GENERAL SESSION: Market Innovation and Transformation

MBA's 2025-2026 MORPAC Chair; Co-Chair, Financial Services Group, Alston & Bird, LLP

Nanci Weissgold co-chairs Alston & Bird's Financial Services Group and advises financial institutions and financial service providers on federal and state matters relating to mortgage lending and mortgage servicing, valuation, and other consumer lending issues as part of her national regulatory compliance and enforcement practice. She is a frequent speaker and presenter at legal and industry conferences and webinars, and has published numerous articles on mortgage banking, valuation, and consumer finance related topics. Her pragmatism preparing for, and responding to, CFPB, FHA, state, and other administrative actions is highly valued by her clients. Nanci is co-leader of the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Legal Issues Committee, and the 2025-2026 MORPAC Chair.

2016 MBA Chairman; President, Rocket Companies

Bill Emerson is a member of the Board of Directors and is President of Rocket Companies and was the 2016 MBA Chairman. Previously, Bill held the role of Interim Chief Executive Officer of Rocket from June to September 2023. He was also Vice Chairman of Rock Holdings, Inc. from February 2017 until May 2023 and served in a leadership role at Bedrock from July 2020 until February 2023. In both roles, he was responsible for leadership, growth and development of the company culture. Bill was CEO of Rocket Mortgage from 2002 to 2017, managing a changing mortgage market and leading the company through a period of massive growth. His extensive leadership roles in the related businesses give him a unique understanding of the company, culture and history through many economic cycles – which is particularly critical given recent executive transitions and the macroeconomic challenges. His senior leadership experience also provides the Board with valuable perspective in long-term strategy, budgeting, risk management, human capital management and succession planning. Bill is a member of the board of the United Way of Southeast Michigan, Detroit Economic Club, Detroit Sports Organizing Committee, Housing Policy Council, Rocket Giving Fund, The Parade Company, the Detroit Children’s Fund and the Skillman Foundation.

2026 MBA Vice Chairman; Vice Chairman, ICE Mortgage Technology

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 of Adanac Advisors Group, a boutique advisory and consulting firm.

Chief Executive Officer and Director, Guild Mortgage Company

Terry L. Schmidt is the Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Guild Holdings Company. Terry has served as Guild Mortgage Company LLC’s Chief Executive Officer since July 2023 and as a member of its board of managers since August 2020. From 2006 to October 2020, she also served as a member of Guild Mortgage Company LLC’s board of directors. Prior to assuming the role of CEO, Terry served in a number of leadership positions at Guild Mortgage Company LLC, including as President from 2020 to 2023. Terry joined Guild Mortgage Company LLC in 1985. She is currently a member of the California Mortgage Bankers Association, a member of the board of directors of the Guild Giving Foundation, a non-profit organization, and a member of the Mortgage Bankers Association. Terry earned a bachelor of business administration degree in accounting from the University of San Diego and is a certified mortgage banker.

Chief Information Officer, Newrez LLC

Brian Woodring is Chief Information Officer at Newrez, where he leads technology strategy across digital products, applications, IT infrastructure, information security, data, and AI. Brian brings a wealth of experience from Rocket Mortgage, where he most recently served as Head of Technology. He is a proven innovator with a track record that includes industry-shaping products powering both servicing and originations. His vision for AI, seamless homeowner experiences, and building world-class teams will further elevate the Newrez technology platform to continue to deliver exceptional value to employees, clients, and consumers.