In this episode of Lending Forward, host Bill Hitchcock sits down with Julienne Joseph—former HUD Chief of Staff under Secretary Marcia Fudge and founder of JYJ Consulting—for a timely and thought-provoking conversation on the future of mortgage affordability.

Drawing on more than two decades of experience across origination, housing counseling, policy, and federal leadership, Julienne breaks down two of the most talked-about concepts in housing today: the proposed 50-year mortgage and the idea of portable interest rates. While both aim to address affordability, Julienne explains why longer amortizations and transferable rates may introduce unintended risks for borrowers, servicers, and the broader housing ecosystem.

The conversation goes beyond headlines, exploring sustainability versus access, the importance of equity-building, and why education and empathy are essential—especially for first-time and underserved buyers shaped by the lasting impact of the housing crisis. Julienne also shares personal insights from her career, including her proudest policy accomplishment and why expanding housing supply, not just new loan products, is critical to long-term affordability.

From FHA policy and servicing challenges to inventory, development, and HUD-approved housing counseling, this episode offers a clear-eyed look at what it really takes to move housing forward—responsibly.

Lending Forward is the home for real conversations about the industry we love. Hear firsthand perspectives from Mortgage Bankers, Realtors, Financial Advisors, policymakers, and industry leaders as we cultivate transparency around the future of lending.
So tell us—how are you lending it forward?

In this special episode of Lending Forward, we sit down with Brian Holland, CEO, and Stan Holland, President of Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group, to explore 30 years of impact, growth, and giving back. From building a thriving team of 650+ employees to helping thousands of families achieve the dream of homeownership each month, their story is about more than mortgages—it’s about people.

Hear how a culture of happiness, mentorship, and opportunity drives their team, why community involvement has been central to their mission for decades, and how they’ve supported organizations like the Roc Solid Foundation and the Boys and Girls Club. They also share personal stories about early work experiences, the value of internships, and lessons learned along the way.

Looking ahead, Atlantic Bay is embracing innovation, AI, and automation, all while staying true to the human-centered approach that has defined their legacy. Whether you’re part of the mortgage industry or simply inspired by leadership, community, and purpose-driven growth, this episode is full of insights and inspiration.

Lending Forward is about real stories and real people moving our industry ahead. Mortgage Bankers, Realtors, Financial Advisors, Coaches, and more share their experiences as we cultivate transparency around the future of lending. So tell us, how are you #LendingItForward?

#MortgageIndustry #LendingForwardPodcast #Leadership #Authenticity #LoanOfficers #MortgagePros #Podcast

In this episode of Lending Forward, hosts Hannah McManus and Amanda Tucker, Chief Risk & Compliance Officer here at Atlantic Bay are joined by two powerhouse leaders in the compliance world: Melissa Grindle, Executive Vice President and Head of Compliance at ActiveComply and Brett Contreras, Vice President of Compliance at West Capital Lending.

Together, they unpack the rapidly shifting regulatory landscape—one where state-level exams are expanding, interpretations are widening, and what many are calling “50 mini-CFPBs” are beginning to take shape. Drawing from real-time examinations, industry collaboration, and their collective decades of experience, the group breaks down why lenders are seeing broader exam scopes, more frequent audits, and a sharper focus on AI usage, cybersecurity, and state-by-state rule variations.

They also dive into the human side of compliance:
• how to build meaningful relationships with state regulators
• why communication and transparency can prevent enforcement actions
• how technology (and AI) is influencing both lender operations and examiner expectations
• what lenders should prepare for as 2026 approaches

This conversation is equal parts strategic and practical—shedding light on what’s changing, why it matters, and how organizations can stay ahead while protecting consumers and supporting their sales teams.

Lending Forward is the home for real discussions about the industry we love. Hear first-hand insights from Mortgage Bankers, Compliance Executives, Realtors, Financial Advisors, Vendors, and more as we cultivate transparency around the future of lending.

So tell us—how are you lending it forward?

In this episode of Lending Forward, host Bill Hitchcock sits down with Shawn Gerald, President and Managing Partner of Lifestyle International Realty for the Carolinas. Shawn shares his inspiring journey from the Marine Corps to retail entrepreneur to real estate leader, revealing how his “three-foot rule” and relentless follow-up fueled rapid growth.

He discusses how Lifestyle International Realty is expanding across the Carolinas and beyond, the importance of servant leadership, and why personal culture drives recruiting and retention. Shawn also explains how he’s helping agents embrace AI to future-proof their businesses.

Whether you’re in real estate, lending, or simply curious about leadership and growth, this conversation is packed with energy, practical advice, and forward-thinking insights.

Lending Forward is the home for real discussions about the industry we love. Hear first-hand accounts from people at the heart of the business – Mortgage Bankers, Realtors, Financial Advisors, Coaches, and more – as they cultivate transparency around the future of lending.

So tell us, how are you lending it forward?

In this episode of Lending Forward, host Bill Hitchcock sits down with Rob Zimmer, Principal at TVDC and Executive Director of External Affairs for the Community Home Lenders of America. Rob shares his perspective as a former Army captain and longtime industry advocate to break down what today’s buyers, lenders, and veterans need to understand about the market.

Together, they explore why VA loans remain such a powerful tool, how trigger lead reform aims to protect consumers, and why preserving small and mid-sized lenders is essential to maintaining real choice for homebuyers. Rob also offers insight into the future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the challenges facing young buyers, and what true affordability must look like going forward.

Lending Forward is the home for real conversations about the industry’s future, shaped by the people who live it every day.

So tell us, how are you lending it forward?

In this episode of Lending Forward, hosts Hannah McManus and Bill Hitchcock sit down with Kyle Draper and Shane Kidwell to challenge how originators think about business planning. Together, they unpack why traditional planning often falls short—and how shifting from reactive habits to intentional, authentic action can redefine success in 2026 and beyond.

From social media strategy and brand building to mindset and purpose, Kyle and Shane share how loan officers can create impact by showing up as their real selves—without the burnout or the endless to-do list. They discuss what top originators are doing differently, why “top of funnel” is where the fun really happens, and how authenticity is becoming the ultimate differentiator in today’s market.

A huge thank you to our friends at The Collective Coaching for sponsoring this conversation!

Lending Forward is the home for real discussions about the industry we love. Hear first-hand accounts from people at the heart of the business—Mortgage Bankers, Realtors, Financial Advisors, Coaches, and more—as they cultivate transparency around the future of lending.

So tell us, how are you lending it forward?

In this episode of Lending Forward, host Hannah McManus sits down with Mike Vough, Head of Corporate Strategy at Optimal Blue, to pull back the curtain on the secondary mortgage market. Mike breaks down how secondary departments protect profitability, manage risk, and ultimately shape the rates offered to borrowers.

From global events and regulatory changes to the role of technology and AI, Mike explains the forces driving rate volatility and why transparency and communication between loan officers, secondary teams, and investors are more important than ever. He also shares exciting innovations at Optimal Blue, including a breakthrough in direct lock technology, and looks ahead to how non-QM lending and digital assistants could reshape the mortgage landscape.

A huge thank you to our friends at Capacity for sponsoring this conversation!

Lending Forward is the home for real discussions about the industry we love. Hear first-hand accounts from people at the heart of the business – Mortgage Bankers, Realtors, Financial Advisors, Coaches, and more – as they cultivate transparency around the future of lending.

So tell us, how are you lending it forward?

In this episode of Lending Forward, host Bill Hitchcock along with special guest host Juan Giraldo sit down with Laura Arce, Senior VP of Economic Initiatives at UnidosUS, to discuss the future of Latino homeownership and the barriers and opportunities that shape it.

Laura shares insights on building authentic trust with Hispanic communities, the younger demographics driving first-time home purchases, and how affordability challenges are shifting the definition of the “American Dream” of homeownership. She also highlights the importance of policy changes, representation, and community-based outreach in expanding access to credit and sustainable housing.

This episode offers both data-driven perspective and heartfelt storytelling from one of the industry’s leading voices.

Lending Forward is the home for real discussions about the industry we love. Hear first-hand accounts from people at the heart of the business – Mortgage Bankers, Realtors, Financial Advisors, Coaches, and more – as they cultivate transparency around the future of lending.

So tell us, how are you lending it forward?