Plaza Home Mortgage adds to its ranks

MBA hires Catherine Cruz Wojtasik as associate vice president of legislative affairs MortgagePress.comMBA, Catherine Cruz Wojtasik, Capitol Hill, House of Representatives, Senate, Francis Creighton John A. Courson, chief operating officer of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), has announced the appointment of Catherine Cruz Wojtasik as associate vice president of legislative affairs. In this role, Cruz Wojtasik will join MBA's lobbying team on Capitol Hill working with members of the House of Representatives and Senate with an added focus on commercial issues important to MBA's members. She will report to Francis Creighton, MBA's vice president and chief lobbyist. "MBA is excited to add Catherine's energy and expertise in lobbying for the issues most critical to our members," said Courson. "We are looking forward to working with the new administration on mortgage finance related issues with a full and experienced lobbying team." Cruz Wojtasik is joining MBA from Popular Inc. where she served as vice president and director of government affairs. In that role, she was responsible for directing and advancing the government affairs programs for the company and its subsidiaries at the federal and state level. She was also responsible for developing, implementing, and managing government affairs issues strategy. "Catherine has worked with MBA and our members for several years and has a thorough understanding of the issues facing our industry," added Steve O'Connor, MBA's senior vice president of government affairs. "We look forward to working with her in these critical years ahead." Prior to Popular Inc., Cruz Wojtasik was the banking counsel and Senate Banking Subcommittee Democratic Staff Director for Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN). Cruz Wojtasik has also held various other legislative positions including, Legislative Director and Counsel for Congressman James H. Maloney (D-CT), Minority Professional Staff for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business and Legislative Director for Congresswoman Nydia M. Velazquez (D-NY). She received her J.D. degree from Rutgers University School of Law in New Jersey and a B.A. degree from the University of Connecticut. For more information, visit www.mortgagebankers.org.