At Waterstone Mortgage, growth doesn’t just apply to our clients’ homeownership journeys — it’s for our team too! We’re thrilled to announce four exceptional colleagues who have stepped into new leadership roles at our Home Office in Brookfield, Wisconsin.
Please join us in congratulating:
- Casey Seefeldt, Vice President – Capital Markets
- Melissa Wagner, PHR, Vice President – Human Resources
- Scott Howard, Director – Information Security
- Zach McCarthy, Director – Financial Planning & Analysis
These promotions are more than titles — they’re a reflection of hard work, expertise, and the supportive culture at Waterstone Mortgage that helps our team grow and thrive.
Meet the New Leaders
Casey Seefeldt, VP – Capital Markets
With nearly 25 years in mortgage lending and financial services, Casey has been an integral part of Waterstone Mortgage since 2014. From starting as a Capital Markets Analyst to becoming Director of Capital Markets in 2021, Casey now leads pricing, hedge trading, reporting, and more. His deep experience and board-authorized trader status make him a powerhouse in our Capital Markets team.
When it comes to work, Casey loves the close-knit vibe of his team — and seeing how much they can accomplish with a small but mighty group.
“I’m most proud of being a part of and contributing to the growth of a strong, collaborative team,” he says. “As a smaller-sized department, it is essential that everyone contributes fully to ensure our success. We rely on one another and work together to solve challenges.”
Speaking of Casey’s accomplishments… here’s what his manager, Traci, has to say:
“Over Casey’s 11-year tenure at Waterstone Mortgage, he has demonstrated exceptional leadership, strategic insight, and deep expertise in secondary marketing, driving significant revenue growth and operational excellence. His proven track record, collaborative spirit, and industry knowledge make him an invaluable leader and a natural choice for this next step in his career.”
Traci Husslein, SVP – Capital Markets
Fun Facts about Casey: Casey’s childhood dream was to become a professional baseball player. When he was 12, he played on an all-star team that won the Wisconsin state Little League title, and he went on to compete in the Midwest Regional tournament. (Pretty close to the big leagues, if you ask us!) When he was 15 years old, Casey started his first job at Planet Video. With a year of experience under his belt, he eventually moved up to another kind of big league: Blockbuster Video.
Melissa Wagner, PHR, VP – Human Resources
Melissa joined Waterstone Mortgage in 2020 and has been climbing the HR ladder ever since — from HR Business Partner to HR Manager, Sr. HR Manager, and Director of HR. In her new role as VP, Melissa continues to guide our HR team through employee relations, payroll, benefits, non-sales recruiting, and onboarding. Her 15+ years of HR experience and dedication to our people make Waterstone Mortgage an even better place to work.
What is Melissa’s favorite part of her role? Well, that’s easy...
“I enjoy being viewed as a trusted partner by leaders as they navigate a wide range of employee situations,” she says. “There's no shortage of tough conversations, but supporting managers through them in a thoughtful, fair, and people-centered way is the contribution I'm most proud of.
In the workplace, Melissa is highly respected and appreciated by her colleagues and team members. Here’s what her manager had to say about Melissa’s amazing qualities:
“Melissa is the ultimate professional and a trusted leader who brings both rigor and heart to everything she does. A thoughtful listener and people-first leader, she has built a strong, high-performing team and consistently elevates those around her. Her promotion to Vice President is a reflection of her impact, leadership, and unwavering commitment to our people and our culture.”
Elizabeth Spragg, Chief People and Administrative Officer
Fun Facts about Melissa: She considers Italy to be the best place she’s ever traveled to. “I loved all of it!” she explains. “I could say the same about the food.” Also, Melissa's go-to coffee order is an iced double shot of espresso with cream. Something tells us that she may have drawn inspiration from Italian coffee-enthusiasts.
Scott Howard, Director – Information Security
Scott brings a unique mix of law enforcement experience and IT security expertise to Waterstone Mortgage. Since joining in 2013, he has overseen all aspects of our cybersecurity operations.
“I joined Encompass on the help desk, grew into an IT role, and ultimately found my passion for cybersecurity,” Scott says. “What I’m most proud of is helping people stay cyber-safe — both at work and at home. Educating others and preparing them for evolving threats is incredibly rewarding.”
As Director, Scott oversees all security operations, establishes and maintains security policies, and builds out the company’s cybersecurity program — helping ensure our clients and team are always protected.
Over the years, Scott’s leadership has been invaluable, as described by his manager:
“Throughout his tenure at Waterstone Mortgage, Scott has proven himself to be not only a dedicated security professional who takes tremendous pride in his craft, but also a dependable leader who inspires trust and confidence across the organization. His growth into this expanded role reflects both his technical expertise and his emerging leadership capabilities, which will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our security program.”
Stephanie Ziebell, CLO
Fun Facts about Scott: Scott has five children, ranging from school age to adults. He has been a travel ball fast-pitch softball coach for eight (going on nine) years. Scott started coaching his older daughter, who then received a college scholarship to play ball; now, her two younger sisters are following in her footsteps. Scott and his wife also enjoy their monthly bowling league with friends and watching new Netflix or Prime series.
Zach McCarthy, Director – Financial Planning & Analysis
Zach joined Waterstone Mortgage in 2024 and quickly made an impact. Now leading our branch accounting teams nationwide, he brings over a decade of accounting and mortgage experience to his role. His leadership ensures our financial planning stays sharp and on track, fueling Waterstone Mortgage’s continued growth.
“Starting in early 2025, I began working with branch accounting and became involved in the financial calls,” Zach says. “It was something I really enjoyed doing in my past and was happy to be involved with it again here.”
When it comes to furthering our mission of helping homebuyers, Zach is an invaluable contributor. By giving our branches the support they need to operate successfully, he ultimately makes a positive impact on our clients.
As his manager describes:
“Zach is a great fit for this role due to his knowledge of branch profitability drivers and how to create meaningful reporting that conveys the needed financial message that allows branches to operate more effectively and profitably. As a leader in this group, he has the opportunity to multiply his knowledge and approach to his team, providing better support to all the branches.”
Jim Harper, CFO
Fun Facts about Zach: As a child, Zach wanted to be a Power Ranger when he grew up. (We can see how that would be a good fit!) He loves traveling to northern Wisconsin every summer and enjoys relaxing and spending time with his family. In his downtime, he emulates the AC/DC song “Down Payment Blues,” and particularly resonates with the line, “No, I ain’t doing much, but doing nothing means a lot to me.”
Growth, Opportunity, and a Culture That Cares
Promotions like these aren’t just milestones — they’re proof that Waterstone Mortgage invests in our people. From mentorship and career development to fostering a collaborative and supportive environment, our team is empowered to grow with the company.
If you’re looking for a place where your career can flourish and your work truly matters, Waterstone Mortgage might be your next home.
Congratulations again to Casey, Melissa, Scott, and Zach — we can’t wait to see all the amazing things you’ll achieve in your new roles!
