James Browning III

Branch Manager

NMLS #1884028

James Browning III, born and raised in Richlands, NC, is well-versed in the Jacksonville area and is happy to serve Veterans in his home community. His grandfather and uncle both served in the military, and those close connections make him passionate about doing his best to serve every homebuyer. He works to give everyone the care and attention they deserve. James strives to ensure his homebuyers feel well-educated on the process, so they can feel confident going into their homebuying journey. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two dogs, golfing, fishing and listening to live music.

Phyllis Gatlin

Senior Loan Officer

NMLS #157263

Phyllis Gatlin has been in the mortgage industry for more than 20 years and is a lifelong resident of Onslow County. Phyllis has various ties to the military by family in addition to serving as a sponsor at the local USO. Phyllis considers her customer service and VA Loan expertise to set her apart from other lenders, and her dedication to her borrowers is second to none. When she isn’t serving her community and VA homebuyers, she’s traveling, cooking, reading or spending time with her sons and dogs.

Clint Lanier

Loan Officer

NMLS #2042380

Loan Officer Clint Lanier brings 15 years of commercial insurance experience to Veterans United, providing a unique vantage point and expertise to our homebuyers. His favorite part of his role is the positive interactions with homebuyers and being of service to others. In his free time, he loves spending time with family and friends, and attending Dead and Company concerts.

Randal Manning

Loan Officer

NMLS #2523852

Loan Officer Randal Manning joins us after serving for 24 years in the Navy with 12 of those years spent stationed at Camp LeJeune here in Jacksonville. His unyielding commitment to his fellow military members is what led him to a career in helping Veterans into homes. Randal understands the significance of owning a home and knows that the homebuying process can be needlessly difficult. Through his expert knowledge of military life and the VA loan, he aspires to provide a seamless and stress-free experience for his borrowers. In his spare time, Randal enjoys spending time with his wife and their three dogs, golfing and mountain biking.

Craig Bennetch

Loan Officer

NMLS #2497379

Loan Officer Craig Bennetch’s mission is to help his borrower’s achieve their dream of homeownership. Hailing from a military family, his father served 26 years as a Sgt. Major in the Marine Corps. Craig understands the unique circumstances surrounding military life and strives to make the homebuying process as stress-free as possible. In fact, Craig’s life motto is, “Don’t stress it; everything will work out!”. With experience in the property insurance industry as well, Craig’s background ensures his borrowers will always be informed on their homebuying journey. In his spare time, Craig is an avid golfer and enjoys spending time with his family.

Burke Gardner

Loan Officer

NMLS #2653283

Burke Gardner is a loan officer who’s passionate about helping people fulfill the dream of homeownership. As a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, he understands how military life can make it hard to stay in one place for long, and he believes having a home of your own can help you feel grounded no matter where life takes you. Burke brings 25 years of auto lending experience to his role, began his mortgage career in 2025 and joined Veterans United in March 2026. Originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana, he was stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in 1993 and has called the area home ever since. Outside of work, Burke enjoys cycling, traveling with his wife Jennifer and their children, Devin and Morgan, and he’s proud to have completed Ironman Raleigh.

Andrew Dorris

Loan Officer

NMLS #2812450

Andrew Dorris is a retired Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant, spending 16 years in uniform and retiring from the intelligence community after multiple overseas deployments and five PCS moves. That experience gave him a firsthand understanding of the stress, timing and uncertainty that can come with military life and homebuying. After leaving the Corps and later working in law enforcement, Andrew knew he wanted to keep serving the community he cares about most: Veterans. His own experience working with great Veterans United loan officers while on active duty made a lasting impact and showed him how much it matters to have people in your corner who care about the relationship just as much as the outcome. Andrew brings that same mindset to every Veteran and military family he serves. Guided by his personal motto, “It’ll Buff,” he believes life’s bumps in the road can be worked through with the right support. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and children, traveling, running, mountain biking, reading and hanging out with his English Mastiff, Great Dane and Boxer.