The new chair of AFSA's Mortgage Lending Division is Jim Gazdecki, vice president of government relations for Option One Mortgage Corporation. At Option One, he works with elected and appointed officials at the federal, state, and local levels, and their staffs. He also works with consumer groups, industry trade associations, mortgage brokers, and the media to communicate Option One's commitment to responsible lending.

Gazdecki also is a member of AFSA's Board of Directors and represents Option One as a member of the board of directors and executive committee of the National Home Equity Mortgage Association (NHEMA). In addition, he serves on the Board of Directors of BorrowSmart, a public education foundation that is committed to advancing the financial literacy of consumers.

With more than 25 years of legal experience, Gazdecki is a licensed attorney in both California and Michigan. He is also a licensed California real estate broker. Appointed by the Corporations Commissioner, he currently is serving a two-year term on the California Finance Lenders Law Advisory Committee.

Prior to joining Option One, he served in the administration of Governor Pete Wilson as chairman of California's Occupational Health and Safety Appeals Board from 1996 to 2000. Earlier, he was a faculty member of the Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law. He has also practiced law in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara and was a partner in the Santa Barbara firm of Archbald & Spray.

Gazdecki began his legal career at Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn, MI. A Dearborn native, Gazdecki earned a bachelor's degree with high honors from the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB). He also holds a juris doctor degree from the University of Southern California's School of Law. In addition, Gazdecki received a certificate in public management from California State University at Sacramento.