northwest
Loan Officer Becomes Specialist
The institute is a joint effort by leaders in the
Big Girls Have Style
Gary Boyer, senior loan officer and branch man
mortgage and financial planning industries to raise
Like a Technicolor glow emanating
ager of Guarantee Mortgage, has just earned the
professional standards among mortgage profession
from the Full Circle Women’s Temple,
Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist designation.
als and integrate sound financial planning advice
Size Queen on 3125 E. Bumside St.
The designation is granted
by the Certified Mortgage
Planning Specialist Institute
of Ann Arbor, Mich. The
business
recipient of this certification
integrates financial planning
concepts into the mortgage
process
and
offers
watch
clients
mortgage
process.
offers plus-size women fashionable and
“Borrowers need expert advice
comfortable apparel, rarely available in
now more than ever,” said Boyer.
the mainstream market.
into
Z"
the
He felt the specialist designa
Owner Bertha Pearl, 50, has always
tion was an important step to take
loved designing clothes. “I hope to bring
because many homeowners have
fat visibility into the GLBTQ communi
become frustrated and confused
ty,” she said. “You don’t often see fat
with the myriad choices in today’s
people in a fabulous outfit, so we’re not
strategies that encompass mortgages, debt, taxes,
mortgage market and how they apply to queer home
home equity and real estate investment.
owners. Boyer has specialized in working with the
Born in Manhattan and beginning
sexual minorities community for more than nine
her training at the Fashion Institute of
years. He has been a longtime supporter of and
Technology in New York, Pearl learned
participant in gay-specific organizations including
how to design on small forms but did
Pride Northwest, the Bill and Ann Shepherd Legal
not want to design for the mainstream
Scholarship, Our House, Esther’s Pantry, the Portland
market. She moved to San Francisco and made
mg. These fun bottoms are made from panels of
Lesbian Choir, the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus and
boxers ranging in size from extra large to 6XL
fabric patterned with Campbell’s pork and beans,
the Portland Lesbian & Gay Film Festival.
because there was “nothing for hutches.” When she
cupcakes and other designs attached only at the hip
relocated to New York City, her brand became Big
and laced together with intricate seams. They can
Boxers of Bnxiklyn.
be worn with capris or without (showing off plenty
“The mortgage-planning needs are very com
plex in the GLBT community,” he said. “My focus
is to help my clients become homeowners, manage
their home equity and personal cash flow wisely,
while planning for their future.”
Size Queen Bertha Pearl designs alternative couture for
plus-size bodies.
Now in Portland, Pearl is only taking
of leg).
appointments.
Size Queen also carries pajamas, bloomers and
Her girlfriend of eight years, Michelle Hunt, met
bustle dresses.
Less than 1 percent of mortgage lenders and
Pearl in San Francisco. “We’ve settled in Portland for
“The bustle adds to the back of the skirt. If you
brokers nationwide have this special certification.
its supportive community of small and queer busi
think your butt is too fat or too big, the bustle says,
“A mortgage professional who dedicates the time
nesses,” Hunt said.
‘Here, it’s even bigger,’ ’’ explained Pearl. “I'm
and effort to learn about these financial concepts is
Customers and friends at Size Queen’s grand
much more qualified, committed and equipped to
opening Sept. 23 described Pearl’s fashion as one-
serve the complex needs of today’s homeowner and
of-a-kind alternative couture.
buyer,” says Gibran Nicholas, chairman of the
Loan officer Gary Boyer has joined the ranks of
less than 1 percent of his colleagues by earning
designation as a Certified Mortgage Planning
Specialist.
often appreciated.”
Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist Institute.
Boyer can be reached at 503-243-2674 or
www.mortgagemonkey.com.
excited to see fancy skirts for fat girls.”
Pearl describes her style as fun, silly, irreverent
and SoHo for fat girls.
“I ferl like I’m wearing her brain,” said Deb
Malkin, 37, “like I’m wearing the creative essence
For more information visit www.sizequeen
clothing.com. ©
of who she is as a person.”
Pearl offers deconstructed skirts made for danc-
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