MBA Presents Burton C. Wood Award to Christine Rhea, President/CEO of the Mortgage Investors Group

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 19, 2024) – The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today presented its annual Burton C. Wood Legislative Service Award to Christine (Chrissi) Rhea, President/CEO of the Mortgage Investors Group (MIG), at MBA's 2024 National Advocacy Conference (NAC). The award is given annually to an MBA member in recognition of his or her sustained superior service to the association and the real estate finance industry.

“Chrissi is a results-driven, passionate MBA member and policy advocate who for many years has fought for meaningful change on the industry’s biggest issues and priorities,” said Mark Jones, 2024 MBA Chairman and President of Union Home Mortgage. “Most recently, MBA’s ongoing fight to stop the abusive use of trigger leads – in all but a limited number of circumstances– has benefitted from Chrissi’s continued engagement, which has resulted in the introduction of bipartisan bills ( H.R. 7297 and S. 3502) in both the U.S. House and Senate. She embodies what it means to be a leader and is so deserving of this award.”

Rhea currently sits on MBA’s Board of Directors and is the immediate past Chair of MBA’s Residential Board of Governors (RESBOG). She continues to make strides to expand MBA’s advocacy efforts through her participation in MBA’s “Advocacy in August” campaign, and her contributions to the Mortgage Bankers Association Political Action Committee (MORPAC). Rhea is also an active member of MBA’s Independent Mortgage Bankers Executive Council (IMBEC) and other committees.

The award is named after MBA’s late Legislative Counsel Burton C. Wood, who devoted more than 30 years of service to MBA’s advocacy efforts. Wood was the first recipient of the award in 1990, and his lobbying skills gained the respect and attention of both Republicans and Democrats alike. He passed away in 2010.