The Mortgage Bankers Association of New York consists of a diverse membership of real estate and business specialists whose mission is to provide the most professional service to the public and private sectors in an informative, ethical and dedicated manner to meet the ever evolving challenges facing the real estate finance industry.
Our mission
- To promote the welfare of the real estate finance industry of New York State;
- To encourage sound and ethical business practices in the real estate finance industry of New York State;
- To provide business networking opportunities to its members; and to provide current education on real estate finance to its members.
The association endeavors to create an environment developing innovative business tools, educating and training industry professionals, providing a forum for the sharing of ideas and business networking, and informing the real estate finance industry on legislative and regulatory issues.
President’s Message

Jonathan Stern
President, MBAofNY
I am honored to serve as the president of the Mortgage Bankers Association of New York (MBA of NY) at such a pivotal time in our industry’s history.
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented many challenges to our members and to the real estate finance markets. I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to our members who have lost family and friends, or whose own health has been seriously affected. As for the pandemic’s effect on business, the MBA of NY has done its utmost to serve our members and continue providing the programming, resources, and community that we all rely on.
My colleagues on the board of governors, all of whom are long-term members and active market participants, helped navigate the various challenges presented by the pandemic. Thanks to their dedication and follow-through, we have emerged as an even stronger and more united organization.
I’m proud not only of the board’s contributions, but also of the diversity it reflects. Each representative brings a different background, specialization, and point of view that enhances the breadth of our expertise.
MBA of NY members are equally worthy of recognition and our leadership and members share two attributes in common: They care deeply about causes important to the lending community and they advocate for these causes. Rest assured that as the market recovers from the pandemic, the MBA of NY will be leading the way.
I am excited about the future for the MBA of NY. Our mission, to promote the welfare of the real estate finance industry in New York State, has never been more relevant and MBA of NY leadership and members are well prepared to advance this mission by leveraging our collective insight and relationships.
Please join us at one of our upcoming events and learn how you can get involved in an organization that has been at the forefront of real estate finance in New York since 1948.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Stern
President, MBAofNY
Golf Committee Chair: Peter Millar
Membership Chair: OPEN
Social Media (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter) Chair: OPEN
Website Committee Chair: OPEN
Our History
There is an old saying “history never looks like history when you are living through it”. During good times or challenging times, periods of great development or times of economic uncertainty, the one constant that the New York real estate community has come to rely on has been the Mortgage Bankers Association of New York, Inc.
Born out of the post-war real estate boom in 1948, the MBA of New York has promoted the welfare of the real estate finance industry of New York State ever since. Our purpose for existence and our mission have transcended every real estate cycle since our inception. We have always endeavored to provide our membership with high quality networking opportunities, topical educational programming on matters relevant to the times and be an advocate for their interests in the political and business arenas on issues affecting our industry.
Over the years, our Past Presidents, Officers and Boards of Governors have been leaders of our industry and have always graciously volunteered their time to serve. The MBA of New York proudly recognizes the history created by our Past Presidents and gratefully acknowledges not only their service to our industry but also their contributions to our organization over the years.
High interest rates, low interest rates, inflation, deflation, stagflation, over-building, under-building, tight credit,easy credit, no credit, credit crunches and, of course, long periods of prosperity. The MBA of New York and its members have lived through it all. And, for every situation we have lived through, combined with all that we have learned from our past, the MBA of New York and its members have always emerged stronger, smarter, tougher and better- together.
After all, we’re the MBA of New York!
Past Presidents
Gregory Nuber | 2018-2020 |
David Soares | 2016-2018 |
Frederick A. McDonald, Jr. | 2014-2016 |
Brian Scesney | 2012-2014 |
Michael B. Fletcher | 2010-2012 |
Michael J. Hurley, Jr., Esq. | 2008-2010 |
Gerard Zapata | 2006-2008 |
Douglas H. Forsyth | 2004-2006 |
Henry Boeckmann III | 2002-2004 |
James T. Freel | 2000-2002 |
Janet Knipfing | 1999-2000 |
Michael P. McManus | 1998-1999 |
George Bossis | 1997-1998 |
Steven B. Jason | 1996-1997 |
Richard A. Nardi | 1995-1996 |
Russell G. Matthews | 1994-1995 |
Patricia Niemas | 1993-1994 |
Lawrence J. Longua | 1992-1993 |
Mark A. Iannone | 1991-1992 |
Anthony J. Harney | 1990-1991 |
Frank J. Harvey | 1989-1990 |
Michael Adler | 1988-1989 |
Jane E. Greenstein | 1987-1988 |
Richard J. Santoro | 1986-1987 |
Malcolm Rosenberg | 1985-1986 |
Joseph B. Tocharshewsky | 1984-1985 |
Louis E. Hathaway, III | 1983-1984 |
Marilyn L. Brown | 1982-1983 |
H.L. Van Varick | 1981-1982 |
George A. Metzger | 1980-1981 |
Thomas F. Roberts, III | 1979-1980 |
Robert F. Hill | 1978-1979 |
Frank J. Finan | 1977-1978 |
Patrick J. Gavin | 1976-1977 |
Peter C. Haeffner, Jr. | 1975-1976 |
George F. Brunner | 1974-1975 |
Frederick E. Bolk | 1973-1974 |
Thomas G. Davis, Jr. | 1972-1973 |
Arthur I. Sonnenblick | 1971-1972 |
William F. Reynolds | 1970-1971 |
John B. Bailey | 1969-1970 |
Vincent J. Quinn | 1968-1969 |
Cornelius C. Rose, Jr. | 1967-1968 |
William C. Plog | 1965-1966 |
Charles H.Haynsworth | 1965 |
James E.Gorman | 1964 |
William J. Gill | 1963-1964 |
Thomas H. Quin | 1962-1963 |
Philip L. Greenawalt | 1961-1962 |
John F. Eleford | 1960-1961 |
Russel G. Smith | 1959-1960 |
Eugene J. McCarthy | 1958-1959 |
William C. Batchelder | 1957-1958 |
Albert E. Berkeley | 1956-1957 |
Harry M. Huter | 1955-1956 |
Lawrence A. Epter | 1954-1955 |
Board of Governors
Officers 2022-2023
PRESIDENT
Jonathan Stern
Managing Director
Meridian Capital Group, LLC
VICE PRESIDENT
Zahra B. Jafri
President
Lynx Mortgage Bank LLC
TREASURER
Karen Kozlowski, Esq
Partner, Co-Chair Real Estate Finance Team Partner, Co-Chair Real Estate Finance Team Thompson Hine LLP
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER
Kitty Yen
Structured Credit Executive
U.S. Trust | Bank of America
Private Wealth Management
Board of Governor Liaison
Jenn Smaragdas
Director of Operations &
Business Development,
C3S CoRE Consulting, Inc.
Board of Governors 2022-2023
Gregg Christensen
Managing Director
Southwell Realty Capital
Douglas Giles
CEO
Five Points Abstract, LLC
Frederick A. Mcdonald, jr., Mrics
Vice President / Property Appraisal Analyst Vice President / Property Appraisal Analyst
Popular Bank
Joshua Stein, Esq.
Principal, Joshua Stein PLLC
Jenn Smaragdas
Director of Operations &
Business Development,
C3S CoRE Consulting, Inc.
Art Saitta
Ridgewood Savings Bank
Advisory Board Member
Richard T. Carr
MBAofNY Scholarship
Foundation President
(Southwell Realty Capital)
Gregory Nuber
Past President
(National Bank of Kuwait)
Counsel
James C. Ricca
Partner; Co-Chair, Banking & Finance
Forchelli Deegan Terrana LLP
COMMITTEE
Committee Chairs 2022-2023
Legislative Committee Chair
Zahra B. Jafri
Special Events Committee Chair
Kitty Yen
Mentor 360 Program Co-Chairs
Richard T. Carr
Educational Breakfast Chair
Gregg Christensen
RELS Co-Chairs:
Douglas Giles
Educational Luncheon Chair
Joshua Stein, Esq.
Mentor 360 Program Co-Chairs / MARKETING CHAIR
Jenn Smaragdas
RELS Co-Chairs
Ibsen Alexandre