MBA Opening Ceremony: Installation of 2024 Officers, CMB & Future Leaders Graduations & Awards
The Opening Ceremony honors leadership in the industry with the installation of MBA’s 2024 officers, the graduation ceremony for this year’s Certified Mortgage Banker (CMB) and Future Leaders classes, and several prestigious awards, including the Chairman’s Award and the DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) Leadership Awards.
Speakers
Welcome
Featured Speakers
Mark Jones is the 2024 MBA Chairman and President of Union Home Mortgage. Mark co-founded Amerifirst Home Mortgage in 1983, a company he grew from an individual location in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to over 80 full-service locations and 900 personnel nationwide. In January 2023, Amerifirst merged with Union Home Mortgage to form a top 40 national mortgage lender, where Mark now serves as President. Prior to the merger, Amerifirst was the No. 1 USDA lender and the No. 3 FHA lender in Michigan, and the No. 13 FHA lender in Florida. Amerifirst was also a Ginnie Mae issuer and serviced in-house a $6 billion loan portfolio. Amerifirst ranked as a Best and Brightest Company to Work for in the Nation for five consecutive years (2016-2020) and was named one of the top 50 Best Mortgage Companies to Work For in 2021. In 2016 Mark received the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award for Michigan and Northwest Ohio. In addition to his service as MBA’s Chairman-Elect, Mark currently serves as Chairman of MBA’s DEI Advisory Committee. He previously served as co-chair of MBA’s Independent Mortgage Bankers Executive Council. Mark also serves as board member and Public Policy Committee Chair at Southwest Michigan First and serves as Chair of Southwest Michigan First PAC.
Matt Rocco is the MBA 2023 Chairman and President of Colliers Mortgage. Matt is a Board Member of MBA's Commercial Real Estate/Multifamily Finance Board of Governors (COMBOG), Residential Board of Governors (RESBOG) and MBA Opens Doors Foundation. At Colliers Mortgage, he works with the team to build its business across the country and expand upon Colliers comprehensive capital markets services and solutions. Prior to joining Colliers Mortgage, Matt was Chairman and CEO of Grandbridge Real Estate Capital, a subsidiary of Truist Bank. Matt’s leadership responsibilities included Grandbridge’s overall corporate strategy and governance as well as the company’s integration and operations within Truist. Prior to Grandbridge, he was engaged in investment banking, bond issuance, underwriting, and real estate asset management. He is also a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), NAIOP, Urban Land Institute (ULI), Mortgage Action Alliance (MAA), National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC), Pension Real Estate Association (PREA), and CCIM.
Speakers
Christine Chandler is the 2024 MBA Vice Chair. Christine Chandler has been with M and T since 1991 and has over 30 years of commercial real estate experience. As COO/CCO, Chandler has been responsible for making credit decisions for M and T Realty Capital Corporation (RCC) multifamily and healthcare transactions underwritten in the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (Agency) and FHA platforms as well as managing the company operations. In addition, the Asset Management Group and Transformation Team, including technology and process improvement, report to Chandler. She serves on both the MBA Audit and DEI committees; former Chair of the MBA Commercial Real Estate/Multifamily Board of Governors (COMBOG) and former co-Chair - MBA Affordable Rental Housing Advisory Committee.
Laura Escobar is the 2024 MBA Chair-Elect and President of Lennar Mortgage. A 30-year mortgage industry veteran, Escobar has held leadership positions with both bank-owned and independent mortgage companies overseeing all aspects of mortgage banking, including production, operations, compliance, accounting, and training. Her personal ground level experience in every facet of mortgage lending has enabled her to manage and fully integrate all of these departments within Lennar Mortgage. Escobar is highly engaged in the industry, serves on MBA’s Board of Directors, and was co-chair of MBA’s IMB Executive Council from 2020–2022. She is also a director of the MBA Opens Doors Foundation, which she has supported by successfully fundraising for the foundation’s work and leading Lennar in company campaigns. Beyond her industry work, she is also a licensed mental health counselor and devotes much of her time to working with underprivileged women.
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