MWZM - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Shareholder
- Shareholder / Dallas
- Shareholder of Mackie Wolf Zientz
Brandon B. Wolf is a shareholder of Mackie Wolf Zientz & Mann, P.C. He was born and grew up in Tyler, Texas. He was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 2000 and the State Bar of Arkansas in 2010. He received his education from Nova Southeastern University where he obtained a B.S. in business administration in 1995 and South Texas College of Law where he obtained his J.D. in 1999. Brandon's practice has been focused on mortgage banking issues associated with contract enforcement, probate in relation to such enforcement, title examination and title curative. He is a member of the Texas Bar and Arkansas Bar.
EDUCATION
J.D., South Texas College of Law (1999)
B.S. Business Administration, Nova Southeastern University (1995)
Job Titles:
- Manager of Litigation
- Manager of Litigation / Dallas
Brian K. Ommart joined Mackie Wolf Zientz & Mann, P.C. in November of 2009 and has over 18 years of legal experience including foreclosure, bankruptcy, evictions, and litigation.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Attorney
- Associate Attorney / Dallas
Chelsea Schneider joined Mackie Wolf in 2013 and is a member of the Foreclosure Department. She assists mortgage lenders and servicers regarding creditors' rights. Prior to joining MWZM, she represented debtors at one of the largest filer of consumer bankruptcies in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. She graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in 2007 and received her Doctorate of Jurisprudence, Cum Laude from Texas Tech University School of Law School in 2011. Chelsea is a member of the State Bar of Texas and is licensed in the U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courts for the Northern, Eastern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Attorney
- Associate Attorney / Dallas
Cheyenne Haley joined Mackie Wolf Zientz & Mann, P.C. in October 2022 as an Associate Attorney in the Litigation Department. She handles mortgage-related litigation files in the DFW market. Prior to joining MWZM as an Associate Attorney, she worked as an Intern for Mackie Wolf in the litigation department for over a year, while finishing her law degree. Cheyenne earned her B.B.A. in Management Information Systems, with a Minor in Political Science from Baylor University and went on to receive her Juris Doctorate from Texas A&M School of Law.
EDUCATION
B.A., Management Information Systems, Baylor University (2019)
Juris Doctorate, Texas A&M University (2022)
Job Titles:
- Director of Default Services
Derek has more than 20 years of experience in the mortgage default industry, with his background focused primarily with law firms in Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee (foreclosure, bankruptcy, post-sale/claims, litigations, evictions, compliance). Derek joined the team in 2012.
Derek manages the foreclosure, reverse mortgage, evictions & client service operations for MWZMs mortgage servicing default legal services in TN & AR.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Attorney
- Associate Attorney / Houston
Ester Gonzales joined Mackie Wolf Zientz & Mann, P.C. in November 2018 as an Associate Attorney in the Foreclosure Department. Ester has a background representing mortgage lenders and servicers in bankruptcy and foreclosure. Prior to joining MWZM, she managed her own consumer bankruptcy practice. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of St. Thomas, graduating with a B.B.A. in Marketing in 1996. She received her Doctorate of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law in 1999. Ester is a member of the State Bar of Texas and is licensed in the U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas.
Jason Nabors was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He earned both his B.A. in political science and classics and M.A. in classics from the University of Mississippi. He earned his Juris Doctor from the Nashville School of Law after a successful career in education. His practice focuses on foreclosure and mortgage creditors' rights in bankruptcy. He previously practiced privately in the general practice of law. He is a member of the Tennessee Bar Association and admitted to practice in both the state and federal courts of Tennessee.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Attorney
- Associate Attorney / Houston
Jessica L. Holt joined Mackie Wolf Zientz & Mann, P.C. in October of 2015 as a member of the bankruptcy department. Jessica's focus is assisting mortgage lenders and servicers in asserting and protecting their rights throughout the bankruptcy process. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in International Business with a Spanish minor from Texas Lutheran University in 2006 and received her Juris Doctor from Texas Tech University School of Law in May of 2011. Jessica is a member of the State Bar of Texas and licensed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern, Northern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas. Prior to joining MWZM Jessica represented individual debtors at one of the largest consumer bankruptcy firms in Texas.
J. P. Sellers joined the firm in August of 2012 and serves as the Managing Attorney for the firm's Arkansas and Tennessee Foreclosure Departments. He is a native of Vilonia, Arkansas. He was admitted to the State Bar of Arkansas in 2009 and the State Bar of Tennessee in 2012. He received his B.A. from the University of Central Arkansas and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, William H. Bowen School of Law. His practice focuses on creditor's rights in foreclosure, eviction and asset recovery actions. Mr. Sellers is a frequent speaker and panelist at mortgage banking conferences and continuing legal education seminars on the topics of Foreclosure and Real Estate Title. He is an alumnus of the Arkansas Bar Association Leadership Academy. He is a member of the Arkansas Bar Association, the Debtor-Creditor Bar of Central Arkansas, and the Tennessee Bar Association.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Attorney
- Associate Attorney / Dallas
Karla M. Balli joined Mackie Wolf Zientz Mann, P.C. in March 2022 as an Associate Attorney in the Foreclosure Department. Prior to joining the firm, she represented Debtors in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies and adversary proceedings. She also had her own firm where she handled Family Law matters, worked on CPS cases, and prepared wills.
Karla earned her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Texas at Arlington (2000) and her J.D. from Texas Wesleyan Law School, n/k/a Texas A&M University School of Law (2005). She is duly licensed to practice law in the state of Texas and the United States District Courts for Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Attorney
- Associate Attorney / Dallas
- Member of the State Bar of Texas
Kelli Johnson joined Mackie Wolf Zientz & Mann, P.C. in October of 2022 as a member of the bankruptcy department. Kelli's focus is assisting mortgage lenders and servicers in asserting and protecting their rights throughout the bankruptcy process. Prior to joining the firm Kelli represented individual debtors in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies and adversary proceedings, initially as a solo practitioner and later as a member at a boutique firm.
Kelli is a member of the State Bar of Texas and is licensed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern, Eastern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and an English minor from Texas Christian University in 2001 and received her Juris Doctor from Texas Wesleyan School of Law, n/k/a Texas A&M University School of Law, in December of 2004.
Job Titles:
- Shareholder
- Shareholder / Dallas
Keller Mackie is a 4th generation Texan from Fort Worth who serves as the Firm's President and Chief Information Security Officer. He has over twenty-five years of experience in mortgage banking issues related to residential mortgage origination and servicing. Keller is licensed to practice law in Massachusetts and Texas and is a frequent speaker at mortgage banking/servicing conferences on relevant legal topics including:
Texas Home Equity Lending/Foreclosures
Transferred Tax Liens
Reverse Mortgage Lending/Foreclosures
Texas Probate Title Issue
Loss Mitigation Best Practices in Texas
EDUCATION
J.D., Massachusetts School of Law (1995)
B.A. Finance/Real Estate, Texas Tech University (1991)
Leslie N. Mann is a shareholder in the law firm of Mackie Wolf Zientz & Mann, P.C. She is admitted to practice in Arkansas and Tennessee and is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas and Tennessee. Leslie is a member of the Arkansas Bar Association, the American Bankruptcy Institute, the National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees (NACTT) and the ALFN. She served as Chair of the USFN Bankruptcy Committee from 2005-2007 and was awarded the USFN Committee Chair of the Year in 2007. She is past Chair of the ALFN Judicial Issues Committee as well as past Chair of the ALFN Bankruptcy Committee. Leslie served as Co-Chair of the NACTT Mortgage Committee from 2004-2010. She currently serves on the Chapter 13 Committee of the American Bankruptcy Institute Commission on Consumer Bankruptcy.
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- Chief Financial Officer / Dallas
- Chief Financial Officer of Mackie Wolf Zientz & Mann
Lisa Hess is the Chief Financial Officer of Mackie Wolf Zientz & Mann, P.C. She was born in Texas, but as a military brat, she has lived all over the world. She graduated with her Accounting Degree from the University of South Florida in 1996 and spent the first ten years of her career learning the value of cost accounting, including costing techniques, variance analysis, profit margin/erosion analysis, and budgeting/forecasting strategies. Lisa is a Certified Management Accountant and is certified in Strategy and Competitive Analysis, as well as Data Analytics.
Lisa joined Mackie Wolf Zientz & Mann, P.C. in April 2014 and has over 25 years in financial reporting and analysis.
EDUCATION
B.S. Accounting, University of South Florida (1996)
MBA, Finance and Economics, University of South Florida (2001)
Job Titles:
- Senior Attorney
- Senior Attorney / Dallas
Lori received her B.A. from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in 1998, graduating summa cum laude, and received her J.D. from Tulane University in 2001, where she was a member of the Moot Court Team. She was admitted to the Tennessee bar in 2002 and is also admitted to practice in U.S. District Court for the Eastern and Middle Districts of TN. She spent the first 6 years of her career in general practice, with an emphasis on litigation. From 2007 until she moved to Texas in 2010, she worked as a district attorney, supervising the East TN Division for Asset Forfeitures. Upon moving to Texas, she was admitted to the Texas bar in 2010 and began working for Default Resolution Network, a division of Fidelity National Title Group. In December 2012, Lori joined Mackie Wolf Zientz Mann in the home equity department, handling all home equity foreclosures for the DFW metroplex and Bexar County. She is also the attorney assigned to MWZM's reverse mortgage portfolio, attending several conferences and client summits each year to stay current on the rapidly evolving state of reverse mortgages and advising our clients on all new case law and mortgagee letters relevant to the origination and servicing of reverse mortgages.
Marco Iacobacci is a native Arkansan and joined Mackie Wolf Zientz & Mann, P.C. in February 2022 in the Foreclosure Department. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from The University of Arkansas. Marco went on to receive his Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, William H. Bowen School of Law. Marco is a member of the Bar of Arkansas.
Job Titles:
- Director of Litigation
- Director of Litigation / Dallas
Mark D. Cronenwett joined the firm in October 2012 and serves as the Managing Attorney of the firm's Litigation Section. Mark has 15 years of experience in mortgage-lending litigation; general commercial litigation; general insurance defense and appellate law. Prior to joining the firm, Mark was a Shareholder at Cowels & Thompson, P.C. and Higier Allen & Lautin, P.C. Mark is admitted to the Texas State Bar, Fifth Circuit, and all Texas Federal District Courts.
Matt Smith grew up in Texarkana, Arkansas. He earned his B.S. in Political Science from the University of Central Arkansas and went on to receive his Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law. His practice focuses on creditor's rights in foreclosure and bankruptcy matters. He serves on the board of directors for the Pulaski County Court Appointed Special Advocates and the Arkansas Coalition Against Sexual Assault. He is a member of the State Bar of Arkansas, Arkansas Bar Association and Pulaski County Bar Association.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Attorney
- Melinda Kirkham Associate Attorney
Melinda Kirkham joined Mackie, Wolf, Zientz & Mann, P.C. in June of 2022 and focuses on creditors' rights in Tennessee foreclosure. She received her education from The University of Missouri (B.A. 2008), Nashville School of Law (J.D. 2021) and is licensed to practice law in Tennessee. Before joining MWZM, Melinda worked in property law and was a licensed title agent for nearly a decade.
Job Titles:
- Director of Default Services
- Director of Default Services / Dallas
Mike has over 30 years of experience in the mortgage servicing business, with his background focused primarily in the operational management functions of default servicing divisions and law firms (foreclosure, bankruptcy, post-sale/claims, litigation, eviction, compliance). Mike joined the MWZM team in November 2017
Prior, he spent 12 years as a Vice President managing non-legal compliance functions and a variety of operational teams for a large Dallas law firm. Before joining the legal aspect of the mortgage business in 2006, Mike held various operational management positions with Lomas Mortgage in Dallas and later with Countrywide/Bank of America in Plano and Ft. Worth, TX. Mike is a Texas A&M graduate in 1989 with a BBA in Finance & Accounting.
Mike manages the foreclosure, home equity/reverse mortgage, post-sale functions and client service operations for MWZM's mortgage servicing default legal services in Texas.
Michael J. Tackett, Jr. is a native of Little Rock, Arkansas and joined Mackie Wolf Zientz & Mann, P.C. in May of 2020 as an Associate Attorney working in the Foreclosure, Bankruptcy, and Evictions Departments. Prior to joining the firm Michael represented creditors in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies.
He earned a B.S. in Geology from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2010 and earned his Juris Doctor in 2018 from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law.
Michael is licensed to practice law in Arkansas and is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas and Tennessee. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Arkansas Bar Association, and Debtor-Creditor Bar of Central Arkansas.
Job Titles:
- Shareholder
- Shareholder / Dallas
Michael W. Zientz has been representing the top mortgage servicers and investors in the United States since 1998. Michael grew up in Miami, Florida, graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1994 with a B.A. in government and obtained his J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law in 1997. Michael is a member of the Dallas Bar Association, American Bar Association, Texas Bar and Florida Bar. Michael has a broad spectrum of experience appearing on behalf of his clients in district, county and probate courts across Texas. Mr. Zientz is a frequent speaker and panelist at mortgage banking/servicing conferences on relevant legal topics including:
Debtor/Creditor Litigation in Texas
Texas Foreclosure Issues
Texas Probate Title Issues
EDUCATION
J.D., University of Miami School of Law (1997)
B.A. Government, University of Texas at Austin (1994)
Job Titles:
- Senior Attorney
- Senior Attorney / Houston
Nick Frame joined Mackie Wolf in 2021 and is a member of the Litigation Department. He handles mortgage-related litigation files in the Houston market. Prior to joining MWZM, he practiced at a real estate law firm primarily focused on foreclosures, evictions, and litigation. He earned his B.B.A. in Finance from Texas A&M University and went on to receive his Juris Doctorate from South Texas College of Law Houston. Nick is a member of the State Bar of Texas and is licensed all federal districts (Northern, Eastern, Western, Southern), Southern Bankruptcy Court, and Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
EDUCATION
B.B.A., Finance, Texas A&M University (2010)
Juris Doctorate, South Texas College of Law (2014)
Rachael Swernofsky joined Mackie Wolf Zientz Mann, P.C. in February 2023 as a Senior Attorney in the Litigation Department. She is a litigator who has represented a wide variety of commercial, financial and insurance industry clients in state and federal court.
Prior to joining the firm, she represented national consumer reporting agencies in litigation brought under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Additionally, she has experience representing Mortgage Creditors in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies and adversary proceedings.
Rachael earned her B.A. in Criminal Justice from the University of North Texas (2011) and her J.D. from Texas A&M University School of Law (2016). She is duly licensed to practice law in the states of Texas, California, Nevada, and Colorado, including all of the related United States District Courts.
Job Titles:
- Director of Business Development
- Director of Business Development / Dallas
- WILL Chair
Rosalie Escobedo is responsible for the business development, client relationships, and overall firm marketing for Mackie Wolf Zientz Mann law firm in Texas, Arkansas, and Tennessee. At the Firm, she was previously responsible for the management of the litigation business unit operations. At her former company, as the Program Manager for VRM Mortgage Services, Rosalie was responsible for the litigation management of VRM clients, serving as a key liaison for legal issues. She uses her 12+ years of marketing, legal, sales, and management experience in the default industry, to achieve operational success and produce business development opportunities.
Rosalie currently serves as a WILL Chair, earned the 2020 JPEG Picture the Future award, the 2022 MBA Path to Diversity Scholarship, was nominated to be a 2022 Five Star Women in Housing Award recipient, and is an industry published author. Her newest endeavor is in serving on the Texas Women Mortgage Bankers host committee. She is involved in advocacy and is a member of the MBA Mortgage Action Alliance, participating in advocacy pursuits in Texas and at the national level.
Ms. Escobedo also served in the capacity of Director of Marketing and Legal Training for law firms with legal services in real estate and other areas of law. She received her Juris Doctor degree from Loyola New Orleans College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of North Texas. Rosalie devotes her time civically by serving as an election judge, precinct chair, and county Party officer. She also serves on a ministry Board and on a Board representing county citizens and dabbles in some grassroots and ministry podcasting.
EDUCATION
J.D., Loyola University New Orleans College of Law (2008)
B.A., Political Science, University of North Texas (2003)
Rosanna Henry joined MWZM on April 15, 2013 and serves as the Firm's Director of Compliance. Ms. Henry has focused her law practice in representing the mortgage banking industry since 1989 in the areas of foreclosure of both residential and commercial properties, bankruptcy creditors' rights, title litigation, evictions and real estate closings. She is licensed before the bar in the state of Arkansas..
Ms. Henry was a founding partner of the Little Rock law firm of Dyke, Henry, Goldsholl & Winzerling, PLC providing legal services in the states of Arkansas and Mississippi. Previously, she was an associate with B. Frank Mackey, Jr. PA from April 1989 to October 1992; and, an appellate hearing officer for the Arkansas Appeals Tribunal, Dept of Employment Security Division, State of Arkansas until April 1989; Part-time instructor, University of Arkansas, Little Rock 1992-1993.
Ms. Henry received her Bachelor of Science degree in 1984 (Political Science) at Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, Arkansas; and, her Juris Doctor degree in 1987, at University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas. She is a member of the American Bar Association including the Law Practice Management section; the Arkansas Bar, including the Real Estate Law section; the Debtor-Creditor Bar of Arkansas; the U.S. District Court Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas. Also, she is a past member of the American Legal & Financial Network (ALFN) Board of Directors.
Ms. Henry has been a past speaker before the Arkansas Land Title Association (ALTA), Mortgage Banking Association (MBA) servicing conferences and presented user help sessions at the a360inc. (formerly KMC Information Systems) CaseAware® user conferences. She earned Tiers 1 through 4 CaseAware® Administrator Certificates in 2017-18 and certification from the MBA for Certified Mortgage Compliance Professional - CMCP Level I in 2021.
Job Titles:
- Senior Attorney
- Senior Attorney / Houston
Sarah Sibley Cox joined Mackie Wolf Zientz & Mann, P.C. in August 2022 as a Senior Attorney in the Litigation Department.
Prior to joining the firm, Sarah was with the Office of Chief Counsel for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Sarah has represented mortgage lenders and servicers for the majority of her career, and has focused on default servicing, foreclosure, mortgage litigation, probate, and creditor bankruptcy.
Sarah is a member of the State Bar of Texas and is licensed in the federal district and bankruptcy courts for the Northern, Eastern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science, Geography, Texas A&M University (1999)
Juris Doctorate, South Texas College of Law (2002)
Sarah McDaniel is a native of El Dorado, Arkansas. She earned a B.B.A. in Finance from the University of Central Arkansas in 2009 and earned her Juris Doctorate with Honors in 2012 from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, William H. Bowen School of Law. Her practice focuses on mortgage creditors' rights in bankruptcy. She is admitted to practice in Arkansas and Tennessee, and she is admitted in the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Texas. She is a member of the American Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association, and the Arkansas Bar Association, where she previously served on the Law Related Education Committee. Ms. McDaniel is also a member of the Debtor-Creditor Bar of Central Arkansas, where she currently serves as Secretary/Treasurer. Ms. McDaniel's previous experience includes representing debtors in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies at one of the largest bankruptcy firms in Arkansas.
Job Titles:
- Senior Attorney
- Senior Attorney / Dallas
Suzanne Suarez joined Mackie Wolf Zientz & Mann, P.C. in June 2021 as a Senior Attorney in the Litigation Department.
Suzanne has practiced in the field of default services since 2012 with particular experience with probate, eviction, and home equity foreclosure issues. She earned her B.A. from the University of Texas at Arlington and her J.D. from Texas Wesleyan Law School (n/k/a Texas A&M University School of Law).
Suzanne is duly licensed to practice law in all Texas Courts and the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Texas.
Job Titles:
- Senior Attorney
- Member of the Puerto Rico State Bar
- Senior Attorney / Dallas
Vivian N. Lopez joined Mackie Wolf Zientz & Mann, P.C. in June 2020 as an Associate Attorney in the Litigation Department. Prior to joining the firm, she represented various mortgage companies in bankruptcy matters. Also, she represented consumers in bankruptcy cases in Chapter 7, Chapter 11, Chapter 12 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies, adversary proceedings and civil defense actions.
Vivian grew up in Puerto Rico, and also speaks Spanish. Vivian received a Bachelor of Arts, with a triple major in Marketing, Advertising and Pre law from the Puerto Rico Sacred Heart University on 2011 (Magna Cum Laude). Also, she earned her Juris Doctor from the Puerto Rico InterAmerican School of Law on 2015.
Vivian is a member of the Puerto Rico State Bar and licensed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern, Western, Northern, and Southern Districts of Texas. She is also licensed in the U.S. District Court of Puerto Rico and Texas.
Will Puddephatt joined Mackie Wolf Zientz & Mann, P.C. in July 2023 as an Associate Attorney in the Litigation Department. Prior to joining the firm, he worked as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for the State of Arkansas. Will received his B.A. from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville in 2008, graduating magna cum laude. He received his J.D. from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Bowen School of Law in 2021, graduating cum laude. He was also a member of Law Review. Will is a native of Little Rock, Arkansas.