Glenn Stearns

Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Mentor, Reality TV Star, Podcaster, & Author

Glenn Stearns a titan in the Mortgage and Financial services industry went from being an underdog in life to founding and building the top privately held mortgage company in the US on the heels on the 2007 financial meltdown. He survived cancer(twice), produced and starred in the top rated business show; Discovery Channel’s “Undercover Billionaire,” and recently founded the fastest growing mortgage company in the US. Glenn Stearns’ journey isn’t an everyday underdog scenario. Grit is at the center of his story about overcoming adversity, getting scrappy, and beating the odds. Using the survival instincts honed in the streets and surrounded by alcoholism and dysfunction Glenn prevailed by creating a life driven by integrity, which is penned in his debut memoir entitled “InteGRITy, My Slow and Painful Journey to Success”.

Glenn Stearns was born in Silver Spring, Maryland in 1963. He struggled with Dyslexia, failed fourth grade and fathered a child at the age of 14. He then went on to became the first in his family to attend college, graduating with a degree in economics from Towson University.

Post graduation, the kitchen floor was where he rested his head after a cross country drive to California with a college friend. He never left. Inspired by the golden coastline of Orange County he grew determined to make something of himself.

Waiting tables to make ends meet, along with a hunger for success, Glenn became a Mortgage Loan Officer and within 10 months, formed his own mortgage company. Ultimately Glenn’s sharp and scrappy business acumen was recognized with Ernst & Young's prestigious Entrepreneur of the Year Award. By 2010, Stearns Lending reached nearly $1 billion in monthly funded loan volume while experiencing record growth. Stearns Lending not only survived the 2007 mortgage-lending crisis, it emerged as one of the top lenders in the country and became America’s top wholesale lender. Stearns attributes his resilience to putting “people before profit” and maintaining transparent integrity in lending standards.

Since 2010, Stearns has helped over a million families achieve the American dream of homeownership.

In 2011, Glenn became one of the youngest members inducted into The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans. The award is given to select Americans whom are historical and global change makers in recognition of personal and professional success despite challenging and adverse beginnings. Inductees have made giving back a cornerstone of their success. The Horatio Alger association awards $21 million annually in scholarships to students demonstrating strength in the face of adversity and using extreme hardship as a motivator for achievement. In 2013, Glenn was also elected as the youngest member to the Association's prestigious Board of Directors.

In October of 2003, Glenn married television personality Mindy Burbano, who was considered to one of Oprah Winfrey’s favorite guests. Days after the wedding The Oprah Winfrey Show featured their fairytale wedding in a special Cinderella story episode. As a power couple, Glenn and Mindy illustrate the power of holding a big vision, seizing opportunities, and having faith in living your wildest dreams. They went on to compete together on “The Real Gilligan’s Island” a competition reality TV game show. Glenn won the grand prize, matched the prize money and launched the Stearns Family Charitable Foundation.

In 2014 Glenn sold Stearns Lending to Blackstone and soon thereafter was faced with a formidable opponent; cancer. He battled and won, only to have it return after 4 years in remission. During that time Glenn’s focus was redirected to quality time with family which inspired him to embark upon a world voyage with his young daughters.

After winning his battle with cancer a second time, Glenn jumped back into television and produced and starred in a new reality show, “Undercover Billionaire,” on the Discovery Channel. The premise challenged Glenn to launch a million-dollar business venture in 90 days with nothing more than $100, an old pick-up truck and a cellphone with no contacts. This project led to the creation of Underdog BBQ in Erie, Pennsylvania. A restaurant that continues to thrive today.

Ganon University, located in Erie, awarded Glenn an honorary doctorate where he added “Doctor” to his multiple titles for his efforts in uplifting and reviving the surrounding community with the help of Gannon's entrepreneurial resources.

The TV show reignited his entrepreneurial fires and led him back to his roots in mortgage banking. Glenn’s focus was on building a company around seasoned veterans with whom he held long term relationships and shared a vision to make the dream of homeownership come true. This time the cornerstone of the mission was kindness. From this vision, Kind Lending was born.

Glenn Stearns is also the founder of Anivive Life Science, Stearns Wholesale, Stearns Holdings, Stearns Ventures, Artemis Holdings, TriVerify, TriMavin, United Housing Services, Inc., and Mortgage Services Providers Holdings. He is an investor in Indi.com and Lender Price and the largest shareholder of California-based Infinity Bank.

Glenn and his wife Mindy currently reside in Southern California. He is the proud father to six children, and two granddaughters.

Glenn & Mindy Stearns have been honored for their dedication to community service and philanthropy with Starkey Hearing Foundation's "American Couple of the Year” , Orange County's "Giving Is Living,” and the 2014 Athlete's First - Orangewood Children's Foundation's "Golden Heart” award for their leadership and impact on underprivileged youth. They are both quite active and passionate about mentoring young people.

Now writing the most current chapter of life, Glenn shares with candor and vulnerability the stories of his hardships, struggles and life challenges and how they have been the fuel to his success. You’ll see how this scrappy kid once labeled “Most likely to Fail” picked himself up by his proverbial bootstraps and achieved a life of his wildest dreams.

In the pages of “Integrity” - My Slow and Painful Journey to Success” Glenn maintains that the true test of character is revealed when you hit your lowest lows as opposed to the moments when you’re standing on the highest peaks. That and many other life anecdotes fill the pages of this heartfelt business memoir. Glenn’s desire is to inspire others to leave their own legacy built on stick-to-itiveness, kindness and Integrity.

“No matter how hard the landing is at rock bottom - there is always the prospect of pulling yourself up, making something of yourself, and inspiring others”

Life really is just about timing… and inteGRITy.” - Glenn Stearns

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