After 17 Years of Leadership, Dennis Brinck Passes the Torch

For nearly two decades, Dennis Brinck has been the backbone of our Eastern Region, building not just a sales organization, but a culture where winners thrive, relationships matter, and people come first.

Now, after 17 years of leading Atlantic Bay with integrity, grit, and an unwavering commitment to his team, Dennis is stepping into his next chapter. And true to form, he's handling it with grace: sticking around through a thoughtful transition to make sure the region he helped build continues to soar.

Dennis joined us in 2009 as a Mortgage Banker and quickly became one of our top performers, finishing in the top five in sales every year and claiming the #1 spot three times. In 2015, he stepped into leadership as the Eastern Region’s Sales Manager, and over the next six years, helped grow the region's sales volume by 161%.

But the numbers don't tell the whole story. Dennis led with a "no fear" approach rooted in consistent communication and genuine relationship building. He understood every level of the mortgage process, knew our market inside and out, and showed up for his team. He built a culture where people work hard for each other and for the families they serve.

Dennis never led from a distance and always chose to invest in his people. And those people? They closed deals, shattered goals, and built careers that changed their lives.

"Dennis has had an extraordinary impact on Atlantic Bay and on so many people across this organization," shares our Chief Lending Officer, Emily Farley Gardner. "He built a foundation in the Eastern Region that will serve this company for years to come through his leadership, his deep understanding of the business, and the genuine care he shows for every person on his team."

Dennis will remain with us through a transitional period over the coming months to ensure continuity.

So, like so many know about this industry, change is constant. Which means we turn our focus to what's next.

So…what's next? Well, one of our rallying cries this year is "winners know winners." And if we believe that to be true, then succession can never be a gamble. It must be a guarantee.

And if you know John, the decision makes perfect sense. Throughout his career as an originator, he's closed more than $1 billion in loan volume and has been a top producer for much of that journey. But what really sets John apart is where he's focused: the future.

While many in the industry chase volume alone, John hones in on percentages—metrics he believes too many overlook. He's an early adopter of AI and technology, constantly exploring how to use these tools in real, practical ways to scale the parts of the business that matter most. Last year as a Regional Manager, he generated $50 million in production while building systems designed not just for today, but for what's coming next.

"Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group does a really good job of creating space and resources for people to build in their own way, and I'm really proud to be part of that," John shares.

He's not interested in managing the way things have always been done. He's interested in leading the way forward—leveraging technology, refining processes, and empowering his team to win smarter, not just harder.

"John is the right leader to carry this work forward," Emily adds. "He understands our business, our people, and our values, and he brings both strong results and a deep commitment to supporting the team. This transition reflects the strength of our leadership bench and our long-term focus on continuity, growth, and service across the Eastern Region."

John will work alongside Dennis and our existing regional leadership during this transition to ensure our Eastern Region teams won't miss a beat. Continuity matters. Support matters. And making sure every Mortgage Banker in the East knows they've got a leader who understands where the industry is headed? That matters most.

Leadership transitions aren't the easiest things in the world, but our team, industry relationships, and community of homeowners have built something bigger than any one person. We've built a culture where the next-in-line are ready when the time comes.

So, to Dennis: Thank you for 17 years of pouring into this region, into these people, and into this company. Your impact will be felt for decades to come. Enjoy what's next. You've more than earned it!

And to John: Congratulations! The Eastern Region is in great hands, and we're excited to see where you take it from here.

We've spent 30 years putting everything we can toward a culture where transitions like this feel natural. That's a credit to our leaders, like Dennis, and those people who step up, like John.