The 71st episode of What the M features Mark McArdle, Senior Vice President of Regulatory Relations, Public Policy and Stakeholder Engagement at Newrez, LLC.

In this episode, industry veteran Mark McArdle shares his unique perspective on the evolving regulatory landscape in mortgage servicing, the impact of state and federal enforcement priorities, and the role of technology and AI in compliance. Before turning to the servicer side, Mark worked for the United States Treasury Department and was the Assistant Director of Mortgage Markets at the CFPB from 2017 to 2025, where he led a team that worked closely with industry and other stakeholders to help inform the Bureau and the public on current and future trends in the mortgage origination and servicing markets. He also led efforts to modernize HMDA reporting and spearheaded the Bureau’s mortgage response to COVID-19. At Newrez, he leads initiatives to shape mortgage policy, partnering closely with regulators, trade groups, consumer groups and other stakeholders. Having worked in all facets of the industry, Mark has invaluable insights to share on navigating the complex environment of mortgage regulation and how industry players can adapt.

Welcome to What the M, Mark!

In this special episode of “What the M,” Steve and Kent are honored to welcome Brian D. Montgomery as a guest. While Brian is well-known throughout the mortgage default servicing industry for his distinguished career in housing finance and public service, he also has a unique firsthand perspective on one of the most consequential days in American history: as the Director of Presidential Advance, he was traveling aboard Air Force One with President George W. Bush on September 11, 2001. For the 25th anniversary of that fateful day, Brian was kind enough to visit with us and answer questions about the events, the aftermath, and the moments he most vividly remembers.

Brian D. Montgomery is a former Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and two-time Federal Housing Commissioner. He served in senior leadership roles under Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump, becoming the only person to lead the Federal Housing Administration twice. As Director of Presidential Advance, Montgomery traveled extensively with President George W. Bush and, in addition to being aboard Air Force One with the President on September 11, 2001, he helped coordinate presidential events and logistics in the days that followed, including visits to the Pentagon and Ground Zero. He later received the September 11 Presidential Distinguished Service Award for his service. With more than 30 years of experience in government and housing finance, Montgomery has played a significant role in housing policy, mortgage finance, disaster recovery, and regulatory reform.

We are honored to welcome Brian to the podcast.

The 69th episode of What the M features Rick Sharga, CEO and President of the CJ Patrick Company, and Daren Blomquist, Vice President of Market Economics at Auction.com.

It’s that time again… for a new SEASON of What the M!

In the first four seasons of What the M, Kent and Steve were fortunate enough to interview an incredible roster of talented professionals about their insights and predictions for the default servicing industry. To kick off Season 5, in what has become an annual tradition, they have brought in Rick Sharga and Darin Blomquist to discuss the current state of the economy and their predictions for the upcoming year.

Rick Sharga is one of the country’s most frequently-quoted sources on real estate, mortgage, and foreclosure trends. Rick is the CEO and President of the CJ Patrick Company, a company that specializes in market intelligence for companies in the real estate and mortgage industries. Rick has more than 30 years of experience in the real estate and mortgage industries, previously serving in executive roles for Realty Trac, Carrington Mortgage Holdings, Ten-X, and Auction.com. He is also a founding member of the Five Star Institute’s National Mortgage Servicing Association.

Daren Blomquist is the Vice President of Market Economics at Auction.com. Daren is a former Senior Vice President of Communications at ATTOM Data Solutions, where he reported on housing trends, cash and investor purchases, housing risks, default trends, and more. These reports have been cited by thousands of media outlets nationwide, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and USA TODAY. Daren also served as Executive Editor of the Housing News Report, which was named best newsletter by the National Association of Real Estate Editors in 2015 and 2016. In 2019, Daren transitioned to Auction.com, where he focuses on analyzing and forecasting complex macro and micro-economic data trends within the real estate market and industry.

Welcome BACK to What the M, Rick and Daren!