GENERAL SESSION: The Intersection of Tech and Secondary Markets

2026 MBA Vice Chairman; Vice Chairman, ICE Mortgage Technology

John Hedlund is the 2026 MBA Vice Chairman and Vice Chairman of ICE Mortgage Technology. Hedlund is an experienced, entrepreneurial, business leader specializing in strategic design, effective application of technology integration, execution, and leadership of large, diverse financial services organizations. A prominent MBA voice and industry volunteer over the years, Hedlund has served as a board member for several organizations, including as a member of MBA’s Board of Directors, Board Chairman of MISMO, Chairman of MBA’s Residential Board of Governors (RESBOG), Board Member and past Chairman of the California Mortgage Bankers Association, and Advisory Board Member for Automated Mortgage Systems, Inc., and FundingShield, LLC. Hedlund has served in senior leadership positions in the mortgage divisions at several large financial institutions during his career. He also co-founded and served as Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer at AmeriHome Mortgage Company, where under his leadership, AmeriHome quickly grew to become the second-largest correspondent lender in the country. He helped lead the company’s sale to Western Alliance Bank in 2021, where he was a member of the leadership and executive team until 2024. He also founded and led Adanac Advisors Group, a boutique advisory and consulting firm. Hedlund holds a Masters of Business Administration from Dalhousie University and Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, Economic, and Marketing from Simon Fraser University.

Chief Executive Officer, Better Mortgage

Vishal Garg is the Founder and CEO of Better.com, the leading AI-native mortgage platform. The company’s proprietary Tinman® AI Platform automates 70% of the mortgage process, drastically reducing costs and approval times, while innovations like the Betsy™, the first voice-based AI Loan Assistant, and fully digital Home Equity Lending offerings, including One Day HELOC, further enhance the customer experience. To date, under Vishal’s leadership, Better.com has provided over $110BN in home financing and provided over $35BN in cumulative homeowners and title insurance coverage through Better Cover and Better Settlement Services, the insurance divisions of Better.com. Prior to founding Better.com, Vishal was the Founder of 1/0 Capital, an early-stage investment firm focused on investments in fintech, data science and consumer products companies. Prominent seed stage investments include Paribus, Ramp, Trumid, Creditas, Climb Credit, Notable, among many others. In addition, Vishal previously co-founded MyRichUncle.com, the first online student lender, which he started in 1999 at the age of 21 and built into the fourth largest publicly traded private student loan company in the US. Prior to MyRichUncle, Vishal was an investment banking analyst at Morgan Stanley and Co. Vishal has received numerous awards, including E and Y Entrepreneur of the Year, Housing Wire’s Most Influential Mortgage Executive, and the Golden Pegleg Award for Outstanding Alumni from Stuyvesant High School. He also was named one of Inman’s 2025 Best of Finance Award winners for the second consecutive year. Originally from India, Vishal is a lifelong New Yorker. He grew up in Queens, NY, and graduated from Stuyvesant High School and NYU.

Managing Partner and Co-CEO, Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions

Steven Schwalb is Managing Partner and Co-CEO of Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions, where he leads the development and oversight of the firm’s origination platform and drives strategic growth initiatives across the residential mortgage market. Mr. Schwalb co-founded Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions, a leading non-agency wholesale and correspondent mortgage lender. He also co-founded Angel Oak Home Loans, a residential agency and non-agency retail and correspondent lender, which was later consolidated into Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions. Building on that platform, he has led the expansion of a direct-to-consumer retail business within Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions, further diversifying the company’s distribution strategy. With more than 30 years of experience in residential lending, Mr. Schwalb brings deep expertise across capital markets, credit, and operations. Prior to co-founding Angel Oak, he served as Senior Vice President of Capital Markets at SouthStar Funding, where he was responsible for product development, risk management, operations, and investor relations. Mr. Schwalb holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a Master of Business Administration from Louisiana State University.

Chief Executive Officer, Absolute Home Mortgage Corp.

Matthew VanFossen is the CEO of the Absolute Home Mortgage Corporation, a mid-size Independent Mortgage Banker located in Fairfield, NJ, and Mortgage Automation Technologies, a financial technology provider specializing in consumer mortgage technology. Matthew has been a driving force in the mortgage industry and is a respected figure in the community. Additionally, he serves as the president of the New Jersey Mortgage Bankers Association. VanFossen's passion for innovation and the industry is evidenced by his numerous industry achievements. He has been named a "Top Mortgage Professional Under 40" by National Mortgage News and has been featured in publications such as Forbes, Scotsman Guide, and HousingWire.