Welcoming the 2026 MISMO Board: Gratitude, Alignment, and the Work Ahead
As we prepare to enter a new year, and a new era defined by artificial intelligence, interoperability, and accelerating change, it’s a privilege to welcome the 2026 MISMO Board of Directors. This Board reflects the depth, diversity, and leadership required at a pivotal moment for our industry.
MISMO exists by the industry and for the industry. Its work quietly supports every loan, every day, across origination, servicing, capital markets, and the technology ecosystem that binds it all together. That work has never mattered more than it does right now.
With Gratitude to Our Outgoing Board Members
Before looking forward, it’s important to pause and recognize two leaders whose impact on MISMO will be felt in perpetuity: Sage Nichols of Cotality, who served as Chair of the Board, and Kurt Johnson of Mr. Cooper / Rocket.
Sage and Kurt gave tirelessly of their time, expertise, and leadership. Their contributions helped shape MISMO’s standards, culture, and trajectory, and strengthened the entire mortgage ecosystem in the process. While we’re formally concluding their Board service, this is very much a “see you soon” rather than a goodbye. Their counsel will continue to be sought, and their fingerprints will remain on MISMO’s work for years to come.
The entire MISMO community, and the broader mortgage industry, is better because of Sage and Kurt.
Welcoming the Incoming 2026 MISMO Board Members
I’m excited to welcome seven outstanding leaders joining the MISMO Board in 2026:
Matthew VanFossen , CEO, Absolute Home Mortgage & Mortgage Automation Technologies
Courtney Thompson , EVP Servicing, CMG Financial
Jay Kingsley , President, Cotality
Greg McElroy , Managing Director & COO, Amerihome Mortgage Company
David Neylan , President & COO, Guild Mortgage
Leslie Peeler , EVP & COO, Cenlar FSB
Todd McGowan , President, Lender Division, First American
Each leader contributes a distinct perspective, spanning origination, servicing, data, capital markets, enterprise operations, AI, and human-centered leadership, an essential mix as MISMO’s work becomes more foundational to the industry.
Why This Moment Matters
Mortgage is, as Courtney Thompson aptly noted, “one of the most innovation-ready industries on the planet.” She shared:
“Mortgage is one of the most innovation-ready industries on the planet — everything is rule-based, which should mean predictable. Excellence in mortgage operations depends on trusted data, clear processes, and repeatable outcomes. MISMO standards provide a powerful foundation for just this: reducing risk, improving oversight, and ensuring servicing operations can scale safely.”
As AI becomes more deeply embedded across the mortgage lifecycle, that foundation is no longer optional, it’s essential.
Leslie Peeler underscored this reality through the lens of experience:
“Across my career, from leading AI and BPO transformation to overseeing a $3 trillion loan portfolio during the housing crisis, I’ve learned that sustainable progress requires both discipline and empathy. As AI becomes more deeply embedded in mortgage servicing, MISMO’s role in establishing clear standards will be foundational to responsible innovation and long-term industry resilience.”
At the center of this transformation is data, and the ability for systems to speak the same language.
As Jay Kingsley put it:
“Cotality sits at the center of data for the mortgage industry, and interoperability across service providers and technology platforms creates enormous value for the entire ecosystem. MISMO is at the center of that interoperability, and its standards make scalable, connected solutions possible.”
Adoption, Alignment, and Shared Responsibility
MISMO does not create standards for standards’ sake. The real return on investment comes when standards are adopted and implemented at scale.
That responsibility is shared.
Matt VanFossen captured this perfectly:
“I committed to joining the MISMO Board because the long-term sustainability of this
organization depends on participation from the entire mortgage ecosystem. MISMO only works when lenders, technology providers, and industry leaders contribute both their expertise and their support. I plan to leverage my network to help raise awareness and inspire lenders of all sizes to engage and invest in the future we’re building together.”
This alignment, across competitors, partners, and regulators, is where MISMO delivers its greatest value. It’s also how the industry collectively improves data quality, pushes certainty closer to the point of sale, and ultimately lowers costs for borrowers.
From a leadership and behavioral-science perspective, Todd McGowan reminded us that success isn’t just technical:
“My background sits at the intersection of information and decision sciences coupled with behavioral sciences and leadership. As AI and advanced technology become more embedded in housing finance, success depends not just on data and models, but on trust, usability, adoption, and the human-technology interaction. MISMO standards provide the foundation that allows innovation to scale responsibly while keeping people at the center of decision-making.”
Acknowledging Our Returning Board Members
MISMO’s momentum is also sustained by an exceptional group of returning Board members, whose continued service provides continuity, institutional knowledge, and steady leadership:
Teri Pansing, Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation
Aaron Perlis , Walker & Dunlop
Timothy Bowler, ICE Mortgage Technology
Suzanne Garwood, JP Morgan Chase
Aravind Jagannathan, Freddie Mac
Giuseppe Lucido, United Wholesale Mortgage
Looking Ahead
The 2026 MISMO Board represents alignment in its truest form, across roles, companies, and perspectives. As AI reshapes mortgage lending, MISMO’s standards will continue to serve as the connective tissue that allows innovation to scale responsibly, efficiently, and in service of consumers.
To our outgoing Board: thank you.To our returning Board: thank you for continuing the journey.To our incoming Board: welcome, and thank you for stepping up.
The work ahead matters. And together, we’re building the foundation for what comes next.