Governor Bill Lee has named one of Middle Tennessee’s mortgage and banking industry experts Lawson H. (Mike) Hardwick, III to serve on the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) Board of Directors.
Hardwick is the founder and president of Churchill Mortgage Corporation, a Brentwood, Tenn. based leader in the mortgage industry. The company provides conventional, FHA, VA and USDA residential mortgages across 46 states and the District of Columbia.
Under Hardwick’s leadership, the privately-owned company of more than 800 employees works to fulfill the mission of helping borrowers achieve debt-free homeownership and build wealth through a smarter mortgage plan.
“I am extremely honored to join the Tennessee Housing Development’s Board or Directors,” Hardwick said. “This agency provides valuable opportunities to Tennessee home buyers, helping them achieve the dream of homeownership. I’m looking forward to helping support THDA as it expands its new conventional loan product in 2021.”
“We are excited to welcome Mr. Hardwick to the THDA Board of Directors,” THDA executive Director Ralph M. Perrey said. “With more than 40 years of mortgage and banking experience, Mike has consistently focused on providing borrowers with quality loan experiences and his perspective will be a true asset to the Board.”
Hardwick began his career in commercial and investment banking with two nationally known firms. In the early 80's, he founded a condo conversion company, which grew to be the third-largest in the nation. Prior to founding Churchill Mortgage in 1992, Hardwick was one of the principal founders of Franklin National Bank in Franklin, Tenn. which was later acquired by Fifth Third Bank. More recently Hardwick was a principal founder and is currently a member of the Board of Studio Bank in Nashville, TN.
A life-long resident of Nashville, Hardwick resides there with his wife Stephanie and is a proud father of two daughters and two sons. His autobiography, “Keep Chopping Wood,” was published in August 2016.
THDA was created by the State Legislature in 1973 to provide loans, grants, tax credits, and other financing opportunities to encourage the construction, repair, and preservation of affordable housing and to help ensure the housing market meets the needs of every Tennessean, regard- less of income, disability, or age.
