John T. Mechem Vice President of Communications Mortgage Bankers Association

John T. Mechem serves as the Vice President of Communications in the Membership, Marketing and Communications group of the Mortgage Bankers Association. In this capacity, he is responsible for strengthening and increasing the visibility of MBA's public policy positions and the research data and analysis on the residential and commercial/multifamily real estate finance markets. He manages all public affairs activity for the association's Government Affairs group, working with national, local and trade media to promote MBA's legislative and regulatory agenda. He will also develop overarching industry messages and help to define and develop key messages related to public policy issues.

Prior to joining MBA in 2006, John spent five years as Director of Communications for the American Forest & Paper Association where he served as spokesman and oversaw public outreach for the association's forestry group. In that role, he managed both paid and earned media campaigns to promote the industry's public policy agenda, including the industry's efforts in support of President Bush's Healthy Forests Initiative. He also created and implemented strategies to promote the industry's "best practices", including defending the industry and members from marketplace campaigns and public relations attacks from environmental groups.

John began his career in public affairs on Capitol Hill, serving as Deputy Press Secretary for U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), where he managed Senator McConnell's state media outreach, including his weekly press conference with state media and writing the Senator's monthly newspaper column. In 1998, he was tapped by newly-elected Senator (and baseball Hall of Famer) Jim Bunning (R-KY) to run his press operation. Among his first duties upon assuming his job was managing the Senator's media and communications surrounding the impeachment proceedings against President Bill Clinton.

John graduated from Colby College in Waterville, ME with a degree (BA, 1993) in Government and American Studies.