Personnel
ANDREW Scherer
Executive Director, Founder
Andrew Scherer is an, entrepreneur and systems thinker with a lifelong belief in the power of homeownership to transform lives and stabilize communities. Raised in metro Detroit in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, Andrew saw how the promise of owning a home could be undermined by housing speculation, predatory lending, and institutional neglect. That experience stuck with him, and over the course of a 15-year career in fine dining and hospitality — one built on grit, precision, and relentless service — he developed the operational mindset and leadership skills that eventually led him to launch his own business.
As someone who has bought and sold property, Andrew understands both the promise and the pitfalls of the process. He also knows how close many people are to qualifying — how much potential goes untapped because the system was never built for them. That insight led him to found KeyStep, a nonprofit that opens the door for StepReady individuals — those whose readiness isn’t always visible on paper, but who can succeed with the right support and opportunity.
Andrew’s vision for KeyStep is rooted in real experience and practical design. His work is informed by firsthand knowledge of how housing works — and how it fails — at the ground level. With a deep commitment to financial clarity, shared equity, and long-term community strength, he’s building KeyStep not just as a program, but as a durable path toward ownership for the next generation.
JENNIFER Sawaya
Program Director, Founding Board Member
Jennifer Sawaya is a mortgage expert, entrepreneur, and advocate for practical, people-first housing solutions. Since entering the industry in 2012, she’s worked as an originator, underwriter, and wholesale account executive — gaining a 360-degree view of the mortgage landscape. In 2022, she launched her own independent brokerage, Carriage Trail Home Loans, where she combines technical expertise with a deep belief in the transformative power of ownership.
Jennifer’s focus is on individuals and families who are ready — in ways the system often overlooks — to take the next step toward stability and wealth-building. She brings special attention to those in that StepReady space: not defined by income or credit score alone, but by effort, life circumstances, and intent. These are buyers who, with the right guidance and opportunity, can cross the threshold into ownership and thrive.
Based in Michigan, Jennifer has seen how institutional investors and opaque financial systems erode access, especially in communities already struggling to hold on to generational property and trust in the process. Her work is rooted in the belief that ownership creates more than equity — it restores agency, raises self-esteem, and connects people to their communities in lasting ways.
Through KeyStep, she brings her knowledge, compassion, and lived experience to help bridge the gap between potential and ownership, ensuring that readiness — in all its forms — isn’t overlooked.