GENERAL SESSION: A Conversation with FHFA Director Pulte

2025 MBA Chair; President, Lennar Mortgage

Laura Escobar is the 2025 MBA Chair 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.

Director, Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA)

On March 14, 2025, William J. Pulte was sworn in as the 5th Director of U.S. Federal Housing FHFA, following his nomination by U.S. President Donald J. Trump and bipartisan confirmation by the U.S. Senate. In this role, Pulte oversees Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banks. Before his appointment, Pulte had a longstanding career in homebuilding, housing products, and community development. In 2011, Pulte founded Pulte Capital Partners LLC, an investment firm that focuses on building and housing products. He also served on the board of Pulte Homes, a Fortune 500 company and one of the largest homebuilders in the country. Beyond business, Pulte is recognized for his philanthropy. Pulte founded the Blight Authority, a nonprofit organization dedicated to removing urban blight in Detroit, MI, St. Louis, MO, and Pontiac, MI. Pulte also started Twitter philanthropy, giving hundreds of thousands of dollars to numerous causes directly on Twitter (now X), and engaging millions of followers in the process. Pulte graduated from Northwestern University.