Batting 1,000 with Dale Vermillion

Most loan officers are already doing the right things. They're just not building systems around them. Cindy Ertman breaks down how she grew a personal production business to over $200 million — and what it actually takes to build a referral-driven mortgage business that scales without burning out. Named one of Mortgage Executive Magazine's Top 100 Most Influential Mortgage Executives five years in...

A new year is the perfect time to rethink what “success” actually looks like. Kara Whitman shows how top producers can scale production past $100M without sacrificing their family, their energy, or their enjoyment of the business. A multi-year Scotsman Guide Top 40 originator and one of the highest-producing consumer-direct loan officers in the country, Kara has built a career defined by sustained...

Social media doesn’t have to be about posting more or going viral. Michelle Berman-Mikel explains how mortgage and real estate professionals can use social media to prospect, build relationships, and generate consistent business. A nationally recognized keynote speaker and author of The Black Line , Michelle is the founder of Berman Media PD. As the creator of Beyond The Method™, she helps mortgag...

Owen Lee has spent nearly three decades shaping the mortgage industry. Owen is the CEO of Success Mortgage Partners, Vice Chair of the Mortgage Bankers Association, and a relentless advocate for lenders and borrowers alike. And in this episode, he joins Dale to unpack what’s next for lending—including leadership, technology, and legislation. From building a billion-dollar company to fighting for i...

Barry Habib is back—the only guest to appear every season of *Batting 1,000*. He’s the industry’s most trusted market voice, credited with guiding lenders through COVID-19’s margin call crisis and winning the Crystal Ball Award a record four times. Barry is CEO & Founder of MBS Highway (now Highway.ai), author of the best-seller *Money in the Streets*, and the newest member of Fannie Mae’s gov...

With major players racing to own the entire homeownership journey, AI reshaping how we work, and digital natives entering their prime buying years, the mortgage industry is at a turning point. So, Dale Vermillion sat down with the president of its largest tech provider to ask a simple question: Where is this all going? The answer might surprise you. Tim Bowler, President of ICE Mortgage Technology...

In real estate, relationships aren’t just a bonus—they’re the foundation. Few understand that better than Michael Tomlin, one of the top 1.5% of agents in the country and a top 5% Coldwell Banker producer globally four years running. Based on Florida’s Emerald Coast, Michael has built a thriving real estate business on one principle: relationships over transactions. In this episode, Dale and Micha...

In an industry where profitability and production often take center stage, credit unions have a unique edge: a service-first mindset that puts members ahead of margins. No one understands this better than Peter Benjamin, President of ACUMA and a seasoned leader in the lending industry. A Certified Mortgage Banker and Six Sigma Black Belt, Peter has spent nearly two decades helping credit unions na...

In this episode of Batting 1,000 with Dale Vermillion , Dale sits down with Shant Banosian, America’s #1 loan officer with over $9 billion in funded loans, to break down what it takes to build a thriving mortgage business—even in challenging markets. Shant shares 10 powerful lessons on how loan officers can level up by mastering the fundamentals, controlling conversations, and building high-impact...

The average age of a first-time homebuyer in 2024 was 38—nearly a decade older than it was just 10 years ago. For too many Americans, the dream of homeownership feels increasingly out of reach, causing their overall wealth to lag behind that of their parents at the same age. While headlines focus on the housing affordability crisis, another critical issue is unfolding—one that rarely makes the new...

Endeared to history as the last great Philosopher King, Marcus Aurelius's legacy is shaped more by his stoic writings than by his imperial conquests. Similarly, I believe Nathan Knottingham—Chief of Staff at Vetted VA and Co-Founder of MLO Force—will be remembered more for his insights into leadership, the heart of service, and the centrality of purpose than for his daily impact in reshaping our i...

If you had to rate your confidence in the mortgage industry in 2024 on a scale of 1 to 10, what number would you choose? For HousingWire president Diego Sanchez, it’s a solid 10—and for good reason. As someone who interacts daily with lenders, vendors, and a best-in-class reporting and editorial team, Diego has his finger firmly on the pulse of the mortgage industry. Despite high rates, low invent...

Where is the mortgage market headed? Mike Simonsen and the team at Altos Research can you tell you sooner than anyone. Since before the meltdown in 2008, Mike has been collecting, analyzing, and interpreting the most real-time real estate data available. And in this episode of Batting 1,000 with Dale Vermillion, he shares exactly what the data is indicating for future housing inventory levels, hom...

In this episode of Batting 1,000 with Dale Vermillion, Dale is joined by Barry Habib, CEO of MBS Highway , for an inspiring and heartfelt conversation. Barry shares his journey of battling cancer while continuing to make significant contributions to the mortgage industry. He discusses his experiences, the importance of gratitude, and the power of maintaining a positive mindset during challenging t...

To kick off Season 3 of Batting 1,000 with Dale Vermillion, Dale sits down with Hunter Strong, a top-performing Mortgage Loan Officer at FirstTrust Home Loans. During the conversation, Hunter shares his journey from aspiring pharmacist to professional baseball player, and finally to a mortgage industry leader closing over 40 loans per month. With a unique approach combining hard work, dedication,...

In the final episode of Season 2 of Batting 1,000, Dale Vermillion chats with Melissa Langdale, the new President of The Mortgage Collaborative (TMC). With over 20 years in the mortgage industry, Melissa brings a wealth of knowledge and experience. She discusses the key challenges faced by lenders in 2023 and the strategies they are employing to overcome them. Melissa also shares insights into wha...

In this episode of Batting 1,000 with Dale Vermillion, Dale hosts Kyle Draper, the CEO of Content Compounding and author of Rethink Everything: You Think You Know About Social Media . Kyle shares his extensive experience in video marketing and social media, offering insights on how to effectively leverage these tools for personal and professional growth. Kyle and Dale discuss the importance of aut...

In this episode of Batting 1,000, Dale Vermillion sits down with Todd Duncan, the CEO and Founder of High Trust Selling . Todd, a two-time New York Times bestselling author and renowned speaker, shares his insights on thriving in the mortgage industry by embracing faith over fear. With over 5 million professionals trained and a wealth of experience from speaking engagements worldwide, Todd offers...

In this episode of Batting 1,000, Dale Vermillion sits down with Kevin Peranio ("KP"), the Chief Lending Officer at Paramount Residential Mortgage Group (PRMG) . KP shares his insights on thriving in the mortgage industry despite the challenges of a high-rate environment. He emphasizes the importance of a better, faster, and more competitive approach, underlining the significance of personal value...

In this episode of Batting 1,000, Dale Vermillion speaks with Doug Duncan, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist at Fannie Mae. Doug brings his extensive expertise to discuss the current economic climate, the housing market, and future trends. He provides a comprehensive overview of market dynamics, interest rate fluctuations, and the impact of demographic shifts on housing demand. Doug also s...

In this episode of Batting 1,000, Dale Vermillion is joined by Brittany Hodak, an award-winning entrepreneur, customer experience speaker, and author of Creating Superfans: How To Turn Your Customers Into Lifelong Advocates . Brittany shares her journey from founding and scaling an entertainment startup to becoming a leading voice in customer experience. She discusses the key principles from her b...

What does it take to close nearly 700 loans in a single year without buying leads? Scotsman Guide Top Originator and Mortgage Champions advocate Kara Whitman shares her replicable formula on this episode of Batting 1,000 with her former coach, Dale Vermillion . Kara and Dale share a common commitment to putting others first, and to going the extra mile—in all things. It’s that shared commitment th...

On this episode of Batting 1,000 with Dale Vermillion, Dale is joined by a multi-sport, Division 1 athlete who's gone on to Cofound a cutting edge mental conditioning consultancy that is changing the way professionals think. Harry Wilson, big brother to NFL quarterback Russell Wilson, and CEO of Limitless Minds makes the case for every professional needs a game plan for adversity, and how learning...

In this episode of Batting 1,000, Dale Vermillion hosts Garth Graham , Senior Partner at STRATMOR Group , to discuss the evolving landscape of the mortgage industry. With over 30 years of experience, Garth shares his insights on strategic investments, acquisition strategies, and the significance of the digital mortgage experience. They dive into the challenges and opportunities in today’s market,...

Join Dale and Jake as they relive the best moments from Season 1 of Batting 1,000, including highlights from Dale's conversations with: S1 E01 Scott Payne, CEO & Founder of SDP Solutions Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music S1 E02 Kirstin Messerli, VP Financial Services at Experience.com Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music S1 E03 Clayton Collins, CEO at HousingWire L...