CREF Policy Update: Jeff Weidell, CMB, of Northmarq Nominated to Be 2027 MBA Vice Chairman

June 16, 2026

Jeff Weidell, CMB, of Northmarq Nominated to Be 2027 MBA Vice Chairman

MBA last Wednesday announced that Jeff Weidell, CMB, CEO of Northmarq, has been nominated to serve as MBA’s Vice Chairman for the 2027 membership year.

Weidell currently serves on MBA’s Board of Directors and is the 2025-2026 MORPAC Commercial/Multifamily Vice Chair, leading MBA’s political action committee outreach to its commercial/multifamily membership and pursuing new opportunities for MBA’s newest political giving program, MORPAC Direct, including efforts to recruit new major donors. Weidell was honored with the 2025 Schumacher-Bolduc Award, presented by MORPAC, in recognition of his outstanding leadership and dedication to advancing the industry’s advocacy initiatives.
He previously served as 2024 Chair of MBA’s Commercial/Multifamily Board of Governors (COMBOG), where he consistently and successfully advocated for the association’s top regulatory and legislative priorities, including testifying as an industry witness on MBA’s behalf in May 2024 before the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability’s Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services. Weidell has also led outreach for MBA-sponsored conferences, including the tailored “CREF track” at the MBA’s National Advocacy Conference (NAC), the Commercial/Multifamily Finance Convention and Expo, and the Chairman’s Conference.
Weidell assumed the role of Northmarq CEO in 2020 after serving as President for eight years. Under his leadership, Northmarq’s loan servicing business has grown significantly, delivering customized, industry-leading solutions to clients. Earlier in his career, Weidell was a successful mortgage banker, beginning at Trowbridge, Kieselhorst & Company, where he became Managing Director of the San Francisco office. He earned a B.A. in Economics from Columbia University and an M.B.A. from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and also holds the prestigious Certified Mortgage Banker (CMB) designation.

What they’re saying: “Jeff Weidell’s executive leadership in both residential and commercial real estate finance, his strong record of industry advocacy, and his longstanding commitment to MBA and its members make him an outstanding choice to join MBA’s leadership ladder,” said Christine Chandler, 2026 MBA Chair and Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, M&T Realty Capital Corporation. “Throughout his career, Jeff has demonstrated an ability to lead through changing market conditions, drive innovation, and deliver results. MBA and its members will benefit greatly from his collaborative approach, strategic vision, and commitment to advancing opportunities for real estate finance professionals, property owners, renters, and the communities we serve.”

What’s next: Weidell will be installed as Vice Chairman at MBA’s 113th Annual Convention and Expo in Chicago this October. Per MBA’s bylaws, after serving a year as Vice Chairman, Weidell is expected to be Chairman-Elect in the 2028 membership year, before ascending to be the Association’s Chairman in 2029.

Brian Johnson Nominated to Lead CFPB

Last Wednesday, President Donald Trump nominated Brian Johnson to serve as Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Johnson, currently a senior executive at Capital One, previously served as CFPB Deputy Director during President Trump’s first term.

Johnson also brings experience from across the government and the private sector, including serving as policy director and chief financial institutions counsel for the House Financial Services Committee, and advising financial institutions on consumer finance regulatory matters in private practice.

Why it matters: Johnson’s nomination signals the Administration’s continued focus on regulatory reform and reducing compliance burdens across the financial services sector, including mortgage lending. If confirmed, he would oversee the Bureau’s rulemaking, supervision, and enforcement activities – including those related to HMDA and 1071 small business loan reporting.

What they’re saying: In a press statement, MBA President and CEO Bob Broeksmit, CMB, said, “The CFPB is an important partner to our industry, and we will continue to work together to advance reforms that lower costs, reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens, and improve access to sustainable homeownership opportunities.”

What’s next: Johnson’s nomination now goes to the Senate for consideration. A confirmation hearing is expected later this summer before the Senate votes on his nomination.

For more information, please contact George Rogers at (202) 557-2797, Jeremy Green at (202) 557-2849, Brendan Kelleher at (202) 557-2779, or Megan Booth at (202) 557-2740.

Recapping Successful MBA Chairman’s Conference in Maine

MBA last week held its annual Chairman’s Conference at Cliff House in Cape Neddick, Maine. The sold-out event brought together senior leaders from across the commercial/multifamily and residential mortgage sectors for timely discussions and networking. The meeting included a series of discussions highlighting the latest on the market outlook, artificial intelligence, executive perspectives, the changing shape of the CREF industry.

MBA’s Commercial Board of Governors (COMBOG), Residential Board of Governors (RESBOG), and Board of Directors all met, and there was a reception for MBA’s MORPAC and a wine auction for the Opens Doors Foundation.
2026 MBA Chair Christine Chandler kicked off the conference, highlighting MBA’s advocacy work and the need to lift the next generation of leaders. Speaking about the conference location, she shared, “I chose Maine for its picturesque and rugged coastline. It’s the perfect backdrop for this select group of leaders from across our industry to come together in common purpose.”
In summarizing MBA’s advocacy around issues such as the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act and the Basel III bank capital re-proposal, MBA CEO Bob Broeksmit, CMB, noted, “In summary, we are making inroads across the regulatory and legislative landscapes, and the coming months are crucial, so your leadership and engagement will be extremely important.”

Go deeper: MBA SVP and Chief Economist Mike Fratantoni and Rich Hill (Principal Asset Management Senior Managing Director – Global Head of Real Estate Research & Strategy) dug into current market conditions – including the current “K-shaped economy” and CRE markets, and the flood of capital in the market.

Former Head of Go-To-Market at OpenAI Zack Kass led a discussion – which was comforting at some points and challenging at others – on the societal implications of the growth of AI. That was followed by a conversation about CREF-specific approaches to, and impacts of, AI. Damu Bashyam (Executive Vice President and Chief Information & Innovation Officer, Berkadia) and Brad Mascho (Chief Digital Officer, BWE) kicked off what quickly became a group discussion among senior leaders about how they are empowering individual team members while also building an enterprise-wide approach.

Greg Michaud (Managing Director & Head of Real Estate Finance, Voya Investment Management) and Jeff Weidell dug into the growing “open architecture” of the CRE finance industry and led the assembled leaders in a discussion of what’s in store for different types of firms.
Quentin Fogan (Managing Director, Head of CMBS Origination, Bank of America) and Gene Lugat (Executive Vice President, PrimeLending) shared perspectives on how the trends behind today’s headlines are shaping the real estate finance business, with areas of similarity and difference between the residential and commercial markets.

What’s next: MBA has upcoming calls for its CREF Councils (see further down in this email for list of dates and ways to get involved). MBA will next convene senior leaders from across CRE member firms at its Cross Capital Source Senior Executive Roundtable in New Orleans on September 3.

For more information, please contact Kelli Burke at (202) 557-2742.

MBA Responds to FEMA Review Council Final Report

Last Monday, MBA submitted a comment letter in response to FEMA’s Review Council Final Report, supporting efforts to improve disaster response while raising significant concerns with recommendations that could disrupt borrower protections and housing finance markets.

Why it matters: MBA cautioned that decentralizing disaster and flood insurance frameworks could complicate mortgage servicing operations, disrupt secondary market confidence, and weaken the uniform standards relied upon by lenders and regulators. MBA made several recommendations related to commercial properties and the NFIP, including a long-term reauthorization of the program and urging FEMA to:

support removing the mandatory purchase requirements for commercial properties;
increase the coverage levels for commercial properties; and,
resist any changes that could undermine the stability of affordable multifamily properties.

What’s next: MBA will continue to engage with FEMA and policymakers to advocate for a balanced approach that preserves a strong federal role, maintains national consistency, and promotes long-term stability for borrowers, housing providers, and the real estate finance system.

For more information, please contact Megan Booth at (202) 557-2740 or Sara Singhas at (202) 557-2826.

HUD Changes Control Over Noise Issues

On Thursday, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published a notice to provide individual program offices the authority to issue approvals related to projects in unacceptable noise zones. Previously this was concentrated in the Office of Community Planning and Development.

Why it matters: The locations of FHA multifamily properties in urban areas or near mass transit are considered benefits to residents. However, these same properties were often penalized due to the noise these conveniences may cause. Giving the multifamily office more control over this issue will allow them to focus on the marketability of a property, as it relates to proximity to noise, rather than an objective measure.

What’s next: MBA will continue to advocate for flexibilities in FHA programs to help them meet the needs of the market.

For more information, please contact Megan Booth at (202) 557-2740.

Upcoming MBA CREF Council 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. Visit www.mba.org/yourCREF to find out more. 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:

For more information, click on the links above and/or contact Kelli Burke at (202) 557- 2742.

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