A little can go a long way, especially when that little is the hospitality shown by the employees of Austin Mortgage Co.

Monday, April 09, 2001

A little can go a long way, especially when that little is the hospitality shown by the employees of Austin Mortgage Co.

Lynn Koch (pronounced "Cook") and Sheila Tolbert are the only two employees of the company that started in January. In addition, Koch runs Koch Business Consulting through the same office. Austin Mortgage Co. is setting a precedent – it is the only independent mortgage broker in Austin. Both Tolbert and Koch are licensed mortgage originators, besides serving as receptionists, typists and bookkeepers for this two-horse operation.

"I think we make a good team," Tolbert said, of the partnership. She went on to sum up the company’s work policy: "It’s important to enjoy what you do and have fun." Koch acknowledged they make sure their clients enjoy feel welcome and take time to enjoy themselves as well.

Koch was born in Bismarck, N.D. When he was 3, his family moved to Ellinwood, Kan., where he graduated from high school. He has a degree in finance from Fort Hays State University in Fort Hays, Kan. At FHSU, he played football for four years.

He came to Austin 16 years ago through a job at Farm Credit Services. He is married to wife Jane and has two children – son Kyle, who plays football and attends college at Augsburg College, and daughter Jenna, who is a sophomore at Austin High School.

Then, Koch worked at two banks – Norwest Bank in Austin from 1994 to 1998 and he started a Farmers and Merchants Bank branch in Austin. Eventually, he decided to open his own business and did so on Jan. 1.

"I think you get to a certain age when if you’re going to start your own business it’s now or never," Koch said. "I felt this was a good opportunity."

Sheila Tolbert was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. She attended Ohio State and went into banking after marrying husband Mike. Moving with her husband each time, she started her career at a small, independent branch in Texas and moved on to San Diego, Calif. It was then that she took 10 years off from her career to raise her children – Andy, a junior at AHS, and Alli, a sophomore at AHS.

When she returned to banking, she worked in Chicago and then came to Austin through Wells Fargo Bank four years ago.

"I feel lucky to have hitched my wagon to his star," she said of Koch. Tolbert said Koch is a great partner and teacher.

Koch and Tolbert deal with four different lenders: Home Federal Savings Bank, Merchants’ National Bank in Winona, Principal Mortgage Co. (Principal Financial Services) of Des Moines, Iowa, and the nationwide North American Mortgage Co. They said their goal is to match up the client with the right product.

"We’re very service-oriented," Koch said. "We want to do what’s best for the customer, even if that means the mortgage does not go through us."

They process all types of mortgages, including: home equity, second mortgages and construction loans, which both say have become less complicated than they once were.

As part of his responsibilities to clients of Koch Business Consulting, Koch puts together business plans, small business loans and simply gives advice.

"We are available at unconventional hours," Koch said. Which means, when the customer needs them, they are there, even during evenings and weekends. This is an alternative to the hours banks that provide mortgages keep.

"We fill a niche in Austin," Koch said.

The response they have received has been very good. "I feel very blessed the business have taken off in the way it has," Koch said.

"We’ve been very busy with a limited marketing effort," Tolbert said.

One of the reasons they have been so embraced by the city of Austin may be the way they have embraced local organizations. Koch is on the Austin Port Authority, the Riverland Foundation Board, the Development Corp. of Austin credit committee and the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce education committee. He also is a member of the Isaac Walton Foundation, the Lions Club, is a Blandin Partner in Leadership and was the president of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.

Tolbert is on the United Way board and is the president of the Early Risers Kiwanis Club.

"I feel fortunate to be in this community," Koch said of Austin.