In this episode of CMB Connect, Val Buresch welcomes Jeremy Bowling, Strategy and Business Development Director for Mortgage Lending at Huntington National Bank. Jeremy shares the strategic "trident" that led to a 20% year-over-year increase in loan officer productivity and record-breaking production in December 2025. He also provides a deeply personal look into his journey to industry leadership, explaining how that perspective fuels his passion for helping first-time homebuyers navigate the complexities of the current market.

Jeremy's Strategic Reading & Listening List

To stay sharp and maintain perspective, Jeremy recommends the following resources mentioned in the episode:

• Grit by Angela Duckworth
• Emotional Intelligence by Susan David
• Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace
• Classic Satire: Slaughterhouse-Five, Animal Farm, and Candide

• Podcasts: Wiser Than Me (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and The Rest is History

[00:06] Introduction, the CMB Journey & Personal Resilience

[05:40] Scaling Production in a Flat Market

[08:30] The Trident of Success

[10:35] Defining Strategy

[13:14] The First-Time Homebuyer Advantage

[18:18] The Human Element in the Age of AI

[21:12] Bank Expansion Strategy to the South

[31:09] Staying Sharp: The Reading List

Rhiannon Bolen, SVP at GridBase and founder of Texas Women Mortgage Bankers, shares how advocacy and communication skills drive success in mortgage banking.

In this season premiere of CMB Connect, host Val Buresch sits down with Rhiannon Bolen, CMB, to explore her 25-year journey from receptionist to Senior Vice President at GridBase.

Rhiannon shares how GridBase is solving the lender-title collaboration gap, why she founded Texas Women Mortgage Bankers (growing from 45 to 550+ members), and the difference between advocacy and lobbying. She breaks down two major legislative wins—reforming Texas cash-out refinance rules and banning abusive trigger leads—and explains why effective communication beats AI skills for career growth.

Whether you're building a mortgage banking career or leading one, this conversation offers practical insights on B2B sales, advocacy, mentorship, and creating meaningful industry connections.

Key Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction: Rhiannon Bolen's path to mortgage banking leadership

1:06 - What is GridBase? Solving the lender-title communication gap

6:52 - From small business owner to mortgage receptionist: An unconventional start

8:22 - Building a 25-year career in B2B mortgage sales and leadership

14:17 - Founding Texas Women Mortgage Bankers: Closing the gender gap locally

20:20 - How 45 members grew to 550+: Creating vulnerable spaces for women

25:16 - Advocacy vs. Lobbying: What mortgage professionals need to know

31:25 - Two major wins: Texas cash-out refi reform & trigger leads ban

35:13 - The art of B2B sales: Preparation, curiosity, and consultative selling

41:11 - Career advice: Why communication skills trump AI and coding

About the Host

Val Buresch is the founder of Polygon Research, a consultancy specializing in mortgage banking strategy and industry research. A Certified Mortgage Banker (CMB) and former MBA committee chair, Val hosts CMB Connect to share insights on career development, innovation, and advocacy in mortgage banking.

Connect with Val

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/buresch/

Polygon Research: https://www.polygonresearch.com/

About the Guest

Rhiannon Bolen, CMB, AMP is Senior Vice President and National Sales Director at GridBase. With 25 years in mortgage banking across companies like CoreLogic, ICE Mortgage Technology, and ArchMI, she founded Texas Women Mortgage Bankers in 2019 and serves as 2025-26 MORPAC Associate Vice Chair for the MBA.

Connect with Rhiannon

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhiannon-bolen-cmb-amp-96bba939/

About CMB Connect

CMB Connect celebrates the stories and insights of Certified Mortgage Bankers and industry leaders, exploring career development, trends, and advocacy in mortgage banking.

How can mortgage leaders gain a competitive edge in 2026?

In this episode of CMBConnect, Val Buresch, CMB, speaks with Jen Green, CMB, Assistant Director of Single-Family Loan Operations at the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA). Jen bridges the gap between private-sector correspondent lending and public-sector mission work to show lenders how to turn State Housing Finance Agencies (HFAs) into high-performance partners.

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction

01:47 – The CMB Journey: Professional Development and Mentorship

04:21 – Bridging Private Sector Experience with Public Service

06:07 – Debunking the HFA Myth

07:59 – Defining the HFA Mission

09:19 – Looking Toward 2026: Affordability and Financial Counseling

11:17 – Empowering Lenders: Training and Preparation

15:09 – Strategic Planning

Jen Green contributed these HFA resources:

• https://www.ncsha.org/about-us/about-hfas/hfa1-affordable-homeownership-lender-toolkit/
• https://www.ncsha.org/
• https://dpaone.freddiemac.com/

About the Guest

Jen Green, CMB is the Assistant Director of Single-Family Loan Operations at the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA). With a background spanning the correspondent, retail, and wholesale lending sectors, Jen brings a wealth of private-sector operational expertise to the public housing space. She is a graduate of the Tennessee Mortgage Bankers Association (TNMBA) Future Leaders program and earned her Certified Mortgage Banker (CMB) designation to further her mission of expanding access to affordable housing. Learn more about Jen Green on Linkedin.

About the Host

Val Buresch, CMB is the founder of Polygon Research—The Shape of Mortgage Intelligence. Polygon Research specializes in unlocking open data sets to provide sophisticated mortgage market analytics at the loan level. A recognized leader in the industry, Val served as the 2024 CMB Society Chairman and is dedicated to sharing the stories and strategies of the professionals shaping the future of mortgage banking. Follow or connect with Val Buresch on LinkedIn.

In this episode of CMB Connect, we analyze how Ruoff Mortgage achieved significant year-over-year growth in the Michigan market during 2024, defying the industry trend of stagnation in a high-rate environment.

Host Val Buresch, CMB, sits down with David Jackson, CMB, to deconstruct the strategy behind this lift. The conversation reveals that success wasn’t driven by a specific niche product or builder strategy, but rather by a "back-to-basics" approach to sales consistency, a high-touch management style, and a unique culture that turns former employees into "boomerang" hires.

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction: David Jackson & The Michigan Market

01:44 - Strategy: Accepting the "Higher for Longer" Rate Environment

03:00 - Management Philosophy: The Manager as a Resource

05:51 - The Boomerang Effect: Why Loan Officers Leave and Come Back

08:40 - Protecting Operations: Balancing Recruiting with Support Capacity

10:11 - The Truth About Sign-On Bonuses & Aggressive Poaching

12:34 - Recruiting Strategy: Experienced LOs vs. The Junior Model

14:48 - IMBs vs. Banks

18:30 - Speed & Execution in a Competitive Market

20:00 - 2026 Outlook: Playing the Long Game in Recruiting

About the Guest

David Jackson, CMB is the Area Manager SVP at Ruoff Mortgage, covering the Michigan market. With over 30 years in the industry, David recently earned his Certified Mortgage Banker (CMB) designation. He specializes in building high-performing sales teams. LinkedIn Profile

About the Host

Val Buresch, CMB, CMCP, AMP is the founder of Polygon Research—The Shape of Mortgage Intelligence. Polygon unlocks open data sets with mortgage market analytics at the loan level. Val served as the 2024 CMB Society Chairman. LinkedIn Profile

Summary

In this conversation, Val Buresch and John J. Lynah delve into the challenges and opportunities within the housing finance industry. John shares his unique experiences of navigating international markets, the importance of professional designations like CPA and CMB, and the significance of building effective habits for success. The book they mentioned in their conversation is Atomic Habits by James Clear. They also discuss current market challenges, strategic planning for growth, and the collaborative nature of the mortgage industry.

Connect and follow Val Buresch: www.linkedin.com/in/buresch/Connect and follow John Lynah: www.linkedin.com/in/johnlynah/

About Val Buresch, CMB,CMCP, AMP

Chief Executive Officer – Polygon Research www.polygonresearch.com

Known for finding the "hidden story in the numbers," Val Buresch is a data scientist, Certified Mortgage Banker (CMB), and the Founder of Polygon Research. Val specializes in turning data chaos into clear plans, helping the housing finance industry leverage open data for competitive analysis, fair lending and risk management. She is a passionate educator and advocate for bottom-up change, having donated hundreds of hours of pro-bono work to non-profits and raised funds for community restoration projects abroad.

About John J. Lynah, CPA, CMB

Chief Financial Officer – Mortgage Equity Partners (MLO #1309827)

John J. Lynah is the Chief Financial Officer for Mortgage Equity Partners, (“MEP”) located in Lynnfield, MA. John has over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry.

John started his career working at Harvard University as the Accounting Manager for the Credit Union. After ten years at Harvard, he accepted a role in Corporate Finance at State Street Bank while attending the Professional Evening MBA (“PEMBA”) Program at Boston University where he earned his master’s degree in business administration (“MBA”). He also holds the professional designations of Certified Mortgage Banker (CMB), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and Certified Forensic Examiner (CFE).

John has dual citizenship (USA & Ireland) and in 2004 moved to London for five years where worked as a Financial Controller for JP Morgan and Barclays Banks. He later transferred with Barclays Bank to New York where he was the Head of Financial Control for the Wealth Management Division.

After New York, John moved “home” to Boston where he joined Mortgage Equity Partners (“MEP”) as the Chief Financial Officer. John is a member of the Executive Management Team at MEP where his primary objectives are to oversee the Finance and HR Functions of the organization.

In this episode of CMBConnect, host Val Buresch speaks with Ryan Black, CMB, a partner at Black, Mann and Graham, about his journey from congressional staffer to mortgage industry expert. They discuss the future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the implications of new mortgage proposals, and the importance of advocacy in the mortgage industry. Ryan emphasizes the need for Congress to play a role in the future of GSEs and shares insights on credit score changes and their impact on the market.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Ryan Black and His Journey

02:44 The Role of CMB and Industry Involvement

05:25 Conservatorship and the Future of Fannie and Freddie

10:42 Proposals for Assumable Mortgages and Affordability

14:35 Exploring the 50-Year Fixed Mortgage Proposal

16:13 Impact of Lowering Minimum Credit Scores

19:15 Adoption of Vantage Score and Its Implications

20:42 Advocacy and Staying Ahead in the Industry

25:19 End

Connect and follow Val Buresch on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/buresch/

Connect and follow Ryan Black on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-black-10632072/

Learn more about the CMB Designation:

https://www.mba.org/conferences-and-education/certificates-and-designations/certified-mortgage-banker

Val Buresch delves into the inspiring journey of Jennifer Whip, CMB, a leader who embodies courage and reinvention. From a distinguished career at Fannie Mae to founding her own consulting firm, Jennifer shares her story of taking calculated risks, the importance of networking, and the personal wake-up calls that shaped her path. Discover how mentorship and continuous learning play pivotal roles in her success, and gain insights into the evolving mortgage industry. Tune in for a conversation filled with wisdom, personal anecdotes, and a look at the future of entrepreneurship.

Ever wonder what the mortgage industry was like with 17% interest rates, paper files, and no internet? Rates were locked by phone, deals were made with a handshake, and entire loan files were shipped in cardboard boxes.

In this episode, we step into a time machine with Mike Hyman, Certified Mortgage Banker (CMB), a 43-year industry veteran celebrating his 30th year with the designation. He shares incredible stories and lessons learned from his unique global perspective, having managed mortgage operations in the UK.

Connect with Mike: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelahyman/

Chapters

00:00 The Evolution of the Mortgage Industry

20:08 Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac: The Innovators

26:05 The Rise of Subservicing

31:40 The Birth of Reverse Mortgages

37:52 International Perspectives: A Global Mortgage Experience

46:01 The Aftermath of 2008: Industry Reflection

48:27 What is Offshoring in the Mortgage Industry?

01:04:23 The Future of Mortgage Banking: AI and Customer Focus

01:08:44 The Role of Education in Mortgage Banking

What does it really take to master financial reporting in one of the world's most complex industries? In this episode, host Val Buresch sits down with Nancy Zhu, SVP and Director of Financial Reporting and Analysis at Cornerstone Home Lending, to get the inside story.

Nancy shares her fascinating journey into mortgage banking, revealing why a deep understanding of the loan lifecycle is crucial. She shares how her global experiences have shaped a unique leadership style and explains why data and automation are no longer optional.

Get ready to learn about the key performance indicators (KPIs) every mortgage lender must monitor and hear game-changing advice for aspiring Certified Mortgage Bankers on the power of mentorship, technology, and genuine understanding over memorization.

What happens when three Certified Mortgage Bankers (CMBs) meet in one of the world's most historic cities?

I'm joined by SuSheila Dhillon, Alan Fowler, and Brian Handal to revisit their international project in Cairo. Between 2005 and 2010, they were tasked with helping build a modern housing finance system from the ground up. But right in the middle of their mission, the 2008 global financial crisis presented an entirely new set of challenges.

They share their story of navigating the fallout, managing cross-cultural teams under pressure, and the practical lessons learned from pioneering a market during a period of global instability.