We’ve got some big news! Two of Waterstone Mortgage’s very own execs just landed major national recognition … and we’re excited to celebrate these career-changing achievements.
Rich Tucker (Chief Operating Officer) and Stephanie Ziebell (Chief Legal Officer) have been named among the Top 10 professionals in the nation in their respective categories by OnConferences’ 2025 OnCon Icon Awards! Rich was honored as a “Top 10 COO” winner, and Stephanie was among the “Top 10 Corporate Counsel” recipients.
These aren’t just your average awards. The OnCon Icon Awards bring together the best of the best from across the country — in other words, top leaders from every industry. So, when Rich and Stephanie were announced as part of the elite Top 10 (after first being nominated as part of the Top 100 nationwide), let’s just say… we were thrilled, but not surprised.
These awards honor professionals who are making waves in their fields — not just by doing their jobs well, but by making a real, lasting impact on their colleagues, company, and industry.
Meet the Icons Behind the Awards
Rich Tucker
Since joining our operations leadership team in 2018, Rich has been a driving force behind Waterstone Mortgage’s continued growth and smooth operations. He stepped into the COO role in 2020 and hasn’t looked back. (Fun fact: That same year, he also won HousingWire’s prestigious Insiders Award. No big deal.)
Stephanie Ziebell
Stephanie has been with Waterstone Mortgage since 2012, and her journey from talented legal mind to Chief Legal Officer is the kind of success story we love to see. She’s earned accolades like “Up and Coming Lawyer” by the Wisconsin Law Journal and “Top Corporate Counsel” by the Milwaukee Business Journal in past years — and now, she’s nationally recognized as one of the top 10 in her field.
A Word from the Top
“Rich and Stephanie are truly integral to the strength and success of the Waterstone Mortgage team,” says our President & CEO, Jeff McGuiness. “Their unmatched expertise and exceptional leadership help inspire and elevate those around them, driving both individual and collective achievement.”
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.
So, here’s to Rich and Stephanie! We’re beyond proud to have them on our team, and we look forward to seeing how they continue to thrive in their roles.
