Kurt Pfotenhauer is a very connected player in the mortgage and title business, and he uses his connections to make the mortgage and title industries better. He has also used his considerable prestige to improve the lending and title process for consumers. 

Pfotenhauer served on the board of directors of the MBA Opens Doors Foundation, which makes mortgage or rental payments for families with critically ill or injured children so the parents may take unpaid leave from work and spend precious time with their kids. The foundation accelerated its donations during the COVID-19 pandemic with Pfotenhauer’s leadership. 

He served on the board of directors of the Mortgage Bankers Association and led the fight this year for liquidity when the pandemic shut down the country and dried up liquidity. Many mortgage companies that had been in a serious mark-to-market crunch survived due to Pfotenhauer’s leadership and understanding of warehouse lines of credit. 

Pfotenhauer also served on the board of directors of MISMO this year and is responsible for accelerating the certification process of remote online notarization closing services, which offer consumers a contactless closing experience during the pandemic. 

The pandemic brought about an exponential amount of interest in digital mortgage platforms like remote online notarization, and Pfotenhauer has been critical in making that technology infrastructure through his leadership at MBA, MERS and MISMO. In 2019, Pfotenhauer was awarded MBA’s Andrew D. Woodward Distinguished Service Award, presented in recognition of dedication and prominent service to MBA and the mortgage lending industry.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Bloom where you are planted.