Employee Spotlight: Dustin Brinkman, Senior Account Executive, Public Sector

We’re excited to welcome Dustin Brinkman to our team as our new Senior Account Executive for the Public Sector. Over his career, Dustin has focused on enabling government efficiency and empowering agencies to be more responsive to local needs.

Dustin’s passion for empowering change was born when he started his career as a high school teacher and coach. Working to modernize the teaching approach in a rural school district moved into a strong interest in driving change across the government spectrum. Prior to joining Summer, Dustin was the Director of Enterprise Accounts at Esper, leading high-impact modernization initiatives for state and enterprise local government agencies and diagnosing operational bottlenecks. He also was the Head of Business Development at Orlo, supporting government communicators with data-driven solutions.  

Dustin lives in Lawrence, Kansas with his wife and two kids, and is passionate about baseball, golf, and spending time with friends and family. 

What drew you to Summer’s mission and this role?

As a student debt holder, I have experienced the complicated and unclear environment of federal student loans firsthand. My mom, wife, and many friends and family have worked within government agencies, so I could see the positive impact Summer would be able to make, and jumped at the opportunity to join the team. I cannot wait to help advance Summer’s mission in simplifying the student loan environment and enable governments to better support their employees and residents. 

You’ve spent your career working with government leaders. What have you learned about what it takes to help a city or state launch something new?

Government leaders are in the fire every day, dealing with issues from potholes to public safety. As we work with them it is important to align to the needs of their communities. Working with elected and appointed officials closely to understand the real on-the-street impact a program can have drives better end results for any type of project they want to drive forward. 

Summer partners with governments in two ways: as a benefit for public employees and as a program for residents. Why did that combination stand out to you?

We know the word of 2026 is affordability. Summer is able to have a massive impact for both residents and employees by helping them keep more money in their pockets instead of sending it to DC. Every dollar that can stay local impacts local business, home ownership, and quality of life in a community. On top of that the city, county, or state will see greater retention and increase in local tax revenues. It’s a powerful tool to drive real impact everyday. 

What advice would you give a city or state leader who wants to act on student debt but isn’t sure where to start?

Be curious, creative, and do not wait for the federal government. Creative solutions can have a massive impact for an individual and the agency as a whole. Providing a student loan solution will not only impact the borrower on a personal level but also drive real impacts for your community, making this a small investment with massive results.

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Want to talk about student loan support for your employees or residents? Connect with Dustin on LinkedIn.