
Opening General Session: The Forces Impacting Today’s Economy
Finance industry leader Gary Cohn brings an insider’s perspective on the global economy, financial markets, and the policymaking process in a candid conversation with MBA’s Chair-Elect Owen Lee. Drawing on his experience as President and COO of Goldman Sachs and Director of the White House National Economic Council, Cohn offers direct insights on the outlook for the Federal Reserve, monetary and fiscal policy, and the forces shaping markets ahead. The session opens with MBA President and CEO Bob Broeksmit delivering a timely update on the industry’s regulatory and legislative landscape. Sponsored by Freedom Mortgage.
Speakers
Welcome
Robert Broeksmit, CMB President & Chief Executive Officer, Mortgage Bankers Association External key 10277 (202) 5572701 [email protected] Robert D. Broeksmit, CMB, is MBA’s President and Chief Executive Officer. He is a senior finance executive and corporate officer with over 35 years of experience in the mortgage sector. He has directed all aspects of lending activities, including marketing, sales, operations, secondary marketing, loan servicing, and default management. He has also served as a mortgage underwriting expert testifying on many large, high-profile cases. Prior to joining MBA, Broeksmit served as President and Chief Operating Officer with Treliant, heading the firm’s mortgage litigation support practice. He previously held senior leadership positions in the mortgage business, including 14 years with Chevy Chase Bank (including after its purchase by Capital One) and 7 years as Vice President at Prudential Home Mortgage. He has overseen annual originations of $9 billion, a balance sheet of $10 billion in residential mortgage, and a servicing portfolio of $20 billion. He is past Chairman of MBA’s Residential Board of Governors and a member of its Board of Directors.
Introductions
Richard Jordan joined Freedom Mortgage in June 2016 as a Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer. He currently leads Freedom Mortgage’s efforts and activities in Housing Policy, Government Affairs & Agency Relations. He reports directly to the founder and CEO, Stanley C. Middleman. Rich has more than 35 years of industry experience. He is currently a member of the NJ & NY MBA Board of Directors, is on the MBA’s Independent Mortgage Bankers Executive Committee, is a member of the Housing Policy Council Advisory Committee and is a member of NYU’s Furman Institute Advisory Board. Before joining Freedom Mortgage, Rich was a Managing Director in the Mortgage Banking Division of JPMorgan Chase (2001-2016). During his tenure at JPMorgan (1989-2016), he had various Banking related responsibilities. Prior to that (1981-1989), he was the Controller for Irving Securities, a primary dealer in government securities.
Moderator
Owen Lee is the 2026 MBA Chair-Elect and Chief Executive Officer at Success Mortgage Partners, Inc., (SMP). He co-founded the company with his father, Vincent, in 2002. Under his leadership, SMP has closed billions of dollars of mortgage loans yearly since 2016, is licensed in 42 states, and has more than 600 employees. Lee is also a Managing Member of Title Partners, LLC, a full-service title insurance and escrow services agency. An active leader in the mortgage and financial services sectors, Lee serves on MBA’s Board of Directors, is Co-Chair of its Independent Mortgage Bankers Executive Council, and is currently the 2023-2024 Chairman of MORPAC, MBA’s political action committee, where he has been a successful political fundraiser, helping to advance the association’s top legislative priorities.
Featured Speakers
Gary D. Cohn, a business leader, investor, and the former director of the U.S. National Economic Council, is an internationally recognized expert on the financial markets, global economy and economic policy. He is the Vice Chairman of IBM, working in partnership with IBM’s Executive Leadership Team. Mr. Cohn served as Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and Director of the National Economic Council from 2017-2018, where he managed the administration’s economic policy agenda and led the successful effort to grow the U.S. economy, create jobs and increase wages through tax and regulatory reform. Before serving in the White House, Cohn was President and Chief Operating Officer of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. from 2006-2016, after holding several other leadership roles with the company since 1990. Cohn began his career at U.S. Steel before moving to New York to trade on the New York Commodities Exchange from 1982-1990. He is Lead Independent Director of the Apollo Board of Directors, Chairman of Pallas Advisors, Vice Chair of Zinnia, and serves on many other private corporate boards. Additionally, he is a member of the Systemic Resolution Advisory Committee of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Mr. Cohn has long been dedicated to advancing healthcare and education and serves on several related boards. After growing up in Shaker Heights, Ohio, Mr. Cohn received his undergraduate degree from American University in 1982 and moved to New York City.