Joseph M. Ventrone is the former Vice President of the National Association of REALTORS® Federal Policy and Industry Relations Team. Mr. Ventrone oversaw all of NAR’s Federal Policy and the Real Estate Services Program–an effort directed to serving the special and varied business needs of large brokers. Under his leadership, the Federal Policy and Industry Relations Team developed and analyzed policy on housing; real estate finance; business and technology; environment, and commercial real estate.
Mr. Ventrone’s expertise in housing issues spans over 40 years and includes stints in the private sector, top federal agencies, and on Capitol Hill during both the Democratic and Republican administrations.
Prior to joining the NAR in 2003, Mr. Ventrone was a Senior Policy Advisor at the Federal Housing Finance Board, where he liaised with Congress and trade associations for the independent regulatory agency that oversees the $700 billion Federal Home Loan Bank System.
Mr. Ventrone was also a member of the Bush/Cheney Transition Team at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, where he assisted with the design and the development of the transition briefing book for Secretary-designate. He then served as a Special Advisor to Secretary Mel Martinez, focusing on housing policy and congressional relations.
In Congress, Mr. Ventrone shepherded some of the most significant federal housing, mortgage finance and urban affairs legislation to pass Congress. His achievements include the American Home Ownership and Economic Opportunity Act of 2000, the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act, the Homeowners Insurance Availability Act, establishment of the Committee on Affordable Housing and Health Care Facility Needs of Senior Citizens, the Section 8 program, the McKinney Act and the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act.
Mr. Ventrone joined the United States House of Representatives as a professional staff member in 1983. In 1988, he became minority deputy staff director for housing and two years later, he was named deputy staff director. In 1995, he became deputy staff director for the House Committee on Banking and Financial Services (now the Committee on Financial Services).
Before joining the House, Mr. Ventrone was a loan realty officer and housing program specialist for the Department of Housing and Urban Development from 1974 to 1983. Mr. Ventrone began his career as a research analyst with the Housing Opportunities Council of Metropolitan Washington in 1972.
A native of Providence, Rhode Island, Mr. Ventrone graduated from Curry College with a B.A. degree in 1971. He earned his Master’s degree in Public Administration (Urban Affairs) from American University in 1973.