CMB Connect

Val Buresch
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Anyone can see the three letters after a name on LinkedIn. But what about the war stories? The risky bets that paid off? These are the moments that build a mortgage banking career. Welcome to CMB Connect, the podcast that explores the journey, not just the arrival. Join host Val Buresch, CMB Society Chairman (2024), as she sits down with the leaders of housing finance to uncover the pivotal moments, the hard-won lessons, and the unfiltered predictions for what's next. It's time to Get Behind the Designation.

  1. Spy Stories, Brushstrokes, and Basis Points with Jason Bohrer, CMB | CMBConnect | S3 Ep3

    MAR 11

    Spy Stories, Brushstrokes, and Basis Points with Jason Bohrer, CMB | CMBConnect | S3 Ep3

    In this episode of CMBConnect, host Val Buresch, Founder of Polygon Research and a Certified Mortgage Banker (CMB), speaks with Jason Bohrer, CEO and President of Newbold Advisors and a Certified Mortgage Banker (CMB), about leadership, observation, and navigating decades of change in the housing finance industry. The conversation begins with a remarkable family story. Jason shares the history of his mother, Doris Bohrer, one of the first women to work for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II — the intelligence organization that later became the CIA. As a photo reconnaissance analyst stationed in North Africa and Italy, she interpreted aerial imagery used in military operations and intelligence planning. From there, Val and Jason explore Jason’s career journey through mortgage banking, capital markets, and executive leadership. Having worked across multiple organizations during periods of consolidation and industry transformation, Jason reflects on what it takes to adapt and thrive in a business where change is constant. They discuss: Lessons from decades in mortgage banking and housing financeWhy data-driven decision making matters in leadershipNavigating mergers, acquisitions, and industry cyclesThe importance of relationships in financial servicesThe role of art and creativity in sharpening observation and strategic thinkingHow AI and incremental innovation may shape the future of mortgage technologyJason also talks about his work today at Newbold Advisors, helping lenders and fintech companies solve operational and technology challenges. For anyone working in housing finance, mortgage banking, fintech, or capital markets, this episode offers thoughtful insights on leadership, learning, and staying adaptable in an industry that is always evolving. Books & Podcasts Mentioned Painting as a Pastime — Winston ChurchillMitch Rapp series — Vince FlynnHarry Bosch series — Michael ConnellyJason Bourne series — Robert LudlumPodcast: Acquired

    47 min
  2. Bank Mortgage Strategy & Growth with Jeremy Bowling, CMB | S3 | Ep2 | CMBConnect

    FEB 9

    Bank Mortgage Strategy & Growth with Jeremy Bowling, CMB | S3 | Ep2 | CMBConnect

    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

    38 min
  3. How Advocacy, Communication, and Leadership Shape Mortgage Banking — with Rhiannon Bolen | S3 Ep 1 | CMB Connect

    JAN 24

    How Advocacy, Communication, and Leadership Shape Mortgage Banking — with Rhiannon Bolen | S3 Ep 1 | CMB Connect

    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.

    45 min
  4. The HFA Advantage: Partnering with THDA for 2026 with Jen Green | S2 Ep8 | CMB Connect

    12/29/2025

    The HFA Advantage: Partnering with THDA for 2026 with Jen Green | S2 Ep8 | CMB Connect

    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.

    19 min
  5. Driving Mortgage Growth in a High-Rate Market with David Jackson | S2 Ep 7 | CMB Connect

    12/15/2025

    Driving Mortgage Growth in a High-Rate Market with David Jackson | S2 Ep 7 | CMB Connect

    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

    23 min
  6. Building Habits for Success: John Lynah, CPA, CMB on Leadership and Growth |S2 Ep6| CMB Connect

    12/01/2025

    Building Habits for Success: John Lynah, CPA, CMB on Leadership and Growth |S2 Ep6| CMB Connect

    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.

    28 min
  7. GSEs & Hot-Button Proposals with Ryan Black, CMB | S2 Ep 5 | CMB Connect

    11/11/2025

    GSEs & Hot-Button Proposals with Ryan Black, CMB | S2 Ep 5 | CMB Connect

    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

    25 min
  8. From Fannie Mae to Founder with Jennifer Whip | S2 Ep4 | CMB Connect

    11/03/2025

    From Fannie Mae to Founder with Jennifer Whip | S2 Ep4 | CMB Connect

    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.

    31 min
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About

Anyone can see the three letters after a name on LinkedIn. But what about the war stories? The risky bets that paid off? These are the moments that build a mortgage banking career. Welcome to CMB Connect, the podcast that explores the journey, not just the arrival. Join host Val Buresch, CMB Society Chairman (2024), as she sits down with the leaders of housing finance to uncover the pivotal moments, the hard-won lessons, and the unfiltered predictions for what's next. It's time to Get Behind the Designation.

Information

  • Creator
    Val Buresch
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Val Buresch
  • Show Website
    CMB Connect