Soul of 78: Phillip Lee
Mortgage Loan Originator, Synovus Bank
Words by Nick Norris | Images by Ryan McGill
Some people prefer a comfortable life in a small town, while others may crave the hustle and bustle of a high-stakes, big-city job. Phillip Lee has always desired a healthy balance of both, and is proof that one does not have to be sacrificed to obtain the other.
The Jasper native graduated from Walker High School in 1987 with dreams of earning a college degree in finance. A few years later, he received his bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and went to work as a credit analyst and underwriter for different companies in the city until he finally broke into the field that piqued his interest.
"I got into the mortgage lending side of things and never looked back," Phillip explains. "I really enjoyed the fast pace, the problem-solving, and the stress of a closing deadline, as crazy as that may sound. I'm competitive by nature, so finding ways to close on time felt like a win."
In 2001, home came a-calling. Phillip's first son, Parker, was on the way, and he wanted to return to those small-town values.
"I just love the sense of community in Jasper," Phillip says. "That's why I wanted to raise my son here."
Phillip commuted to Birmingham until 2009, when he began his current position as a mortgage banker at Synovus in Jasper. He has now been with the company for 15 years and just celebrated his 25th anniversary in the mortgage lending business. Though Phillip still appreciates the thrill of a high-stress job, his favorite aspect of his career today reflects what led him back to Jasper all those years ago: the sense of community.
"The best part about my job is the people I meet and the relationships made during the process," Phillip says. "The business is banking, but make no mistake, this is a service business. And that's no more prevalent than in a small town. Because if you continually fail to meet expectations, word gets around. You stay in business by treating people the right way, and I take pride in that."
For Phillip, there is no better feeling than the payoff after a job well done.
"It is such a blessing when you help a first-time homebuyer achieve their dream of homeownership," Phillip explains. "The joy and excitement on their faces at closing is priceless, which is why I try never to miss a closing."
Perhaps without even realizing it, Phillip became a success story that defies what many young people today are led to believe: that an exciting, high-stakes career can only be found in a big city. Phillip's story reminds us that when searching for our dream job, we should not forget to check in our own backyard. 78