Structured Coffee Talk: Association Management and Organization

Monday, April 13, 2026 1:45 PM-2:45 PM River Birch Ballroom, Meeting Room Level
Special Session
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Explore how peer associations are tackling similar organizational challenges with solutions that are anything but one-size-fits-all. In this moderated, highly interactive session, participants will break out to discuss their approaches to board, membership, and committee structure and management, and leave with a menu of adaptable ideas to tailor to their association, rather than a single prescribed model.

Speakers

Moderator

  • Photo of Jennifer Colwell
    Jennifer Colwell

    Executive Director, MBA of Metropolitan Washington and Maryland Mortgage Bankers and Brokers Association, Senior Manager, RMK Productions

    Jennifer Colwell is a Senior Manager at RMK Productions, an association management firm specializing in association management and events. She oversees daily operations, programs, and strategic initiatives for several associations. Colwell serves as Executive Director of the Mortgage Bankers Association of Metropolitan Washington and manages the Maryland Mortgage Bankers and Brokers Association, where she works closely with industry leaders to advance member engagement, education, and networking opportunities.

  • Photo of Michelle Mendez
    Michelle Mendez

    President of the Mortgage Bankers Association of Central Florida, Account Manager at Arch Mortgage Insurance Company

    Michelle Mendez is an Account Manager at Arch Mortgage Insurance Company, where she partners with IMBs across Florida to support growth, strengthen operational alignment, and deliver strategic insight across origination, underwriting, and capital markets. Known for her strong understanding of market dynamics and emerging industry trends, she helps clients turn complexity into practical, results-driven strategies. She also serves as the 2025–2026 President of the Mortgage Bankers Association of Central Florida, where she leads initiatives focused on member engagement, professional development, and industry advocacy. Michelle is especially passionate about leveraging technology, AI, and modern communication strategies to enhance how associations engage, educate, and grow.

  • Photo of Joanne K. Misuraca
    Joanne K. Misuraca

    Chief Executive Officer, Michigan Mortgage Lenders Association, Co-Chair, State Relations Committee

    Joanne Misuraca joined the Michigan Mortgage Lenders Association (MMLA) in November 1997. She was hired as the first full-time administrative employee in the association’s history. Since joining the MMLA, Misuraca has helped the Association develop and implement a strategic plan which included a name change from the Mortgage Bankers Association of Michigan to the current Michigan Mortgage Lenders Association, and a board restructuring that reshaped the three local chapter groups. As CEO of the MMLA, Joanne handles all the daily operations of the Association’s administrative office and works directly with the volunteers board and committees. She was awarded the Marianne Collins Award from the MBA in 2021 and currently serves as co-chair of the MBA's State Relations Committee.

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