The award is named after MBA Legislative Counsel Burton C. Wood, who has devoted 30 years of service to MBA's advocacy efforts.  The award is given annually to an MBA member employee in recognition of his or her sustained, superior service to the association and the real estate finance industry as a whole.

"Marie's advocacy and service on behalf of MBA has been exemplary and we are thrilled to present her with this year's Burton C. Wood Legislative Service Award," said Jonathan L. Kempner, MBA's President and Chief Executive Officer.  "Marie's lobbying efforts have helped MBA gain a number of significant successes on Capitol Hill and have played a key role in advancing our legislative agenda, particularly with affordable rental housing issues."

A former employee for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Marie's lobbying efforts helped MBA prevent the Administration's proposed increases to the FHA Multifamily Mortgage Insurance Premium in both 2006 and 2007.  She has also successfully advocated for higher FHA loan limits and a myriad of other industry-related issues.  Marie has been involved with a number of MBA committees and work groups over the past 4 years, including the Multifamily Steering Committee and the FHA Insurance Subcommittee.

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The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) is the national association representing the real estate finance industry, an industry that employs more than 280,000 people in virtually every community in the country. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the association works to ensure the continued strength of the nation's residential and commercial real estate markets; to expand homeownership and extend access to affordable housing to all Americans. MBA promotes fair and ethical lending practices and fosters professional excellence among real estate finance employees through a wide range of educational programs and a variety of publications. Its membership of over 2,200 companies includes all elements of real estate finance: mortgage companies, mortgage brokers, commercial banks, thrifts, Wall Street conduits, life insurance companies and others in the mortgage lending field. For additional information, visit MBA's Web site:  www.mortgagebankers.org.