We Genuinely Care To The Core

ABMG To The Core is a set of awards that we are privileged to give every quarter to three people nominated by their team who exemplify one of our three core values. Just this past quarter Bryan, Kurt and Lisa won the “Genuine Cares Award.” The members of their team and leadership thought so highly of them and the many ways that they genuinely care for the success of their team.

We had the pleasure to sit down with each of these recipients and get a better understanding of who they are and what attributions they give to Atlantic Bay day in and day out.

Bryan Yoshino, Credit Risk & Quality Assurance Analyst since 2014

Take us through your journey here at Atlantic Bay.

I began as a processor when I came over to Atlantic Bay in 2014, it was a great opportunity to get my foot in the door. I processed for a year before being able to move into underwriting, I was able get my certifications and become an underwriter. Then just this past January I moved into Credit Risk and Quality Assurance.

Tell us more about your role here at ABMG.

We look at each loan to see if it’s worth a credit risk or if we can make an exception. I do a lot with Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae while analyzing trends to see if there are places we can get better with rates. Quite honestly right now my favorite thing about my day-to-day is that I’m able to do something different pretty much every day. We have a lot of new underwriters coming on board so I get the pleasure of training them.

What types of mentors have carved the path for you?

Atlantic Bay has been amazing with the people I’ve been able to work under and with. Starting with Chrissy, I was lucky enough to train with her when I moved into underwriting. I’ve had people like her throughout my career that I’ve been able to use as a sounding board and things like that. I truly respect them.

How do you define success?

As long as I’m happy at the end of the day, then I feel successful. Being OK with what I’ve done work-wise and family-wise. ABMG has really been able to give me the work life balance that I’ve always wanted, able to be there for my two daughters, two dogs and a cat!

What drives you here at Atlantic Bay?

Helping people drives me, I try to be a sounding board and provide guidance to the underwriters. These loans can be snowflakes at times and I think in a production environment it’s really easy to get lost in numbers.

What does winning this ABMG award mean to you?

It means so much to win this award, I didn’t set out to try and care it’s just something I do. I’m just so appreciative and humbled that people thought of me!

Kurt Owen, Sales Manager Atlanta, since 2015

Take us through your journey at Atlantic Bay?

In 2015, I came to Atlantic Bay after working for a bank, I was a regional manager of about 115 branches, 20 originators or so - I was on the one of the top producing teams within the company for volume. I was there for about 9 and a half years when I went to our annual meeting not bleeding the company colors as I had always done. I came back home from the meeting and compared my notes and notice it was the same message over and over. “We’re sorry, we know it’s not good enough – here’s what we’re going to correct so that we can change.” This was the first time I had noticed, so I knew it was time for a change. I was recruited by Atlantic Bay in 2015 and came over on the Strategic Growth team, I was on this team and recruiting for a year before becoming sales manager for our area. Now, we’ve grown to have some of the top producers in the company.

How do you set the tone for your team?

The company allows us to have a team of resources so that I’m able to connect one-on-one with my team. I do a one-on-one call every two weeks with each member on my team, so three a day. I try to make it so that that time is there is no matter what. Some people make notes of what they want to talk about, and some people call me every day. Some don’t even need the time, but I leave time so it can be a five-minute call or an hour call. I think that helps people know what I can help them with, it’s a place where they can vent if they need to or figure out a new way to approach a problem – it’s theirs.

How do you tap into everyone’s strengths?

We have a way of being able to point people in the direction of the best person to learn from. They are all so wonderful; they know if they need something, they know who to go to. We reinforce continuously that if we can all make each other better, then we will all get better, and from an industry respective we will be thought of as better.

What does this award mean to you?

It means a significant amount, it’s not me caring, it’s my team caring. They care about their jobs, their family, that’s what makes it all work. We care genuinely that people are successful, satisfied, in the right seat, challenged. It drives everything else. If I don’t show that I care, then they care a little bit less. People know if you care, you can’t fake caring.

Lisa Rowe, Senior Servicing Coordinator, since 2016

Take us through your journey here at Atlantic Bay.

I came to Atlantic Bay July 2016. I had no prior mortgage experience and came into this world of mortgages essentially blind. In the past four years, I’ve learned more than I could ever imagine, not only about the industry, but about myself. One of the beauties of Atlantic Bay is the day you walk on campus for the first time, you become part of a family. You remain true to yourself, but you become a piece of something bigger. I started out as an assistant servicing coordinator, and I’ve now achieved the title of senior servicing coordinator. I wouldn’t be where I am without my team, who I’m thankful for every single day.

Define what a good leader means to you.

To me, a good leader is a good listener and a good teacher. A good leader is enthusiastic and passionate, but also humble and human. When I think about my leaders, they exemplify my idea of a good leader.

How do you define success for you and for your team?

To me, success is not the end result. It isn’t the fact that a report comes back flawless, or a record is broken. Instead, success when your team knows that you’re as strong as you were when you first started… that those on your team have your back… that no matter what task is thrown your way, you can accomplish it because you’re strong, and your team is strong. That is success.

What drives you every day here at Atlantic Bay?

I take pride in my work and making my team proud of me! Every day, I strive to better myself and to continue representing Atlantic Bay in the best possible way. Atlantic Bay exemplifies working hard and playing harder. Atlantic Bay truly cares about their family, because that’s what we are, a family… not just employees.