Karen Klemcke Joins Cornerstone Capital Bank to Lead Builder Mortgage Unit

Klemcke brings a track record of managing complex affiliated business arrangements and aligning sales with operational infrastructure. At Cornerstone, she is tasked with refining the bank’s builder-focused growth strategy, a move that Vice Chairman Adam Laird describes as a testament to the firm’s commitment to recruiting high-level expertise. Her role centers on integrating sales and operations to support the bank's expansion within the competitive home-builder lending sector.

This hiring coincides with a significant realignment of Cornerstone’s executive leadership team. Kelly Zitlow has been elevated to Chief Operating Officer of Cornerstone Home Lending, overseeing marketing and appraisal management, while Mike Newton steps into the role of President of the National Builder Division to drive collaboration across home sales. Furthermore, Toby Wells will assume leadership of Capital Markets effective January 2027, following the retirement of Dan Cooper, and Wendi Costlow takes on the role of Senior Vice President of Enterprise Marketing. These appointments are designed to solidify Cornerstone’s operational capacity as it continues to grow its national footprint from its Houston headquarters.