Senior Vice President, Sales & Operations — Southeast
Charlotte, NC

Untangling the Red Tape

When Dave Dillard joined Atlantic Bay, the company gained more than his 35+ years in the mortgage industry. They gained a rare blend of sales and operations leadership — the kind you develop building territories across the Southeast and leading teams at one of the nation’s largest banks.

“I’ve probably worked with over a thousand employees at one stage or another,” Dave says. “I love working with people — seeing them succeed and helping families find homes.”

But in the corporate bank world, he often spent more time in boardrooms navigating red tape than improving processes, growing his team, or serving clients. “It wasn’t much fun getting up every day to fight corporate battles,” he admits.

Dave credits his optimism to his father, Ed Dillard, a well-known figure in their Asheville, NC community. “He was always a positive person — never down, never talked badly about people,” Dave recalls. “I was fortunate to get that gene.” That outlook followed him to Charlotte. “He’s one of the most upbeat people I’ve ever met and he has such a loyal following,” says John Wines, Ballantyne Sales Manager. “At events with Dave, it’s like you’re with a celebrity — everybody knows him and wants to say hello.”

Back to the Basics

After decades in a corporate environment, Dave wanted a company that returned to the basics of lending. Atlantic Bay’s purchase model stood out.

“The mortgage business is really simple — we sometimes make it complex,” he says. “Atlantic Bay looks at two things: Can the customer repay the loan? and Can we sell the loan? Once I saw that, the decision was easy.”

That clarity gives his teams time back. “We’re not constantly tied up in meetings,” Dave says. “We can focus on what matters: putting customers into homes.”

Operations You Can Count On

The strength of operations makes recruiting a pleasure. “Our ops team is so solid and knowledgeable that our month-end is very smooth,” Dave says. “That’s when most mortgage bankers’ stress levels spike. We don’t have that at Atlantic Bay. I can’t remember the last time we had a rocky final few days of the month.”

A newly hired mortgage banker told him she funded nearly $1 million by her second month. “Dave, it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” she said. He hears similar stories often: “I used to worry about closings; now the loans get closed and I can move on to the next deal.” That reliability builds trust in the system.

Plans for the Future

Dave knew Atlantic Bay was the right fit when leadership outlined their two-year vision for the Carolinas. “It mirrors what I want,” he says. Over the next 24 months, he plans to add 100–125 mortgage bankers and additional sales managers, with a parallel expansion of the operations center to support them.

Recruiting is fueled by results. “Our mortgage bankers are spreading the word: ‘I don’t have to worry about my closings.’” REALTORS® are noticing, too. “I tell candidates, ‘We’ll help you create more business. Build deeper connections with REALTORS®, builders, and financial planners. Our operations will carry you from one loan to the next — and the next.’”

The Feedback Loop

Dave doesn’t treat reviews as a vanity metric; he treats them like a coaching system. Every post-close client survey on the five-point scale lands in his queue. He reads them weekly, flags patterns, and follows up with managers when coaching or kudos are due.

When feedback highlights friction (for example, “unclear next steps” or “last-minute document requests”), Dave loops in Operations the same day. Recent tweaks include a pre-close checklist sent 5–7 days out, clearer milestone texts to borrowers and agents, and a “who to call” card for quick help. The result: fewer surprises and smoother handoffs.

He also closes the loop externally. When a REALTOR® or borrower leaves detailed feedback, Dave sends a quick thank-you plus what we changed note. It shows we listen — and it turns critics into partners.

“It’s rare to see anything below a five,” Dave says. “But the point isn’t the score; it’s what we learn to make the next file even better.”

By the numbers (last 90 days):

• Avg. client rating: 4.9/5

• Response time on flagged feedback: < 24 hours

• Top driver of 5-star reviews: proactive updates before month-end

Why Atlantic Bay

For Dave, Atlantic Bay means clarity and trust: a simple lending model, operations you can set your watch by, and leadership alignment on how growth should feel — for clients and for teams.

“I came here to get back to serving families,” he says. “Less red tape. More results. And a culture where your word matters.”

It’s also where he can recruit with confidence. He tells candidates the same thing he tells new hires: we’ll give you time back — to build REALTOR® relationships, to stay present with borrowers, and to grow a healthy pipeline without month-end chaos. That’s why, as he puts it, “I get the privilege to live it and dream it every day.”