CREF Policy Update: Mortgage Industry Veteran John Hedlund Nominated to Be 2026 MBA Vice Chairman
Mortgage Industry Veteran John Hedlund Nominated to Be 2026 MBA Vice Chairman
MBA on Tuesday announced that John Hedlund, a decadeslong MBA and industry leader and current Vice Chairman of ICE Mortgage Technology, has been nominated to serve as MBA’s Vice Chairman for the 2026 membership year.
What they’re saying: “John Hedlund brings an impressive combination of decades of leadership as a lender, a devotion to the mortgage industry and MBA engagement, and significant entrepreneurial success to our leadership ladder,” said Laura Escobar, 2025 MBA Chair and President of Lennar Mortgage. “Our members will benefit greatly from John’s decisive leadership, his proven track record during his career to innovate and adapt to all market conditions, and his admirable passion to push for a better future for real estate finance professionals, homeowners, and renters.”
What’s next: Hedlund will be installed as Vice Chairman at MBA’s 112th Annual Convention and Expo in Las Vegas this October. Per MBA’s bylaws, after serving a year as Vice Chairman, Hedlund is expected to be Chairman-Elect in the 2027 membership year, before ascending to be the Association’s Chairman in 2028.
REGISTER: Aug. 21 Town Hall with MBA Leadership
On Thursday, Aug. 21, at 3:30 p.m. ET, MBA’s President and CEO Bob Broeksmit, CMB, and other MBA leaders engaged on policy issues, will host another virtual MBA Town Hall on the latest developments in the single-family and commercial/multifamily arenas under the Trump administration and 119th Congress.
Register here. Attendees can send questions beforehand to townhall@mba.org.
Why it matters: MBA continues to monitor ongoing developments at the federal agencies and is engaging with the Trump administration and Congress to promote activities and priorities that advance investment and growth in real estate markets.
For more information, please contact Bill Killmer at (202) 557-2736 or Jamie Woodwell at (202) 557-2936.
80+ Young Professionals Attend mPact Summit
MBA last week in D.C. held its 2025 mPact Summit for young professionals, bringing together emerging leaders from residential and commercial real estate for a high-energy day of learning, networking, and growth.
Go deeper: More than 80 attendees participated in:
• Expert-led panels on market trends, innovation, and career development;
• Interactive networking activities like “Common Threads” and “Networking Bingo”; and,
• Hands-on workshops offering tools for professional success.
Why it matters: The mPact Summit serves as a powerful platform for young professionals in residential and commercial real estate to build the skills, relationships, and confidence they need to succeed in a rapidly evolving industry.
What’s next: Contact Jacky Salazar at jsalazar@mba.org to get added to the roster to receive information on next year’s mPact Summit.
Private Credit Finance Council to Host “Perspectives from the Field” on Aug. 27
MBA’s Private Credit Finance Council will host a virtual session on Tuesday, Aug. 27 at 1:00 p.m. ET, focused on foundational trends and developments in the private credit market.
• The session will provide insights for all levels of experience, from early-career professionals to senior-level experts, and will explore the fundamentals of direct lending, private credit funds, and the broader non-bank lending landscape.
• Council leadership and guest speakers will offer perspectives on how the private credit space is responding to market shifts, regulatory updates, and investor demand.
Why it matters: The Private Credit Finance Council brings together professionals active in the direct lending and private capital markets, creating a valuable forum to learn, share insights, and stay connected to emerging trends.
What’s next: Visit the Councils & Committees page to learn more and get involved.
For questions or more information, please contact Tonya Wright at (202) 557 -2846.
Upcoming MBA CREF Councils and Committee Meetings
MBA’s CREF Councils and Committees are a key way to connect to everything MBA has to offer around policy, advocacy, market intelligence and research, education, and networking. Councils and Committees are built around specific capital sources and serve as an opportunity for you to join other commercial real estate finance professionals to hear from experts, discuss opportunities and challenges, and connect with peers.
Upcoming virtual meetings include:
• Private Credit Council: Aug. 21
• Commercial Council: Aug. 26
• FHA Committee: Sept. 9
• Life Company Council: Sept. 16
• Servicer Council: Sept. 18
• Bank Council: Sept. 24
• Structured Finance Council: Nov. 5
For more information, click on the links above and/or contact Kelli Burke at (202) 557- 2742.
Upcoming MBA Education Webinars on Critical Industry Issues
MBA Education continues to deliver timely commercial/multifamily and single-family programming that covers the spectrum of challenges, obstacles and solutions pertaining to our industry. Below, please see a list of upcoming and recent webinars – all complimentary to MBA members:
• Using Ordinance and Law Insurance to Protect Your Property and Business Recovery – Aug. 27
• Trends in Commercial Non-Bank Lending: Evolving Strategies & Creating Operational Advantages – Sept. 9
• Multifamily Lending for Shared Equity Homeownership: How Companies Can Expand Their Community Impact – Sept. 10
• Leveraging Inspection Networks: Ensuring Compliance Across Large, Geographically Disparate Portfolios – September 17
• Fundamentals of Commercial Insurance Issues and Problems – Sept. 18
• Managing the Property Tax Burden for CRE Loans – Sept. 23
MBA members can register for any of the above events and view recent webinar recordings by clicking here.
For more information, please contact David Upbin at (202) 557-2931.
