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19 November 2025 November 2025 » themortgagepoint.com M O V E R S & S H A K E R S MBA ELECTS CHRISTINE CHANDLER AS 2026 CHAIR Christine Chandler, EVP and COO of M&T Realty Capital Corporation (RCC), was sworn in as 2026 chair of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) during the association's 2025 Annual Convention and Expo in Las Vegas. "Throughout my career, I have witnessed the significant impact of MBA's advocacy, research, and edu- cation in strengthening the real estate finance industry and the communities it serves," Chandler said. "It is a distinct honor to represent our industry as MBA's 2026 Chair. I look forward to working with Chair-Elect Owen Lee, Vice Chair John Hedlund, and our member leaders to cultivate the next generation of industry professionals, advance policies that expand housing affordability and accessibility, and further increase member engagement in MBA's advocacy efforts." Chandler has been with M&T since 1991 and has more than 30 years of experience in commercial real estate finance. Since 2018, she has been COO and has overseen credit, asset man- agement, compliance, technology, and transformation. Chandler is a voting member of MBA's Board of Directors, has served as 2023 Chair of MBA's Commercial Real Estate/Multifamily Finance Board of Governors (COMBOG), and previ- ously served as Chair of MBA's Audit Committee. In addition to Chandler being named chair of the association, Owen Lee, CEO at Success Mortgage Partners Inc. (SMP), and John Hedlund, Vice Chairman of ICE Mortgage Technol- ogy, were sworn in as Chair-Elect and Vice Chair of the association. Lee co-founded SMP, located in Plymouth, Michigan, with his father, Vincent, in 2002 and currently serves as CEO. Under his leadership, SMP has closed billions of dollars of mortgage loans yearly since 2016, is licensed in 42 states, and has more than 600 employ- ees. Lee is also Managing Member of Title Partners LLC, a full-service title insurance and escrow services agency. Lee serves on MBA's Board of Directors, was previously Co-Chair of its Independent Mortgage Bankers Ex- ecutive Council, and was the 2023–2024 Chairman of MORPAC (MBA's Political Action Committee), where he was a suc- cessful political fundraiser, helping to advance the association's top legislative priorities. Lee is also a member of the Board of Directors of The Mortgage Collaborative's Technology Fund, a venture capital investment group specializing in the mortgage technol- ogy space. He also sits on the Board of Directors of TrAIned, a mortgage technology firm in Pittsburgh. Hedlund has served as a board member for several organizations, in- cluding as a member of MBA's Board of Directors, Board Chairman of MISMO, Chairman of MBA's Residential Board of Governors (RESBOG), board mem- ber and past Chairman of the Califor- nia Mortgage Bankers Association, and advisory board member for Automated Mortgage Systems and FundingShield LLC. Hedlund has served in senior leadership positions in the mortgage divisions at several large financial institutions during his career. He also co-founded and served as Managing Director and COO at AmeriHome Mortgage Company, where, under his leadership, AmeriHome quickly grew to become the second-largest correspondent lender in the country. He helped lead the company's sale to Western Alliance Bank in 2021, where he was a member of the leadership and executive team until 2024. He also founded and led Adanac Advisors Group, a boutique advisory and con- sulting firm. In Memoriam REMEMBERING JOHN BELL III, FORMERLY OF VA LOAN GUARANTY SERVICE John E. Bell III, a longtime industry veteran who spent many years working at the VA and serving as Executive Director for VA's Loan Guaranty Service, has passed away. Margarita Devlin, VA Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Benefits, said of Bell in a statement: "John Bell was a talented and trusted leader with nearly 15 years of service to the Department of Veterans Affairs. He will be deeply missed by his VA colleagues as well as countless Veterans he served and helped over the years. We grieve for his friends and loved ones during this difficult time." Tim Rood, Founder and CEO of Impact Capitol and formerly of SitusAMC, the Collingwood Group, and Fannie Mae, shared news of Bell's passing via his LinkedIn page, saying in a post: "I wanted to make sure that folks knew that John Bell III, most recently Executive Director for VA Loan Guaranty Service, has passed away following an extended illness. He will be sorely missed by anyone who knew him or worked with him. John was a tremendous guy with a big heart who loved delivering VA Home Loan Benefits to his fellow Veterans. RIP, Brother." Ed Delgado, AMP, Managing Director, Mortgage Policy Advisors; Chairman Emeritus, Five Star Global, told MortgagePoint: "The mortgage industry mourns the loss of John E. Bell III, a respected veteran and dedicated leader who spent more than a decade ensuring his fellow service members and veterans could achieve the dream of homeownership. John's legacy is one of innovation, diligence, and deep commitment to