Meet the team

Andrea Franco

Founder & Sr. Mortgage Loan Originator — NMLS #1421313

With more than 11 years in the mortgage industry, Andrea founded Blue Collar Approved with a mission that is deeply personal. After seeing firsthand the challenges her husband faced during the mortgage process because of overtime, fluctuating hours, and seasonal work within the union trades, she realized how easily hardworking blue-collar families can be misunderstood by traditional underwriting. Even with strong earnings and a stable career, qualifying income wasn't always as simple as looking at a pay stub. Andrea dug into the guidelines and dialed in the income calculations and loan structure needed to properly tell his financial story. That experience became part of the inspiration behind Blue Collar Approved.

Her experience extends far beyond originating loans. For three years she worked in a Loan Officer Support Center where other mortgage professionals came to her for help with challenging borrower scenarios, underwriting guidelines, income calculations, and structuring loans that didn't fit neatly inside the box. She became known as the woman with the answers — an experience that built the guideline and problem-solving knowledge she brings to every client today.

For Andrea, Blue Collar Approved is more than a mortgage company. She has spent years watching the men and women of the trades work long hours, travel away from their families, take overtime when it's available, and work hard to build a better life for the people they love. She believes that same level of hard work deserves exceptional representation when it's time to buy a home. Her goal is to make Blue Collar Approved a resource for hardworking construction professionals — union and non-union alike — with knowledgeable guidance and an advocate who understands the income structures and financial challenges of the skilled trades.

Her philosophy is simple: don't give up on the borrower. A client who isn't ready to qualify today isn't a denied client in her eyes — they simply need a plan. Whether it takes one day, six months, or five years, Andrea is committed to helping clients understand what needs to happen, building a path forward, and being there when they're finally ready to receive the keys to their home.

Ashley Brooks

Challenged Credit Specialist & Branch Manager

Ashley is a Mortgage Loan Officer and Branch Manager whose approach to lending is rooted in patience, education, and finding a path forward — even when a borrower's situation isn't perfect on paper. As the team's go-to expert for clients with challenged credit, she has a passion for working through difficult loan scenarios, identifying what stands between a client and homeownership, and helping create a realistic plan to get them there. Whether a client is ready today or needs time to rebuild, Ashley believes everyone deserves to understand their options and have someone in their corner.

A Paradise native with deep roots in Northern California, service has always been personal to Ashley. Following the Camp Fire she was proud to support rebuilding efforts throughout her community, and that same commitment carries into her work every day. Her husband serves as a firefighter for the City of Redding, giving her a personal connection to the hardworking families and public servants Blue Collar Approved was built to support. As Branch Manager she brings both leadership and heart to the team.