Tonya Lance

Securing your dream home and building wealth for generations to come

 

Born and raised in Traverse City, Michigan, Tonya packed up her Honda Civic, left the Midwest in her rearview mirror, and headed West in her early twenties.

 

Tonya spent five years dabbling in college, working, and embracing the magnificent outdoors in Utah before finding her forever home of the Pacific Northwest in1999. In 2004, Tonya earned a certification for Architectural Project Management from Portland State University. Tonya graduated with Bachelor of Arts degree from Marylhurst University, double majoring in Business Strategies and Interior Architecture in 2006.

 

How did you arrive at this business? What path brought you here?

After twenty great years working as an Interior Designer for luxury mega yachts, corporations, and residential projects, I decided to change careers in search of work-life harmony, personal growth, and building a retirement fund my husband and I can rely on. My fascination with economics joined with a strong drive to help others led me to follow through on a dear friend’s recommendation to reach out to Michael Leland. I am beyond excited to be working with and learning from one of the mortgage industries absolute best.

Where can we find you when you’re not working?

Living in the Pacific Northwest offers endless opportunities for outdoor adventures, fabulous restaurants, and hair-bending coffee – all of which I indulge in as often as possible. When not working I mostly savor every precious moment with my family, doing just about anything. My husband and I are raising two beautiful boys who are highly active in multiple sports and head over heels in love with our two sweet dogs. When not cheering on my kids on from the sidelines, you’ll find me hiking in the forest, skiing Mt. Hood, boating on the Columbia River, or enjoying a group workout at my favorite gym.

My greatest athletic accomplishment...

Healthy competition and exercise recharge my soul and provide me with refreshed perspective. My family and I have enjoyed competing in many regional running, biking, and swimming races together throughout the years. My favorite race ever was completing a triathlon at Pacific Crest as a team with my husband and his sister. I was our team swimmer – it was very scary and difficult – and I loved every minute of it!

What are you most passionate about professionally? What most excites you about your work and the contribution you can make?

Since I began working at age six, I have been drawn to jobs that bring me in direct contact with people. I have been a door-to-door Garden Vegetable Sales-Child (6), Newspaper Girl (10), Babysitter (11), Waitress (14), Production Coordinator for a clothing designer (21), Account Coordinator for an advertising firm (25), Interior Designer (27), Business Owner (35), and Non-Profit Contributor (Always). Each role I’ve explored has helped me cultivate and refine my passions. Most importantly each journey has clarified something I have suspected about myself all along. I LOVE helping people. I get a charge out of using my knowledge and skills to help make people happy. I am thrilled to be in a position to help others secure a home and gain financial freedom, allowing them to look optimistically forward to whatever life has in store for years to come.

What is your favorite thing about working at Mortgage Trust?

Mortgage Trust and Michael Leland have worked diligently to orchestrate a culture of continuous growth. Being surrounded, supported, and embraced by kind, hardworking, intelligent people is my favorite thing about Mortgage Trust.

Why have you chosen to live in Portland? What do you love about Portland?

Portland is simply perfect for me. I love the poetic rainy days of winter. I love the lush layers of greens and bright flowers of spring and summer. I love the sheer massiveness of the Columbia River Gorge. I love going to ocean beaches fully clothed, and getting lost in the magic of tidepools. Mostly, I love Pacific Northwest people. I find many people attracted to this area to be kind, bold, adventurous, intelligent and a little edgy – all of which are strong attributes in my book.