Mortgage industry expert Dr. Bill Rayburn will be honored by The University of Southern Mississippi’s College of Business as its 2017 Entrepreneur of the Year during a special luncheon set for Friday, April 7. The luncheon will be held at the Trent Lott Center on the Hattiesburg campus.
Rayburn, USM class of 1981, is the chairman and CEO of Mortgage Trade (mTrade.com), which focuses on improving the way organizations buy, sell, and analyze whole loans.
“Bill Rayburn exemplifies the characteristics of an entrepreneur as he built one of the most successful firms in the state of Mississippi, sold it and immediately started another,” said Dr. Faye Gilbert, Dean of the USM College of Business. “His positive energy, integrity, and drive were evident when he was a faculty member and remain some of the first things you notice about him when you meet him today. On behalf of the Business Advisory Council, I am pleased to congratulate Bill Rayburn on his success and for his amazing spirit.”
Rayburn was responsible for the conception of Mortgage Trade’s strategy, vision and culture. Mortgage Trade Holding Company, LLC is the parent company of mTrade.com. Prior to Mortgage Trade, Rayburn co-founded FNC Inc., and served as chairman and CEO from inception until the sale of the company in 2016. FNC’s innovative approach to appraisal evaluation led to its achieving a dominant market position in the U.S. FinTech market prior to its sale.
A former finance professor at USM and the University of Mississippi, Rayburn holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and an MBA in finance (both from USM) and a doctorate in finance from the University of Memphis.
The Entrepreneur of the Year event is dedicated to and sponsored by Joseph Boardman Jr., a 1953 graduate of Southern Miss. Boardman has remained connected to his alma mater through both his generosity and service. A past president of the Southern Miss Alumni Association and former member of the USM Foundation Board, Boardman also served 18 years on the Harrison County Development Commission. The honor recognizes USM alumni and friends who demonstrate a talent for superior entrepreneurship.