the far horizon, striving to achieve personal and professional goals in order to continually progress her aspirations. Summer Kim-Davis quickly become the name to know in the local mortgage industry over the past 11 years, since moving to the Dallas metroplex who’s frequently recommended by happy clients as the preferred choice to secure financing for their friends and family members. Gaining experience over the previous 17 years has supported her ability to understand the ever-changing mortgage industry and her keen senses have proven her capacity to guide clients through difficult markets. Summer’s ability to understand the needs of her clients and come true on those expectations, laid the groundwork for her inspiration to build her own mortgage company, IKON Mortgage. Summer’s forward-thinking mentality is always on the horizon but believes it is critical to take a moment and reflect on what has been achieved. Summer finds motivation and knowledge through her faith as a Christian and by reading leadership books and listening to podcasts on a regular basis to progress her education and advance her comprehension as a leader. Summer hopes to provide a platform for other women to take a leap of faith when they have a vision to create something or their own, she once said in the early stages of taking the leap of her own, “I’d rather fail trying than regret not doing so later”
Q. Being a successful Business leader, what difficulties and challenges do you face? What keeps you motivated?
In order to become a successful business leader you must learn how to wear multiple hats, endure the pressures of others depending on your success, keeping a positive mindset when things do not go to plan or as you overcome major obstacles, while also blazing a trail in the competitive mortgage industry. Our main motivation is that we have identified an area that is neglected by many large lenders, has and continues to create the negative connotation of the mortgage industry, and if corrected can turn a unhappy, stressed out, dissatisfied client into a grateful, pleased, and impressed client. IKON Mortgage has created a culture and processes that encourages our employees to provide a WOW service to our clients and realtor partners. Making a difference to formerly unhappy borrowers is where true career passion and fulfillment can be achieve and this also supports our value of being customer driven not revenue driven.
Q. Could you please share your noted milestones, accomplishments throughout your journey so far along with company highlights and achievements under your leadership.
(The birth of IKON Mortgage, Inc was by far the biggest milestone started as an independent mortgage brokerage firm in 2016, then we became a correspondent lender in 2019 which was huge step. Now we are developing the leadership of the company. One of mortgage advisors Summer mentored was nominated as one of Fortune 40 under 40 in 2021 Mortgage Professionals. Jonathan “Jon” Lucas who is now a part of leadership team)
Q. Please tell us about the business model you follow and the services you provide that makes the brand unique in the mid of cut throat competition.
IKON Mortgages’ business model is providing excellent service to our clients while giving borrowers the decision-making power. Many of our competitors do whatever it takes to gain the business while IKON Mortgage does whatever it takes to make the client happy. We strive to improve the experience throughout the entire loan process by educating the borrowers, setting expectation upfront and delivering a smooth closing. If we do not achieve a 5-star review we feel as if our jobs were not done right. Our true passion is seeing happy clients and our motivation is not revenue driven it’s customer driven and that’s what makes us unique at IKON Mortgage.
Q. Please share the most memorable and remarkable moment of your life.
Summer’s husband Ryan who always loves her and supports her to be the best she can be. She acknowledges that she wouldn’t be where she is now without his support. She first met her best friend, soul mate, adventure partner, and love of her life in 2008 in Honolulu Hawaii while they worked together briefly. Ryan, her husband, and Summer’s favorite trip is to big island, Kona where they wedded in Aug 06, 2011. Her husband joined IKON Mortgage in early 2021 and Ryan is already taking the company to the next level and has made huge progress by hiring quality employees (individuals) and launched “Unscripted Real Estate” podcast show and many other marketing and publication since he joined less than a year. Against the odds, they are still enjoying working together and they make a great team by complementing each other. They also enjoy helping animals in need thru Pros for Paws since 2012 and now growing our team at IKON Mortgage. Together and they find serving and making a positive impact on others the most fulling and remarkable part of their life and mission.
Q. Where do you see yourself and the company in future? Or, what is your goal to mark the uniqueness in future? ?
Our plans to transform our company into the future will not include changing the values of IKON Mortgage because that is what defines and differentiates us. The culture we have at IKON Mortgage “going above and beyond to serve our clients” is rooted in our core values and mission to excellence, high-quality service, and provide a positive change and impression of the mortgage industry. The transformation will occur with growth and finding new and better ways and our recipe is hiring the right individuals that will amplify our efforts finding new and better ways. IKON Mortgage has a service driven mindset and not revenue driven because at the end of the day we understand that true satisfaction is achieved by feeling you are improving the greater good or intrinsically motivated.
Q. Advise for the budding women in tech who are trying to embark in the same field.
I would like to encourage all women to be authentic and courageous, never lose the grace being a woman. We do not have to demand our seat in male dominated industry. We do not have to be loud and aggressive to earn the seat. We can earn the seat with our works, excellence, and reputation. Never doubt and let others to doubt who you are, and do not compromise your values because that’s the norm. Go against the grain and be willing to try and fail. Rise up to try again. Be strong, courageous, and be true to yourself. Embrace your femininity because we are only strong when we can be vulnerable. My personal motto is “Be You. Go All In. Be Transformed”. (Inspired by Brene Brown books between Gift of Imperfection, Daring Greatly, and Rising Strong)
Q. What is the one thing that is acting as your motivational tool? Or, who is your role model and how the person inspires and motivates you?
Reading is my motivational tool. I am a Christian and Jesus is the biggest influencer in my life. Besides that, I love John Maxwell’s leadership books, Dale Carnage, Daniel Pink, Patrick Lencioni, Brene Brown, Joyce Myers, and Adam Grant books.
