may have been able to do so with a little less anxiety
and stress. I am on the cusp of the Millennial generation,
which has been described as the impatient generation.
Younger Millennials can benefit by knowing that being
patient can lead to much less frustration and much less
stress while still achieving ambitious objectives.
Was there a defining moment, that “ah-ha” moment, in
your life that shaped who you are and where you want
to go professionally?
That 1988 presidential election and the connection
I made to it through my Dad has been a guidepost for
me from grade school to college, and through law school
and beyond, and it has served as a level-set for me as
to why I took this path in the first place. But, after law
school, I started at HUD in the Office of General Counsel even before I knew the results of the bar examination.
Pending the outcome of the bar exam, I couldn’t be sure
what my longevity would be there, but I was excited to
have the opportunity to learn. A couple of years in, I was
at my parents’ home over a holiday break talking about
the work I was doing, and they said, “We bought this
house using an FHA loan.” I was stunned. Who knew?
Much earlier during my school days, my parents had
helped me make the connection between education
and opportunity. Later, I made the further connection
that education and opportunity were functions of your
housing situation, and that where you lived could have an
impact on the quality of your education. Of course, by
the time they told me about it, my parents had moved
well beyond FHA financing, but, that was the full-circle,
defining moment that confirmed I had landed where
I was supposed to be. In that situation, I felt FHA had
contributed significantly to me and my family, and I had
an opportunity to then help contribute to others.
You’ve been in government roles and with the Mortgage
Bankers Association (MBA), an industry trade association,
as an Associate Director of Public Policy. How would you
say those roles and your experience on ‘different sides of
the desk’ have shaped your perspective?
I think it’s critical to get a broader viewpoint. Al-
though my work at the MBA was relatively brief, I have
benefitted from it significantly to execute the respon-
sibilities I’ve had since. Coming right out of law school
and working for the FHA , I’m a product of what I call
‘on-the-job learning’ – whether it was learning about
the FHA programs and the National Housing Act, or
operationalizing them through the policy development
process and advocating for them on Capitol Hill. The
understanding I gained working with the leaders of
the MBA, partners of the MBA, lenders, servicers, and
others throughout the industry, and the hands-on with
individuals taking advantage of mortgage products and
services have been critical to my ability help develop
and implement clear, practical. Understanding better
how private sector lenders, servicers, appraisers, and
others interpret what is going on on the government
side has helped me advance shared objectives, and bet-
ter frame what we do. Without the experience I gained
at the MBA, I would not have the perspective to evalu-
ate our role in the industry in the same way.
Education and role opportunities are important factors
to success, as are mentor relationships. You mentioned
your brother who was mentor early in your life. Have you
had other mentors, and, if so, how have those relationships contributed to your journey?
I’ve been fortunate to have many mentors, or what
are sometimes called champions or sponsors. They have
come in different forms and have represented a cross-section of men and women Some mentors help guide
your career path. I have benefitted from mentors who
recognized my work ethic, my strategic sense, and that I
could quickly grasp issues and find solutions. What they
all have in common is how gracious and kind they have
been. I have benefitted from their generosity and their
willingness to acknowledge my ability to be a ‘value add,’
and to help me maximize those qualities. In turn, I take
very seriously the opportunity to act in the role of a
mentor to others, to be a source of advice, to talk to
people about their career paths and share my views in
a way that I hope can be helpful. If people had not done
that for me, I would be where I am today.
Who has been the most influential person in your life
and why?
I’d put this in two buckets. I cannot discount the influence that my parents have had on me – encouraging me
to persevere through college and law school, instilling in
me the value of public service and awareness of current
events – that has been a guidepost for me and has been
hugely significant in the path that I have taken. In terms
of the work that I do today, former FHA Commissioner
Carol Galante has been hugely influential. She remains
a strong source of support and a woman who I can
