OPENING SPECIAL SESSION: Repurchase Strategy Session for Lenders Only (Closed to Media)

MBA RESBOG Chair; Executive Vice President, PrimeLending

Gene M. Lugat, EVP of Government Relations and Retail Production Strategy at PrimeLending, is a respected leader and highly sought-after keynote speaker with more than 38 years of industry experience. Gene has held a wide range of national roles in the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), including terms as a board member and Vice Chair on MBA’s Residential Board of Governors (RESBOG). In October 2023, Gene was installed as Chair of RESBOG. He has served as Chairman of the MBA’s Mortgage Action Alliance Committee and a board member on MORPAC, the MBA’s Political Action Committee. Gene also served the Maryland Mortgage Bankers and Brokers Association as a Board Member, Legislative Chair and as their 52nd President. Gene is a Graduate of Shepherd University where he played football and is a member of the Shepherd University Athletic Hall of Fame. In his current role at PrimeLending, Gene leads the company’s National Sales efforts to grow our production team and develop and promote homeownership in diverse communities and traditionally underserved markets. Gene was selected as the 2022 HousingWire Vanguard winner for his outstanding contributions to our Industry.

President, Firstline Compliance, LLC

Joshua Weinberg is a nationally recognized speaker, author, consultant, and leader in the mortgage industry. He is the President of Firstline Compliance (www.firstlinecompliance.com), a consulting company specializing in mortgage compliance and technology. He works closely with Federal and State Regulators and participates with many industry associations. He is currently Vice Chair of MBA's State Regulatory Compliance Committee, leads MBA’s LEP Working Group, and is the past Chair of MBA’s Regulatory Compliance Committee, a member of ABA’s Residential Markets Committee, and Past Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for MISMO.

Founder, Assurance Solutions

Kristin Broadley, a highly accomplished Fractional Risk Management Executive, is recognized as a pioneering force in the financial industry. With a distinguished career marked by patent holder status and industry leadership, Kristin has played a pivotal role in reshaping risk governance and oversight, notably contributing to the representation and warranties framework post-2008 crisis. A strategic visionary, Kristin excels in driving innovation and process transformation, evident in their roles as Chief Innovation Officer at QC Ally and Vice President of Enterprise Risk Management and Risk Solutions at Rocket Mortgage. With a proven track record of launching groundbreaking products, collaborating with industry stakeholders, and achieving industry recognition, Kristin stands as a dynamic leader at the forefront of risk management, embodying a commitment to excellence, innovation, and driving transformative change in the financial landscape.

SVP, Whole Loan Trading, PHOENIX

Brian Cerise, SVP of Whole Loan Trading, joined PHOENIX in 2014. He has been engaged in the mortgage industry for 20 years with roles encompassing wholesale origination, retail branch management, lock desk management and he is currently a leader of the PHOENIX Whole Loan trade desk. He has been involved in thousands of transactions, benefitting both buy side and sell side clients made up of IMBs, depository institutions, REITs and private investors. Brian’s extensive experience, continuing education of industry, product, and regulatory demands and servicing practices have made him a frequent industry speaker and trusted advisor in the Whole Loan as well as Mortgage Servicing Rights markets. He is a Colorado native and enjoys mountain biking, skiing, and camping with his family.

CEO, Adanac Advisors Group

John Hedlund is an experienced, entrepreneurial, business leader specializing in strategic design, effective application of technology & execution and the leadership of large, diverse financial organizations. He has successfully founded and led numerous businesses through major transformational changes over the past 30 years, displaying a unique ability to drive sustainable revenue growth and cost reductions through innovation, while fostering a loyal and cohesive leadership team. John recently retired from AmeriHome Mortgage where he was a Co Founder and COO. John founded Adanac Advisory Group in 2024, a boutique advisory and consulting firm to share his knowledge and industry expertise, to support the “optimization of leaders and businesses vision”.

Associate Vice President, Secondary & Capital Markets, Mortgage Bankers Association

Sasha Hewlett is Associate Vice President of Secondary & Capital Markets on the Residential Policy Team at MBA. In this role she works with various market participants, agencies, organizations to address secondary policy issues and advocate for MBA members. She is also the lead staff member for the Secondary and Capital Markets Committee. Prior to joining MBA, she spent a majority of the last 12 years in various roles at Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. Sasha is a Graduate of Virginia Tech and lives in Washington, DC.

Of Counsel, Katten & Temple, LLP

Brian Levy, Of Counsel with Katten & Temple, LLP in Chicago, provides practical, creative and industry leading guidance for mortgage lenders and related providers. Brian has unique vision and experience enabling him to offer actionable counsel on matters such as RESPA (MSAs, AfBAs, etc.), LO compensation, mortgage repurchase defense, loan sale agreements, marketing, transactions and business structuring and enforcement issues. Brian is the author of the provocative and widely read Levy’s Mortgage Musings blog at www.mortgagemusings.com and is a frequent conference speaker, magazine contributor and webinar/podcast guest. Brian was General Counsel from 1994-2009 for a mid-sized midwestern bank and its 3 mortgage banking subsidiaries and prior to that worked for 5 years in commercial real estate law at a large firm in Chicago. Brian graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, (A.B.,1986, Summa Cum Laude) and Harvard Law School (J.D.,1989).