MBA Presents Kurt Pfotenhauer with Burton C. Wood Award

WASHINGTON, D.C.–The Mortgage Bankers Association presented its annual Burton C. Wood Legislative Service Award to Kurt Pfotenhauer, Vice Chairman of First American Title Insurance Co.

“Kurt has been the consummate champion of MBA’s advocacy programs and an important voice within our association,” said MBA Chairman Rodrigo Lopez, CMB, Executive Chairman of NorthMarq Capital, Omaha, Neb. “His success both as an executive at MBA and a member leader have positively positioned the industry on a variety of important issues.”

Pfotenhauer was honored for his numerous accomplishments and longstanding service on legislative and regulatory matters affecting real estate finance. He currently sits on the MBA Board of Directors; is a former MORPAC chairman, where he raised a then-MORPAC record amount for one election cycle; and previously oversaw the government affairs and regulatory affairs responsibilities with MBA.

Pfotenhauer also formerly held a senior government affairs position with United Parcel Service and was former Chief of Staff to Rep. Denny Smith, R-Ore., and Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore.

MBA presented Pfotenhauer with the award at its National Advocacy Conference in Washington, DC. The award is given annually to an MBA member employee in recognition of his or her sustained superior service to the association and the real estate finance industry as a whole.

The award is named after late MBA Legislative Counsel Burton C. Wood, who devoted more than 30 years of service to MBA’s advocacy efforts. Mr. Wood passed away in 2010. Wood was the first recipient of the award in 1990; his lobbying skills gained the respect and attention of both Republicans and Democrats alike.