Ruby started college at age 15 through the University of Washington’s Early Entrance Program and has been on a high-achievement track ever since. After working as a loan officer for four years, Ruby founded Salmon Bay Community Lending in July 2005, as she explains it, “To provide more personalized service in the always fast-paced, often intimidating Puget Sound home mortgage market.”

After receiving her B.A. in Social Welfare from UW, Ruby honed her listening and problem-solving skills as a social worker for King county. While on a two-year visit to Argentina to study tango and take her Spanish fluency to the next level, Ruby met her future husband, Sebastian Grynberg. They settled in the Salmon Bay neighborhood (aha!) of Ballard in 2001 with their two sons, Zacarias and Alejandro. They have since added number three and four with Mateo and Javier. In the spare time she intends to have again any day now, Ruby looks forward to indulging in her passions for performing tango and classical violin. But not in the same performance.

Jeanne has 15 years experience in mortgage banking. Her BS in Finance from the University of Oregon and MA in Teaching from the University of Alaska are obvious assets in a job that involves helping people do the important math. “Even experienced homebuyers can find it daunting to compare lenders, loans, and costs,” Jeanne says. “Part of my job is help people make sense of their options and secure a mortgage that’s going to work for them today and down the road.” As for job satisfaction, she adds, “There’s nothing I enjoy more than telling a client that they’ve just been approved for their dream home.”

Jeanne likes to stay in motion, so the upbeat tempo at Salmon Bay suits her perfectly. She enjoys kayaking with her 11-year-old daughter and is a volunteer for the Sierra Club’s Inner City Outings, a community outreach program that facilitates nature activities for urban youth and adults.

Steph Fairweather is a Seattle/Vashon Island native, UW alumna and has been a Ballardite for 14 years.

Steph has enjoyed the process of buying and selling homes, and this dovetailed into a career as a loan consultant eight years ago. Prior to providing mortgages and home finance education, she promoted and marketed national and local artists in the music industry for over a decade. Naturally, her initial client base tended toward diversity and creativity in their lives and jobs. “I wanted to be able to help people who need out-of-the-box solutions to home loans to fit their unique, individual scenarios.”

Steph prides herself on her attention to detail during the loan process, quick response and great communication with her clients, and on providing a positive experience for the people she works with.

Cate came to Salmon Bay in 2009 after a 3-year break from the mortgage industry. Her previous five years of operational experience provide a strong understanding in how the lending industry is changing and creates a natural fit to effectively work with her clients to help guide them through the home finance process. She participates in industry associations with the goal of developing an improved reputation for ethical mortgage professionals.

She also facilitates and teaches a First Time Homebuyer class, Dwell on This. Many of her family members are educators or in the educational system, and Dwell on This is her opportunity to follow in that endeavor. It means a great deal to Cate to share the information she uses in her daily work and empower those seeking to understand the process surrounding what may be the greatest investment of their lives.

Raised in Puyallup from the age of five and a Western Washington University graduate, Cate has lived in Seattle for eight years. She is connected with the Puget Sound area, “I feel it is part of my work to continue to strengthen the foundation of the area’s housing market.”

Kevin comes to us from Washington Financial Group, Inc. (WFG) where he grew WFG from a basement operation in 2002 to one of Washington's largest residential mortgage lenders operating in 26 different states. As President of WFG Kevin managed the operations of over 150 mortgage professionals on both the retail and wholesale channels.

After managing WFG, Kevin returns to his true passion: helping people with their residential mortgage needs. He brings a consultative approach to the lending process taking the time to understand his client's current financial situation, goals, risk tolerance and time horizon presenting financing options that enable consumers to make informed, confident decisions.

Kevin is a lifelong Seattle resident and graduated from the UW in Political Science and Economics. Outside of the office Kevin enjoys spending time with his family (2 little ones, and yes, his 160lb. Newfoundland Satchmo). On the weekends you'll find him boating in the Puget Sound or San Juans, spending lazy days puttering around the house, watching whatever sporting event is piquing his interest, or cooking; the only creative bone he claims to have.

When it comes to buying your first home or refinancing into a loan more suited to your changing needs, there are few things more important than confidence that you’re making the right decision for you. Navigating the ever-evolving mortgage industry can be extremely challenging, even for those working in the field every day. Jessica joined the Salmon Bay team to help bridge that gap and ensure that the process is as simple and transparent as possible.

After finishing her BA at Stanford University she came back to the Pacific NW and began her career in the mortgage industry with one of the nation’s largest lenders. The experience gained over five years in finance and mortgage provided the perfect foundation for her transition to Salmon Bay Community Lending.

Ellaina has the important role of helping Salmon Bay’s clients complete their loan applications and expediting the approval process as much as possible to ensure that loans close on time and as promised.

Ellaina’s timing skills and her ability to exhibit grace under pressure come naturally, thanks in part to her training and experience as an operatic soprano. She studied at the Aspen Opera Theater Center, the University of Washington, Iowa State University and at the Astoria Music Festival and Academy. Her awards include the Helen Crowe Snelling Scholarship from the Seattle Musical Art Society, and the Opera Aria Division title at the Performing Arts Festival of the Eastside in Bellevue. Ellaina is also active with the Open Door Theater, whose mission is to free children from violence and abuse by teaching safety skills through dramatic live performances.

Born and raised just outside of Monroe, WA., Adam studied Public Relations at Central Washington University. He started his mortgage career in December of 2005 with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage as a customer service representative, answering basic questions. In just 10 months he moved to a position as a Sales Associate, over-seeing the entire loan process from start to finish for all accounts in the greater Seattle area but he never really left the customer service mind-set behind; ensuring that people have a positive experience and enjoy themselves has always been a cornerstone of Adam’s work ethic. Just because it’s work doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be fun.

After 4 years in mortgage sales Adam made the transition to Home Loan Modifications within Wells Fargo with a goal of helping home owners in desperate situations find comfort and ultimately work towards keep their home. He spent a year helping home owners with loan modifications before starting at Salmon Bay Community Lending. He brings vigor and a certain je ne sais quoi to the office. In his spare time he enjoys photography and cooking (sometimes together) and has an affinity for t-shirts purchased online.

After graduating from the University of Washington, Kate joined Salmon Bay to keep the office running while everyone else helps people finance their homes. Driven by an innate curiosity, Kate has found the mortgage industry to be a complex and intriguing beast. The mixture of professionalism and whimsy at Salmon Bay suits Kate just right. In addition, it helps make her job that much more compelling.

A Seattle native, Kate would move into Pike Place Market if she could. She enjoys the snow as much as the sun, can never see too much theatre, eat at too many restaurants, or read too many books.