MBA NewsLink Q&A With New MISMO President Brian Vieaux, CMB

MBA NewsLink recently interviewed MISMO’s new president, Brian Vieaux, CMB, about his background and his goals for the mortgage standards-development organization.

MBA NewsLink: What are your top priorities as president of MISMO?

Brian Vieaux: My top priorities are threefold: adoption, awareness and alignment.

MISMO’s standards are already embedded in much of our industry’s infrastructure, but adoption and active engagement are key to unlocking their full potential. I want to expand participation beyond the usual suspects, bringing in wider representation, including small and mid-size IMBs, fintechs, and service providers who stand to benefit from interoperability and data certainty.

We’re also focused on building broader awareness of how MISMO standards enable speed, efficiency, and innovation, from origination to servicing to secondary markets. Finally, alignment is critical. That means strengthening ties with state and federal regulators, trade associations, and adjacent technology ecosystems to make sure MISMO’s work reflects and supports the realities of lenders on the ground.

Serving on the Michigan Mortgage Lenders Association Board continually reminds me of the power of local engagement, and that’s directly influencing how I approach national collaboration at MISMO. A great example is the joint initiative between MISMO and the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) to develop the Mortgage Compliance Dataset (MCD). This project brings together state regulators, IMB compliance teams and technology providers to build a standardized dataset that can streamline examinations and reduce redundancy across jurisdictions.

It’s a model of true cross-industry collaboration, regulators and industry experts sitting at the same table, aligning definitions and data fields, and solving problems together rather than in isolation. The MCD workstream is proving what’s possible when policy intent and operational reality meet in a structured, standards-based environment. That’s exactly the type of impact MISMO can deliver when it serves as the neutral ground where innovation and oversight intersect.

MBA NewsLink: Tell us the process that brought you to lead MISMO.

Brian Vieaux: It’s been a journey built on collaboration & relationships. I’ve been deeply involved with MBA throughout my career, first as a lender, then as a technology executive leading FinLocker. Along the way I have had a solid understanding of MISMO.  While at Flagstar, through some significant technology initiatives, I saw firsthand how data standards can either empower or constrain innovation.

When the opportunity arose, it felt like a natural next step, a chance to take my passion for modernizing mortgage operations and channel it into something that benefits the entire ecosystem. MISMO’s mission aligns perfectly with what has driven me for 30+ years: helping lenders and consumers connect through transparency, trust, and technology.

MBA NewsLink: You recently attended your first MBA Annual conference as MISMO’s new President. How did that go? Did anything surprise you?

Brian Vieaux: It was an incredible experience, welcoming, energizing, humbling and inspiring all at once. The biggest surprise wasn’t about technology or regulation; it was the human element. The level of genuine enthusiasm for MISMO’s work, from executives, tech leaders, agencies and regulators, reaffirmed that people want to collaborate on data standards that make our industry stronger.

It also reinforced how ready the market is for action. Conversations around AI, automation and compliance all point back to one thing: the need for trusted, interoperable data. MISMO sits right at the intersection of those priorities.

MBA NewsLink: How did you get your start in the mortgage industry?

Brian Vieaux: Like many of us, by accident, and I never left. My first job out of college was with a Michigan company, Source One Mortgage Services Corp. I started as what we today define as a Loan Officer Assistant. With the benefit of time, I now realize that I was a human CRM.  My first tasks involved calling current homeowners with a mortgage and asking a simple question: “If you could lower your rate and save “X” in your payment would you be interested in a refinance?” Rates were near 10% at the time and rapidly falling. I was ‘fast-tracked’ into leadership as our team grew by 10x in 90 days. I found myself drawn in because it connected business strategy with personal impact. Helping people achieve homeownership was rewarding, but I was equally fascinated by the systems, data, and workflows that made it all happen.

That curiosity turned into a 35+ year career spanning production, operations, and technology, from leading TPO Lending at Flagstar Bank to building FinLocker’s digital platform, and now to serving as MISMO’s President.

MBA NewsLink: Tell us more about the upcoming MISMO Winter Summit.

Brian Vieaux: The MISMO Winter Summit, Jan. 12–15 in Amelia Island, Florida, will be a pivotal gathering for anyone focused on data, innovation and interoperability. We’re hosting a special Mortgage Compliance Dataset (MCD) workshop in partnership with CSBS, where regulators and industry experts will continue co-developing a standardized framework to simplify mortgage examinations.

MISMO is the industry’s central hub for collaboration. Our Summits bring together lenders, servicers, regulators, insuring and guaranteeing agencies, GSEs and technology providers to exchange ideas and drive progress.

At the MISMO Winter Summit, these diverse stakeholders will work side by side to learn, share insights, and develop the standards that power the mortgage industry’s digital future.

It’s an event for anyone who wants to build, not just talk, about the future of mortgage operations. The energy at these summits is unmatched because the work that starts there often becomes industry standard.

MBA NewsLink: You’re on the Board of the Michigan Mortgage Lenders Association. Any thoughts about how your experience with the MMLA will help you in this role?

Brian Vieaux: Absolutely. The MMLA embodies what makes our industry strong, grassroots engagement, education, and community. Serving on that board reminds me that the most meaningful innovation starts locally, with practitioners solving real problems for borrowers.

That perspective will guide how I lead MISMO. Data standards may be technical, but their impact is human. Listening to local and regional voices ensures MISMO’s work serves the full spectrum of lenders, not just the largest institutions.

MBA NewsLink: You and Kyle Draper published a book, Rethink Everything You “Know” About Being a Next Gen Loan Officer. What did you learn from that?

Brian Vieaux: That transformation in this industry starts with mindset. The book’s central message is about showing up differently, blending empathy, education, and technology to meet consumers earlier and more authentically in their homeownership journey.

Publishing it reinforced something I’ve always believed: innovation isn’t just about tools, it’s about people. The same applies to data standards, they’re only powerful when humans adopt, trust, and apply them to create value.

MBA NewsLink: Any fond memories of a prior MBA or MISMO conference?

Brian Vieaux: Plenty, but one that stands out was my first MISMO Summit years ago. I remember walking into a breakout session and realizing that this wasn’t just another conference; it was a working community. People weren’t just discussing problems; they were writing solutions. That spirit of collaboration is what drew me to MISMO in the first place, and it’s still what makes these events so impactful.

MBA NewsLink: You earned your CMB designation in 2005. Any takeaways from that process?

Brian Vieaux: Earning the CMB was one of the most formative experiences of my career. It deepened my understanding of the entire mortgage ecosystem, from secondary markets to servicing, and gave me a lifelong network of peers and mentors.

The biggest takeaway? Lifelong learning is essential. The mortgage industry never stops evolving, and the CMB process reinforced the importance of curiosity, adaptability, and continuous professional development, qualities that also define MISMO’s mission.