We kicked off conference weekend in true Roaring ’20s style with the inaugural LMBA Best in Biz Awards Gala, celebrating the people, companies and leaders who make Louisiana’s mortgage industry so special.

The evening was about more than handing out awards. It was about recognizing excellence across our industry, celebrating the people doing incredible work every day and creating a new tradition that gives Louisiana’s mortgage community a chance to celebrate its own.

From our nominees and award winners to everyone who showed up dressed to the nines, the room was filled with the energy, talent and camaraderie that make this industry so special.

We were also proud to use the evening to support the MBA Open Doors Foundation, helping families with critically ill or injured children stay in their homes during some of life’s most difficult moments.

To our nominees, winners, presenters and everyone who joined us for our very first Best in Biz Awards Gala, thank you for making the night one to remember.

One of the proudest moments of the weekend was celebrating the graduation of LMBA’s Inaugural Future Leaders class.

Over the past year, this group stepped outside the conference room and experienced our industry from every angle. They learned from industry leaders, built relationships with one another, traveled to Baton Rouge for Advocacy Day and gained a deeper understanding of the issues shaping mortgage banking in Louisiana and beyond.

This year’s graduates also became the first to earn LMBA’s new Louisiana Mortgage Leader (LML) designation, recognizing their completion of the program and commitment to continued leadership within our industry.

Future Leaders was created to invest in the next generation of Louisiana mortgage professionals, and watching this first class cross the finish line was a pretty special reminder of why that investment matters.

Congratulations to the inaugural Future Leaders Class of 2026 and our very first LMLs!

Monday morning, we got down to business. MBA Chief Economist Joel Kan and industry veteran John Hedlund gave attendees a look at the economic and mortgage landscape ahead, from interest rates and housing inventory to affordability, production and the forces continuing to shape our market. In an industry where the only constant seems to be change, understanding what comes next matters more than ever.

Our Local Executive Panel, moderated by Bob Niemi, CMB, brought together leaders from across Louisiana for candid conversations about today’s mortgage landscape.

From profitability, technology and leadership to the challenges and opportunities we’re seeing right here in Louisiana, our panelists shared real perspectives on navigating today’s market and preparing for what’s next.

Different companies. Different perspectives. One industry moving forward together.

Advocacy remains one of LMBA’s most important missions. Scott Alexander, CMB, MAA State Captain & Advocacy Chairman, joined Louisiana Representative Kim Carver to highlight the progress made in Baton Rouge and Washington, D.C. over the past year.

From Louisiana Advocacy Day to MBA’s National Advocacy Conference, LMBA continues to build relationships, educate policymakers and ensure Louisiana mortgage bankers have a voice at the table.

Nate DiGiovanni took AI from buzzword to hands-on tool, showing attendees how to actually put it to work.

Through live demonstrations of ChatGPT, Claude and Suno, Nate showed us practical and creative ways to use AI in our everyday work and maybe even had a little too much fun along the way.

It was engaging, eye-opening and easily one of the most talked-about sessions of the conference.

Big changes are coming to appraisals, and our attendees got a head start. Skip Willcox, CMB, AMP, Jason McMullen and Marcus Leoni broke down UAD 3.6, what lenders need to know and how to prepare for the new appraisal reporting requirements coming this November.

With implementation right around the corner, the session gave attendees a timely look at one of the biggest changes to the appraisal process in years.

Credit scoring is changing, and we brought the experts to the table. Moderated by Scott Norman and Rich Swerbinsky, our credit discussions featured perspectives from Eric Lapin with FICO and Jeff Richardson from VantageScore on the evolving credit landscape and what it means for mortgage lenders and borrowers.

Attendees heard directly from both sides about what’s changing, what’s ahead and what our industry needs to be prepared for.

We wrapped up the 2026 Annual Conference with Continuing Education led by LaDonna Lockard and Brandon Christensen of LockedIn Learning.

Back by popular demand, LaDonna and Brandon brought the energy, humor and real-world insight that make eight hours of CE feel a whole lot less like eight hours of CE. It was the perfect way to close out an incredible few days together.