At the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) 2023 Annual Convention & Expo in Philadelphia, Mark Jones, president of Union Home Mortgage, was inaugurated as chairman.
“I have been a proud part of the MBA family for nearly four decades and am incredibly honored and ecstatic to serve as the next chairman. With the support of Laura Escobar [MBA Chair-Elect] and Christine Chandler [2024 MBA Vice Chair], I am confident that our industry will overcome the current tough market environment,” said Jones. "I am committed to promoting financial literacy for young adults and focusing on advocacy initiatives that increase housing supply and improve affordability in communities across America.”
Jones currently serves as president of Union Home Mortgage. In 1983, he co-founded Amerifirst Home Mortgage, a company he grew from an individual location in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to over 80 full-service locations and 900 personnel nationwide. In January 2023, Amerifirst merged with Union Home Mortgage.
"Yes, our industry is fighting one heck of a battle. But make no mistake: This is a fight we’re going to win!" Jones said in his prepared remarks. "I’m confident we’ll win because I’ve lived through times of crisis before."
He said starting a mortgage business back then would be like opening a Blockbuster video store today. He credited the Mortgage Banker's Association with giving him the right insight at the right moment to weather the storm.
Jones's commitment to the industry is evident through his active participation in MBA. Currently, he heads MBA’s DEI Advisory Committee and has held multiple roles within the association.
The event also witnessed the induction of Laura Escobar, president of Lennar Mortgage, as chair-elect, and Christine Chandler, executive vice president with M&T Realty Capital Corporation (RCC), as vice chair.
With 36 years in the real estate finance industry, Escobar has been at the helm of Lennar Mortgage since 2018, leading a sizable team across multiple states. She also serves on several advisory boards and committees, including MBA’s 2022-2023 Board of Directors.
Chandler boasts over three decades in commercial real estate finance. Having been with M&T since 1991, she has managed multifamily and healthcare transactions across various platforms. Apart from her corporate role, Chandler is engaged in numerous committees and industry groups. Her advocacy for mPower, an extensive networking organization for women in real estate finance, marks her as a significant proponent for women in the industry.
