Philadelphia native Stanley C. Middleman, Founder and CEO of Freedom Mortgage, shares lessons from building one of the nation’s largest privately held mortgage lenders, leading through changing economic cycles, and navigating today’s housing market.
Stanley C. Middleman:
Stanley C. Middleman, founder and CEO of Freedom Mortgage, has led the organization for nearly four decades, transforming it into one of the nation’s largest mortgage lenders and a leading force in loan originations and servicing, with more than 2.5 million customers. The company is also a top Ginnie Mae servicer, with a strong focus on FHA and VA lending for military and underserved communities.
Middleman serves as Vice Chairman of the Philadelphia Phillies, underscoring his deep-rooted commitment to the region he proudly calls home. He also serves as the Alternate Governor and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Portland Trail Blazers. A respected industry voice, he frequently speaks on leadership, entrepreneurship, and expanding access to homeownership as a pathway to stronger communities.
He serves on the Board of Directors of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), is a member of the Housing Policy Executive Council and The Conference Board’s Committee for Economic Development, and is a trustee at his alma mater, Temple University. He has also served on the advisory boards of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE), the MBA’s Residential Board of Governors, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, and Ellie Mae, and as Chairman of Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment Corporation, a publicly traded real estate investment trust.
Deeply committed to philanthropy, Middleman supports initiatives across healthcare, education, and community investment. In September 2026, he established the Middleman Center at Penn Medicine and launched the Middleman Fund to accelerate the institution’s most promising scientific discoveries. Earlier, in 2022, he helped expand access to world-class pediatric care by creating the Middleman Family Pavilion at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) in King of Prussia.