Brinkmann Tapped as MBA’s Chief Economist

MBA (8/27/2008 ) Stokes, Aleis
The Mortgage Bankers Association announced that Jay Brinkmann has been named the organization's chief economist and senior vice president for research and economics. Brinkmann has been with the MBA since 2001 and has served as the organization's vice president of research for most of that tenure.

"When the position first became vacant last March, Jay suggested we conduct a national search to find an ideal candidate," said MBA COO John Courson. "After months of interviewing many well-qualified candidates, it became apparent that the best candidate already worked at MBA and we approached Jay to take the job."
Prior to joining the MBA, Brinkmann worked at Fannie Mae in the portfolio strategy and credit pricing areas. He served previously on the business school faculty of the University of Houston, where he specialized in 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 Gov. David Treen (R) and was Treen's press secretary during Treen's years in the House.

"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, 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."

Brinkmann holds a Ph.D. in finance from Purdue University, an MBA from Tulane University and an undergraduate degree from The George Washington University. He is a native of New Orleans and he and his wife Nancy currently reside in Virginia.

Brinkmann succeeds Doug Duncan, who left MBA in March to become chief economist at Fannie Mae.