GENERAL SESSION: Helping Members Find Value in a Down Market
In today’s challenging market, state and local associations are more important than ever. In this session, industry stakeholders will discuss what is most important for members as they navigate market turbulence and touch on how associations can think outside the box in terms of delivering member value.
Speakers
Moderator
Laura Hopkins is Vice President of Membership at the Mortgage Bankers Association in Washington, DC. Laura currently leads the MBA’s Membership department. The department develops, strengthens, and manages relationships with senior executives and their staff at the Association's member companies to maximize the value of their MBA membership and engagement. Toward this end, the department coordinates and facilitates the integration of member companies across the MBA by connecting them to MBA resources that support their individual needs. The MBA membership department is dedicated to managing, enhancing, and strengthening MBA member engagement within MBA and our industry. Laura joined the MBA over six years ago with nearly 20 years of sales and management experience in the mortgage banking industry. She brings a varied background holding roles in sales and marketing roles with a concentration on growing business platforms through recruiting, as well as influencing program and product utilization for increased revenue growth. Laura prides herself on her commitment to providing a high level of service and support to both members and colleagues, as well as sharing an active interest in the various issues and developments within our industry. She has been involved as an mPower participant since its inception and believes passionately in the advancement of women in our industry.
Speakers
Joel Bisaillon, Jr. is a Senior Vice President and the Director of Client Growth Strategy at Sandy Spring Bank. Joel has an 18 year career in banking having helped thousands of families, individuals, and businesses. Joel brings extensive experience in business development and has served in management roles at Citizens, Bank of America and KeyBank. He is a residential board member and education chair for the Mortgage Bankers Association of Metropolitan Washington. Previously, Joel was a director of the New York State Mortgage Bankers Association and former president of the Mortgage Bankers Association of Northeastern New York.
Jennifer Green, CMB, AMP is the Assistant Director of Single Family Loan Operations at Tennessee Housing Development Agency. She is responsible for assisting in division oversight, including communicating with the public and lending partners regarding single family homeownership for low and moderate income Tennesseans. With more than 18 years’ experience, Green has held operations management positions with Mortgage Investors Group, PennyMac and Bank of America. She presently serves on the board of the Tennessee Mortgage Bankers Association as East Tennessee Director and previously served as a Lender Director with Knoxville Mortgage Banker Association. In 2022, she completed her Accredited Mortgage Professional (AMP) and Certified Mortgage Banker (CMB) designations and graduated from the MBA Residential Future Leaders Program. In 2023, Green received the Circle of Excellent in Operations Award from the Knoxville Mortgage Bankers Association and Mortgage Banker of the Year Award from the Tennessee Mortgage Bankers Association.