Casey Crawford, the co-founder and leader of Movement Mortgage and Movement Foundation, was named the 2018 John C. Maxwell Transformational Leader Award recipient on Monday at Maxwell's signature annual conference in Orlando.

Maxwell, the best-selling author and globally recognized leadership expert, coach and speaker, and his Team, annually recognize a leader who goes above and beyond in serving others. The winner is selected from a pool of thousands of nominees who progress through a multi-phase selection and vetting process over a number of months. Crawford was announced the winner from a field of 10 finalists.

"Casey Crawford has an incredible track record of transformational leadership and changing lives around the world," Maxwell says.

Industry disruptor

Crawford, 41, is recognized for his work leading mortgage paradigm-shifting Movement Mortgage and its nonprofit arm, Movement Foundation. After winning a Super Bowl as a member of the 2002-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers and retiring from the NFL, Crawford launched a business career that led him to starting a mortgage company with business partner Toby Harris in the depths of the 2008 financial crisis. Today, Movement Mortgage is a $13 billion retail mortgage lender known for reimagining the mortgage lending process by focusing on customer service, responsible underwriting and faster loan processing. It is a six-time member of the Inc. 5000 list and one of the 10 largest retail mortgage lenders in the U.S.

Under Crawford's leadership, Movement has been recognized nationally as a "Great Place to Work" with award-winning employee health and financial wellness initiatives, a "Love Works" benevolence fund for employees facing unexpected crises, and an innovative workplace culture that encourages generosity and spiritual growth alongside professional development.

Additionally, Crawford is majority shareholder and chairman of Movement Bank, a 99-year-old community bank, offering mortgage lending, commercial banking and deposit products and services nationwide.

Community catalyst

Based on his conviction that a business should be judged not by what it extracts from a community, but rather, by how much it gives, Crawford in 2012 founded the nonprofit Movement Foundation as a vehicle to bring life, light and hope to others. To date, it has invested approximately $40 million of company profits in foundation efforts. Major investments include Movement School, a tuition-free, public charter school for underprivileged children in Charlotte, N.C.; Elhanan, a 1,700-acre commercial farm in Uganda providing agricultural employment in a war-torn region; Movement Center, a nonprofit coworking space and community center; Movement 10k Challenge, a $10,000 grant awarded monthly to an employee-nominated charity; and numerous partnerships and gifts supporting ministry-minded nonprofits in communities across the U.S.

"I'm incredibly grateful. It's hard to describe the impact John Maxwell has had on millions of people worldwide, teaching us to lead by serving others." Crawford says. "You can see his influence imprinted across our Movement community, in our culture and even in our mission. We believe we're called to lead by doing two things: Loving God and loving people. Elevating others is how we've inspired thousands of Movement teammates to change their industry, corporate culture and communities."

Crawford was selected as the 2018 award recipient from a field of deserving, accomplished leaders, including the following 10 finalists: Mark Batterson, Jason Benham, Bob Goff, Mark Jobe, Jannell MacAulay, Todd Nesloney, Tracy Schmitt, Chris Van Gorder and Alexander Villa.

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About Casey Crawford

Casey Crawford is the co-founder and CEO of Movement Mortgage, a $13 billion retail mortgage lender and six-time member of the Inc. 5000 list. He is also the chairman of Movement Bank and founder of the nonprofit Movement Foundation, which has invested approximately $40 million of mortgage profit in schools, communities and ministries around the world. Casey has been recognized as a John Maxwell Transformational Leadership Award recipient, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist, HousingWire Vanguard award recipient, and a Charlotte Business Journal Most Admired CEO. Casey played tight end for the NFL's Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He graduated from the University of Virginia and is an avid outdoorsman and accomplished Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitor. He lives outside Charlotte, N.C., with his wife, Michelle and daughters, Cadie and Josie. Learn more at www.caseycrawford.com.

About Movement Mortgage

Movement Mortgage exists to love and value people by leading a Movement of Change in its industry, corporate culture and communities. Movement funded approximately $13 billion in residential mortgages in 2017 and is the seventh-largest retail mortgage lender in the U.S. Movement is best known for its innovative mortgage process and referable experience, which begins with Upfront Underwriting and a seven-day loan processing goal. The company employs more than 4,000 people, has more than 750 branches in the U.S. and is licensed in 49 states. Its nonprofit organization, the Movement Foundation, has reinvested more than $37 million in communities to date. Learn more at www.movement.com.

About the John Maxwell Team

The John Maxwell Team is the largest and fastest growing entrepreneur certification program in the world. The three day International Maxwell Certification, presented by the John Maxwell Team, teaches the Maxwell Method™ of Coaching, Speaking and Sales and certifies executive coaches, teachers, trainers and speakers through a three-day certification program led by John C. Maxwell and his faculty. More than 20,000 comprise the John Maxwell Team following successful certification. Learn more at: jmtinfo.com.