First Heritage Mortgage Brings Back-Office Operations In-House as Company Positions for Next Phase of Growth
Milestone follows FHM’s 30th anniversary and reflects the company’s continued expansion, increasing scale, and long-term growth strategy
FAIRFAX, Va. – September 1, 2026 – First Heritage Mortgage, LLC (FHM) today announced that it has brought nearly all of its back-office support functions in-house, marking a significant milestone in the company’s evolution and positioning the organization to support continued growth in the years ahead.
The transition comes just days after First Heritage Mortgage celebrated its 30th anniversary on August 23. With the exception of Information Technology, departments and functions previously provided through Lenderworks are now operating directly within FHM, with teams dedicated exclusively to supporting First Heritage Mortgage, its loan officers, operations teams, customers, and business partners.
The move reflects the significant growth and increasing scale of FHM, which has evolved from a small joint-venture mortgage company founded in 1996 into a national top-50 lender with an expanding geographic footprint.
“As we begin our fourth decade, First Heritage Mortgage is larger, stronger, and better positioned for growth than at any point in our history,” said Alex Wish, CEO of First Heritage Mortgage. “Bringing these teams into FHM gives us an organization built specifically to support where we are going. It allows us to move faster, collaborate more closely, invest strategically in our people and technology, and create the infrastructure we will need to capitalize on the extraordinary growth opportunities ahead of us.”
An Operating Model Built for Growth
FHM’s relationship with Lenderworks dates back to 2011, when the company was preparing to operate independently and needed to establish a number of critical business functions that had previously been provided through its joint-venture structure.
Rather than build each department independently, FHM partnered with another mortgage company facing a similar transition to create a shared-services organization. That organization, originally known as Lender Service Provider and later rebranded as Lenderworks, provided specialized support functions including Accounting, Capital Markets, Mortgage Technology, Compliance, Quality Control, Post-Closing, and other operational services.
The shared-services model allowed FHM to access specialized talent and infrastructure efficiently as the company grew and served an important role in its development for more than a decade.
As FHM expanded in size, geographic reach, and organizational complexity, the company determined that its next stage of growth would be best supported by teams operating directly within FHM and focused exclusively on its business.
Following several months of planning, that transition is now complete.
As part of the move, FHM welcomed 28 former Lenderworks employees who have supported FHM for years. The company has also hired additional employees to build out the newly internalized departments and expand its capabilities.
FHM has strengthened its leadership team across several key functions as part of the transition. Bryan Bjerk has joined the company as EVP of Capital Markets, Jen Dorr as SVP of Compliance & Risk, and Leah Lanier as EVP of Mortgage Technology. Evan Morogiello has been promoted to SVP of Accounting & Finance and will lead FHM’s newly established Accounting department while continuing to oversee Finance.
Under the new structure, these teams will be fully dedicated to First Heritage Mortgage. The company expects the model to create greater speed and accountability in decision-making, closer collaboration across departments, and increased control over investments in talent, technology, and infrastructure.
Information Technology will remain the one back-office function supported outside of FHM, allowing the company to continue leveraging broader IT resources while its Mortgage Technology team operates directly within the organization.
Building for the Next Stage
The investment comes during a period of significant growth for FHM. The company is currently on pace to close nearly $4 billion in mortgage volume in 2026, compared with approximately $3.2 billion in 2025, representing roughly 20% year-over-year growth.
FHM plans to continue investing in its geographic expansion, recruiting talented mortgage professionals, strengthening its operational infrastructure, and growing its traditional mortgage business.
Bringing core support functions in-house is designed to give the company the infrastructure and organizational focus necessary to support that expansion while maintaining a high level of service for employees, customers, and business partners.
“For 30 years, our growth has been driven by talented people who take care of our customers, support one another, and continually find ways to make First Heritage better,” Wish added. “We have an outstanding team and tremendous opportunities in front of us. Thirty years is an important milestone, but I believe the best years for First Heritage Mortgage are still ahead.”
The transition represents the latest step in FHM’s evolution and provides the company with an internal support structure designed specifically for its next phase of growth.
About First Heritage Mortgage
Founded in 1996, First Heritage Mortgage, LLC is a national top-50 mortgage lender committed to helping individuals and families achieve homeownership. Through its growing team of mortgage professionals, FHM provides financing solutions, industry expertise, and personalized service to homebuyers across its markets.