Turn It Up in Music City at MBAAnnual22
The Mortgage Bankers Association is excited to bring MBAAnnual22 to the Music City Center in Nashville.
“We are thrilled to use this location to host our flagship event,” said MBA Chief Operating Officer Marcia Davies. “It’s a great city with great energy and we think it will be a great spot for MBA members to convene in person.”
Davies said MBA members can expect new ways to connect and network in the convention center. “We made it easy for attendees to go to breakout sessions and to see everything going on in the exhibit hall. There are a lot of activation stations and meeting spots so they can collaborate and connect,” she said.
Annual22 presents many opportunities for MBA members to get the latest information, be entertained, stay connected with old and new colleagues and friends and meet conference exhibitors and sponsors.
MBA Vice President of Conferences and Meetings Elaine Howard said Nashville is among several U.S. cities that have worked hard to develop themselves into first-class convention destination cities with great convention centers and the kind of restaurants, night life and amenities necessary to attract an organization like MBA.
“We went to Austin in 2019; Austin is growing to be a great convention city,” Howard said. “Nashville is the other one on our radar. It has a ton of entertainment; you can’t walk down Broadway without hearing music from every venue. Nashville truly has something for everybody.”
Nashville attractions include the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum, the Johnny Cash Museum, the Grand Ole Opry and RCA’s Studio B, where Elvis, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson and dozens of other stars recorded their hits. “We are seeing many people who plan to arrive early to do some exploring before the conference,” Howard said. “There is an attraction to this city, perhaps because not everybody has been to Nashville, so many are taking some personal time to enjoy the city. Plus, access to Nashville is very easy from nearly everywhere in the U.S.”
The convention opens Sunday with a market outlook from MBA Chief Economist Mike Fratantoni, Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist Joel Kan and Vice President Marina Walsh, CMB, followed by a big reception in The Hub that evening. On Monday, MBA leadership discusses the Association’s priorities and accomplishments. General sessions include the political landscape when RealClearPolitics Editor A.B. Stoddard will interview former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan. On the regulatory front, MBA 2023 Chairman-Elect Mark Jones interviews FHA Commissioner Julia Gordon, Ginnie Mae President Alana McCargo and Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Sandra Thompson to hear what’s going on with FHA, Ginnie Mae and the GSEs.”
“Coach K,” former Duke University basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, will open Tuesday morning, sitting down with 2023 MBA Chairman Matt Rocco to discuss his keys to success, including motivational techniques, leadership skills, teamwork strategies and the impact of trust and communication. Then former TIAA President and CEO and former Vice Chairman of the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors Roger Ferguson will share his insight on the economy in uncertain times, identifying three recent crises–health, social justice and economic–and how they intertwine.
“I am honored to take the stage with Rita Moreno, who has won four of the most prestigious awards in show business: an Oscar, a Tony, two Emmys and a Grammy,” Davies said. “This will be the first year mPower has a general session spot, so the best way to make that count is to bring in a big name and Rita Moreno is an inspiration. She has so many stories to tell, I hope we can get them all in within an hour.”
It would not be Nashville without good music, so on Tuesday night multi-platinum album seller and Grammy-award winning country music star Darius Rucker–former lead singer of Hootie and the Blowfish–will rock the house for ConcertMBA. The concert will benefit the MBA Opens Doors Foundation, dedicated to providing the comforts of home to families in crisis. Through the foundation’s home grant program, MBA provides mortgage and rental payment assistance grants to parents and guardians caring for a critically ill or injured child, allowing them to take unpaid leave from work and spend precious time together without jeopardizing their cherished homes.
MBA will also host a special mPowering You Summit for Women in Real Estate Finance on Saturday. (Note: separate registration is required for the mPowering You summit.) “Women are coming out in force and mPowering You continues to grow,” Davies said. “Our goal is talk about opportunities and challenges women face. We will have speakers to discuss trends regarding women in the workplace, how to ‘own the room’ and how to use your voice. They will share tips to ensure you can go into situations confidently, use your presence to the best of your ability and get out of your own way.”
Saturday’s mPowering You summit will also include an Industry Leadership Panel hosted by Lennar Mortgage President and 2023 MBA Vice Chair Laura Escobar. Four senior mortgage industry leaders will discuss their lessons learned and share real-life stories about their journey. The summit will wrap up with two-time Olympic gold medalist and FIFA World Cup Champion Abby Wambach speaking about her work to support women not only in professional soccer but as an advocate for all women.
“Come a day early for the mPowering You summit and be part of the fun,” Davies said.
