The Golden Baton Award

The Golden Baton – What makes a winner at Embrace

There are several Golden Batons awarded at the Embrace Home Loans Awards Ceremony each month. Sales Promotion Coordinator, Kristin Faria, says the company has been awarding Golden Batons since well before she began her career at Embrace Home Loans nineteen years ago. Each month, department managers award a Baton to the team member whom they feel has gone above and beyond, and deserves recognition for excellence in the workplace. Award winners are identified as those individuals who consistently demonstrate their commitment to Embrace through the delivery of high quality services. These individuals are commended for exceeding expectations through exemplary performance. The ceremony held most recently on Friday, February 10th, celebrated January’s stand-out employees.

Presented by Embrace Home Loans President, Kurt Noyce, the most prestigious honor awarded during the February 10th ceremony was that of the Presidential Golden Baton to Senior Loan Officer, Sean Hennessey. In his speech, Noyce praised Hennessey’s performance, “With over $250 million closed in the last five years, Sean has become not only one of Embrace’s elite loan officers, but the #1 Purchase Business Producer in the company. His determination to run toward the realtor… when others jogged around for Refi’s is why no one has positioned themselves for greater success. So let us position him… with a well-deserved promotion to Vice President.”

Hennessey has set the bar high as a role model for all Embrace employees. He has excelled at not only the technical aspects of the mortgage industry, but also the human side. Hennessey successfully incorporates Embrace’s core values into all that he does, treating clients as though they are an extension of the Embrace family.

This March, Talent Development asked Hennessey to reflect upon his experiences and success as an Embrace employee. His insights provide a glimpse into what it takes to build a shining career at Embrace Home Loans.

1. What does the Presidential Golden Baton award mean to you?

It is not something that is handed out lightly, so I am truly honored and humbled to have received this award. 

2. If you could give one piece of advice to Embrace employees looking to emulate your success, what would it be?

I have never been one to take the easy road. Perhaps that’s because I’ve never had that option, but even if I had, I likely would have avoided it altogether and charged headfirst down the more difficult path with eager anticipation of the challenge.  Only through challenging myself, and overcoming the many obstacles along the way have I truly been able to identify who I am and what I can achieve.  I wouldn’t have it any other way.

3. In building your career, who has been your greatest role model and why?

This is a tough one to answer as there have been several who have supported and guided me along the way.  In life, my greatest role model was my father.  He taught me the value of hard work, love and loyalty, and the importance of sacrifice and contribution to those around you. In other words, he is the foundation upon which my life has been built.

When I got into the mortgage profession eight years ago, the person who first comes to mind as a role model is my manager – Bruce Handelong. Prior to his untimely passing, he helped me understand the importance of having a burning passion for anything that we do in life. No matter whether I was a Chef, an animal handler or a mortgage originator, I needed to be passionate about what I did, or I would only ever find mediocrity.

Cary Reines would be the second person to have had a great influence on my career. Passion would again be a familiar commonality with Cary, but more importantly, Cary demonstrated a level of integrity most fall short of, and I knew the moment I met him that I would be successful by following in his footsteps.

Finally, my wife and best friend, Margie, has been my greatest role model. Have you ever met someone that makes you feel like they are genuinely a HUGE FAN of you?  That no matter what you do –  climb the tallest mountain or fail and fall flat on your face, they celebrate you or help you to get up and encourage you.  This support has driven me, more than any one thing to get to where I am today and I truly couldn’t have done it without her.

4. Which Embrace core values do you feel are most influential in your work?

Each of these values are important to me; however, the one that has been most influential is that of Community. I have been with Embrace for nearly 7 years and can honestly say that if I didn’t feel as though I was part of something bigger, if my Embrace Family didn’t feel similarly, I would not be where I am today. In many cases, the great distance between branches or HQ can limit functionality; however, in this case, I have found that it’s precisely because we are 500 miles apart, that my Embrace family has made extra efforts to get to really know one another. Because of this, we are a more cohesive unit.

5. Why do you love working at Embrace Home Loans? Do you have a favorite memory?

I don’t consider this to be “work;” this is my career and life choice. Embrace is my family away from home and I have many happy memories both personally and professionally here.  I wouldn’t have it any other way!

The Embrace Talent Development team applauds Hennessey for his outstanding work and commitment to excellence, and wishes him the best of luck as he continues to pursue his career here. The possibilities are endless for this remarkable employee!