The Mortgage Bankers Association today announced that Jay Brinkmann has been named the organization’s chief economist and SVP of research and economics. Brinkmann has been with the MBA since 2001 and has served as the organization’s VP of research for most of that period.
According to John A. Courson, MBA’s COO, after conducting a six-month national search, it became evident to the organization that the best candidate for the job already worked at MBA and was Brinkmann. “Jay brings a unique set of qualifications to the position that will serve the mortgage industry well,” Courson said. “Beyond having a firm grasp of the fundamental drivers of the economy and the real estate industry, both single-family and commercial/multifamily, Jay has an intimate knowledge of mortgage company business operations and business models.”

“And perhaps most importantly,” continued Courson, “Jay’s background in finance brings a capital markets perspective to the position that will be invaluable to the industry as we work through the challenges now facing the secondary markets.”
Prior to joining the MBA, Brinkmann worked for Fannie Mae in the portfolio strategy and credit pricing areas. He was previously on the business school faculty of the University of Houston, where he specialized in the regulation of financial institutions and teaching commercial bank management after having worked in the commercial lending division of Premier National Bank in Louisiana. He also served as the deputy of chief of staff for Louisiana Governor David C. Treen and was Treen’s press secretary during his years in the House of Representatives.
Brinkmann holds a Ph.D. in Finance from Purdue University, an MBA from Tulane University and an undergraduate degree from The George Washington University.