MBA Annual20: Speaker Bios

Here are speakers/bios participating in the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Annual Convention & Expo (Annual20), Oct. 19-21.

Paul Anastos, Chief Innovation Officer, Guaranteed Rate and CEO, Gateless

Paul Anastos is CEO of Gateless, a newly minted company formed by Guaranteed Rate that serves as a laboratory of cutting-edge technology for the entire industry, continuously modernizing the way mortgages are conducted. He has been on the forefront of innovation within the housing market for over a decade, specializing in developing technology solutions and transforming businesses into industry powerhouses. Also serving as Chief Innovation Officer for Guaranteed Rate, HE focuses on differentiating the company from its competitors by enhancing its suite of proprietary technology and developing contemporary marketing solutions to promote its brand and mortgage professionals.

Jared Bomberg, Senior Counsel to the Ranking Member, Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, United States Senate

Jared Bomberg is the Senior Counsel to the Ranking Member on the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, providing advice to Committee Members and staff on privacy and data security legislation and other e-commerce and consumer product matters. Prior to this position, he counseled clients on privacy and data security in private practice. In addition to a law degree, Jared has a master’s degree in government and a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science.

Laura Brandao, President, American Financial Resources

As an industry resource of knowledge, positivity and passion, Laura Brandao radiates energy for bringing families home. Launching the wholesale channel for American Financial Resources in 2007 as Director of Operations, she went on to become an AFR partner, followed by Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, and now serves the company as President.

Brandao is a magnetic leader who launched a networking organization for women in the mortgage industry while cementing AFR as one of the nation’s leading specialty lenders, including Manufactured Home and Renovation programs. A skilled executive, she seamlessly rolls out new products based on market demand. And, as a coveted speaker, moderator and panelist, she is a well-regarded champion for loan originators, builders and other industry partners.

Brandao has been featured as one of “The 10 Most Influential Businesswomen to Follow in 2020” and among “The 20 Most Successful Businesswomen to Watch, 2020” by Insights Success magazine. She has also been celebrated as a “Women with Vision” honoree, twice, in addition to being featured in the “Top 100 People in Finance” magazine, and named among the “Best 50 Women in Business” by NJBIZ. Laura has also been named a “Women of Influence” by Housing Wire and has claimed spots on Mortgage Professional America’s “Hot 100 Mortgage Professionals” and “Elite Women of Mortgage” lists previously.

David Brickman, CEO, Freddie Mac

David Brickman is CEO and a member of the Board of Directors of Freddie Mac, one of the nation’s largest providers of mortgage financing. His career at Freddie Mac spans more than 20 years and five divisions. He is widely known for his tenure as head of Freddie Mac Multifamily, where he led a period of unprecedented growth, innovation and success. Brickman has developed more than 20 products, including new structures for multifamily securities and innovative financing options to help preserve affordable rental housing.

Brickman holds a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He also completed all doctoral coursework for the Ph.D. program in economics and real estate at MIT.

Chris Brinkley, Senior Vice President, First American Mortgage Solutions

Chris Brinkley is Senior Vice President of the post-closing and servicing division for First American Mortgage Solutions, with 25-plus years of experience leading business operations, performance excellence and global delivery platforms at First American and CoreLogic. According to each lender or servicer’s needs, Brinkley-led teams work to customize and deliver business process outsourcing strategies supported with a comprehensive suite of tools from post-closing document management, lien release, and collateral file perfection; to loan modifications and foreclosure title through REO title resolution and closing management. Their efforts help clients reduce risk, timelines and costs while maintaining regulatory compliance.

Robert D. Broeksmit, CMB, President & CEO, Mortgage Bankers Association

Robert (Bob) Broeksmit, CMB, is President and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association. He is a senior finance executive and corporate officer with a 33-year career in the mortgage sector. He has directed all aspects of lending activities, including marketing, sales, operations, secondary marketing, loan servicing and default management. He has also served as a mortgage underwriting expert testifying on many large, high-profile cases.  

Prior to joining MBA in 2018, Bob served as President and Chief Operating Officer with Treliant, heading the firm’s mortgage litigation support practice and serving diverse financial services clientele including large banks, independent mortgage lenders, community banks, credit unions and service providers to the mortgage industry. As a Washington-based financial services consultancy, Treliant’s mortgage practice included strategic advisory for executive management and corporate boards; litigation defense, including file reviews, litigation strategy, expert reports and expert testimony; CFPB examination preparation and implementation of mortgage regulations promulgated by the CFPB and other regulators; and operational aspects of mortgage banking, ranging from origination to servicing and loss mitigation. 

Before Treliant, Bob held senior leadership positions in the mortgage business, including fourteen years with Chevy Chase Bank (including after its purchase by Capital One), where he was Executive Vice President and President of its B.F. Saul Mortgage Company subsidiary. He also was a Vice President with Prudential Home Mortgage for seven years. He has overseen annual originations of $9 billion, a balance sheet of $10 billion in residential mortgages and a servicing portfolio of $20 billion.  He also held positions with Great Western Mortgage, Krupp Residential Mortgage and The Money Store.

Bob has served as the Chairman of the MBA Residential Board of Governors and as a member of its Board of Directors. Firms under his leadership have garnered multiple awards for servicing operations excellence, including Freddie Mac’s Tier One and Hall of Fame designations. He is a Certified Mortgage Banker (CMB) and a graduate of Yale University.

Mark Calabria, Director, Federal Housing Finance Agency

Mark Calabria, nominated by President Trump in January 2019, was confirmed by the Senate and sworn in as Director of FHFA in April 2019.  Prior to joining FHFA, he was Chief Economist for Vice President Mike Pence, handling all economic policy issues with a focus on taxes, trade, manufacturing, financial services and labor and housing. Immediately prior to his service with Vice President Pence, he spent eight years as Director of Financial Regulation Studies with the Cato Institute, where he helped to establish Cato’s Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives. He also previously served as a senior aide on the Senate Banking Committee to both Chairman Phil Gramm, R-Texas and Chairman Richard Shelby, R-Ala. He has also served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Regulatory Affairs HUD. He also held a variety of positions at Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, the National Association of Home Builders, and the National Association of Realtors. He has been a Research Associate at the U.S. Census Bureau’s Center for Economic Studies.

Calabria holds a doctorate in economics from George Mason University. During his Senate service, Calabria drafted significant portions of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, which created a new regulatory framework for the housing government-sponsored enterprises, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Banks. He was the primary drafter of the Shelby‐Dodd Flood Insurance Reform bill, which formed the basis for the Biggert‐Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012.

Peter Carroll, Executive, Public Policy & Industry Relations, CoreLogic

Pete Carroll oversees industry engagement programs, drives enterprise strategic initiatives for CoreLogic, and expands opportunities for the company’s thought leadership, insights and solutions expertise across the housing finance industry. Prior to joining CoreLogic, he was executive vice president of Quicken Loans, where he led the development and discussion of Quicken’s positions on a broad spectrum of policy issues. Earlier, he was senior vice president of Capital Markets at Wells Fargo and was assistant director with the Office of Mortgage Markets at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, where he co-led teams responsible for implementing the Dodd-Frank Act mortgage rulemakings. He holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Connecticut College. Currently, he serves on the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization (MISMO). He has also served on numerous other boards including MBA RESBOG, SFA, MERS and others.

Benjamin Carson, Secretary, HUD

On March 2, 2017, Benjamin S. Carson Sr., M.D., was sworn in as the 17th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

For nearly 30 years, Secretary Carson served as Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, a position he assumed when he was just 33 years old, becoming the youngest major division director in the hospital’s history. In 1987, he successfully performed the first separation of craniopagus twins conjoined at the back of the head. He also performed the first fully successful separation of type-2 vertical craniopagus twins in 1997 in South Africa.

Carson received dozens of honors and awards in recognition of his achievements including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. He is also a recipient of the Spingarn Medal, the highest honor bestowed by the NAACP.

Carson authored nine books, four of which he co-wrote with his wife Candy. The U.S. News Media Group and Harvard’s Center for Public Leadership named him among “America’s Best Leaders” in 2008. 

Carson and his wife co-founded the Carson Scholars Fund, which recognizes young people of all backgrounds for exceptional academic and humanitarian accomplishments.  The Fund is currently operating in 50 states and the District of Columbia, and has recognized more than 7,300 scholars, awarded more than $7.3 million in scholarships, and installed more than 150 Ben Carson Reading Rooms around the country.

Born in Detroit to a single mother with a 3rd grade education who worked multiple jobs to support their family, Secretary Carson was raised to love reading and education.  He graduated from Yale University and earned his M.D. from the University of Michigan Medical School.  He and his wife are the proud parents of three adult sons and three grandchildren.

Pam Cooper, CMB, Chief Financial Officer, Citywide Home Loans/CHL Mortgage

A 30-year veteran of the mortgage industry, Cooper has worn many hats on the financial management side of the business. She got her start in in Orange County, Calif., in the 1980s while still a college student at UC Irvine and was part of the team that took the original Plaza Home Mortgage public.  She went on to various accounting and finance roles, including 10 years with Deloitte where she served as an industry specialist in the Audit and Advisory Practice. She was part of the restructuring team at Aurora Loan Services after the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers, and is currently Chief Financial Officer at Citywide Home Loans, a $3 billion IMB in Salt Lake City. A CPA and a CMB, she is also beginning her two-year term as Chair of the MBA Accounting and Finance Committee.

John Courtney, CEO, NextJob

NextJob created the nation’s first lender-sponsored reemployment service, Homeowner Reemployment, with Fifth Third Bank. The service helps homeowners at risk of foreclosure, land jobs and keep their homes. NextJob has since launched programs with Freddie Mac, M&T Bank and Wells Fargo, with reemployment rates nearly tripling. It also supports lender CRA programs, helping nonprofits deliver career literacy. Courtney is also President of the American Institute for Full Employment, a nonprofit think tank consulting with states and Congress.  John holds a B.A. in Economics, an MBA and a JD. He enjoys sports and is a certified Stephen Ministry life coach.

Jordan Crenshaw, Executive Director, Technology Engagement Center, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Jordan Crenshaw serves as Executive Director and oversees policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Technology Engagement Center. He directly manages the Chamber’s Telecommunications & E-Commerce Policy Committee, which analyzes federal privacy, cloud computing, broadband, internet, e-commerce, and broadcast policies that impact U.S. businesses. Crenshaw also directs the Chamber’s privacy working group which is comprised of over 200 companies and trade associations, which developed model privacy legislation and principles.  Before joining the Chamber, Crenshaw served as an attorney with another trade association focusing on environmental issues and analysis of consumer privacy laws. Previously, Crenshaw managed discovery issues in the defense of a financial institution against TCPA claims at McGuireWoods, LLP. During law school, Crenshaw interned for Virginia Senate Majority Leader Thomas Norment, the Office of the Attorney General of Virginia, the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Administrative Law Judges, and the National Right to Work Defense Foundation. Crenshaw earned both his undergraduate degree and Juris Doctor from the College of William and Mary.

Andrew Crisenbery, SVP, Lending Solutions, Black Knight

Andrew Crisenbery manages the eLending Product Group with Black Knight, providing leading electronic fulfillment and collaboration solutions for the Black Knight Origination Technologies division and to the financial services industry. Prior to Black Knight, he served as Senior Vice President of Business Operations and Strategic Partnerships with eLynx before its acquisition by Black Knight. He has a degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Cincinnati.

Ron Darling

As one of the most respected voices covering Major League Baseball today, Ron Darling currently serves as a game analyst for SportsNet New York (SNY) covering the New York Mets, lead game analyst for Turner Sports’ MLB regular season and postseason telecast coverage and a studio analyst for MLB Network. Darling joined SNY in 2006 and currently is the network’s Mets lead game and studio analyst, working more than 100 Mets telecasts each year. In addition to his game analyst work, Darling also contributes to SNY’s Mets pre- and post-game shows, Mets Hot Stove, Daily News Live and to www.sny.tv.  

Darling won an Emmy Award for best Sports Analyst in his first season with SNY and again in 2011. Since 2008, Darling has been the MLB on TBS lead game analyst for both regular and postseason Major League Baseball games. He joined TBS in 2007 as a guest studio analyst for the network’s postseason coverage. Since 2013, Darling has served as an offseason studio analyst, where he regularly appears on the Emmy Award-winning flagship show MLB Tonight and the daily offseason morning show Hot Stove. Since beginning his broadcast career in 2000, Darling hosted FOX’s “Baseball Today” and worked in the broadcast booth for both the Oakland Athletics and Washington Nationals. He has also appeared on various sports programs including “The Best Damn Sports Show Period” and “National Sports Report” as well as provided analysis for the YES Network and CSTV. 

During his playing days on the diamond, Darling spent nine seasons as a starting pitcher for the New York Mets highlighted by winning the 1986 World Series. During his 13-year career, the Gold Glove winner also played five seasons with the Oakland Athletics after a short stint with the Montreal Expos. Drafted by the Texas Rangers with the 9th overall pick in the 1981 Amateur Draft, Darling was awarded a spot on Baseball Digest’s 1984 Rookie All-Star Team. He amassed a stellar win-loss record of 136-116 and recorded 1,590 strikeouts with a 3.87 ERA.  Darling has made a significant impact in the community through the Ron Darling Foundation, raising money for diabetes research due to his eldest son Jordan being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at age 11. He also sits on the Board of Directors for both the Diabetes Research Institute and Habitat For Humanity. 

Marcia M. Davies, mPower Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Mortgage Bankers Association

Marcia Davies is Chief Operating Officer for the Mortgage Bankers Association. She is responsible for ensuring cross-organizational alignment and facilitating the implementation of strategic initiatives, as well as maintaining oversight of key organizational priorities. She is also the lead strategist for MBA’s external activities, providing leadership, guidance and overall management to the public affairs and marketing divisions. In addition, she provides strategic direction and management of MBA’s Conferences, Membership, Education, Information Technology and Office Services divisions. She also provides management oversight to and is a Board member of MBA’s Opens Doors Foundation.

Previously, Davies worked at HUD as Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Housing and Federal Housing Commissioner. She directed HUD’s industry relations program to strengthen relationships, garner support, streamline communications and resolve policy and regulatory issues. Before joining HUD, Marcia spent 21 years at Freddie Mac, where she held a variety of officer positions in communications, customer outreach, marketing, servicer relations and policy. 

Davies is founder of mPower – MBA Promoting Opportunities for Women to Extend their Reach – MBA’s networking platform for women in the real estate finance industry. Under her leadership, mPower has grown into an engaged community of more than 19,000, providing best-in-class conference and webinar programming, networking events, and online opportunities to stay engaged. Through mPower, more women are positioned to achieve leadership positions and are well represented in all segments of the industry.  Marcia is a member of the NAWRB Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Council (NDILC). She is also a member of Women in Housing Finance and the International Women’s Leadership Association. Most recently, Marcia received the silver Stevie Awards for Women in Business 2018 Maverick of the Year. She has also the recipient of Five Star’s Laurie A. Maggiano Legacy award, the NAWRB 2018 Industry Revolutionary Award, and the CIFS Diversity & Inclusion 2018 Trailblazer Award. In 2015, Marcia was honored by HousingWire as one of its 2015 Women of Influence. She is a graduate of the Katharine Gibbs School in Montclair, N.J.

Dana Dillard, Executive Vice President, Corporate and Social Responsibility, Mr. Cooper

With more than 30 years of mortgage servicing experience, Dana Dillard has worked at many large servicing organizations with a focus on the customer. Currently, she serves on the Executive team at the Mr. Cooper Group as EVP of Corporate and Social Responsibility which includes Government, Community and Industry Relations and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Prior to joining Mr. Cooper, sheworked at GMAC RESCAP where she managed the REO, Liquidations and Community Outreach teams during the peak of the housing crisis. She has held other senior leadership positions at EMC Mortgage, Bank of America Mortgage and Lomas Mortgage. Over the three decades of her career, she has been recognized within the industry as a thought leader and an advocate for both employees and customers. Her awards include Housing Wire’s 2020 Women of Influence, 2019 M Report 25 Most Influential People, 2016 Elite Women in Housing, and 2009 Five Star’s Humanitarian of the Year.

Mike Fratantoni, Chief Economist, Mortgage Bankers Association

Michael Fratantoni is MBA’s Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of Research and Industry Technology. He is responsible for overseeing MBA’s industry surveys, benchmarking studies, economic and mortgage originations forecasts, industry technology efforts, and policy development research for both single-family and commercial/multifamily markets. Additionally, Fratantoni is president and member of the Board of Directors of MISMO and serves on the CSP’s Industry Advisory Group and the membership committee of MERS.

Prior to joining MBA, Fratantoni worked in the industry in risk management and senior economist roles at Washington Mutual and Fannie Mae.  He received a Ph.D. in economics from Johns Hopkins University and a B.A. in economics from The College of William and Mary, and has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Washington, and Johns Hopkins, George Washington and Georgetown Universities.

Hugh Frater, CEO, Fannie Mae

Hugh R. Frater is Fannie Mae’s CEO. He sets the overall enterprise vision and strategic direction of the company and has been a member of the company’s Board of Directors since January 2016. He served as Interim CEO from October 2018 through March 2019. He currently serves as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of VEREIT Inc. He previously led Berkadia Commercial Mortgage LLC, a national commercial real estate company providing comprehensive capital solutions and investment sales advisory and research services for multifamily and commercial properties. He served as Chairman of Berkadia from April 2014 to December 2015 and he served as CEO of Berkadia from 2010 to April 2014.

Earlier in his career, Frater was an Executive Vice President with PNC Financial Services, where he led the real estate division, and was a Founding Partner and Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. He is a member of the Community Responsibility and Sustainability Committee. He Frater has a bachelor of arts in English from Dartmouth College and a master of business administration in finance from the Columbia University Graduate School of Business, where he serves on the Board of Overseers.

Kristy Fercho, 2021 MBA Chairman-Elect; Executive Vice President & Head of Home Lending, Wells Fargo

Kristy Fercho is executive vice president and head of Wells Fargo Home Lending. She oversees one of the nation’s leading combined home lenders and servicers, funding one of every 12 loans and servicing one of every eight loans in the country. She leads a team of more than 25,000 mortgage professionals in sales, operations, servicing, capital markets, portfolio management and related business, risk management and supporting functions.

Fercho joined Wells Fargo this year from Flagstar Bank, where she had served as president of the company’s mortgage division since 2017. Prior to joining Flagstar, she spent 15 years with Fannie Mae, where she led the strategy and business performance of single-family customers in the western United States and also served in customer engagement and human resources roles. She began her career and served in a variety of sales, operations and human resources roles at Baxter International before moving to Pepsi Co. Inc., where she ultimately was director of worldwide corporate human resources.

Fercho currently serves as vice chair of the board of MBA, vice chair of the MBA’s Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee, co-chair of the Affordable Housing Council and a member of its Residential Board of Governors. She also serves on the boards of City Year and the Detroit Zoological Society. Her industry accolades include HousingWire recognizing her as a Women of Influence in the housing industry; MReport honoring her as one of the Top Women in Housing; Diversity Journal listing her among its Women Worth Watching; National Mortgage Professional Magazine naming her to its list of Most Powerful Women; and the Michigan Chronicle selecting her for its Women of Excellence recognition. She is a graduate of the University of Southern California and holds an MBA from Saint Joseph’s University, where she serves on the Board of Trustees.

Rich Gagliano, President, Origination Technologies, Black Knight

Richard (“Rich”) Gagliano is President of Origination Technologies for Black Knight, a premier provider of integrated software, data and analytics to the mortgage industry. As the division’s leader, he is primarily responsible for direction of Black Knight’s loan origination systems for retail, wholesale, consumer-direct, home equity and correspondent lending channels. Before joining Black Knight, Gagliano was SVP of Direct Lending and Chief Administrative Officer at Aurora Bank. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Southeast Missouri State University and an MBA degree in finance from Saint Louis University.

Nima Ghamsari, CEO & Co-Founder, Blend

Nima Ghamsari is CEO and co-founder of Blend, a Silicon Valley technology company propelling consumer lending into the digital age. He leads the company’s corporate and product strategy toward the vision of a more frictionless, compliant, and accessible consumer finance ecosystem. He is currently focused on expanding the Blend platform both in breadth and depth, bringing a seamless process to more consumers across more of their financial lives. He is also spearheading a number of the company’s initiatives around emerging technologies and how to implement them. Prior to founding Blend, He was one of the first employees of the commercial group at Palantir Technologies. He is a graduate of Stanford University where he earned a B.S. in computer science.

Cathy Glover, Deputy Administrator, Single-Family Housing, USDA Rural Development

Cathy Glover started her career in housing and farm-related programs in 1988 with the Farmers Home Administrator in Illinois before moving to the Washington, D.C. headquarters office in 2004.  She has served in varies rolls at headquarters, including Director of the Single-Family Housing Direct Loan Division (2014-2015), Assistant Deputy Administrator (2015-2020), and Executive Director, Single-Family Guaranteed Loan Program (February – July 2020). Cathy was appointed Deputy Administrator, Single Family Housing in July.

Garth Graham, Senior Partner, STRATMOR Group

Garth Graham is a Senior Partner at STRATMOR Group’, a 30-year-old mortgage banking consulting firm. Graham has more than 25 years of experience in mortgage banking, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to successful startups. He is a true pioneer of the digital mortgage, as one of the founders of mortgage.com, and was an executive at Top 5 lender ABN-AMRO Mortgage before its $9 billion sale to Citigroup in March 2007, which closed before the market downturn. He is a frequent speaker at national conventions, corporate events and technology conferences, and always with a balance of data, insights and jokes.

Julian Hebron, Founder & CEO, The Basis Point

Julian Hebron is founder of The Basis Point, a sales & strategy consultancy for finance & real estate companies, and a financial media brand for consumers. Over the past 20 years, he’s served in executive sales and marketing roles at UBS, Wells Fargo, loanDepot, and LendUS (formerly RPM Mortgage). Julian is known for bringing clear thinking and modern strategies to help companies maximize technology impact, elevate salespeople, and lead the way in this disruptive era.

Elaine Howard, Vice President of Meetings & Conferences, Mortgage Bankers Association

Elaine Howard is Vice President of Conferences and Meetings with the Mortgage Bankers Association, responsible for development and execution of MBA’s five large signature conferences and 40 smaller meetings, as well as other special events. She began at MBA as senior director of meetings and conferences in January 2001. Prior to joining MBA, Howard served as deputy chief of staff to the Secretary of Labor, and was responsible for planning and event logistics for the department. Previously, she served as the director of the Inaugural Balls with the 53rd Presidential Inaugural Committee, as the Director of Events with the Democratic National Committee and as Director of Events with the Clinton/Gore 1996 presidential campaign. Previously, Howard was the Director of Sales at Washington’s Embassy Row Hotel. She did her hospitality training at Marriott Corporation and the Club Managers Association of Australia. Howard received her bachelor’s of science degree in psychology from Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., and completed graduate study at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.

Julienne Joseph, Associate Director, Government Housing Programs, Mortgage Bankers Association

Julienne Joseph is Associate Director of Government Housing Programs with the Mortgage Bankers Association, where she focuses on FHA, VA, USDA and appraisal policy issues. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of Virginia and an MBA in Real Estate Management from Marylhurst University. With nearly 20 years of mortgage origination, counseling and housing policy experience, Julienne has built a career that’s dedicated to creating safe, affordable and sustainable homeownership opportunities for every borrower.

Joel Kan, Associate Vice President, Economic and Industry Forecasting, Mortgage Bankers Association

Joel Kan serves as Associate Vice President of Economic and Industry Forecasting for the Mortgage Bankers Association. He is responsible for the production of MBA’s macroeconomic and housing market forecasts, along with other related analytics. He also oversees the production of MBA’s industry surveys, including the Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey, Builder Applications Survey, and Mortgage Credit Availability Index, three of the association’s high-profile surveys. He is a regular speaker and presenter of MBA’s market outlook at both MBA and external events and writes commentary regarding economic statistics and industry data. He has also been quoted in industry and national media outlets.  Prior to joining the MBA, he worked in Ernst & Young’s Quantitative Economics and Statistics (QUEST) group.

Kathy Kraninger, Director, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Kathy Kraninger became Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in December 2018. From her early days as a Peace Corps volunteer, to her role establishing the Department of Homeland Security, to her policy work at the Office of Management and Budget to the CFPB, Kraninger has dedicated her career to public service.

Kraninger came to the CFPB from the Office of Management and Budget, where as a Policy Associate Director she oversaw the budgets for executive branch agencies including the Departments of Commerce, Justice, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation and Treasury, in addition to 30 other government agencies.

Previously she worked in the U.S. Senate, where she was the Clerk for the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, which provides DHS with its $40 billion discretionary budget. On Capitol Hill, she also worked for the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security as well as the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

Kraninger also served in executive branch posts with the Department of Transportation. There, after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, she volunteered to join the leadership team that set up the newly created DHS.

Her work at DHS led to awards including the Secretary of Homeland Security’s Award of Exceptional Service, the International Police and Public Safety 9/11 Medal, and the Meritorious Public Service Award from the United States Coast Guard.

Kraninger graduated magna cum laude from Marquette University and earned a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. She served as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Ukraine.

Mervyn Lally, Chief Enterprise Architect, Experian Information Solutions Inc.

Mervyn Lally has more than 20 years’ experience in enterprise IT at large multi-national organizations. He currently serves as the senior vice president and chief enterprise architect at Experian. Mervyn has perspective from diverse IT leadership roles with experience in leading large Oracle ERP implementations, defining IT and business architecture, and transforming IT organizations.

Jeremy Less, Associate Vice President, Area Mortgage Manager, BancorpSouth Bank

Jeremy Less started in the mortgage business in 2003 as a loan originator after graduating from the University of Alabama. He has worked with both bank and non-bank lenders during his career and served in additional roles as an operations manager and sales manager. He is currently President of the Memphis Mortgage Bankers Association.

Capricia Marshall, Ambassador-in-Residence, Atlantic Council

Capricia Marshall served as White House social secretary in the Clinton Administration from 1997-2001 and United States chief of protocol in the Obama administration from 2009 to 2013. In her posts, she enhanced traditional protocol methods with new tools to build relationships between dignitaries and industry leaders world-wide. She oversaw the diplomatic details of multiple state visits, G20 and G8 convenings, and summits such as the Nuclear Security summit, APEC, NATO and Sunnylands summits. She is president of Global Engagement Strategies LLC, which advises international, public, and private clients on issues relating to the nexus of business and cultural diplomacy. Her clients include Bloomberg, 3M, and other Fortune 100 companies.

As a first-generation American, she has brought an understanding of the importance of culture to her posts and consultations. Marshall is currently Ambassador-in-Residence at the Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC.  She lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband, Dr. Robert J. Marshall, and her loving mother, Mary Penavic, and is the proud parent of Robert “Cole” Penavic Marshall.

Kirstin McMullen, Chief Financial Officer, The Money Source Inc.

Kirstin McMullen brings more than 25 years of financial management experience to TMS. She is an expert in financial planning and monitoring, ensuring the financial health of TMS as it continues to grow. She is a change catalyst utilizing best in class technology to maximize efficiencies, improve management reporting and control costs. Prior to this position, She was CFO of Computershare Loan Services. Her mortgage industry financial background includes experience in raising debt and equity, M&A transactions, financial modeling and budgeting, overseeing production of audited financial statements and corporate governance.

Jon Meacham, Presidential Historian and Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author

Jon Meacham is one of America’s most prominent public intellectuals. A contributor to TIME and The New York Times Book Review, Meacham is a highly sought-after commentator, regularly appearing on CNN and MSNBC. Known as a skilled orator with a depth of knowledge about politics, religion and current affairs, Meacham brings historical context to the issues and events impacting our daily lives. 

His latest #1 New York Times bestseller, The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels, examines the present moment in American politics and life by looking back at critical times in U.S. history when hope overcame division and fear. Meacham is a co-author of the recently released book, Impeachment: An American History, which reveals the complicated motives behind the three impeachments in U.S. history. Meacham’s Presidential biography, Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush, debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestsellers list. He delivered eulogies for both President George H.W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush. 

Meacham’s #1 New York Times bestseller, Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power, was hailed as “masterful and intimate” by Fortune magazine. His other national bestsellers include Franklin and Winston, American Gospel and American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House, which won the Pulitzer Prize in 2009.  A contributing editor at TIME, Meacham writes for the magazine’s Ideas section. He also pens “The Long View” column in The New York Times Book Review in which he “looks back at books that speak to our current historical and cultural moment.” He served as Newsweek’s managing editor from 1998 to 2006 and editor from 2006 to 2010. The New York Times called him “one of the most influential editors in the news magazine business.” He is currently at work on a biography of James and Dolley Madison.

Cheryl Muhammad, Broker/Owner, Assured Real Estate Services

Cheryl Muhammad is the Broker/Owner of Assured Real Estate Services since 2005. Cheryl has been an intricate part of the real estate business since 1999. To help her Buyers and Sellers to better serve them. Cheryl has designations in: ABR, BPOR, CRB, CRS, GRI, RENE, SFR, SRS.  She is the current President of NAREB MEMPHIS REALTIST, which is a local chapter of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers. She has taken the organization to new heights and is continuing to grow the chapter with the hope of having 300 members, in order to help our communities more.  She loves Running, especially for St Jude, Cheryl has found it rewarding to advocate for the low-to-moderate income families and she believes that Homeownership is the beginning of building wealth.

Steve O’Connor, Senior Vice President, Affordable Housing Initiatives, Mortgage Bankers Association

Steve O’Connor is Senior Vice President for Affordable Housing Initiatives at the Mortgage Bankers Association. He manages MBA’s efforts to support the affordable housing policy and business objectives of our members. He is also responsible for outreach to industry groups, consumer organizations, and other key stakeholders. O’Connor is a regular guest speaker on industry issues. He leads MBA’s Consumer Affairs Advisory Council. He also serves on a number of industry boards, including the National Housing Conference, the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, Freddie Mac’s Affordable Housing Advisory Council, the National Urban League’s Business Solutions Council, the Homeownership Council of America and Quick Loans Consumer Advisory Council. O’Connor joined MBA in 1996. Previously, he worked in government affairs for the National Association of Realtors and Freddie Mac. He also worked for Skyline Financial Services Corp. O’Connor holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Marquette University and a master’s degree in political science from American University.

Eddie Oddo, VP, Corporate Business Solutions, First American Mortgage Solutions

In his role as Vice President of Corporate Business Solutions, Oddo is responsible for vision, development and implementation of cross-channel, strategic enterprise business programs, including leading First American’s digital settlement initiatives. His experience in the settlement and mortgage industry, combined with his education and technical background, uniquely position him as a thought leader and digital transformation expert in the real estate, settlement and mortgage industries. He holds an MBA from George Mason University and a BA in Mass Communication from Auburn University.

John Ondrasik, Singer/Songwriter, Five For Fighting

Singer-songwriter John Ondrasik has spent the past decade writing deeply personal songs that include social messages, invoke the human spirit and make an emotional connection. With the past six albums by Five For Fighting, the hockey moniker stage name under which he performs, Ondrasik has seen multitudes of successes. Five For Fighting’s breakthrough came in 2001 with the Grammy-nominated song “Superman,” and his performance at The Concert For New York.

Ondrasik proceeded to become part of the American songbook with the iconic hit “100 Years,” “World,” “The Riddle,” “Chances” and “What If.” His music has been featured in more than 350 films, TV shows and advertisements ranging from The Blind Side to The Sopranos. In 2018 he was the musical voice for the CBS hit show Code Black.

Ondrasik has also been deeply involved in supporting our troops. From USO tours, supporting several Veteran oriented charities, and distributing over a million “CD for the Troops” to servicemen and their families around the world. “At the end of the day, it really is about doing your part, each one of us. In whatever area we can. What kind of world do you want?”

Ondrasik is currently working on a Broadway musical, various television projects and a new Five For Fighting album while giving keynotes across the country to corporations and various organizations.

Teri Pansing, Vice President, Corporate Closing, Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp.

Teri Pansing is an established mortgage professional with 20-plus years’ experience in all facets of the retail & wholesale mortgage industry. In her current role as VP of Corporate Closing at Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp., she is focused on bringing new closing project initiatives to life, including the launch and growth of Fairway’s ExpressClose digital closing platform along with various other digital/RON platforms. She is passionate about bringing the digital experience to Fairway’s clients at the closing table and is excited to help pave the way for the industry.

Michael Patterson, Chief Operating Officer, Freedom Mortgage Corp.

Mike Patterson is currently Chief Operating Officer at Freedom Mortgage Corp., where he oversees Capital Markets, Financial Reporting and Corporate Operations. He has more than 20 years of combined experience in the financial services industry and the residential mortgage markets. He joined Freedom Mortgage in 2006 as part of an acquisition from Irwin Mortgage, where he led the Wholesale operations and finance areas. Today, he serves on the Mortgage Bankers Association’s RESBOG committee and is active in many other industry committees. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Evansville and an MBA from Indiana University.

Candace Russell, Vice President, Post Sale, Carrington Mortgage Services LLC

Candace Russell is Vice President of Post Sale with Carrington Mortgage Services. She leads CMS’s efforts managing default inventory as well as reducing enterprise risk factors. With a proven record of effectively managing property preservation, conveyance, eviction, title and risk management. Her experience in the mortgage industry is broad: covering originations, performing loans, loss mitigation, foreclosure, claims and risk management. Candace is currently the Chair of the MBA Loan Administration Committee. As a passion project she runs a women and minority leadership group, UR:Represented. When time allows, she enjoys roller derby and attempting to play the banjo.

Terry Rouch, Assistant Director, Loan Policy and Valuation, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs

Terry Rouch has been in his current position as the Assistant Director, Loan Policy and Valuation, in the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Loan Guaranty Service since June. A veteran himself, he brings with him a wealth of industry knowledge, including more than 25 years’ experience in mortgage banking. Prior to joining the VA, he worked several years for HUD in the Office of Single-Family Housing (FHA) and Community Planning and Development. During the 2008 recession, he was appointed by the FDIC to lead IndyMac Bank, a failed $32 billion bank placed into conservatorship and its subsequent sale to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s OneWest Bank. He has sat on national regulatory policy committees and working groups, including the initial team that established the Office of Complex Financial Institutions, and currently serves as a Federal Credit Union Chairman of the Board.

Amy Schaftlein, Executive Director, United Housing Inc.

Amy Schaftlein was named executive director of United Housing in February 2018. She oversees all aspects of the organization and works diligently to help those striving toward homeownership and financial stability. Prior to joining United Housing as executive director, Amy spent time with University Neighborhood Development Corporation as a research assistant and with Tennessee Housing Development Agency as the industry and government liaison. In between those two positions, she spent six years with United Housing as the director of development and communications. Currently, Amy also serves as Housing Policy Chair for BLDG Memphis. She received her master’s degree in urban anthropology from the University of Memphis.

David Shirk, Managing Member, Shirk Law PLLC

David Shirk is managing member of Shirk Law PLLC. He represents financial institutions, retail and wholesale mortgage bankers, lead generators, and software vendors. David advises innovating clients on state and federal regulatory compliance, licensing, originator compensation, and responding to exams or Bureau investigations. Prior to joining LotsteinLegal in 2011, which changed its name to Shirk Law in 2020, David spent 20 years in executive roles at mortgage companies. Including as functional architect of Countrywide’s next generation loan origination system. He is admitted to the bar in 10 states. He holds a J.D. and an MBA.

Susan Stewart, 2021 MBA Chair; CEO, SWBC Mortgage

Susan Stewart is 2021 Chairman of the MBA and CEO of SWBC Mortgage, San Antonio, Texas. Her visionary leadership has been the catalyst behind the company growing from three employees serving the Texas market to more than 650 employees in more than 70 branch locations. Under her unwavering focus, SWBC Mortgage has grown from a small regional broker to a national industry leader, providing a full-service origination-to-servicing experience for borrowers in 43 states. Stewart leads a team that leverages cutting-edge technology, delivering industry-leading speed and service while providing a personal, experienced touch to the dream of home ownership.

Stewart currently serves as a member of the MBA’s Board of Directors and is past Vice Chair of the MBA’s Residential Board of Governors (RESBOG). She and SWBC Mortgage are committed to making the communities they serve brighter, more hope-filled places, and to that end she serves on the board of the MBA Opens Doors Foundation. Both Stewart and SWBC Mortgage have been recognized personally and corporately as Guardian level donors to the Opens Doors Foundation.

A.B. Stoddard, Associate Editor, RealClear Politics

A.B. Stoddard is an associate editor and columnist with political news site and polling data aggregator RealClearPolitics, and a contributor and guest host for SiriusXM’s POTUS Channel. She appears regularly on Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, CNN and MSNBC for her expertise as a political commentator. She is a former associate editor and columnist for The Hill newspaper. Her column with The Hill won first place Dateline Awards from the Society of Professional Journalists’ Washington, D.C. chapter in 2010 and 2011. Nonpartisan, Stoddard addresses elections and the political landscape of the day. Frequently meeting with sources and politicians of all stripes, Stoddard has her finger on the pulse of Washington, D.C. as she offers detailed and smart political and electoral analyses.

Brian Stoffers, CMB, 2020 MBA Chairman; Global President, Debt & Structured Finance, CBRE Capital Markets

Brian Stoffers, CMB, is Chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association and Global President of Debt & Structured Finance with CBRE, a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company headquartered in Los Angeles, and the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm. Under his leadership, 180 professionals have originated $300 billion in loan volume since 2007. Additionally, this practice maintains a loan services portfolio of more than $180 billion globally.

Brian has extensive experience in origination, structuring, placement, closing and servicing of commercial real estate debt for life insurance companies, pension funds, banks, debt funds and loans, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, FHA and Wall Street sources.

Prior to the CB Richard Ellis acquisition of L.J. Melody in 1996, Brian served as senior vice president and Southwest Regional Manager for CB Commercial’s mortgage banking division. He began his career with Coldwell Banker Commercial in 1981 and became a senior real estate finance officer in the firm’s La Jolla, Calif., office. Brian currently serves on CBRE’s Global Operating Committee.

An active MBA member for more than 25 years, Brian has served in several leadership positions within the organization. He currently serves as 2019 Chairman of MBA’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Brian also serves on MBA’s Executive Committee as well as the Chairman of the Audit Committee and co-chair of the GSE Reform Committee. Brian previously served on the Commercial Real Estate/Multifamily Finance Board of Directors (COMBOG), and is the former Chairman of the Task Force on GSE Reform and Capital Markets Committee.

Brian is an author of numerous industry articles and a regular contributor to national and local publications. He is an experienced guest speaker, panelist and moderator for numerous organizations and industry conferences nationwide, including MBA.

He is an alumnus of San Diego State University where he received a Master of Business Administration in Finance, and California State University, Fullerton, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting with a Minor in Real Estate.

Margo Tank, Partner, DLA Piper US LLP

Margo Tank is US Co-Chair of DLA Piper’s Financial Services Sector and Co-Chair of the Financial Regulatory and Technology Group. She advises commercial enterprises, financial institutions and technology companies on the full spectrum of legal and regulatory matters related to the use of electronic signatures and records to conduct business online or via a mobile device in compliance with the federal ESIGN Act, UETA and various Uniform Commercial Code Articles enabling digital transactions, including Article 9-105. She also advises businesses on the use of smart contracts and blockchain technologies and the laws enabling money transfer, including virtual currencies and other emerging payments mechanisms. She began her legal career as counsel to the House Financial Services Committee. An early advocate for the financial services industry’s acceptance and implementation of electronic signatures, she served as counsel to the Electronic Financial Services Council and assisted the group that drafted and lobbied for the federal ESIGN Act, and is currently counsel to the Electronic Signature and Records Association, where she works to further electronic financial services policy before Congress and federal regulators. She also is counsel and co-reporter for Standards and Procedures for Electronic Records and Signatures (SPeRS).

Joe Tyrrell, President, ICE Mortgage Technology

Joe Tyrrell is President of ICE Mortgage Technology, the leading digital mortgage technology platform and a wholly owned subsidiary of Intercontinental Exchange Inc. (ICE: NYSE). ICE continues to bring efficiency and transparency to the mortgage finance industry through ICE Mortgage Technology. Through the Ellie Mae acquisition in September, the expanded platform, for the first time, will bring together all the key stakeholders, MERS, Simplifile and Ellie Mae, from origination to the final settlement under one platform. Tyrrell previously served as Chief Operating Officer of Ellie Mae prior to ICE’s acquisition. As COO, he oversaw technology, product strategy, product management and the business and corporate development efforts.

Dana T. Wade, Assistant Secretary for Housing and Federal Housing Commissioner, HUD

Dana T. Wade serves as the Assistant Secretary for Housing and Federal Housing Commissioner at HUD. Nominated for the role by President Trump and confirmed in July by the Senate, she oversees 2,500 employees in HUD’s Office of Housing and the Federal Housing Administration. Wade previously served as General Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Housing and Acting Federal Housing Commissioner from 2017-2018. Prior to returning to HUD, Wade served in a senior leadership role at the Office of Management and Budget.

Wade has broad knowledge and experience in financial and housing policy issues, having served as the Deputy Staff Director of the Senate Banking Committee and as Republican Deputy Staff Director of the Senate Committee on Appropriations. With her background, she is well-positioned to lead the work of HUD’s Office of Housing and the Federal Housing Administration. She has a keen understanding of how banking and housing policy impact the affordability of housing, taxpayer commitments, and by extension neighborhoods and communities.

Prior to her service in the Senate, Wade was the financial markets budget analyst for Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., on the House Budget Committee. She was also a policy adviser to Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., during the 2008 presidential race and has worked for the U.S. Options Clearing Corporation and Accenture. Wade graduated from Georgetown University with a B.A. in economics and earned an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Marina Walsh, CMB, Vice President, Industry Analysis, Mortgage Bankers Association

Marina Walsh, CMB, is Vice President of Industry analysis in MBA’s Research and Economics Department, specializing in industry performance benchmarking for residential lenders and servicers. Currently, she leads the management and direction for the Mortgage Bankers Performance Reports, the Servicing Operations Study and Forum, the Peer Group Survey and Roundtable Program, the Mortgage Banking Compensation Survey Program, the Weekly Forbearance and Call Volume Survey and other ad hoc surveys and policy analyses.  She is also MBA’s spokesperson for the National Delinquency Survey.  In addition, Walsh conducts specialty workshops and roundtables on a variety of current topics critical to the mortgage industry and provides program advisory support for conferences, particularly MBA’s Accounting and Financial Management Conference and its National Servicing Conference. She is an instructor for several MBA Education webinars and courses, including the Schools of Mortgage Servicing and the Future Leaders Program. Results of her work have been published in all of the major trade publications as well as national and local newspapers.  She is a frequent speaker at MBA and other industry events and conferences. 

In 2020, Walsh earned the Certified Mortgage Banker (CMB) designation, awarded to seasoned professionals seeking the ultimate recognition for professionalism and experience in residential mortgage banking.  In 2016, she was named to HousingWire’s “Women of Influence” list.  The list, which is based on nominations from the industry, highlights women who are making significant contributions to mortgage banking and real estate. Prior to joining MBA, Walsh was a manager in Ernst and Young’s Real Estate Advisory Services Group where her focus was Federal credit program design, implementation and performance measurement. She started her career in the Management Training Program, then subsequently the financial planning division, of the Port Authority of NY & NJ. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and a Master of Public Administration degree from Columbia University.

Andrew Young

Andrew J. Young has earned worldwide recognition as a pioneer in and champion of civil and human rights. His lifelong dedication to service is illustrated by his extensive leadership experience of over sixty-five years, serving as a member of Congress, African American U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mayor of Atlanta and ordained minister.

During the 1960s, Young was a key strategist and negotiator during civil rights campaigns that led to passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Appointed as an Ambassador to the United Nations in 1977, Young negotiated an end to white-minority rule in Namibia and Zimbabwe and brought President Carter’s emphasis on human rights to international diplomacy efforts. As two-term Mayor of Atlanta, he brought in more than 1,100 businesses, more than 70 billion in foreign direct investments and generated more than a million jobs.

Young has received honorary degrees from more than 100 universities and colleges in the U.S. and abroad and has received various awards, including an Emmy Lifetime Achievement award in 2011 and the Dan Sweat Award in 2017. His portrait also became part of the permanent collection of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery.

Young also serves on a number of boards, including the Martin Luther King Center for Non-Violent Social Change, Morehouse College, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State and Americas Mart. In 2003, he and his wife Carolyn McClain Young founded the Andrew J. Young Foundation to support and promote education, health, leadership and human rights in the U.S., Africa, and the Caribbean. Hecurrently serves as the Chairman of the Andrew J. Young Foundation.

In 2012, Young retired from GoodWorks International LLC, after more than a decade of facilitating sustainable economic development in the business sectors of the Caribbean and Africa. He was born in 1932 in New Orleans, and currently lives in Atlanta with his wife, Carolyn McClain. He is also a father of three daughters and one son, a grandfather of nine and a great-grandfather of one.

Renee Zabel, Vice President of Human Resources, AmeriFirst Financial Inc

Renee Zabel has more than 17 years of human resource experience with a heavy concentration of federal and state employment law compliance. She has a broad range of experience in providing guidance and leadership to senior managers in startup, growth and stable organizations. Her broad experience includes benefits, employee relations, payroll, talent acquisition and management. She has experience in various industries including financial services, aerospace and broadcast communications with an employee base population ranging from 500 employees to 50,000.

Zabel currently manages and oversees all aspects of human resources. Within this area of expertise she specializes in Compensation and Benefits, Talent Management, Change Management, Succession Planning, Organizational Development, Training/Development, Retirement Programs, Human Resource Information Systems, Diversity Programs, Health and Welfare benefits and Employee/Labor Relations. She also holds the role of 401k and Benefit Plan Administrator with complete oversight of all corporate benefit plans.