Brian J. Chappelle
Potomac Partners, Partner

Brian J. Chappelle is a founding partner of Potomac Partners – a Washington-based consulting firm specializing in mortgage finance industry representation.  The firm, which handles an array of legislative, regulatory and transactional matters for many of the nation’s leading mortgage lenders, was formed in September 1999.  The primary mission of the firm is to provide strategic advice and assistance to companies that result in reduced costs, improved profitability and streamlined business practices.

Mr. Chappelle resigned his position as Senior Staff Vice President, Corporate Relations & Membership for the Mortgage Bankers Association of America (MBA) to establish Potomac Partners.  In that position, Mr. Chappelle was responsible for overseeing MBA’s membership activities and enhancing the value of membership for executives of member firms.  He developed the CEO Roundtable and Future Leaders Program for the MBA.

Previously, Mr. Chappelle was Staff Vice President, Residential Finance/Government Agency Relations department.  During his 13-year tenure at MBA, Mr. Chappelle managed the Association’s loan origination and servicing functions; represented MBA in dealing with the appropriate Federal agencies on matters related to FHA, VA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and testified before both Houses of Congress on behalf of the Association.

Prior to joining MBA, Mr. Chappelle was Director, Single Family Development Division of the Federal Housing Administration.  In that position, he administered FHA’s loan production activities including product development and underwriting requirements.  Mr. Chappelle had primary responsibility for the implementation of FHA’s Direct Endorsement and Adjustable Rate Mortgage Programs.

Mr. Chappelle received the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Distinguished Service Award in 1984 for his work in implementing the Direct Endorsement Program.

Robert A. Cook
Hudson Cook, LLP, Partner

Robert Cook, managing partner of Hudson Cook, LLP, has practiced in the area of Consumer Financial Services throughout his career and is experienced in all areas of this practice.  He represents nationwide lenders and investors in establishing new programs and products, conducting due diligence and compliance reviews.  He also advises with regard to class action lawsuits based on alleged violations of consumer protection statutes.

Robert is a founding member of the CounselorLibrary.com, LLC, which publishes HouseLaw®, a monthly Internet publication of recent developments in real estate finance that covers legislative, regulatory and case law developments at the federal level and in all 50 states, and HouseLaw Counselor®, an interactive database of state mortgage lending laws. 

Robert is a member of the American Financial Services Association Law Committee where he serves as Counsel to the Home Equity Subcommittee, has served as a member of the Federal Reserve Board Consumer Advisory Counsel and was the Chairman of its Consumer Credit Committee.  He is a past chairman of the Truth in Lending Subcommittee of the American Bar Association Consumer Financial Services Committee, and the co-editor of the book Truth in Lending, published by the American Bar Association.  He also is a founding member of the American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers.

Ray J. Daniel , CMB
Network Funding LP., Executive Vice President

Ray Daniel is the Executive Vice President of national production department for Network Funding LP. He is responsible for branch recruitment, national expansion and liaison to the Mortgage Bankers Association of America, and is senior advisor to the executive committee for Network Funding LP, Residential Mortgage Bank. Prior to July 2008, Ray was EVP of National Retail Production for Network Funding LP recruiting retail mortgage production branches in TX, LA, OK, FL, GA, NC SC, VA, TN, AR, MD, AL and MS. Ray is also President of RJ Daniel & Associates PC, a law firm specializing in mortgage Loan document preparation for mortgage bankers, savings & loans, credit unions and banks.

Ray is a native of Houston, Texas. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with BBA in finance and from the University of Houston, Bates College of Law with Doctorate of Jurisprudence.

Ray has been an active member in the mortgage industry serving as a board member for the Houston Mortgage Bankers Association and the Mortgage Bankers Association. He also served as a board member, executive committee member and president of the Texas Mortgage Bankers Association. Ray received the TMBA Distinguished Service Award for on May 2004.

Linda Davidson
Certified FHA Underwriter Service First Mortgage,
Senior Loan Officer

Linda Davidson started in the mortgage industry in 1997 and owns a net branch with Service First Mortgage in addition to being a top producer in the company. She has ranked in the top 200 loan officers in the nation for the past ten years in units closed for personal production, as well in the Top 20 for FHA/VA closings, according to Mortgage Originator Magazine.

Linda also has her FHA DE Certification and is sought out as a nationally
known speaker. Her industry excellence range from First Time Home Buyers
to her Senior Clients seeking a Reverse Mortgage. Even with her busy professional career, Linda still places top priority in her commitment to her family and personal faith. Linda is married and the mother of two sons and two step-sons and grandmother to six wonderful grandchildren and is also very active in her community and church.

Debbie Dunn
CTX Mortgage, Senior Vice President

Mrs. Dunn is responsible for Centex Financial Services, overseeing regulatory compliance, management of risk and monitoring and advising CTX Mortgage Company and Commerce Title Company in government and industry affairs and issues that impact the companies.

She joined CTX Mortgage in 1989 as an Underwriter. A year later she became a Regional Underwriting Manager and in 1992 she was named Assistant Vice President for Underwriting and Compliance and established the Regulatory Compliance Department for CTX. She was named Senior Vice President of Production Support in 1998 and in 1999 accepted the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer. Prior to her current role, she served as Executive Vice President of Industry Relations for CTX Mortgage.

Mrs. Dunn entered the mortgage industry in 1983 and held various origination and operations positions at Empire of America, CitiFed Mortgage, Nowlin Mortgage, and American Residential Mortgage before joining CTX. Prior to her mortgage career, she owned and operated Advantage Financial Planners.

Mrs. Dunn’s industry involvement has been extensive. She has participated as a member as well as a chairperson for multiple committees, task forces, working groups, and advisory councils for FHA, MBA, Conference of State Bank Supervisors, and Fannie Mae over the past 12 years. Additionally she has served as a panelist and presenter on a variety of operational and regulatory topics at various MBA and NAHB conferences and conventions.

H. Clifford Long
Sovereign Mortgage Services, Inc. and Primus Services Group LLC, Owner

Cliff owns Sovereign Mortgage Services, Inc. and Primus Services Group LLC both providing quality assurance solutions to the residential mortgage industry. He serves as the firms’ President and Chief Operating Officer responsible for marketing activities and administration of client systems reviews, consulting engagements and training activities. He is active in both broker and banker associations serving on state association committees and as a board member and officer of the Dallas Mortgage Bankers Association. He was appointed as a member of the National Mortgage Licensing System provider committee created to development national guidelines for educational delivery in connection with mortgage loan originator licensing requirements under the federal S.A.F.E. Act. He holds a Bachelors degree from Baylor University, a Masters degree from Southern Methodist University and is a licensed CPA and Certified Financial Planner

Todd Salmans
PrimeLending, President and COO

Todd Salmans, President and COO of PrimeLending, joined the company in January of 2006 and oversees all day to day business operations at PrimeLending. With more than 30 years of mortgage banking experience, Todd has held Senior Level Sales and Executive Management positions for top regional and national mortgage lenders. His diverse leadership style is one that demonstrates the ability to connect with people and inspire them to work together to achieve extraordinary results. Todd is the product of a unique culture that continues to drive the company's performance and growth today. He firmly believes that in order to be truly great, a company must be fused together at its core by people with a set of shared, unshakable values. These unique traits make him a distinguished industry leader.

Bernard Weinstein
Maguire Energy Institute, Associate Director

Bernard L. Weinstein is Associate Director of the Maguire Energy Institute and an Adjunct Professor of Business Economics in the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.   From 1989 to 2009 he was Director of the Center for Economic Development and Research at the University of North Texas.

Dr. Weinstein studied public administration at Dartmouth College and received his A.B. in 1963.  After a year of study at the London School of Economics and Political Science, he began graduate work in economics at Columbia University, receiving an M.A. in 1966 and a Ph.D. in 1973.

He has taught at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the State University of New York, the University of Texas at Dallas, and the University of North Texas.  He has been a research associate with the Tax Foundation in Washington, D.C. and the Gray Institute in Beaumont, Texas.  He has worked for several U.S. government agencies including the President's Commission on School Finance, the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Trade Commission. 

Dr. Weinstein has authored or co-authored numerous books, monographs and articles on the subjects of economic development, public policy and taxation, and his work has appeared in professional journals such as Land Economics, Challenge, Society, Policy Review, Economic Development Quarterly, Policy Studies Journal, and Annals of Regional Science. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times and a number of regional newspapers and magazines.  He is a former member of the editorial board of Society magazine and currently serves on The Dallas Morning News Board of Economists.

Dr. Weinstein has been a consultant to many companies, non-profit organizations and government agencies, and he testifies frequently before legislative, regulatory and judicial bodies.  His clients have included AT&T, Texas Instruments, Reliant, Entergy, Devon Energy, the Nuclear Energy Institute, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the Western and Southern Governors Associations, the Cities of Dallas and San Antonio, and the Joint Economic Committee of the U.S. Congress.