About Us At the BAY AREA MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION
The Bay Area Mortgage Association “BAMA” was founded in 1953 by a small group of commercial real estate professionals and over its 65+ year history has grown to nearly 300 members. BAMA is one of the most active, locally focused, commercial real estate industry organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Members include commercial real estate brokers, lenders, developers, and investors in all stages of their career, ranging from new analysts to seasoned industry veterans. Guests include lawyers, appraisers, engineers, title professionals, tech workers, consultants, and beyond.
BAMA hosts monthly events that are a mix of social events with networking opportunities along with informational panels about relevant topics in the commercial real estate industry, with an emphasis on mortgage and finance. BAMA is a welcoming organization with members and guests who work in companies ranging from small or private companies to large, institutional firms.
Longest Running Real Estate Finance Group
BAMA was founded in 1953 by three East Bay commercial real estate professionals: John J Peters, Joseph Duffel, and Donald W. Mitchel. They subsequently reached out to several industry contacts and the first BAMA meeting was held at Emil Villa Restaurant in Oakland where John Peters was elected the first President. The first speaker was Wilbur Warner of Western Mortgage and the following meeting’s speaker was Milt Owens of Owens Financial.
Over its history, BAMA has had 65 Past Presidents who are recognized further below. One of the strengths of BAMA is the involvement of the Past Presidents with the organization and Executive Board. The BAMA Past Presidents make themselves available for guidance related to the BAMA organization and also available for career mentorship and helping make connections within the industry.
BAMA Executive Board
BAMA is non-profit organization that is ran by a volunteer-based Executive Board, shown below. The board consults annually with the BAMA Past Presidents to discuss topics of the organization’s event planning, membership trends, and growth goals. The BAMA Executive Board is a progressive tenure where board members commit to a 5-year investment and conclude their term as President. The goal of the board is to maintain the standards of the organization set by Past Presidents, plan stimulating events that are relevant to the commercial real estate industry, and actively engage with BAMA members and guests to keep the organization thriving. The board adds a new member every spring; if you are interested in joining, feel free to reach out to any of the board members to have a conversation.





PAST BAMA PRESIDENTS

JESSICA CARTER
2024-2025

SARAH ARMSTRONG
2023-2024

CESAR PENA
2022-2023

TOM WIGHT
2021-2022

JUSTIN EICHMAN
2020-2021

RICK SALINAS
2019-2020

ANDREW MEKJAVICH
2018-2019
KEELY FAIRFAX
2017-2018
MEGAN WOODRING
2016-2017
BRIAN HAINES
2015-2016
JEFF WILCOX
2014-2015
JORDAN ANGEL
2013-2014
WILLIAM CRAUN
2012-2013
NATHAN PROUTY
2011-2012
RAMSEY DAYA
2010-2011
JEFFREY N. SHADDY
2009-2010
SCOTT JOHNSON
2008-2009
JEN BUI
2007-2008
MICHAEL GRAUSZ
2006-2007
CHRIS COLE
2005-2006
JACQUELINE A. DENNING
2004-2005
JOSE LOPEZ
2003-2004
KURT F. ALTVATER
2002-2003
JANET CONNORS
2001-2002
THOMAS I. MCKNEW
2000-2001
RICHARD E. DAVIDSON
1999-2000
DAVID SALDIVAR
1998-1999
DENNIS M. WILLIAMS
1997-1998
RICHARD L. CARLSON
1995-1997
TUP FISHER
1994-1995
SCOTT T. SCHAFER
1993-1994
KENNON J. BROKAW
1992-1993
KATHLEEN B. HARRISON
1991-1992
JEFFREY A. WEIDELL
1990-1991
KURT N. SCHEIDT
1989-1990
GWAINE K. PROM
1988-1989
THOMAS S. DE REGT
1987-1988
MELINDA ELLIS EVERS
1986-1987
JOHN T. KERSLAKE
1985-1986
JEFFREY N. WEBER
1984-1985
ROBERT HAMAGUCHI
1983-1984
ANN N. ROULAC
1982-1983
ROSLYN B. PAYNE
1981-1982
PHILIP A. DEMARIA
1980-1981
HOWARD C. CREIGHTON
1979-1980
ROGER L. GORDON
1978-1979
TERRY J. STERNBERG
1977-1978
ROBERT A. FIDDMAN
1976-1977
DONALD H. KIESELHORST
1975-1976
IVAN L. CHOW
1974-1975
JAMES H. O'CONNOR
1973-1974
MONTE KLEIN
1972-1973
DAN WEBSTER
1971-1972
J. STANTON KING
1970-1971
JOHN FRASER
1969-1970
RICHARD RALPH
1968-1969
EUGENE P. CARVER
1967-1968
RONALD D. SCHULTZ
1966-1967
ROBERT L. ASH
1965-1966
PATRICK H. PRICE
1964-1965
GEORGE S. DODGE
1963-1964
J. CARTER WITT
1962-1963
LINDSAY K. WILSON
1961-1962
LAVERN P. SCHAFER
1960-1961
HOLMAN D. PETTIBONE, JR.
1959-1960
DONALD W. MITCHELL
1958-1959
JOSEPH DUFFEL
1957-1958
RICHARD DUHRING
1956-1957
ROBERT B. HARRISON
1955-1956
ROGER C. OLSON
1954-1955
JOHN J. PETERS
1953-1954
JOIN US AT AN EVENT!
For many years, the monthly dinner meetings were held at Castagnola’s Restaurant in the Fisherman’s Wharf area of San Francisco. After each dinner, a guest speaker or panel discusses various real estate financing topics. Information about upcoming meetings can be found on our Events page.
