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Our Team

Our Branch Managers

Sarah Burckhard | NMLS #766557

As a Senior Mortgage Loan Officer and Branch Manager it is important to provide an outstanding experience for the families we serve. Nothing makes me more fulfilled than to see our clients achieve the American Dream. This was planted in my mind many years ago from my father, and immigrant who became the proudest American one could ever meet.

Having started as a Real Estate Agent in 2005 I was able to experience the home buying process through the eyes of a buyer early on. Transitioning to Mortgage Lending in 2008 I found my passion and strengths.

Read moreThrough the years I have been able to fine tune the service and knowledge I provide in this ever-changing Lending environment.Benchmark has allowed our team to re-imagine the way the Mortgage Lending process is done for our clients. We are like family and we strive to work with this in mind daily.

Family is first for me and always has been. I have been married to my husband Shannon for over 13 years. We have two children, Easton and Aniston and our mini–Australian Sheppard, Sage. We live in Minot, ND and enjoy being active in our community. Lake summers, local charity, service events and just being with family and friends is what I love about living in North Dakota.

Benchmark Mortgage allows me to offer our clients a variety of home loan products for every family and customize options to meet their needs. Following guidelines rather than creating our own is a huge reason Benchmark Mortgage is successful. Veterans and First Responder’s are near and dear to my heart as my husband served as a Firefighter for over 10 years. Their sacrifice and their families’ sacrifices are well known to me. Benchmark Mortgage does not just say we support Veterans and First Responder’s we show it. Each year Benchmark hosts Boot N’ and Shoot’n which directly supports First Responder’s and Veterans. Boot N’ & Shoot N’ 2021 raised over $1.6 million dollars. Locally we offer closing cost credits to Veteran’s and First Responder’s.

Being a partner in your home buying or refinancing experience is a priority to me, as is being a partner in other aspects of your life. The relationships we build set the tone for the legacy we leave. Call me today so we can quickly start that journey together!
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Steve Fennewald | NMLS #766570

Joint Branch Managers Steve Fennewald and Sarah Burckhard lead Team ND in Minot, ND. Steve with over 20 years and Sarah over 12 years lending experience have a clear vision for their team. Team ND is dedicated to providing an exceptional customer experience for every client served. We will always over compete with our customer service, high communication, on-time closings and commitment in making your home buying or refinancing process easy. We hold a special place in our hearts for Veterans, Active Military and First Responders and Benchmark’s Never Quit attitude is always in the forefront of our minds. Team ND wants to make your dream of a new home or financial independence a reality.

Please contact us today at (701) 839-3360 for prompt assistance. We look forward to helping you with all your mortgage lending needs.
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Jocelyn Herslip

Read my bioHi, I am Jocelyn Herslip!

I have been in mortgage lending since 2017 and I love what I do! I get to help people like YOU
finance your first home, upgrade to your dream home, or refinance your current mortgage to
benefit your current situation to save money, reach financial goals, or financial stability.

There are so many different mortgage programs that can benefit qualified borrowers that it is
crucial to have diversified knowledge of all loan programs. Choosing the right loan officer with
that knowledge is essential as a buyer. While you may only go through the home buying process a few times in your life, I do this every day. This is my passion!

My priority is to ensure you’re put into the best loan program option available and make the home buying process as smooth and stress free as possible! This is why all of my clients have my personal cell phone number so that I can be reached more than just during “office hours.” Our mortgage team at Benchmark- Team ND operates with the same mindset and we are always willing to go the extra mile to make things easy on you! You’ll get to know the team members throughout the process and will see for yourself just how easy obtaining your home financing can be.

We value the relationships we build with our clients throughout the process which is why I’d like to share a little about me as a person to help you get to know me a little more. My wife, Sammy, and I got married in September of 2020. We have 2 golden retrievers (Vance and Lindi) that we focus a lot of our time on. We love to be outdoors whether it be hunting with our dogs, spending time with family and friends at the lake, cruising in our side by side, or golfing! We rarely spend much time at home unless we are hosting a gathering or cooking (okay, Sammy cooks and I do dishes) for friends and family.

Call, text, or email me today to start your homebuying or refinance process today!
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Mortgage Loan Officer
NMLS #1674445
Office: 701-770-8038
2080 36th Ave SW – Suite 205
Minot, ND 58701
Licensed in ND, SD, and MT

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Jill Lohnes

Read my bioHi, I’m Jill Lohnes!

I have been making home loans and dreams come true for my clients for more than a decade! I’ve recently made a career move to Benchmark Mortgage and it’s been a wonderful change for me and my family. Our Benchmark Team ND does one thing- home loans- and we do them EXCEPTIONALLY well. With over 53 years of combined experience, we’ve brought all the best ideas and processes to Benchmark, making us truly the best in the business!

Buying a home is such an important purchase and usually nerves and emotions come into play. First and foremost, I care about my clients, will be available to listen and always seek to build long term relationships. One of my favorite things is when I’m with my kids at the mall, Target, a basketball tournament or wherever, and I say Hi or stop to chat; then my kids say- “Let me guess, you did a loan for them?” 😊

My husband, JP and I have 3 teenage daughters that keep us very busy! During the school year, we get a lot of bleacher time in for basketball, volleyball, and softball games. Outside of work, we enjoy camping at our seasonal spot on Devils Lake, traveling as often as we can, and spending time on the golf course. I’m a volunteer board member at Star City Golf Course and Velva Area Dollars for Scholars Treasurer.

Whether it’s helping with the purchase a new home, second home, or refinancing an existing mortgage- finding the right loan, being upfront and honest, and setting realistic expectations are essential for a smooth, enjoyable loan experience. Previous clients, friends, referral partners, if you have any friends or family looking for financing on a home loan, please consider sending them my way! You can count on me to be sure my clients are the most important person in the loan process!
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Mortgage Loan Officer
NMLS #757152
Cell: 701-720-4577
2080 36th Ave SW – Suite 205
Minot, ND 58701
Licensed in North Dakota.

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Jeri McQuade

Loan Processor

We’re Elated To Hear From You!

We pride ourselves in being the best in the business. Our client-focused approach is a point of pride, and a major part of what has enabled our team to help many clients with a dream make their dreams into a reality.