News from MBA/MW

Two deserving MBA/MW members were presented with Outstanding Service Awards at MBA/MW's Kickoff Dinner on February 23 at Positano Restaurant.

Margie Blanchard is the Business Development Director for New World Title & Escrow. Prior to joining New World Title & Escrow Margie was an Account Manager with PMI Mortgage Insurance for over 20 years covering Northern VA and parts of MD.

For her entire mortgage banking career Margie has tirelessly given her time to MBA/MW. Margie has served as a member of the Board of Governors in 2002 and 2003, chaired our Networking Committee and Fall Conference, served on numerous committees, participated multiple years as a panelist for our annual fall conference and has been a sponsor for multiple new association members.

Margie most recently served as Chair of MBA/MW's 2009 Mid-Atlantic Lender/Broker. The Conference Committee is responsible for finding relevant speakers, obtaining sponsors as well as soliciting companies to be an exhibitor. This was a difficult task given the economic climate last year. Margie stepped to the plate and together with her committee put together an extremely successful conference in a very challenging year. MBA/MW has been very fortunate to have Margie's dedication and participation over many years.

Robin Buffalo joined the BF Saul Mortgage Company in March of 1970. He saw it as a small local company with some potential growth opportunity. Prior to joining the company Robin obtained his Bachelor's degree from Lake Forest College in Illinois and then went on to Officer Candidate School in the Army National Guard. The mortgage company later fell under the umbrella of Chevy Chase Bank and now Capital One Bank.

Robin has held just about every position in the mortgage company over his 40 years of service from origination to processing to underwriting to IT to servicing to secondary and everything in between. Robin also held a real estate broker's license for 35 years.

Robin considers his most significant contribution to the mortgage banking industry to be the coaching and mentoring of hundreds of great people who became very successful in the business including people who have risen to the ranks of Group Vice President and Senior Vice President within Chevy Chase Bank.

Robin served one term on the MBA/MW Board of Governors, and another term on the Board of the District of Columbia Mortgage Bankers, which was the predecessor to the MBA/MW. The BF Saul Mortgage Company was a charter member of the DCMB, and Robin was asked to serve as the company's representative.

Robin has also served on MBA/MW's Legislative Committee and provided expert testimony a number of times before the Maryland State Assembly on issues of usury and insurance.

MBA/MW's Outstanding Service Awards Program was established in 1998 to recognize and honor individuals who have made exceptional contributions of their time and energy to the profession, the association and the community.