Meet The Sharpe Mortgage Team

About The Sharpe Mortgage Team

Sisters, friends, and female leaders working together for our customers

The Expert Advice You Need

When you work with The Sharpe Mortgage Team, you get more than a lender—you get a trusted group of mortgage professionals who know how to guide buyers through real-world scenarios. From answering quick questions to structuring complex loans, the team is known for clear explanations, responsive support, and strategy that helps clients feel confident in every decision. Whether you’re buying your first home or planning your next move, you’ll always have expert advice and a reliable team behind you.

Competitive Rates

The Sharpe Mortgage Team helps clients buy, build, or refinance with loan options tailored to their goals, lifestyle, and long-term plans. From conventional, FHA, VA, and renovation loans to education for first-time homebuyers and specialty programs, the team offers guidance that goes beyond a simple quote. With a streamlined digital process and transparent numbers, clients can move forward with clarity, confidence, and financing that fits their bigger picture.

Ready to Guide You

Clients and partners choose The Sharpe Mortgage Team for a process that feels organized, proactive, and easy to follow. The team prioritizes clear communication, honest guidance, and calm expertise—so clients always know what’s happening and what comes next. With decades of experience navigating changing markets, Ashley and her team are prepared for tough situations and committed to problem-solving without pressure. The result is a smooth, supportive experience from application through closing.

The Triad and Beyond

Rooted in Winston-Salem and the greater Triad, The Sharpe Mortgage Team is built on long-term relationships—not one-time transactions. Ashley and her team stay connected well beyond closing and serve as ongoing mortgage and home equity advisors for clients as life changes. Originally from Kentucky, Ashley has built strong ties throughout the region and enjoys fitness, pilates, travel, and exploring local coffee and food spots. The team’s culture is built on availability, connection, and community.

Our Mascot

Birkin is the team’s beloved English bulldog and unofficial Chief Happiness Officer, bringing personality and fun to the mortgage process. She’s a reminder that homebuying doesn’t have to feel overwhelming—it can feel exciting, supported, and even enjoyable. Whether you’re just starting to explore your options or preparing to make an offer, Birkin and The Sharpe Mortgage Team are here to make the process feel approachable, friendly, and guided every step of the way.

The Leadership Team Behind Your Homebuying Journey

Ashley McKenzie-Sharpe

Branch Manager

NMLS# 100776

NC# I-131870

VA# MLO-30162VA

Cell: 336.575.9448


Ashley McKenzie-Sharpe is a Branch Manager with Highlands Residential Mortgage. She is in the top 1% of mortgage originators in the country, helping people finance their dream homes in the Winston-Salem area since 2005. Her passion is creating a pathway to homeownership for families in NC, SC, and throughout the Southeast.


Ashley is a very proud dog-mama to Birkin, an English Bulldog who is the light of her life. An avid gardener and exercise fanatic, Ashley spends her weekends cuddling with her fur babies, listening to her father preach at Pinedale Christian Church, and tending to her backyard oasis.

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Jennifer Kaydas

Loan Officer


Jennifer Kaydas is a Senior Loan Officer with The Sharpe Mortgage Team in Winston-Salem, NC, specializing in guiding first-time and nervous homebuyers through a clear, step-by-step pre-approval process. She has more than a decade of experience in mortgage lending, and clients know they can reach her day or night for honest answers, clear explanations, and a calming presence during what can feel like an overwhelming process.


Originally from Lexington, Kentucky, Jennifer has called North Carolina home since 1991, is active at Pinedale Christian Church, and enjoys shopping, good food (especially Gummy Savers and Crumbl Cookies), binge-worthy shows, audiobooks, and tending to her houseplants—celebrating every one that survives and thrives.


When clients describe her, she hopes they’ll say she is kind, helpful, and highly knowledgeable, and she approaches her work with a simple belief: the more she is blessed, the louder her gratitude should be.

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Cara Zimmerman



Loan Officer Assistant


Cara has spent 8.5 years as a Loan Officer Assistant, and in that time she’s become the kind of person borrowers and agents rely on without thinking twice. She handles disclosures, documentation, and keeps everyone in the loop from contract to closing — and she does it with the kind of speed and clarity that keeps deals on track.


What sets her apart is equal parts skill and heart. She’s a problem-solver who can explain the numbers in plain language, and she genuinely cares about the people she works with — whether they’re refinancing to save money, building credit for the first time, or becoming the first in their family to own a home.


Originally from Kentucky, Cara has called Winston-Salem home for over 30 years. When she’s not at work, you’ll find her on the golf course with her LGA crew, tending her garden, or sipping wine in the North Carolina mountains with her husband — and yes, her three cats (Snake Albert, Chesley, and Echo Anne) have full run of the house.


“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart.” — Colossians 3:23

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Arwen Jessup

(pronounced R-when)

Loan Officer Assistant


Arwen has been keeping loan files organized and borrowers calm for over 4 years — and if you ask her, that second part might be the more important skill. She manages the details from disclosure through closing, making sure nothing gets missed and nobody feels left in the dark.


Clear communication, honest answers, and total follow-through are her defaults. She’s especially good at keeping all the moving pieces in order so clients can focus on the exciting part — actually getting the keys.


Arwen made the move from New Jersey to Winston-Salem in 2002 and has called the nearby town of Pilot Mountain home for the past 20 years with her husband Daniel. She’s a self-described Highland Cow enthusiast (it only got worse after a trip to Scotland), a bird-feeding enthusiast who’s losing the budget battle with her backyard sparrows, and a brand-new plant person who texts friends photos of every bloom like it’s a major life event.


“You can’t add days to your life, but you can add life to your days.”

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Birkin


Chief Morale Officer


Birkin has been boosting team morale and supervising snack breaks for over 5 years — and if you ask her, both are critical to a smooth loan process. As Chief Morale Officer, she takes her role seriously, making appearances during long days, high-stress moments, and anytime someone needs a quick reset.


Consistency, loyalty, and perfectly timed comic relief are her specialties. She’s especially good at reminding everyone to pause, breathe, and not take things too seriously — because a calm team leads to a better experience for every client.


Birkin calls North Carolina home and can usually be found holding court in the office, greeting visitors like old friends, or keeping a close eye on anything that remotely resembles a treat. When she’s off the clock, she enjoys long naps, short walks, and being told she’s beautiful (which she fully expects).


“Work hard. Nap harder.”