Meet the Opportunity & Engagement Team
Amber Lawrence, Vice President, Opportunity & Engagement
Amber Lawrence brings over 18 years of experience across the real estate, mortgage finance, and non-profit sectors. As Vice President of Opportunity and Engagement at the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), she champions enterprise-wide efforts to build inclusive networks, foster equitable access to opportunity, and cultivate organizational cultures where all individuals feel seen, valued, and empowered to contribute.
In her role, Amber partners with internal teams and senior leaders to embed fairness into policy and practice, guiding data-informed strategies that advance representation, equity, and engagement. She also spearheads member-focused initiatives that deepen community connection and elevate diverse perspectives across the industry.
Known for her strategic mindset and collaborative approach, Amber leverages her expertise in organizational change, workforce development, and strategic leadership to deliver measurable impact. Her cross-sector work has positioned her as a thought leader in driving meaningful progress toward cultures of authentic inclusion.
In previous roles with the MBA, she was a core member of MBA Education’s leadership team, managing the full suite of MBA’s Residential and Commercial/Multifamily professional certification and designation programs – responsible for candidate matriculation, curriculum development, and examination processes. She also served as the primary liaison for the Society of Certified Mortgage Bankers (CMB®).
Amber holds a B.A. degree from Howard University and an executive coaching certification, offered in partnership with Howard University and the Coach Diversity Institute (CDI).
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Ashley Reid, Specialist, Opportunity & Engagement
Ashley supports MBA's Opportunity and Engagement initiatives and workplace culture. Through her work with the Opportunity and Engagement team, she leads MBA’s internal employee-centric committee, EMBRACE, to deepen understanding and embodiment of equitable outcomes. Ashley brings a diverse wealth of experience and knowledge in community building, equity, accessibility, inclusion, and community care.
Before joining MBA, Ashley utilized her facilitation and organizing skills at Kindred Communities, where she partnered with school communities across the Washington, D.C. metro area to help address issues of inequity and build deeper connections between staff, school leaders, and families to create a more inclusive and equitable community. She’s also served as an advocate and facilitator in cities nationwide, including Thomas Edison State University in Trenton, NJ, and the Marin Interfaith Council in Marin County, CA.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Print Journalism from North Carolina A&T State University, a Master of Arts in Management from Wake Forest School of Business, and a Master of Divinity from San Francisco Theological Seminary. She is also trained and certified as an Associate Diversity Coach by the Coach Diversity Institute (CDI) and is a Certified Change Practitioner awarded by Prosci®.
Questions?
Contact the team with any questions.