ARLINGTON, Va. - NASCUS President and CEO Mary Martha Fortney was recently elected as President of the Women in Housing and Finance (WHF) Board of Directors. She also recently introduced U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, who gave remarks at the WHF Annual Meeting. Below, Fortney talks about the group, her plans and how credit unions could be involved.
CUJ: What is Women in Housing & Finance (WHF)?
Fortney: Founded in 1979, WHF is a premier association of women and men that actively promotes its members in the fields of housing and financial services while retaining a focus on its women members. WHF promotes its members through the presentation of topical programs and opportunities in housing, financial services, professional enrichment and leadership enhancement.
CUJ: You’ve been with the group for how long and in what roles?
Fortney: I have been active in leadership roles with WHF for more than eight years. I began my service as co-chair of the WHF Regulatory Taskforce. In 2003, I was elected to the WHF Board of Directors and two years later, I was appointed to the WHF Foundation Board of Directors where I served as treasurer and liaison to the WHF Board. I was elected vice president of the WHF Board in 2006, ppresident-elect in 2007 and President in June 2008.
CUJ: As President, what would you like to accomplish?
Fortney: My priorities will be to continue providing valuable programs for our members, to develop member leadership skills, to promote WHF membership and to encourage strong participation in WHF events. From the perspective of a female president and CEO, I think it is critically important to provide leadership and enrichment opportunities for women. Organizations like WHF, and others around the country, make sure that women continue to grow and advance in their careers. WHF has a respected reputation in the Washington, D.C. area as an influential group in the housing and financial services industry. I want to build on that reputation and continue to contribute to the important work to promote our mission.
As president, I also want to make sure WHF is continuing to meet with high-level policymakers and legislators to ensure that women in this industry continue their active, influential and important roles in the nation’s housing and financial fields. Most recently, WHF hosted Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, two of the highest leaders in our field, which gives us an incredible opportunity for dialogue on the critical issues in housing and financial services.
Also, WHF’s work with its philanthropic foundation is very important to me. In this tough economic time, it is important that we continue to support the charitable organizations helping those in need with housing and financial services.
CUJ: What are the chief issues for WHF, and how do you plan to address them?
Fortney: There are many challenges as we face uncertainty in the troubled financial and housing markets. Clearly, the housing and credit crisis will continue to be issues for WHF and determining the most efficient and effective solutions to these nationwide problems. WHF will continue to hold events with featured speakers from federal agencies, Congress and the private sector for discussion with policymakers and our peers to understand the most practical and appropriate approach to our fields’ greatest challenges. We value the voice we have in the Washington, D.C. area.
CUJ: How will you involve credit unions, including women in credit unions, in WHF?
Fortney: A number of WHF members in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area come from the credit union community, including CUNA and NAFCU. We routinely conduct focused outreach programs at various locations, and several opportunities will be planned in the credit union community. (c) 2008 The Credit Union Journal and SourceMedia, Inc. All Rights Reserved.http://www.cujournal.com http://www.sourcemedia.com
