John Mechem
Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Marketing
Mortgage Bankers Association
John T. Mechem serves as the Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Marketing at the Mortgage Bankers Association. In this capacity, he provides vision, leadership, and strategic direction across all aspects of public affairs, media relations, marketing, digital engagement, publications, and brand management to advance the association’s brand identity, influence, and reputation, promote its products and services, and effectively communicate its value proposition to members and stakeholders.
Prior to joining MBA in 2006, John spent five years as Director of Communications for the American Forest & Paper Association, where he served as spokesman and oversaw public outreach for the association's forestry group. In that role, he managed both paid and earned media campaigns to advance the industry's public policy agenda and developed and executed strategies to promote the industry's "best practices", including defending the industry and members from marketplace campaigns and public relations attacks from environmental groups.
John began his career in public affairs on Capitol Hill, serving as Deputy Press Secretary for U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), managing Senator McConnell's state media outreach. In 1998, he was tapped by newly-elected Senator (and baseball Hall of Famer) Jim Bunning (R-KY) to run his press operation.
John graduated from Colby College in Waterville, ME, with a degree in Government and American Studies.