|
Mortgage Assistance--Help or Hindrance?
Communications, Financial Services and Interstate Commerce Committee
NCSL Spring Forum - Washington, DC
Friday, April 25, 2008
9:45 - 11:00 am
Speaker Biographies
Amy Crews Cutts
Deputy Chief Economist
Freddie Mac
Virginia
Amy Crews Cutts was appointed to the position deputy chief economist for Freddie Mac in January 2003. In this position, Amy is responsible for primary and secondary mortgage market analysis and research, macroeconomic analysis and forecasting. She is also involved in the analysis of affordable lending activities, fair-housing policy, foreclosure prevention and other policy issues affecting housing and mortgage markets. Freddie Mac is a stockholder-owned corporation established by Congress in 1970 to create a continuous flow of funds to mortgage lenders in support of homeownership and rental housing. Freddie Mac purchases mortgages from lenders and packages them into securities that are sold to investors. Over the years, Freddie Mac has made home possible for one in six homebuyers in America and more than four million renters. Amy is a frequent and sought after guest expert on both national and local TV and radio outlets, and is an acclaimed speaker at professional and academic conferences around the country. Amy is also often quoted in the national print media as an expert on the subject of housing economics. She has published numerous studies in academic journals and books on such topics as the economics of subprime lending, the impact of technology on foreclosure prevention, and the market for multifamily mortgages. Amy came to Freddie Mac in 1997 after serving as assistant professor of economics and senior researcher in the Maxwell School for Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, where she did research on housing policy, income distribution and poverty. She has also taught economics at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Virginia. Amy serves on the Board of Directors of the International Conservatory of Music and in 2007 and 2008 she was the executive director of the ICM’s John and Susie Beatty Music Scholarship Competition for Classical Guitar held in Washington, DC. She also is on the Real Estate Financial Advisory Board for the City of Washington, DC, and Policy Advisory Board of The Reinvestment Fund, Philadelphia, PA. She is a member of the American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association and the American Economics Association. Amy is a graduate of Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, and holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Virginia.
Ellen Harnick
Senior Policy Counsel
Center for Responsible Lending
North Carolina
Ellen Harnick is Senior Policy Counsel at the Center for Responsible Lending (“CRL”), a nonprofit, nonpartisan research and policy organization dedicated to protecting homeownership and family wealth by working to eliminate abusive financial practices. CRL is affiliated with Self-Help, one of the nation’s largest community development financial institutions. Prior to joining CRL, Ms. Harnick was a partner in the New York law firm of Friedman Kaplan Seiler & Adelman LLP, where she represented corporate clients in commercial litigation. During 2001-2002, Ms. Harnick served with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo on the legal team advising the Special Representative of the Secretary General, focusing on the development of market economic laws and the transition to democratic self-government. During 2003, she worked as a consultant to the U.S. Agency for International Development on the development of the mortgage market in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ms. Harnick graduated from Brandeis University in 1985 and Georgetown University Law Center in 1990.
Mildred Harris
Housing and Financial Counselor
Marshall Heights Community Development Organization
Washington, D.C.
Mildred Harris is a Certified Comprehensive Housing Counselor with a wealth of experience assisting clients with mortgage default and other housing counseling services. For 10 years, Ms. Harris has worked with MHCDO, a nonprofit community development organization that has operated housing, economic, and workforce development initiates in the Ward 7 area of Washington, DC since 1979. In her capacity, Ms. Harris provides comprehensive housing counseling services to including assistance regarding money and home management; obtaining/retaining rental housing; homebuyers pre-purchase education; mortgage default inclusive of loss mitigation programs and procedures; eviction/relocation; single family/senior citizens and handicap rehabilitation programs; and reverse equity mortgage inclusive of HECM, Fannie Mae’s Home-keepers Program and other conventional refinance opportunities. MHCDO’s housing counseling services education outreach strategy includes many facets of the at-large community that involve one-on-one counseling and group training workshops on topics such as credit repair; developing credit histories; and financial management development plans. Ms. Harris’ certifications include: Certified Housing Counselor Administrator specializing in comprehensive housing counseling; Board Member of the National Association of Housing Counselors and Agencies, Inc. (NAHCA), 2004 – present; member of NAHCA’s Technical Resource Team in the development of the Comprehensive Housing Counseling Training/Resource Guide, used nationwide by agencies for training and preparation of counselors certification (2005).
Paul Richman
Vice President
State Government Affairs
Mortgage Bankers Association
Washington, D.C.
Paul Richman is Vice President of State Government Affairs at the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). He is responsible for managing MBA’s state government affairs program including directing its state and local: advocacy and issue campaigns; legislative and regulatory policy development and outreach and liaison to organizations of state and local elected officials and regulators. Richman also serves as the principal staff representative to MBA's State Legislative and Regulatory Committee and manages MBA's State Advocacy Fund. Prior to joining MBA, Richman served in several positions with the Clinton-Gore administration. He served in the White House in the Office of the Vice President as Director of Communications for the President's Community Empowerment Board. In addition, Richman served as Chief of Staff of the Secretary of Labor's policy office during the terms of Labor Secretaries Robert B. Reich and Alexis M. Herman. Prior to his federal government service, Richman served in several senior policy-making positions in the administration of the former Governor of New York, Mario M. Cuomo. He served as the Special Counsel to the Director of Economic Development and Deputy Commissioner for Intergovernmental Coordination of the New York State Department of Economic Development. He was responsible for coordinating the development of the Governor's economic development legislative agenda, budget and policy and operational issues of all New York State's economic development departments, agencies and public authorities, and the New York State Banking Department. While serving in this position, Mr. Richman was responsible for the passage of eight major pieces of legislation that were designed to help improve the climate for businesses and create jobs in New York State. Richman earned his bachelor's degree, cum laude, from Brooklyn College, City University of New York, and his law degree from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University.
Terrie Suit
State Delegate
Virginia
Terrie Suit was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates on November 2, 1999. She represents the 81st district, which includes, the southeast portion of Virginia Beach and the portion of Chesapeake south of Great Bridge. Over the past seven years she has used her experience in business, housing and community service to become an influential member of the Virginia House of Delegates. Delegate Suit chairs the General Laws Committee and serves on the Counties, Cities and Towns; and the Privileges and Elections Committees. She has been a leader on many important issues to her district and the Commonwealth including eminent domain reform, military relations, retaining Oceana Naval Air Station, protecting victims of domestic violence, environmental remediation, and affordable housing. Along with her many legislative activities Delegate Suit is an active member of the Hampton Roads community. She serves on the Virginia Beach Contemporary Art Center Board of Trustees; recently became a board member for the Old Dominion University Alumni Association; and she is not only a long-standing member of the Lead Hampton Roads Board of Trustees, but was elected as their 2006-2007 chair. Terrie is a Navy wife who grew up the daughter of a career US Army officer. An example of lifelong learning, Terrie recently graduated from Tidewater Community College and has just earned her bachelor’s degree from Old Dominion University.
 Communications, Financial Services & Interstate Commerce (CFI) Committee Handouts, Presentations & Links
|
