by admin admin | Dec 26, 2022 | President's Message (Archived)
Greetings WMBA Friends and Colleagues,
Springtime is upon us! With it brings the anticipation of another homebuying season and the collective hope of an inventory bounce. And while we’re facing headwinds of raising (rising) rates, inflation, global unrest, and continued affordability concerns, we’ve been through worse (here’s looking at you 2008!). As industry leaders, we’ll need to roll up our sleeves, go back to the basics, and get involved. In this volatile market, staying informed and engaged is key to our personal and professional success. Here at the WMBA, our dedicated volunteers continue to work tirelessly to ensure our collective interests as an industry are met through Legislative efforts, PAC contributions, and our regular Program events aimed at promoting valuable, relevant content to our members.
Speaking of events, we’re excited to announce a “return to in-person’ events. This week, we will host our Realtor Panel at the Lunchbox Laboratory in Bellevue! This awesome event features leading real estate experts ready to share their unique perspectives on the market and industry. On May 5th, we are thrilled to be hosting our first IP Lunch, Today and Tomorrow… Seattle and Bellevue Charting Their Own Courses, at Perkins Coie Conference Center. For registration and more information, please click here.
Shifting into other WMBA efforts, this past January marked our busy Legislative Session. Our lobbyist, Jessica Fortescue, yet again, proved her value by keeping us not only informed, but petitioning for items important to the industry. Areas such as Data Privacy, Commercial Solicitation, and taxes (surcharges) aimed at financial institutions. All of these items – while they may not sound glamorous – can and will impact us in some way, especially if we don’t have representation. To learn more or to get involved, feel free to reach out to our WMBA Executive Office and sign up for our legislative updates: admin@wa-mba.org.
Along the same lines, our PAC Committee has done an amazing job of continuing to help fund these legislative efforts. We encourage everyone to contribute and – as they say – to help us put our money where our mouth is! https://wa-mba.org/wmba-pac/
Looking ahead, we have our exciting WMBA Auction this May and as always, Golf Tournament in July! Registration is open for the Auction and keep an eye out for golf. Both of these are sell-out events and critical to our association’s success. We appreciate your support and please consider donating or getting involved today!
Lastly, I’d like to send a shout-out to all of those who volunteer and show up for the WMBA. We have busy schedules and other priorities, but this storied association holds a special place in the mortgage community, and it goes in our business, “it takes a village.” Special note to our Program’s Committee Chair, Tonja, for stepping up this year in this new role and helping to bring us our awesome events!
We’ve had a challenging two years of being in a virtual environment, but as move back towards “normalcy”, we’ll need to rely on volunteers to continue our important efforts. Starting next year, in September, we plan on bringing back all of our regular, in-person events including our Past Presidents night. For ways to get involved, please feel free to reach out to me directly, or any Board Member, and we’d love to learn more about your interest and share what the WMBA means to us and why its success is important.
Wishing everyone a healthy Spring and look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events!
Jim
by admin admin | Dec 26, 2022 | President's Message (Archived)
Hello Friends & Colleagues,
Summer is officially here in the Pacific Northwest! Along with the beautiful weather, it appears summer is bringing with it a continued, changing landscape for our economy and industry. And while we’re seeing a well-needed uptick in inventory, we can’t hide from the headlines of rising rates, inflation, economic concerns, and global unrest. As season professionals, we know we need to stay positive, adapt to change, and control what we can control… which includes our own attitudes! As our friend Ryan Hills from TheREsource.tv recently put it, we need to “get up and keep moving.” I encourage everyone to watch Ryan’s inspirational video by
CLICKING HERE.Shifting gears into WMBA updates, in May we had our annual Dinner Auction. This year we partnered with
Habitat for HumanitySeattle-King and Kitsap Counties and it was a HUGE SUCCESS! We helped raise over $32k for their important organization! Please join me in congratulating and sending our thanks to Lisa Goldsmith, Kim Callis, and the entire WMBA Auction Committee for their incredible work putting together this event. And of course, thank you again to all of our generous sponsors and donors.
We also held a PAC Event in June where we welcomed our WMBA lobbyist Jessica Fortescue to join local leaders to discuss recent industry legislation, the new faces at the Capitol, and ways Jessica and the WMBA can continue to ensure our collective voices are heard, and industry interests maintained. Thanks to all those who attended and for their generous donations supporting this critical function of the WMBA. If you’d like to learn more and donate, please visit our PAC page here:
https://wa-mba.org/wmba-pac/To conclude this year’s WMBA events, we held our annual Golf Tournament at Washington National. It was an absolutely beautiful day for golf, filled with lots of smiles and laughs from all that attended! Thanks to our sponsors and the extraordinary WMBA Golf Committee led by Robert Lipston, Anne Marie Bachman, and Teresa Olson; and of course, to all the many volunteers it takes to help create yet another, awesome event for our association!
As we wrap up this WMBA year, I think the best way I can describe my time as Board President is one of optimism and transition. Optimism that if anything’s been proven over the years is that we – as an industry – can get through anything. Our transition to a new “normal” following a global pandemic and record-breaking production years will require us to remain steadfast and positive through the coming months. Get involved in associations like the WMBA, stay engaged with your teams and relationships, and focus on serving your clients and communities to the best your ability.
I firmly believe that the people in this business are some of the highest character, most resilient, and hard-working in any profession. We serve the vital role of helping families achieve the dream of homeownership and our mission going forward in the months and years ahead will require us to tap into this resiliency. I have no doubt in my mind, that we will get through it together and be stronger than ever.
Thanks again to all of our incredible committee and board members for your commitment and dedication to our association.
Stay well, enjoy the summer, and keep moving.
by admin admin | Dec 15, 2022 | President's Message (Archived)
Fellow WMBA Family,
Well as I sit down this afternoon to send my last President’s Message I clearly have a full range of emotions. As you all know by now I have a great deal of passion and care for the Washington Mortgage Bankers Association and this industry. The last two years have been nothing short of unprecedented, amazing and a learning experience for me.
I have been so honored to be the President of this great organization for two terms and to have the privilege and honor to be the 100th and 101st President of the organization. I never took for granted the expectation and legacy left for me by the 99 other great leaders, mentors and President’s and how truly amazing it is this organization has been operating now for 101 years through so many industry cycles, changes and times.
As I look back at the last two years I could not have done this without an amazing board. My Vice President Lisa Goldsmith has been the most amazing human being I have ever had the privilege of serving with. Along with Lisa my Executive Board Andy McDonough and Jim DeMarco who committed to meeting a minimum of every two weeks to work on the organization versus just working in the organization. These three are your next three President’s and are so committed and ready to take this organization forward.
I also had a full and amazing board, plus committee chairs. They say it takes a village we definitely needed everyone who worked so hard to bring value to our members and industry.
As I reflect on my time as the President of this great organization one word keeps coming to mind over and over GRATEFUL.
I’m so grateful for my Mortgage Industry Family and all of the people who wake up every day to help American’s with the Dream of Home Ownership and leverage their homes to better their families lives.
On September 15th as I hand over the reigns and baton to Lisa Goldsmith I can tell you that you are in amazing hands. Lisa is qualified, driven and someone that deeply cares about making a difference and working on bettering our organization every day.
Lisa has been such an integral part of the success of this organization and worked hand in hand with the board, our lobbyist Jessica, National MBA and anyone and everyone to help navigate all of the craziness that has happened since COVID 19 started.
If you remember anything from my time at the podium I hope you remember two things.
- Vote with your two feet – Show up and be present at anything and everything. The biggest investment you can make is in yourself and being involved.
- The most powerful tool you have is your voice. Be involved and use your voice to help support our organization, our industry and your families future ability to earn.
As I move from President to “Past President” I ask you to attend our September meeting and help us swear in our new board. They are committed and ready to support your voice and take our organization to it’s 102nd year of success.
Thank you for the opportunity and privilege of serving you all and this organization.
Stay Healthy, Safe and strong.
Robert Lipston
President
Washington Mortgage Bankers Association
by admin admin | Dec 15, 2022 | President's Message (Archived)
Dear WMBA Members,
As the warmth of summer inches ever closer…I am beginning to wrap up the responsibilities as your 2020-2021 WMBA President and relax into what comes next with the extra time I will have. With your permission, I would like to share some wisdom that I’ve acquired in this time and from our membership representation for this industry.
First, and foremost our industry’s future requires us to engage our leaders and our members and re-imagine what the WMBA means to our communities and our industry. Doing what we’ve always done will get us what we’ve always gotten. We are poised to take this association to a new level and a new future. Along with a diverse new generation of buyers, borrowers, and industry participants, we have a very strong group of leaders on our board. And, we need all of you reading this letter!
The pandemic has taught us so much about who we are as people, community, and industry. Never forget that our lobbyist retainer assured the incredible privilege and good fortune of being granted Essential Workers status in 2020. We were then poised to benefit from an abundance of unplanned opportunities, unprecedented loan volume, and astronomical income levels. Our member leaders recognized the opportunities and gave back by supporting WMBA in our cashflow crunch, by supporting our lobbyist retainer expenses, by inspiring each other with generosity and support. Let’s come together to capitalize on this abundance and all the opportunities!! Did I mention that we need all of you reading this letter!?!
As I close out the year, I have announcements and appointments to share: The only constant we know in this business is change, right?!? Our board is set to make the annual transition and we are changing in ways that we would not have imagined in 2020.
Board Appointments:
- Andy McDonough has made the personal decision to resign the Vice President/Incoming President role in favor of his documentary film career. All of us are excited for Andy and appreciate him for his professional approach to this decision and for his support as we manage his replacement. (BTW don’t miss his recently debuted movie, “Super Frenchie”, featuring extreme and ambitious skier/BASE jumper, Matteus Giraud.) Please join me in thanking Andy for his service to WMBA!
- To fill the position Andy’s resignation creates, these appointments are effective this month:
-
- Jim DeMarco will become our Vice President, and the Incoming President for WMBA 2021-2022 (Jim comes to this role through 8 years serving the WMBA including executive leadership; and his career in mortgage banking leadership, as well as being a new daddy. Join me in congratulating Jim on the new love of his life!).
- John Smith will become our Treasurer, and the Incoming Vice President for WMBA 2021-2022 (John brings credit union mortgage banking experience, and a wealth of board work with community organizations, to our Board). Let’s congratulation John on his new role as Director of Mortgage Lending with WSECU (soon to be a new member of WMBA)!
- Tony Fernandez will become a Board Director, and the In-coming Treasurer for WMBA 2021-2022 (Tony brings his expertise as the WMBA Membership Co-Chair, and his passion for giving back and contributing to the industry).
- And, for more exciting news, Kisha Weir is joining the WMBA Board as a Director for 2021-2022 (Kisha brings her leadership and brilliant teamwork experience as the Divisional Leader for Movement Mortgage, and congratulations to Kisha for the well-deserved promotion!).
Please join me in welcoming and supporting our leadership group!
Our Annual Auction to benefit both WMBA and Habitat for Humanity was a success on many levels
The virtual auction went off so successfully, it was almost a miracle…thanks to Mindy Aragon, who has been the glue and the strength of WMBA in 2020-2021!
The income/expenses are balanced, the bidders have received their winnings, our beneficiary has been paid.
This year we raised $28000 for Habitat and $19000 for WMBA
We have committed to a partnership with Habitat and for annual auctions year-over-year going forward
Please don’t miss the upcoming Golf Classic, foursome registration is open! Joinoin us in the sun at the 2021 WMBA Golf Classic, July 14th !
We appreciate your membership, your support, and your contribution and are here to support you with the strength of our unified resources.
It is my honor and privilege to have this virtual podium and I appreciate every one of you who have read and considered these months of emails, announcements, and remarks!
Looking forward to seeing you all in-person soon!!
Thank you,
Lisa Goldsmith
President
Washington Mortgage Bankers Association
by admin admin | Dec 15, 2022 | President's Message (Archived)
Hello Friends & Colleagues,
Summer is officially here in the Pacific Northwest! Along with the beautiful weather, it appears summer is bringing with it a continued, changing landscape for our economy and industry. And while we’re seeing a well-needed uptick in inventory, we can’t hide from the headlines of rising rates, inflation, economic concerns, and global unrest. As season professionals, we know we need to stay positive, adapt to change, and control what we can control… which includes our own attitudes! As our friend Ryan Hills from TheREsource.tv recently put it, we need to “get up and keep moving.” I encourage everyone to watch Ryan’s inspirational video by CLICKING HERE.
Shifting gears into WMBA updates, in May we had our annual Dinner Auction. This year we partnered with Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King and Kitsap Counties and it was a HUGE SUCCESS! We helped raise over $32k for their important organization! Please join me in congratulating and sending our thanks to Lisa Goldsmith, Kim Callis, and the entire WMBA Auction Committee for their incredible work putting together this event. And of course, thank you again to all of our generous sponsors and donors.
We also held a PAC Event in June where we welcomed our WMBA lobbyist Jessica Fortescue to join local leaders to discuss recent industry legislation, the new faces at the Capitol, and ways Jessica and the WMBA can continue to ensure our collective voices are heard, and industry interests maintained. Thanks to all those who attended and for their generous donations supporting this critical function of the WMBA. If you’d like to learn more and donate, please visit our PAC page here: https://wa-mba.org/wmba-pac/
To conclude this year’s WMBA events, we held our annual Golf Tournament at Washington National. It was an absolutely beautiful day for golf, filled with lots of smiles and laughs from all that attended! Thanks to our sponsors and the extraordinary WMBA Golf Committee led by Robert Lipston, Anne Marie Bachman, and Teresa Olson; and of course, to all the many volunteers it takes to help create yet another, awesome event for our association!
As we wrap up this WMBA year, I think the best way I can describe my time as Board President is one of optimism and transition. Optimism that if anything’s been proven over the years is that we – as an industry – can get through anything. Our transition to a new “normal” following a global pandemic and record-breaking production years will require us to remain steadfast and positive through the coming months. Get involved in associations like the WMBA, stay engaged with your teams and relationships, and focus on serving your clients and communities to the best your ability.
I firmly believe that the people in this business are some of the highest character, most resilient, and hard-working in any profession. We serve the vital role of helping families achieve the dream of homeownership and our mission going forward in the months and years ahead will require us to tap into this resiliency. I have no doubt in my mind, that we will get through it together and be stronger than ever.
Thanks again to all of our incredible committee and board members for your commitment and dedication to our association.
Stay well, enjoy the summer, and keep moving.
Jim Demarco,
WMBA President
by admin admin | Dec 15, 2022 | President's Message (Archived)
Hello WMBA Members and Friends!
I am honored and excited to be your 2022-2023 President and for the opportunity to share this short message. Hopefully you enjoyed the September Board Installation Program with Bill Kilmer and the October Program which highlighted a panel of Fabulous Local Industry Leaders… October featured a great program with amazing panelists. It is great to be back in session. Wow!
As the Northwest transitions from summer into fall, so does the local real estate scene. Truth is, we have travelled this path many times before. Having personally been a member of the Consumer Lending and Mortgage Finance space since 1980, I am confident with our readiness to move through this season and excel into the future. Lean all the way in, link arms with battle tested examples, and ride with confidence!
On the topic of riding, I rode motorcycle this past June from my home in Lacey, Washington to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. The trip included 16 days of sensory engagement spent over 5600 miles of various weather & terrain. It was an amazing experience! In retrospect, the trip reminded me of a recent comment spoken by a Mortgage Industry Leader who said, “…we must be knowledgeable, we must be tactical and we must be visionary in order to succeed in today’s environment”.
All of the above was true in executing my successful Prudhoe Bay journey and back home. Many hours of previous riding experience provided a base of knowledge for navigating the roadway. I studied and trained for nearly 3 years talking with experts who previously made the journey and helped me develop real life tactics. And finally, but most importantly, I had a clear vision of myself standing at Prudhoe Bay.
So today, my message to you is, you can win in this current environment. Look to your experience for gathering knowledge; partner with others and train to build tactical resource skills; and most importantly have belief in your vision because ultimately, the why behind your vision will fuel your success
We look forward to seeing you at future WMBA Programs and Events. Continue to follow our calendar and look for us on social media. If there is anything we can do to support you or help to promote the benefits of WMBA Membership, please let us know.
John Smith
WMBA Board President
