Dinner Event with NBC News' Chuck Todd

Mark Jones

2024 MBA Chairman; President, Union Home Mortgage

Mark Jones is the 2024 MBA Chairman and President of Union Home Mortgage. He and his business partner co-founded Amerifirst Home Mortgage in 1983, 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 to form a top 40 national mortgage lender. An advocate for affordable homeownership with a mission to make a meaningful difference, Amerifirst established a new bilingual mortgage services division to meet the growing needs of the Hispanic community. Amerifirst was named one of the “Fastest Growing Private Companies in America” by Inc. 5000 for six consecutive years; a Best & Brightest Company to Work For (2016–2020), and one of the top 50 Best Mortgage Companies to Work For in 2021. Jones has also served as the chair of MBA’s Audit and Finance Committee and co-chair of MBA’s IMB Executive Council. Outside of MBA, Jones is a current board member and Public Policy Committee Chair at Southwest Michigan First and serves as Chairman of Southwest Michigan First PAC. Mark holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Chuck Todd

Chief Political Analyst at NBC and Moderator of Meet the Press from 2014-2023, NBC News

Fifty years from now, one journalist will be the voice and face of our political era — and that journalist is Chuck Todd. A self-described political junkie, he has earned a reputation as one of the most passionate journalists and sharpest analysts in American media. He is NBC News’ chief political analyst and, from 2014-2023, served as the revered moderator of Meet the Press — the flagship Sunday morning public affairs program, the longest-running broadcast in television history, and the number one-rated Sunday public affairs program for several consecutive years. Todd also hosted the daily NBC News Now show, Meet the Press NOW, which builds on the success of its previous iteration, Meet the Press Daily, which Todd anchored for eight seasons. Influencers and competitors praise him as “a tireless reporter” with “an encyclopedic knowledge of politics” and the ability to “break down barriers and get people off of their talking points.” With what Washingtonian calls a “savant-like knowledge of politics,” he has become a fixture in the White House press room, a steady and constant presence on television, and a tireless voice on the campaign trail. His up-to-the-minute poll analysis and insightful commentary have made him one of the most sought-after voices in American political coverage. Previously, Todd served as NBC News chief White House correspondent (2008–2014), as well as the host of NBC News’ The Daily Rundown (2010–2014), featuring interviews with members of Congress and other newsmakers. As the network’s chief political analyst, he plays a key role in shaping the editorial for all aspects of NBC's political coverage. Exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, Chuck Todd has the unique ability to deliver an all-consuming passion for politics with razor-sharp analysis. As the political news of today becomes tomorrow’s American history, he offers a comprehensive picture of the current political landscape and serves as the voice of America in the early 21st century. A Star in Political Journalism. Todd was among the media’s most-trusted voices in the run up to the 2020 elections, during which he co-moderated two of NBC’s presidential primary debates. The first, in June 2019, set records as the most-watched Democratic presidential debate in history — a record that was broken by the second debate in 2020. During the 2008 presidential election, Todd became a frequent contributor to several television news outlets, and during the 2004 elections, he had the rare privilege of moderating one of the few presidential candidate forums in Iowa. Todd also hosts The Chuck ToddCast and teaches a graduate-level political communications course at Johns Hopkins University. In 2012, GQ named Todd “The Most Powerful Journalist in Washington.” That same year, he also won the Jeopardy! Power Players match. In 2005, Washingtonian featured him in its “Best of” issue in the journalism section, and in 2009, the magazine named him one of the top 50 journalists covering Washington. In 2001, George magazine named Todd one of the 50 most influential people in politics. Todd was one of the founders of Sports Business Daily (now known as Sports Business Journal) in 1994, serving as the publication’s managing editor before returning to politics in 1995. Covering Campaigns, Candidates, and Everything in Between. Todd loves to follow races, issues, and campaigns, and when he isn’t following politics, he’s writing about them. He contributes to publications like the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Atlantic Monthly, where he is a contributing editor. In 2009, Todd co-authored the definitive election analysis book How Barack Obama Won. His second book, The Stranger: Barack Obama in the White House, was released in 2014. In 2007, Tim Russert, then-Washington bureau chief and Meet the Press moderator recruited Todd to join NBC as the network’s political director. Before that, he was the editor-in-chief of National Journal’s The Hotline, Washington’s premier daily briefing on American politics. In his 15 years working at the Hotline or one of its affiliates, Todd became one of Washington’s foremost experts on political campaigns of all levels. He helped to grow the publication from a single daily political exposition into an elite paper at the epicenter of politics.