Leading from the Inside: A Capital Advisor’s Perspective on CMBA Advocacy

Most folks active in commercial real estate finance in California know the California Mortgage Bankers Association through its events — our upcoming Vegas conference, happy hours, and educational content. Those are valuable, but they are only part of the story. The work that matters most happens behind the scenes in Sacramento right now, and that influence is why I got involved in the CMBA in the first place. 

How I Got Here 

Around 2019, a former Slatt Capital colleague, Andy Mekjavich, called and encouraged me to join the CMBA board. At the time, I mostly knew CMBA through the Western States CREF Conference in Las Vegas — an event I had attended many years prior and for which I had most recently moderated a panel. But Andy walked me through what the board actually does, especially the advocacy work in Sacramento. He put it plainly: because of California’s political and economic influence (for better and worse) over the rest of the country, what happens here often sets the tone nationally, so the CMBA has an outsized influence on the greater national real estate finance market, and we work closely with the national MBA on many issues.  

I also came to appreciate the deep influence that Barry Slatt, our late founder, had at the inception of the CMBA and the Western States CREF Conference, along with our firm’s continued support of the organization and the deep collaboration it creates with some of our friendly competitors. Jon Ross of KP Public Affairs – now a widely-respected advocacy firm serving Fortune 200s, major accounting and financial firms, and many others – has credited Barry with personally advocating for him when Jon was starting the firm, and the CMBA was its first client. That legacy, and the ability to affect change for the future of our business, caught my attention. I jumped in, was elected to the board in May 2020 and have been happily serving ever since. 

After several years as an active board member, I was elected to the Executive Board. This year I’m serving as the CMBA’s Commercial President, and in a couple of years I expect to step into the Chair role. 

What the Role Actually Involves 

Practically speaking, the Commercial President’s role is about keeping CMBA healthy and well-run as a nonprofit: reviewing financials, planning major events like the Western States CREF Conference in September, and making sure our member companies and sponsors understand the impact of the work. Slatt Capital makes a substantial investment every year as a member company and Platinum sponsor, and I want to ensure those dollars – along with every member’s investment – are stewarded carefully and spent well. I also work closely with our legislative team on a near-weekly basis; that’s where the real lift happens. With our full-time advocacy staff, we track proposed bills, sharpen our positions, negotiate language we can support, and, when necessary, work to stop legislation that would harm our industry. We coordinate regularly with the national Mortgage Bankers Association, too, because California’s legislature often leads the way — giving us a real chance to shape policy early. 

What We’re Fighting For in 2026 

CMBA’s two biggest priorities this year are the California property insurance market and expanding opportunities for commercial real estate investors and small business owners operating in the state. The insurance crisis has been building for years and has become especially acute over the last three. CMBA has been leading the advocacy effort alongside the insurance, building, and banking industries — helping lawmakers understand the options in front of them and giving recently-passed reforms the chance to work. The message right now is straightforward: let those reforms take hold and avoid new bills that could unintentionally make the problem worse. 

We’re also focused on helping legislators understand a simple reality: with elevated rates and increasing below-the-line expenses, profitability is tougher for borrowers and lenders alike. That means opposing top-down increases in business costs and additional fee-based legislation and pushing back on efforts that could reduce the number of active lenders in the market — changes that would ultimately raise costs for borrowers who are already under pressure. 

We’re also watching AI regulation very closely. A wave of bills in Sacramento could shape how our industry adopts and uses artificial intelligence, and the California legislature is taking a leading role in regulating this emerging industry. We need to stay ahead of the opportunities and risks new technology regulation can introduce around the curve. 

As a player coach with my boots on the ground in SoCal, I’m able to bring our real-world experience to bear in the legislature and ensure our industry has a strong voice. 

Why This Work Matters 

It’s easy for us finance professionals to stay heads-down on deals and miss the bigger picture. CMBA’s influence in Sacramento didn’t appear overnight; it was built over decades by people who did the unglamorous work of showing up, building relationships, and staying consistent. Remaining active in the association — especially on advocacy — is how we protect the industry and protect our careers and help set the table for growth and the next generation. 

If you’re not already following CMBA on LinkedIn, I’d strongly encourage you to do so. And if your firm is not yet a member, now is the time to get involved with us. The decisions being made in Sacramento right now will shape borrowing, lending, and brokerage in California – and beyond – for years to come.