GENERAL SESSION: Iconic Moments - A Conversation with Jane Fonda

SVP, National Field Sales & Strategic Accounts, Arch Mortgage Insurance Company

As Arch MI’s SVP-National Field Sales and Strategic Accounts, Valerie Ausband is responsible for managing sales, profitability and budget, client relationships, and hiring and developing sales talent. With 25 years of mortgage insurance experience, Valerie has led both Arch MI’s and United Guaranty’s sales organizations to achieve extraordinary sales results, year over year. She has spent her career in mortgage lending and mortgage insurance industries, starting her career with a leading market share retail mortgage lender in Atlanta, moving to the title services business and then joining United Guaranty in 1998. Valerie’s dedication to the industry is evidenced by her leadership and creation of the Executive Women’s Conference and the Women’s Leadership Group. She also serves on the Board of Advisors for XINNIX®, the Mortgage Academy. Housing Wire recognized Valerie in its 2017 and 2018 “Women of Influence” programs. In 2019, she received the Mortgage Women Magazine's Women with Vision Award. Valerie and her son are active members of YMSL (Young Men's Service League), serving the community through philanthropic work. She holds an Accredited Mortgage Professional (AMP) designation, a Property and Casualty license and a Georgia Real Estate license. Valerie earned her bachelor’s degree in history at the University of Georgia.

mPower Founder; Chief Operating Officer, Mortgage Bankers Association

Marcia M. Davies is MBA’s Chief Operating Officer, responsible for ensuring cross-organizational alignment and facilitating the implementation of strategic initiatives, as well as maintaining oversight of key organizational priorities. She provides leadership, guidance and overall management to the Public Affairs, Marketing, Conferences, Membership, Education, Information Technology and Office Services divisions. She also provides management oversight to, and is a Board member of, MBA’s Opens Doors Foundation. Previously, Marcia worked at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), as Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Housing and Federal Housing Commissioner and in various roles at Freddie Mac for 21 years. She is the founder of mPower — MBA Promoting Opportunities for Women to Extend their Reach — MBA’s networking platform for women in the real estate finance industry. She is a member of the NAWRB Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Council (NDILC), three-time recipient of Women with Vision award, and was honored by HousingWire as one of its 2015 Women of Influence.

Academy Award-Winning Actor, Author, Producer, Activist, and Fitness Guru

Jane Fonda is a two-time Academy Award-winning actor (Best Actress in 1971 for Klute and in 1978 for Coming Home), producer, author, activist, and fitness guru. Her career has spanned over 50 years, accumulating a body of film work that includes over 50 films and crucial work on behalf of political causes such as women’s rights, Native Americans, and the environment. She is a seven-time Golden Globe® winner and was honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2021. Fonda also recently accepted The Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award at this year’s 2023 Tribeca Film Festival. 2023 marked a triumphant return to the big screen with four films released, most recently lending her voice as ‘Grandmama’ in DreamWorks’ animated film Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken. Before that, Fonda reunited with Diane Keaton, Mary Steenburgen, and Candice Bergen for Focus Features’ Book Club 2. She also starred in the highly anticipated 80 For Brady opposite Tomlin, Sally Field, and Rita Moreno released by Paramount Pictures. Then there was Paul Weitz’s Moving On for Roadside Attractions in which Fonda played opposite longtime friend and colleague, Lily Tomlin. Other notable credits include Grace & Frankie, which is Netflix’s longest running original series. It is for her work on the series that she received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2017. She also released Jane Fonda in Five Acts, a documentary for HBO chronicling her life and activism. Fonda continues to lead the charge on the climate emergency via Fire Drill Fridays, the national movement to protest government inaction on climate change which she started in October 2019 in partnership with Greenpeace USA. In 2022 she launched the Jane Fonda Climate PAC, which is focused on defeating political allies of the fossil fuel industry. Her latest book, “What Can I Do? My Path From Climate Despair To Action” details her personal journey with the movement and provides solutions for communities to combat the climate crisis. Jane also notably celebrated her 85th birthday by raising $1 million for her nonprofit, Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power & Potential (GCAPP).