The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) on Wednesday announced the promotion of three current association leaders.
The promotions are part of a restructuring of the duties held by Marcia Davies, the association’s chief operating officer, who announced plans Wednesday morning to retire at the end of the year, MBA said.
Peter Grace, formerly senior vice president of membership, education, technology and strategy, has been promoted to chief administrative officer and senior vice president of industry education and technology.
In his new role, Grace will oversee strategy, operations, IT, finance, legal, human resources and the MBA Opens Doors Foundation, while continuing to lead education and industry technology. He will also remain MBA’s representative on the MISMO board of directors.
Laura Hopkins, previously vice president of membership, was promoted to senior vice president of membership and meetings. John Mechem, who had been vice president of public affairs, is now senior vice president of public affairs and marketing.
Hopkins and Mechem will join MBA’s senior management team, where Grace already serves. All three will report to MBA president and CEO Bob Broeksmit.
“MBA is blessed with a strong bench of up-and-coming proven leaders, allowing us to create upward mobility for these three talented individuals already on staff,” said Broeksmit. “Peter, Laura and John each bring exceptional and unique talents to their expanded roles, and I look forward to seeing them continue to grow and MBA’s members gaining the benefit of their experience and new perspectives.”
Peter Grace
Grace joined MBA in 2012 as chief information officer and vice president of strategic management, and was promoted to senior vice president in 2014.
Before MBA, Grace served as chief of staff to the acting deputy secretary at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). He previously was associate commissioner of strategic planning, technology and research at the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development. He began his career at Accenture, advising telecommunications companies on organizational strategy and transformation.
Grace holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s degree in public administration from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.
Laura Hopkins
Hopkins joined the association in 2017 as director of membership after nearly two decades in mortgage banking sales and management. She was promoted to vice president of member relations in 2021 and, in 2024, became vice president of membership, overseeing member services, associate membership and commercial/multifamily membership.
In her new role, Hopkins will direct MBA conferences and meetings and lead mPower, the association’s networking platform for women in real estate finance. Hopkins earned a business management and merchandising degree from Florida State University.
John Mechem
Mechem, who joined MBA in 2006 as manager of public affairs, was promoted to vice president of public affairs in 2015, managing media relations, speechwriting, social and digital media, and member and executive communications.
In his new role, he will serve as lead strategist for external messaging, overseeing public affairs, media relations, marketing, digital engagement, publications and brand management.
Before MBA, Mechem was director of communications at the American Forest & Paper Association and earlier worked on Capitol Hill in communications for U.S. Sens. Mitch McConnell and Jim Bunning. He holds a degree in government and American studies from Colby College.
