At this year’s Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) Annual Convention and Expo in Chicago, Clear Capital’s CEO and Co-founder, Duane Andrews, was presented with the 2026 Kurt Pfotenhauer Award.
Conferred annually by the Mortgage Bankers Association Political Action Committee (MORPAC), this prestigious honor recognizes leaders in real estate finance who demonstrate exceptional dedication to legislative advocacy, strategic engagement, and policy initiatives that shape the future of housing policy nationwide.
This award highlights Clear Capital’s long-standing belief that building confidence in real estate decisions requires active, responsible participation in the broader industry conversation.
The Kurt Pfotenhauer Award holds a deep and meaningful place in the mortgage banking community. Formerly known as the Schumacher-Bolduc Award, the MBA renamed the honor to celebrate the lasting impact of the late Kurt Pfotenhauer, a revered industry leader, former MBA executive, and former MORPAC chairman. Throughout his career, Pfotenhauer was celebrated for his ability to translate complex policy into clear, actionable goals, as well as his commitment to supporting families through the MBA Opens Doors Foundation.
Duane’s ongoing work with MORPAC reflects that same commitment to proactive stewardship and constructive policy dialogue.
As an active member of the MORPAC Steering Committee, Duane works alongside peers across the country to broaden the mortgage industry’s reach with key lawmakers. During the 2026 election cycle, Duane helped strengthen these advocacy efforts by hosting the inaugural MORPAC Leadership Retreat at his home in Lake Tahoe, bringing together decision-makers to focus on critical housing and mortgage priorities.
Beyond policy discussions, Duane and Clear Capital have consistently supported the MORPAC Administrative Fund. This support helps ensure the political action committee has the operational resources necessary for rigorous compliance, donor engagement, and effective, transparent advocacy at the federal level.
Since co-founding Clear Capital in 2001, Duane has led the company with a focus on solving complex real estate challenges through technology, analytics, and high-quality valuation solutions. From launching REONetwork.com in 2000 to growing Clear Capital into a national valuation and data technology provider, his focus has always remained on building tools that better serve lenders, investors, and homeowners alike.
That same problem-solving mindset extends directly to industry advocacy. Housing policies impact every stage of the mortgage lifecycle, from origination to servicing and secondary markets. By helping maintain an open dialogue between private enterprise and federal policymakers, business leaders help ensure that industry legislation reflects current market realities and supports sustainable homeownership.
Congratulations to Duane on a well-deserved recognition!