Category Archives: Finance

Graham V. Bayly Joins EPIC’s Midwest Region and Financial Services Division

CHICAGO, Ill. /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property and casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Graham V. Bayly has joined the firm as a managing principal and Midwest Private Equity practice leader in its Financial Services division.

Bayly joins EPIC with nearly 20 years of industry experience in the Private Equity and M&A space. During his career, he has represented business owners, management teams, and private equity firms. He has also provided transaction-facilitating insurance products for investment bankers, lawyers, and deal professionals. Bayly has a proven ability to bridge the M&A space, with considerable experience conducting pre-closing insurance due diligence, structuring transactional insurance products, developing post-closing insurance programs and budgets, and supporting post-closing representation of businesses. Bayly will be based in Chicago and New York while working with all of EPIC's national teams in the financial services space.

"The breadth of Graham's knowledge and his experience working in the Private Equity and M&A space makes him a tremendous asset to EPIC and will create value for our clients on day one. He has a proven track record of establishing long-term client relationships and the diversity of his experience is highly complementary to our existing team," said Adam Meyerowitz, President, Midwest and Southeast Region.

"Graham is joining us at an exciting time, and we're looking forward to drawing upon his significant expertise in the private equity space as we expand our footprint in the Midwest market and beyond. I expect him to play an integral role in the development of our growth strategy going forward," said Philip V. Moyles, Jr., President, Financial Services and Chief Growth Officer.

About EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants:

EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants, a retail insurance brokerage, has more than 3,100 team members operating from offices across the U.S., providing Property and Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs, and Private Client solutions to clients. EPIC ranks among the top 15 retail insurance brokers in the U.S.

More information: https://www.epicbrokers.com/

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property and casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Graham V. Bayly has joined the firm as a managing principal and Midwest Private Equity practice leader in its Financial Services division.

Related link: https://www.epicbrokers.com/

iEmergent appoints Chris Richey as Chief Analytics Officer

DES MOINES, Iowa /ScoopCloud/ -- iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, today announced the appointment of Chris Richey as chief analytics officer. In this role, Richey will oversee and expand upon iEmergent's data analytics capabilities, which help mortgage lenders identify gaps in sales coverage and effectively expand into new markets.

Richey, who first joined iEmergent in a consulting capacity in 2016, has been instrumental in building out the data and information technology (IT) frameworks supporting the firm's external Mortgage MarketSmart and internal business intelligence (BI) platforms. With this infrastructure in place, Richey will next turn his attention to enhancing the analytics engine and statistical models that power iEmergent's market-leading data insights.

"Chris' combination of mathematics, economics and IT expertise is quite rare, but what's even more exceptional is his commitment to applying those skills to affect positive change," said iEmergent CEO Laird Nossuli. "For years, iEmergent's data has pointed to diversity in lending as not only the right thing to do for our communities, but also a business imperative for lenders. Chris will play an integral role in advancing our ability to put this imperative into context for individual lenders so they can turn insight into action and measurable growth."

Before joining iEmergent, Richey was a data analyst in the IT business unit of a Fortune 100 government contractor. His work synthesizing and analyzing some of the largest healthcare databases in the United States helped guide Medicare's implementation of regulatory programs designed to improve the quality and lower the cost of healthcare for millions of Americans. Later, during the COVID pandemic, Richey was part of a task force that tracked nursing home outbreaks of COVID-19 and applied data sourced from multiple agencies to coordinate the delivery of training, supplies and vaccinations.

Earlier in his career, Richey worked as a quantitative analyst within the financing arm of a Fortune 100 equipment manufacturer, where he built statistical models for managing credit risk, conducted regulatory compliance stress testing and leveraged his background in IT to create a unified framework for consolidating and reporting data across the global organization.

Richey is a graduate of Iowa State University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in economics and math and a master's degree in economics.

About iEmergent:

Founded in 2000, iEmergent provides mortgage lending forecasts and analytics to the lending, housing and real estate industries. The company offers an extensive variety of forecast and market intelligence products, including Mortgage MarketSmart, a visualization tool that helps lenders quantify how mortgage markets will change. For more information, visit https://www.iemergent.com.

Twitter: @iemergent #housingfinance

iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, today announced the appointment of Chris Richey as chief analytics officer. In this role, Richey will oversee and expand upon iEmergent's data analytics capabilities, which help mortgage lenders identify gaps in sales coverage and effectively expand into new markets.

Related link: https://www.iemergent.com

EPIC Marketing & Design Team Wins Communicator Awards

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property and casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that its marketing and design team has been recognized for multiple Communicator Awards for its work in 2021. The Communicator Awards are an international awards program recognizing big ideas in marketing and communications.

The team, led by Creative Director Nancy Phun and Chief Marketing Officer Sapana Nanuwa, has been recognized for two Awards of Excellence. The awards were made in the category of Campaign-Integrated Campaign for Marketing Effectiveness: "2021 Way to Wellness Campaign" and General-Insurance for Websites: "2020 Year in Review."

In addition, the team received an Award of Distinction in the category of Campaign-Business-to-Business for Integrated Campaign: "COVID-19 Awareness Campaign."

Winners were selected by the AIVA (Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts), an invitation-only group consisting of top-tier professionals from acclaimed media, communications, advertising, creative and marketing firms.

The EPIC marketing and design team has received previous recognition multiple times in the past, to include winning eight Communicator Awards during one year. The team is always looking for new, creative ways to engage its audience. And whether for internal or external purposes, the question the team always asks themselves relates to what will achieve the greatest engagement and keep people coming back for more.

"I am proud of our team and our collective achievements as highlighted by these awards. We continue to grow and evolve while delivering positive results for our team, our organization and our clients," commented Nanuwa.

These achievements come at a pivotal time in the organization's history as EPIC celebrates 15 years in business this summer. Expect additional announcements related to EPIC's growth and success in the future.

About EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants:

EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants, a retail insurance brokerage, has more than 2,600 team members operating from offices across the U.S., providing Property and Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs, and Private Client solutions to clients. EPIC ranks among the top 15 retail insurance brokers in the U.S.

Learn more: https://www.epicbrokers.com/

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property and casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that its marketing and design team has been recognized for multiple Communicator Awards for its work in 2021. The Communicator Awards are an international awards program recognizing big ideas in marketing and communications.

Related link: https://www.epicbrokers.com/

Mortgage lenders are now able to use FormFree AccountChek to satisfy Freddie Mac’s reverification of employment requirement

ATHENS, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- FormFree® today announced that its AccountChek® digital asset verification service supports a new enhancement to Freddie Mac's Loan Product Advisor® (LPASM) asset and income modeler (AIM) solution that makes assessment of borrower employment easier, faster, less expensive and more fraud-resistant.

Under Freddie Mac Single-Family Seller/Servicer Guide requirements, with limited exceptions, mortgage lenders must verify each borrower's employment during the initial loan application, then again within 10 days of the loan's closing date. The verification, done prior to closing, is officially known as the 10-day Pre-Closing Verification or "10-day PCV."

To fulfill the Freddie Mac 10-day PCV requirement, lenders have historically had to furnish a verbal, email or written verification of employment (VOE) or pay a third-party service provider for an electronic VOE report. Now, with the latest enhancement to AIM, lenders can automatically satisfy the 10-day PCV requirement using account or payroll data using FormFree's AccountChek.

Automation of the 10-day PCV using account data is available to all Freddie Mac clients effective June 1. Freddie Mac describes the service as "an improved way to assess borrower employment" that offers superior speed, cost and fraud resistance compared to alternatives.

"Verifying a loan applicant's employment in the runup to the loan closing protects lenders, investors and borrowers alike. But the process can be time-consuming and expensive, and it's only gotten worse with so many Americans working remotely," said FormFree Chief Customer Officer Christy Moss. "The Work Number is expensive. Manual employment verification is time-consuming. Using direct-source asset data to fulfill the 10-day PCV is an economical and efficient solution, and it couldn't come at a better time for an industry that is losing sleep over razor-thin margins."

AccountChek streamlines the mortgage process by empowering borrowers to share their asset and payroll data electronically in an underwriter-friendly format lenders can use to assess asset, income, and employment in seconds. By leveraging a business-applicable refresh period, lenders that use AccountChek for a loan applicant's initial employment verification will be able to generate the VOE report within 10 days of closing.

For more information, visit https://formfree.com/pre-closing-verification.

About FormFree:

As the industry's go-to provider for direct-source VOA and VOI/E data, FormFree® helps lenders understand credit risk like never before. Our patented AccountChek® and Passport® products open doors to more inclusive credit decisioning by revealing each customer's true ability to pay (ATP®). We have completed over $3 trillion in loan verifications that help lenders lower operating costs while improving the borrower experience. For more information, visit https://www.formfree.com/ or follow FormFree on LinkedIn.

FormFree® today announced that its AccountChek® digital asset verification service supports a new enhancement to Freddie Mac's Loan Product Advisor® (LPASM) asset and income modeler (AIM) solution that makes assessment of borrower employment easier, faster, less expensive and more fraud-resistant.

Related link: https://www.formfree.com/

Cheryl Messner joins Sales Boomerang to oversee customer experience department

WASHINGTON, D.C. /ScoopCloud/ -- Sales Boomerang, the mortgage industry's top-rated automated borrower intelligence and retention system, today announced that it has tapped Cheryl Messner to manage its customer experience departments. In her new role, Messner will define strategies to enhance Sales Boomerang's customer experience, engagement, success and operations as well as help the company build upon its growth from a fintech startup to the industry's leading borrower intelligence solution.

Messner joins Sales Boomerang following 15 years at Optimal Blue, where she swiftly worked her way up the ladder. She began working in the customer service department as an Account Manager and later transitioned to the product management department, where she advanced to a director role in under five years. Prior to her tenure at Optimal Blue, Messner worked for three years in sales at GE-owned WMC Mortgage.

Messner will use her breadth of experience to inform her new role as EVP, Customer Success for Sales Boomerang and Mortgage Coach, which recently announced an enhanced integration to become the mortgage industry's first borrower conversion and retention platform. She will expand the two organizations' shared market influence by identifying new opportunities for growth, streamlining operations and developing a client services structure that deepens customer relationships.

"Sales Boomerang's unique value - helping lenders help more borrowers reach their financial goals more quickly - is incredibly attractive to me as someone who has spent my entire career in mortgage," said Messner. "I look forward to supporting Sales Boomerang users by giving them the tools to track consumers' financial data and encourage financial wellness by layering in interactive loan comparisons powered by Mortgage Coach."

"With ample experience in sales, customer service and product management, Messner is the ideal candidate to take our rapidly growing organization to the next level," said Sales Boomerang CEO Alex Kutsishin. "Her customer-first, digital vision will prove vital to increasing adoption and helping Sales Boomerang customers maximize their success as we continue to expand our partnership with Mortgage Coach."

About Sales Boomerang:

Sales Boomerang transformed the relationship between mortgage lenders and borrowers with the introduction of the first automated borrower intelligence system in 2017. The company's intelligent alerts notify lenders as soon as a past customer or prospect is ready and credit-qualified for a loan. As the mortgage industry's #1 borrower retention tool, Sales Boomerang is trusted by more than 150 lenders - including brokers, independent mortgage companies, credit unions and banks - to help build lasting borrower relationships that maximize lifetime customer value. To date, Sales Boomerang alerts have enabled lenders to close more than $150 billion in additional loan volume that would have otherwise been overlooked and achieve customer retention rates that outperform industry norms by an average of 3-5X. To learn more about Sales Boomerang and its No Borrower Left Behind(tm) ethos, visit https://www.salesboomerang.com.

@SalesBoomerang

Sales Boomerang, the mortgage industry's top-rated automated borrower intelligence and retention system, today announced that it has tapped Cheryl Messner to manage its customer experience departments. In her new role, Messner will define strategies to enhance Sales Boomerang's customer experience, engagement, success and operations as well as help the company build upon its growth from a fintech startup to the industry's leading borrower intelligence solution.

Related link: https://www.salesboomerang.com/

Assurant Turns Their Miles Into Meals, Donating Over 380,000 Meals to Food Insecure Communities

RED BANK, N.J. /ScoopCloud/ -- Assurant, Inc. (NYSE: AIZ), a leading global business services company that supports, protects and connects major consumer purchases, embarked on the third annual "Turning Miles Into Meals" challenge this April to benefit core charitable partner, Move For Hunger.

Assurant's first "Turning Miles into Meals" challenge with Move For Hunger, a national hunger relief non-profit organization, was in May of 2020 with roughly 160 participants and continues to grow year after year. This year, the number of participants grew to over 2,300 Assurant employees, who collectively completed 150,817 miles in activity during the month-long event.

The Assurant Foundation donated $1 to Move For Hunger for each mile earned, and the total donation will help provide over 380,000 meals to families and individuals facing hunger and food insecurity in the United States. From April 4 to May 1, 2022, participants completed weekly and daily challenges to keep them motivated during the event. The initiative concluded with an awards ceremony to recognize the group's efforts and to present Move For Hunger with a charitable donation.

"Our teams always enjoy participating in the Turning Miles into Meals Challenge with Move For Hunger, coming together to strengthen the communities where we operate," said Ryan Lumsden, President, Multi-Family Housing. "Move For Hunger's mission and goals heavily align with our own, which makes this a very valuable partnership."

Assurant Global Housing employees exceeded all expectations and goals throughout the 2022 "Turning Miles Into Meals" challenge. Here are some more numbers about the Turning Meals to Miles challenge:

* Over 2,300 Assurant employees around the world participated
* There were 29 different teams
* Over 320 million steps completed
* An average of 1,000 hours of activity were logged per day
* Over 70 miles on average completed by each team member

In 2021, Assurant was awarded Move For Hunger's "Partner of the Year," and this partnership between Move For Hunger and Assurant is expected to grow in the years to come.

"The dedication and passion we see every year from the people at Assurant never fails to impress us," said Adam Lowy, Founder and Executive Director of Move For Hunger. "It's not every day we come across a large enterprise supported by so many employees advocating for these important community initiatives."

About Move For Hunger:

Move For Hunger, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is working to end hunger and food waste in America. 42 million Americans struggle with hunger while 35% of the food produced in this country goes to waste. By mobilizing moving companies, multifamily apartment communities, corporations, and volunteers, Move For Hunger has delivered more than 27 million pounds of food to food banks - providing 22 million meals for those in need.

Get your company involved by registering to hold a food drive, fundraiser, or team building opportunity. Visit Move For Hunger to learn more about their work at https://moveforhunger.org/.

About Assurant:

Assurant, Inc. (NYSE: AIZ) is a leading global business services company that supports, protects and connects major consumer purchases. A Fortune 300 company with a presence in 21 countries, Assurant supports the advancement of the connected world by partnering with the world's leading brands to develop innovative solutions and to deliver an enhanced customer experience through mobile device solutions, extended service contracts, vehicle protection services, renters insurance, lender-placed insurance products and other specialty products.

Learn more at https://www.assurant.com/ or on Twitter @Assurant.

Assurant, Inc. (NYSE: AIZ), a leading global business services company that supports, protects and connects major consumer purchases, embarked on the third annual "Turning Miles Into Meals" challenge this April to benefit core charitable partner, Move For Hunger.

Related link: https://moveforhunger.org/

The Importance of Integrity Within the Tax Consulting Industry

SAVAGE, Minn. /ScoopCloud/ -- Choosing a tax consulting firm as a trusted advisor is an exceptionally important decision for both businesses needing such services as well as accounting firms who refer them to their clients, says ICS Tax, LLC.

"The right firm can identify valuable credits and planning opportunities to reduce taxes as well as support their positions if audited. Recently, a national tax consulting firm was raided by the IRS Criminal Investigation agents specializing in tax violations and financial crimes. It is unfortunate to see that the IRS felt the need to take such drastic actions within our industry," said Alex Bagne, President of ICS Tax.

The right consultant can be your company's financial partner for life. Consider firms staffed with CPAs, attorneys, and licensed professionals as they can be your best choice. CPAs must follow the Code of Professional Conduct from the American Institute of Certified Public Accounting. Attorneys are governed by the state bar rules and statutes of professional conduct.

Certified Cost Segregation Professionals must abide by the code of ethics of American Society of Cost Segregation Professionals with integrity, honesty, and objectivity as their fundamental principles. Other licensed professionals, such as Professional Engineers and HERS Raters also must abide by codes of conduct.

At the very least when considering a tax consulting firm, first research them on the Internet. See if they have routinely lost tax court cases for overly aggressive positions, are frequently involved in employment lawsuits, or have been sued for racketeering, harassment, misconduct or other serious legal violations.

As tax consultants, ICS always looks after the public interest and honors their trust. The leaders at ICS include Certified Public Accountants, Attorneys, Certified Cost Segregation Professionals, HERS Raters, and Professional Engineers. We strongly advocate for our clients and provide comprehensive deliverables, including audit protection. ICS holds itself to the highest code of ethics established by both professional and industry standards.

ABOUT ICS TAX, LLC:

ICS Tax, LLC is a nationwide consulting firm providing innovative tax planning strategies. We collaborate with taxpayers and their advisors to identify credits and incentives that reduce tax liabilities and increase profitability. Visit https://ics-tax.com/ for more information regarding incentives such as the R&D credit, 179D deductions and many more.

Choosing a tax consulting firm as a trusted advisor is an exceptionally important decision for both businesses needing such services as well as accounting firms who refer them to their clients, says ICS Tax, LLC.

Related link: https://ics-tax.com/

Stack Sports Launches New Payments Platform with Stripe to Bring more Innovation to Youth Sports

PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Stack Sports, the global leader in SaaS platform offerings for the sports industry, today announced its launch of payments powered by Stripe to help Partners offer more flexible payment methods, increase their global reach, and get paid faster.

Stack Sports is known for its Partner first approach to participation growth with its industry-leading technology Sports Connect and recruiting pathway platform CaptainU. By teaming up with Stripe, it's now positioned to serve the entire sports ecosystem with additional payments technology that will provide more partner value along with the best-in-class service Stack Sports is known for.

Thousands of sports organizations already use Stack Sports for secure, fast, and affordable payment processing. With this new partnership Stripe will bring its expertise working with millions of businesses of every size to accept online payments and run complex global operations to the youth sports community.

"We're thrilled to be able to offer our Partners the combination of Stack Sports' service with Stripe's seamless payments platform," said Brandon Shangraw, VP of Marketing and Innovation at Stack Sports. "By integrating with Stripe, our Partners can accept more payment types, take on-site payments with our Stack Pay Point of Sale app, and manage their billing and payments from any device."

"Partners have integrated with Stripe for years-more than half of our fastest-growing users take advantage of one or more Stripe extensions," said Claire Hughes Johnson, Stripe COO. "Partners solve unique problems for business - whether it's software for retailers, accountants, or gyms - and embedding payments and financial services enable new types of businesses and help them work more effectively. That's why we're excited Stack Sports is joining forces with us today to provide a better overall experience for the millions of businesses scaling on Stripe."

About Stack Sports:

With nearly 50 million users in 35 countries, Stack Sports is a global technology leader in SaaS platform offerings for the sports industry. The company provides world-class software and services to support national governing bodies, youth sports associations, leagues, clubs, parents, coaches, and athletes. Some of the largest and most prominent sports organizations including the U.S. Soccer Federation, Little League Baseball and Softball, and Pop Warner Little Scholars rely on Stack Sports technology to run and manage their organizations.

Stack Sports is headquartered in Dallas and is leading the industry one team at a time focusing on three key pillars -- Play, Improve, and Engage.

To learn more about how Stack Sports is transforming the sports experience, please visit https://stacksports.com/.

About Stripe:

Stripe is a technology company that builds economic infrastructure for the internet. Businesses of every size-from new startups to public companies like Salesforce and Facebook-use the company's software to accept online payments and run technically sophisticated financial operations in more than 140 countries. Stripe helps new companies get started and grow their revenues, and established businesses accelerate into new markets and launch new business models. Over the long term, Stripe aims to increase the GDP of the internet. Learn more at: https://stripe.com/.

Stack Sports, the global leader in SaaS platform offerings for the sports industry, today announced its launch of payments powered by Stripe to help Partners offer more flexible payment methods, increase their global reach, and get paid faster.

Related link: https://stacksports.com/

MMI earns a spot on the 2022 Inc. 5000 Regionals List

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- Mobility Market Intelligence (MMI), a leader in data intelligence and market insight tools for the mortgage and real estate industries, today announced it has ranked No. 29 on Inc. Magazine's third annual Inc. 5000 Regionals: Rocky Mountains list. This list ranks the fastest-growing private companies based in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah and Colorado.

"It's an honor to be highlighted on such a prestigious list of growing companies in the Rocky Mountain region," said MMI founder and CEO Ben Teerlink. "Our data intelligence and market insights for real estate and mortgage professionals have only grown in value alongside our business, and we're proud to provide the insights mortgage and title professionals need to strategically navigate today's market volatility."

The Inc. 5000 list shows a remarkable rate of growth across all industries in the Rocky Mountains region. Between 2018 and 2020, these 60 private companies had an average growth rate of 253% and, in 2020 alone, they added 4,176 jobs and $941.9 million to the Rocky Mountain region's economy. The complete results of the Inc. 5000 Regionals: Rocky Mountains, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, metro area and other criteria, can be found at https://www.inc.com/regionals/rocky-mountain.

In two years, MMI has achieved 261% revenue growth, quadrupled its staff and grown its client list to include 350 enterprise clients, including 20 of the nation's top 25 lenders. By accessing an unrivaled database of comprehensive real estate and mortgage production data, MMI's enterprise customers can identify partner networks that best support their business objectives, with granular insight into lenders, loan officers and real estate agents by region or individual transactions.

"This year's Inc. 5000 Regional winners represent one of the most exceptional and exciting lists of America's off-the-charts growth companies," says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. "They're disrupters and job creators, and all delivered an outsize impact on the economy. Remember their names and follow their lead. These are the companies you'll be hearing about for years to come."

About MMI:

Mobility Market Intelligence (MMI) is a market leader in data intelligence and market insight tools for the mortgage and real estate industries. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, the company's signature product, MMI, provides actionable intelligence for lenders, real estate agents, real estate brokerages, title companies and others in the real estate industry. MMI is currently used by more than 350 enterprise customers, including 20 of the top 25 lenders in the country. To learn more, visit https://mmi.io or contact sales@mmi.io.

About Inc. Media:

The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent.

The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

Mobility Market Intelligence (MMI), a leader in data intelligence and market insight tools for the mortgage and real estate industries, today announced it has ranked No. 29 on Inc. Magazine's third annual Inc. 5000 Regionals: Rocky Mountains list.

Related link: https://mmi.io

MISMO Certifies DocMagic’s Total eClose™ Platform and Proprietary RON Technology

TORRANCE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- DocMagic, Inc., the premier provider of compliant loan document generation, automated regulatory compliance and comprehensive eMortgage services, announced that it attained MISMO's eClosing System and remote online notarization (RON) certifications for its Total eClose™ solution.

Both certifications are part of MISMO's eMortgage Technology Certification Program created to support, advance and increase the mortgage industry's adoption of digital solutions and is specifically designed to facilitate and encourage eClosing transactions. Moreover, the RON certification confirms that the provider's platform, procedures, and policies comply with MISMO standards and the eClosing certification confirms that the platform meets MISMO-specific requirements.

MISMO standards are widely accepted and used throughout the real estate finance industry, and most major institutions, including government agencies and GSEs, which are utilizing MISMO standards to exchange data with business partners. In addition, agencies like the CFPB have made it clear that their examination and data exchange tools will rely on and conform to the MISMO standard.

DocMagic became Certified MISMO Compliant for eClosing in February of this year and is the only document generation provider with the eClosing certification. In 2021, DocMagic's proprietary RON capability was offered to its existing client base. The company's Certified RON solution seamlessly integrates with the company's industry-leading Total eClose platform, enabling lenders and their borrowers to realize a fully digital closing experience.

"We are pleased to have received these important certifications, which establish standards that improve lenders' ability to evaluate eClosing technology providers," stated Dominic Iannitti, president and CEO of DocMagic. "DocMagic has consistently championed the utilization of eClosing and RON technology in an effort to move the industry forward. These certifications help facilitate the adoption process and we fully embrace them."

DocMagic's Total eClose platform is a single-source solution that contains all components needed to execute fully paperless eClosings. The award-winning innovation was the first of its kind to be introduced to the mortgage industry in 2014 and since that time has gained widespread market adoption.

About DocMagic:

DocMagic, Inc. is the leading provider of fully compliant document generation, automated compliance, eSignature and comprehensive eMortgage solutions for the mortgage industry. Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Torrance, Calif., DocMagic, Inc. develops award-winning software, mobile apps, and web-based systems for the production and delivery of compliant loan document packages. The company's solutions connect industry participants, promote collaboration, and ensure data integrity to execute precision-based digital lending transactions. The company's compliance experts and in-house legal staff consistently monitor legal and regulatory changes at both the federal and state levels to ensure accuracy. For more information on DocMagic, visit https://www.docmagic.com/.

About MISMO:

MISMO is the standards development body for the real estate finance industry. MISMO developed a common language for exchanging information for the mortgage finance industry. Today, MISMO standards are accepted and deployed by every type of entity involved in creating mortgages, and they are required by most regulators, housing agencies and the GSEs that participate in the industry. Use of MISMO's standards has been found to lower per loan costs, improve margins, reduce errors and speed up the loan process by reducing manual, paper-based processes while creating cost savings for the consumer.. For more information, please visit https://www.mismo.org.

DocMagic, Inc., the premier provider of compliant loan document generation, automated regulatory compliance and comprehensive eMortgage services, announced that it attained MISMO's eClosing System and remote online notarization (RON) certifications for its Total eClose™ solution.

Related link: https://www.docmagic.com/

Southwestern Investment Group Names Brandon Kew as Vice President

FRANKLIN, Tenn. /ScoopCloud/ -- Southwestern Investment Group, an independent wealth management company, is pleased to announce the promotion of Brandon Kew of the Kew Wealth Team to Vice President.

As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, Brandon has also received his Series 7, Series 66, and Nebraska Insurance, Annuity, Long-Term Care, and Disability Licenses, and is an independent, registered representative with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. His promotion to Vice President of Southwestern Investment Group is a testament to his strong work ethic, as he is always seeking to provide enhanced value to his clients.

"We're so excited for Brandon on a well-deserved promotion," said Jeff Dobyns, President of Southwestern Investment Group. "Brandon and his team help set the standard for the level of care Southwestern Investment Group provides to our clients. We continue to expect wonderful things from Brandon, and we take great pride in knowing that his clients are being well served."

Brandon graduated with honors from the University of Northern Iowa, earning a degree in finance and economics, with a certificate in entrepreneurship. After graduation, Brandon spent several years working with university students, training them on principles for success in life through a summer internship program.

Since its beginning in 2002, Southwestern Investment Group's family of advisors has come together to provide clients with a service level that is both personal and intimate, while offering the products of a large-scale organization, thanks to its relationship with broker/dealer Raymond James Financial Services. To learn more, visit the company's website at https://www.swinvestmentgroup.com/.

The Kew Wealth Team has two convenient locations in Iowa and Nebraska:

114 W Main St.

Clarinda, IA 51632

712-542-6334

and:

15808 West Dodge Road, Suite 103

Omaha, NE 68118

402-715-4278

About Southwestern Investment Group:

As of 3/31/2022. Southwestern Investment Group was established in 2002 as an independent practice and manages more than $5.8 billion in client assets. The advisors at Southwestern Investment Group are registered representatives with Raymond James Financial Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Raymond James Financial, which allows them to have the support of a large company while offering the personalized services of a small organization.

Southwestern Investment Group uses sensible, sound, and conservative investment strategies and holistic services to enhance and help preserve your wealth. For more information, visit https://www.swinvestmentgroup.com/.

About Raymond James Financial Services:

As of 3/31/2022. Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. is a financial services firm supporting independent financial advisors nationwide. Since 1974, Raymond James Financial Services Inc., member FINRA/SIPC, has provided a wide range of investment and wealth planning related services through its affiliate, Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC. Both broker/dealers are wholly owned subsidiaries of Raymond James Financial, Inc. (NYSE-RJF) a leading diversified financial services company with approximately 8,500 financial advisors throughout the United States, Canada and overseas. Total client assets are $1.26 trillion. Additional information is available at https://www.raymondjames.com/.

Legal Disclaimer:

Investment advisory services offered through Southwestern Investment Advisory Services, Inc., an independent registered investment adviser. Southwestern Investment Group and Kew Wealth Team are not registered broker/dealers and are independent of Raymond James Financial Services. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Representatives may not be registered to offer securities and advisory services in all states.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, CFP® (with plaque design) and CFP® (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements

Southwestern Investment Group, an independent wealth management company, is pleased to announce the promotion of Brandon Kew of the Kew Wealth Team to Vice President. His promotion to Vice President of Southwestern Investment Group is a testament to his strong work ethic, as he is always seeking to provide enhanced value to his clients.

Related link: https://www.swinvestmentgroup.com/

VALENTIS Enters into Agreements For IPO/Financial Advisory Services

PITTSBURGH, Pa. /ScoopCloud/ -- Valentis International Group, Inc. has entered into agreements for investment consultancy and advisory services related to expansion and moving the company towards an initial public offering (IPO) public listing on a major exchange or trading medium.

The new advisors to Valentis will expand on a current, successful relationship with OGGI Equity, a global consulting group launched from Milan, Italy, since 2017. OGGI has and will continue to provide various advisory and market related services to Valentis.

Valentis has executed an investment advisory/consulting contract with MD Global Partners, a leading boutique advisory firm based in New York, established in 2006. MDG is a registered FINRA broker-dealer. The Principal has had a Wall Street presence since the early 90s. MDG will be providing strategic advisory services in anticipation of further capital raises and forward progress towards a targeted IPO listing and trading currently forecasted to be a NASDAQ public listing.

To facilitate its growth through mergers and acquisitions, Valentis has tapped Murphy Business and Financial Corporation, based in Clearwater, Florida. Murphy is a leading, trusted, and experienced advisor that has closed over $2 billion in transactions. Murphy Business and Financial Corp. will be primarily responsible for representing the interest of Valentis to target acquisitions.

Marnie Sutch, CEO of Valentis, said, "We are delighted to be working with MD Global Partners and Murphy Business and Financial Group, on our strategic growth. We are laser focused on increasing our revenues and valuation both organically and through targeted acquisitions. These partnerships substantially expand our opportunities and help facilitate our evolving relationship with OGGI Equity. The current social, political and media environment focused on public and facilities safety, makes us poised for expansion and high valuation."

About Valentis:

Valentis is a fully operational security logistics and risk management solution for a variety of clients and security concerns. We are growing domestically, and envision global ventures, with services and products under development to create a network of global affiliates, lead through branding, and expand our clients; financial institutions, governments, religious facilities, maritime, cybersecurity, combined with specially developed training, software and telecommunication consultancy, and more. We are mindful and committed and care about our clients, team, and shareholders.

CONTACT: Martha Hunter

mhunter@valentisinc.com

About OGGI Equity:

OGGI Equity is a Private Equity and Consultancy firm with offices in Europe, Middle East and the USA. OGGI guides and takes positions in emerging companies and projects operating in diversified sectors and assists these entities in multiple advisory areas including infrastructure, business strategy, strategic relationships, both business and political, as well as capital raising and financial market services.

CONTACT:

enquire@oggiequity.org

About MD Global Partners:

MD Global Partners is a leading Manhattan-based investment bank, partner & advisory that serves small & mid-cap companies. We assist our clients in achieving their strategic and financial goals by offering comprehensive advisory and financial services across all major industry sectors.

CONTACT:

info@mdgpartners.com

About Murphy Business and Financial Corporation:

Murphy Business is one of the largest and most successful business brokerage firms in North America. Murphy represents both buyers and sellers with conveniently located offices throughout the United States and Canada to provide business broker expertise that accommodates the diverse needs of clientele in many business sectors.

Contact: William E. Ilgenfritz

W.ilgenfritz@murphybusiness.com

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking information about future events and/or financial results that are forward-looking in nature and subject to risks and uncertainties. That includes the possibility that the business outlined in this press release cannot be concluded for some reason. Such forward-looking statements by definition involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to vary. We make no undertaking, by this informative document, to achieve these or to update statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Nothing herein is an offer or solicitation of an offer for the sale of any security.

Valentis International Group, Inc. has entered into agreements for investment consultancy and advisory services related to expansion and moving the company towards an initial public offering (IPO) public listing on a major exchange or trading medium.

Related link: https://valentisinternational.com/

PROGRESS in Lending Names DocMagic’s Director of Client Services to 2022 Most Powerful Women in Fintech List

TORRANCE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- DocMagic, Inc., the premier provider of fully-compliant loan document generation, regulatory compliance, and comprehensive eMortgage services, announced that its director of client services, Lori Johnson, has been recognized by PROGRESS in Lending Association as a leading female technology professional in the mortgage industry.

Now in its fourth year, the Most Powerful Women in Fintech award lauds those who play a pivotal role in leading the way and reshaping how the mortgage industry thinks.

Lori Johnson has a rich background in the mortgage industry working for technology start-ups and growth focused companies. She joined DocMagic in 2014 after helping facilitate the acquisition of Document Express by DocMagic. The entire customer base was successfully migrated over to DocMagic's dynamic document generation platform.

Today she serves as the director of client services for DocMagic. Lori has been instrumental in helping lender clients realize the benefits of digital lending automation, eClosings, eNotes, eVaults, and the importance of system-to-system interoperability as the mortgage ecosystem expands.

"Lori has and continues to serve as an invaluable asset to our customers and company," remarked, Dominic Iannitti, president and CEO of DocMagic. "Her solution-oriented approach and hands-on style to clients embody the way DocMagic does business. We commend Lori for her ongoing industry contributions and are elated that PROGRESS in Lending recognized her successes."

At DocMagic, Lori leads the company's team to onboard lenders with its Total eClose platform and supporting technologies. She collaborates with lenders and third-party vendors to optimize workflows and maximize ROI. Lori is committed to innovation and perfection, always seeking the most effective way to harness technology.

"I am honored to be acknowledged by PROGRESS in Lending on this year's list along with other women who are moving the industry and their companies forward," stated Johnson. "There are many advances being made with digital lending technologies right now. It is exciting to see so many women playing key roles in helping expand the digital mortgage ecosystem for the good of the industry."

About DocMagic:

DocMagic, Inc. is the leading provider of fully compliant document generation, automated compliance, eSignature and comprehensive eMortgage solutions for the mortgage industry. Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Torrance, Calif., DocMagic, Inc. develops award-winning software, mobile apps, and web-based systems for the production and delivery of compliant loan document packages. The company's solutions connect industry participants, promote collaboration, and ensure data integrity to execute precision-based digital lending transactions. The company's compliance experts and in-house legal staff consistently monitor legal and regulatory changes at both the federal and state levels to ensure accuracy. For more information on DocMagic, visit https://www.docmagic.com/.

DocMagic, Inc., the premier provider of fully-compliant loan document generation, regulatory compliance, and comprehensive eMortgage services, announced that its director of client services, Lori Johnson, has been recognized by PROGRESS in Lending Association as a leading female technology professional in the mortgage industry.

Related link: https://www.docmagic.com/

PROGRESS in Lending Lauds Kathy Olsen of OpenClose with Most Powerful Women in Fintech Award

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- OpenClose®, the leading fintech provider of residential mortgage software solutions for banks, credit unions and mortgage lenders, announced that its director of support services, Kathy Olsen, has been honored by PROGRESS in Lending Association as a leading female technology professional in the mortgage industry.

Now in its fourth year, the Most Powerful Women in Fintech award recognizes only those women who play key roles in leading the way and reshaping how the mortgage industry thinks. PROGRESS in Lending named only a total of 35 honorees to the 2022 list.

With more than 30 years of experience in the mortgage industry, Kathy Olsen has spent a good portion of her career working in mortgage technology and specifically the LOS space. She oversees training and support for OpenClose's LenderAssist(tm) LOS customers and ancillary solutions.

Armed with experience working for lenders, mortgage technology providers and industry consultants coupled with 12 years at OpenClose, Olsen is in a unique position to help customers get trained and go live. Olsen is credited with onboarding and training dozens of new customers throughout one of the most explosive growth periods in OpenClose's 22-year company history. In recent years, lender demand for OpenClose's completely browser-based Assist series of lending solutions has spiked, as lenders enjoy a simple and cost-effective workflow to managing the mortgage lending process within an efficient, easy-to-use and elegant user experience.

"I am elated to receive recognition alongside so many other accomplished women who are helping spur forward progress for their companies and the industry," said Olsen. "There are a lot of great technology solutions available to lenders; however, it's the people behind those solutions that ultimately makes a difference. As one of the 35 winners, it's refreshing to see advances being made in the industry with female technologists."

"Kathy is very passionate about helping our customers quickly get up to speed on our platform and began enjoying newfound efficiencies," said Vince Furey, CRO at OpenClose. "She is a rare breed of highly dedicated and enthusiastic subject matter experts in the LOS space, and it shows in the way she interfaces with end users. We are lucky to have Kathy on our team."

The complete list of Most Powerful Women in Fintech winners for 2022 can be found on PROGRESS in Lending's website. https://mymortgagemindset.com/the-2022-most-powerful-women-in-fintech-award-winners-are/.

About OpenClose:

Founded in 1999, OpenClose is the preeminent fintech provider that developed the mortgage banking industry's first SaaS-based lending automation software platform. Today, the company has expanded to become an award-winning, comprehensive loan origination software suite that slashes the cost to manufacture loans by up to 40 percent, reduces processing and underwriting cycle times by up to 50 percent, and requires minimal support to install and manage. OpenClose is the only vendor in the industry able to offer a true end-to-end, omni-channel, 100 percent browser-based, workflow-driven platform that effectively consolidates the digital POS, LOS, PPE and BI functions via a single provider, with easy access from any browser or mobile device. For more information, visit https://www.openclose.com/ or call (561) 655-6418.

Social: @OpenClose_LOS #LenderAssist #KathyOlsen #MostPowerfulWomenInFintech #MortgageSoftwareSolutions

Media Contact:
Joe Bowerbank
Profundity Communications, Inc.
949-378-9685
jbowerbank@profunditymarketing.com

OpenClose®, the leading fintech provider of residential mortgage software solutions for banks, credit unions and mortgage lenders, announced that its director of support services, Kathy Olsen, has been honored by PROGRESS in Lending Association as a leading female technology professional in the mortgage industry.

Related link: https://www.openclose.com/

Black Knight Empower LOS Now Integrated with DocMagic

TORRANCE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- DocMagic, Inc., the premier provider of loan document generation, compliance support and comprehensive eMortgage services, announced an integration with Empower, Black Knight's loan origination system (LOS), to help automate the DocMagic document generation process for lenders and provide access to additional DocMagic services.

Lenders now have access directly from Empower to DocMagic's intelligent document generation solution, supporting compliance, data integrity and trackability. DocMagic's data-driven technology leverages its sophisticated audit engine for automated data validation testing and regulatory compliance audits to analyze relevant compliance rules, regulations and applicable laws, assisting lenders with compliance on pertinent loan documents throughout the lending process.

"We are pleased to integrate with Black Knight to facilitate digital document generation and compliance support for the mortgage industry's leading lenders," stated Dominic Iannitti, president and CEO of DocMagic. "Black Knight has done an outstanding job aligning with key market providers to support their customer base, significantly growing its LOS business. We're excited that this integration for document generation will also pave the way to provide lenders with the benefits of additional DocMagic solutions."

Black Knight's end-to-end, feature rich LOS platform supports a growing digital lending ecosystem designed to support business expansion. The cloud-based system offers advanced capabilities that automate the lending process from start to finish. Empower is configured to support a lender-specific workflow and operates in tandem with DocMagic's automated and continuous compliance checks on relevant documents at key points throughout the process.

"Empower's strategic integration with DocMagic offers tremendous benefits to Empower users by providing innovative, lights-out integration to support best-in-class document generation, while preserving the integrity of the data and tracking it throughout the loan process," said Rich Gagliano, president, Black Knight Origination Technologies. "Together, Black Knight and DocMagic can help lenders support their compliance efforts and provide borrowers with a more satisfying loan experience."

Kansas City-based Nutter Home Loans, the first mutual Black Knight and DocMagic client to go-live with the Empower integration to DocMagic, is experiencing positive results. The national lender was founded in 1951 and originates Conventional, FHA, VA, Jumbo, and USDA loans.

"Nutter is committed to making the lending process as easy as possible for our customers," stated Tera Guy, EVP of operations at Nutter Home Loans. "DocMagic's integration with Black Knight delivers multiple efficiencies for our borrowers and our support staff. Like Nutter, the team at DocMagic places paramount emphasis on delivering service excellence, and in part, this is one of the primary reasons we engaged with them. We look forward to continued optimization of our service through future capability expansions."

About DocMagic:

DocMagic, Inc. is the leading provider of fully compliant document generation, automated compliance, eSignature and comprehensive eMortgage solutions for the mortgage industry. Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Torrance, Calif., DocMagic, Inc. develops award-winning software, mobile apps, and web-based systems for the production and delivery of compliant loan document packages. The company's solutions connect industry participants, promote collaboration, and ensure data integrity to execute precision-based digital lending transactions. The company's compliance experts and in-house legal staff consistently monitor legal and regulatory changes at both the federal and state levels to ensure accuracy. For more information on DocMagic, visit https://www.docmagic.com/.

Media Contact:

Joe Bowerbank

Profundity Communications, Inc.

949-378-9685

jbowerbank@profunditymarketing.com

DocMagic, Inc., the premier provider of loan document generation, compliance support and comprehensive eMortgage services, announced an integration with Empower, Black Knight's loan origination system (LOS), to help automate the DocMagic document generation process for lenders and provide access to additional DocMagic services.

Related link: https://www.docmagic.com/

OneKey MLS names Down Payment Resource partners as designated provider of down payment assistance tools

ATLANTA, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- OneKey® MLS, the largest multiple listing service (MLS) in New York, today announced that it has partnered with Down Payment Resource (DPR), the nationwide database for U.S. homebuyer assistance programs, to indicate MLS residential listings that may be eligible for down payment assistance and other homebuyer affordability programs.

OneKey MLS has 45,000 MLS subscribers and specializes in listing residential and commercial real estate in nine New York counties covering Long Island, the Hudson Valley and all five NYC boroughs. In addition to providing home directories to its subscribers, OneKey MLS enables consumers to search home listings on a public-facing search site.

"Many prospective buyers do not realize the wealth of down payment assistance programs available to them, even at the state and regional levels," said OneKey MLS CEO Jim Speer. "Thanks to our partnership with DPR, our subscribers can swiftly connect borrowers with the homebuyer education and assistance programs they need to achieve their financial dreams."

DPR's toolset is the latest of many time-saving resources that OneKey MLS offers consumers and subscribers. Through its new partnership with DPR, OneKey MLS will now flag listings eligible for homebuyer assistance programs on both its public- and subscriber-facing search pages. Down Payment Resource has already identified 54 programs available in OneKey MLS' area coverage for which 62% of its residential listing inventory is potentially eligible.

"Home prices across the United States have soared in the past year. New York state is no different, with low inventory driving the state's median home price up by 19.4% in 2021," said DPR CEO Rob Chrane. "Now, New Yorkers that are hoping to buy a home can count on OneKey MLS and its Realtor subscribers for homebuyer affordability guidance they may have never encountered otherwise."

About Down Payment Resource:

Down Payment Resource (DPR) is a nationwide database of down payment assistance and affordable lending programs. The company tracks funding status, eligibility rules, benefits and more for approximately 2,200 programs in 11 categories. Its award winning technology helps the housing industry connect more homebuyers to the down payment help they need. DPR has been recognized by Inman News as "Most Innovative New Technology" and the HousingWire Tech100(tm). DPR is licensed to Multiple Listing Services, Realtor Associations, lenders and housing counselors across the country. DPR's subscription based service, Down Payment Connect, helps agents and loan officers match buyers to available programs. For more information, please visit https://downpaymentresource.com/ and on Twitter at @DwnPmtResource.

About OneKey® MLS:

OneKey MLS, made possible by the merger of MLSLI and Hudson Gateway MLS, is one of the nation's leading Multiple Listing Services, serving over 45,000 REALTOR® subscribers and 4,300 participating offices throughout Long Island, Manhattan, and the Hudson Valley. OneKey MLS is dedicated to providing more comprehensive coverage, up-to-date statistics, and the best real estate tools and resources.

OneKey® MLS, the largest multiple listing service (MLS) in New York, today announced that it has partnered with Down Payment Resource (DPR), the nationwide database for U.S. homebuyer assistance programs, to indicate MLS residential listings that may be eligible for down payment assistance and other homebuyer affordability programs.

Related link: https://www.downpaymentresource.com/

Agile Launches Agile Chat for Lenders and Broker Dealers

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. /ScoopCloud/ -- Agile, a groundbreaking fintech bringing mortgage lenders and broker dealers onto a single electronic platform, today announced the launch of Agile Chat, a new chat feature designed to increase transparency and efficiency between lenders and broker dealers.

With the addition of messaging functionality on Agile's electronic MBS platform, dealers and lenders can discuss transaction details, trade levels, MBS pooling, and more through the embedded functionality. As Agile builds on its mission to digitize TBA MBS trading, the chat functionality has been designed to help close the gap between trading counterparties and encourage a sense of community.

"The new chat functionality deepens the lines of communication between dealers and lenders for a more efficient trading experience," said Andrew Rhodes, Director of Technology at Agile. "We believe that every counterparty deserves access to a fair, efficient, and transparent marketplace, and we hope this feature will help streamline communication between lenders and dealers on our platform and further democratize TBA MBS trading."

Agile Chat is enabled with retention and monitoring features for compliance and is ready for use on Agile's electronic platform today. Chat will further enhance Agile's TBA RFQ Platform and MBS Pool Bidding. The combined offerings give the MBS market participants the ability to achieve best execution from any device, anywhere and anytime.

To learn more about Agile's award-winning software which enables lenders and dealers to gain much-needed efficiencies and data through technology, visit https://trade-agile.com/.

To schedule a demo of Agile's new Agile Chat feature, please visit https://trade-agile.com/contact-us/.

About Agile:

The industry's first MBS fintech, Agile brings together lenders and dealers of all sizes onto a single platform. Agile facilitates the exchange of TBA MBS by securing and automating communication between mortgage lenders and broker-dealers. Agile digitizes the historically phone-based process to an electronic platform which may improve profitability and efficiency, while reducing administrative errors. Through its competitive TBA RFQ digital platform, mortgage lenders gain access to national and regional broker-dealers previously inaccessible on digital platforms, while broker-dealers gain access to an ever-growing network of lenders.

Based in Philadelphia, Agile Trading Technologies supports a national network of clients with a team of capital markets professionals who have deep trading experience at financial organizations of every size.

Agile, a groundbreaking fintech bringing mortgage lenders and broker dealers onto a single electronic platform, today announced the launch of Agile Chat, a new chat feature designed to increase transparency and efficiency between lenders and broker dealers.

Related link: https://trade-agile.com/

Gary D. McKiddy Assumes Chief Financial Officer Role at Mid America Mortgage

ADDISON, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Mid America Mortgage, Inc. (Mid America) announced today that Gary D. McKiddy has been promoted from Chief Risk Officer to Chief Financial Officer. In this new role, McKiddy will manage financial operations and strategy as Mid America Mortgage continues to refine its operations and drive business growth through recent product line additions, such as its correspondent down payment assistance (DPA) program.

"With the current economic factors at play, including inflation and rising interest rates, having a seasoned industry veteran like Gary managing our financial well-being helps ensure Mid America can continue assisting borrowers in addressing the challenges of today's home buying market," said Mid America Owner and CEO Jeff Bode. "Gary's industry experience and previous history with Mid America have enabled him to seamlessly integrate into our organization, and we welcome his financial stewardship and expertise as we chart our course for the future."

McKiddy possesses nearly 40 years of experience in corporate financial management across multiple verticals. Before joining Mid America, McKiddy was the CFO at NTFN, Inc, where he was responsible for managing finance, accounting, compliance, servicing, quality control, human resources and IT departments. Over his 19-year tenure at NTFN, he negotiated and maintained $200 million warehouse line commitments with multiple financial institutions, reduced financial closing timelines by 50% and converted $10 million in non-performing assets into cash. McKiddy has held various financial roles at Ascent Energy, Inc., the pre-2003 iteration of Mid America Mortgage, Atlantic Richfield Co. and Arco Corporate. He is a certified public accountant (CPA) and has a Master of Business Administration from Oklahoma City University.

"Mid America is a forward-thinking lender with a variety of loan products to truly help today's borrowers. In my short tenure as Chief Risk Officer, it was inspiring to see the unique ways Mid America creates mortgage solutions for all parties involved," McKiddy said. "I'm honored to accept the position of Chief Financial Officer and look forward to continuing to add value from a business management perspective and further enabling the company to continue serving homebuyers nationwide."

About Mid America Mortgage, Inc.:

Mid America Mortgage, Inc., Addison, Texas, is a multi-state, full-service mortgage lender serving consumers and mortgage originators through its retail, wholesale and correspondent channels. We offer a wide range of residential home loan programs to meet the needs of most home buyers and homeowners and are also the nation's leading provider of Section 184 home loans for Native Americans. Learn more at https://www.midamericamortgage.com/.

In operation since 1940, Mid America has thrived by retaining its entrepreneurial spirit and leading the market in innovation, including its adoption of eClosings eNotes. Click n' Close is Mid America's ultra-secure, digital mortgage approval and closing process that gets home buyers from application to closing within two weeks. With just a few clicks at closing, Click n' Close puts keys in the home buyer's hand in 15 minutes or less. Apply online at https://www.midamericamortgage.com/click-n-close/#cnc.

Frequently named a top mortgage employer/workplace by industry trade magazines such as Mortgage Professional America, MReport, National Mortgage News and National Mortgage Professional, Mid America is looking for tech-savvy, service-oriented mortgage professionals to join our growing team. We are dedicated to providing our employees with industry-leading tools and technology to deliver a great package of competitive pricing, programs and knowledgeable service. Want to join our team? Visit https://www.midamericamortgage.com/careers/.

Mid America Mortgage, Inc. (Mid America) announced today that Gary D. McKiddy has been promoted from Chief Risk Officer to Chief Financial Officer. In this new role, McKiddy will manage financial operations and strategy as Mid America Mortgage continues to refine its operations and drive business growth through recent product line additions, such as its correspondent down payment assistance (DPA) program.

Related link: https://www.midamericamortgage.com/

KROST Named 2022 Top 100 Firms by Accounting Today

PASADENA, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- KROST was recognized as a Top 100 Firm by Accounting Today. The firm ranked 76th with a 18.08% change in revenue from last year. KROST has now been ranked in this prestigious list two years in a row. With new services on the horizon, KROST continues to develop ways to add value for their clients. Their new services include, KROST Business Intelligence Solutions (Data Analytics), Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Reporting, and Consulting, and Client Accounting Services (CAS).

"It's an honor to be ranked once again by Accounting Today and to be among the 12 other PrimeGlobal firms on the list. We are fortunate to have a dedicated team that contributes to our continued growth and success," said Jason Melillo, CEO, KROST.

"PrimeGlobal is delighted that 13 North American member firms are included in Accounting Today's Top 100 Firm List 2022. With more entries than any other global association, PrimeGlobal continues to top the table for the network or association with the most members in the Top 100." - PrimeGlobal.

Accounting Today's Top 100 Firms and Regional Leaders is an annual ranking that recognizes the largest tax and accounting firms by revenue, both nationwide and in specific regions. KROST is recognized as a regional leader in the west, which has the highest average growth rate of all the regions.

Learn more about KROST's services: https://www.krostcpas.com/services

For more information about KROST's awards and recognition, visit: https://www.krostcpas.com/awards

ABOUT KROST CPAS & CONSULTANTS:

KROST is a full-service Certified Public Accounting and Consulting firm headquartered in Pasadena, California. As trusted advisors and industry leaders, clients depend on KROST for timely information, innovative solutions, and results-driven teamwork in the areas of accounting, assurance, business management, consulting, tax, mergers & acquisitions, and wealth management.

KROST was recognized as a Top 100 Firm by Accounting Today. The firm ranked 76th with a 18.08% change in revenue from last year. KROST has now been ranked in this prestigious list two years in a row. With new services on the horizon, KROST continues to develop ways to add value for their clients.

Related link: https://www.krostcpas.com/

realMLS enhances listing service with Down Payment Resource to help subscribers connect consumers with homebuyer assistance programs

ATLANTA, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- realMLS, serving 11,000 members in Northeast Florida, today announced that it has partnered with Down Payment Resource (DPR) to enhance its platform with DPR's suite of real estate agent tools that help MLS customers connect homebuyers with homebuyer assistance programs.

realMLS is a multiple listing service (MLS) which provides advanced tools and reliable listing data to their MLS members serving Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns County, Florida. According to DPR analysis, 44 homebuyer assistance programs are available for up to 63% of realMLS listings, including 35 down payment assistance programs, six affordable first mortgage programs, two mortgage credit certificates (MCCs) and one other program.

As a subscriber benefit, realMLS has integrated DPR with its listing data so properties that qualify for one or more homebuyer assistance programs will be searchable and flagged with the DPR icon. Additionally, realMLS subscribers will receive Down Payment Connect, a unique lead generation landing page that allows visitors to search for homeownership programs and Realtors to collect prospect contact information. Subscribers will also be given access to DPR's library of marketing resources, which includes graphics, social media images and customizable flyers.

"The median home price in realMLS' coverage area has spiked 25.5% over the last year, increasing the cost of a 3% down payment by tens of thousands of dollars for most homes," said DPR CEO Rob Chrane. "DPR tools equip realMLS subscribers to sustainably grow their business by helping families overcome one of the most frequently cited barriers to homeownership: the cost of a down payment."

"realMLS is focused on providing technology such as DPR which empowers our members to best serve consumers," said realMLS CEO Nicole Jensen. "DPR gives our subscribers an edge by making them the source on homebuyer opportunities to proactively address the homebuyer affordability challenges facing people living and working in our communities."

About Down Payment Resource:

Down Payment Resource (DPR) is a nationwide database of down payment assistance and affordable lending programs. The company tracks funding status, eligibility rules, benefits and more for approximately 2,200 programs in 11 categories. Its award winning technology helps the housing industry connect more homebuyers to the down payment help they need. DPR has been recognized by Inman News as "Most Innovative New Technology" and the HousingWire Tech100(tm). DPR is licensed to Multiple Listing Services, Realtor Associations, lenders and housing counselors across the country. DPR's subscription based service, Down Payment Connect, helps agents and loan officers match buyers to available programs. For more information, please visit https://downpaymentresource.com/ and on Twitter at @DwnPmtResource.

About realMLS:

realMLS (a wholly-owned subsidiary of NEFAR) is a Multiple Listing Service for over 11,000 members in Northeast Florida focused on promoting a healthy marketplace, for members and their clients, by providing innovative tools and comprehensive listing data. realMLS partners with exceptional service providers to give members an array of choices to fit their business model. Members have access to statistical data products that are customizable, along with extensive property record data through their integration with Metro Market Trends, Inc., which provides detailed and accurate property information to its customers in Florida and Alabama. To learn more about realMLS go to https://www.realmls.com/.

realMLS, serving 11,000 members in Northeast Florida, today announced that it has partnered with Down Payment Resource (DPR) to enhance its platform with DPR's suite of real estate agent tools that help MLS customers connect homebuyers with homebuyer assistance programs.

Related link: https://www.downpaymentresource.com/

Mortgage Coach promotes Suzanne Duniphin to VP, Customer Experience and David Bowser to VP, Customer Engagement

IRVINE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Mortgage Coach, a borrower conversion platform empowering mortgage lenders to educate borrowers with interactive presentations that model home loan performance over time, announced the advancement of two of its department directors to vice president-level positions. Suzanne Duniphin was promoted from director of eLearning to VP, customer experience, and David Bowser was promoted from director of account management to VP, customer engagement. In their new roles, Duniphin and Bowser will oversee Mortgage Coach's customer-facing initiatives and services.

Suzanne Duniphin, VP, Customer Experience

Duniphin has a 25-year background in mortgage banking and technology, having previously served as training and documentation manager at Optimal Blue, and in multiple leadership roles at a mortgage consulting firm and independent mortgage lender First Horizon Home Loans. Duniphin joined Mortgage Coach in 2020 as director of eLearning. Now as VP, customer experience, she will oversee all aspects of the Mortgage Coach customer experience - from implementation to launch and user training to ongoing customer support. In this role, she will scale the Mortgage Coach customer experience team to ensure the firm's rapidly expanding customer roster receives white-glove onboarding and training, and that lenders derive the greatest value from their investment in the platform.

David Bowser, VP, Customer Engagement

David Bowser has two decades' experience connecting mortgage lenders with right-fit technology solutions, having held positions at financial services marketing platform Volly and mortgage lending platform ICE Mortgage Technology. Bowser joined Mortgage Coach as director of account management in January of 2021 and was promoted to VP, customer engagement for enhancements to strategic customer communication and growth, which has helped customers better understand the platform's wide range of capabilities. In this new role, Bowser will expand Mortgage Coach's team of customer engagement experts.

"Mortgage Coach has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years with support from Suzanne and David, who have been tireless advocates for our platform and its ability to turn lenders into trusted mortgage advisors," said Mortgage Coach COO Kelli Hodges. "Suzanne and David are excellently equipped to nurture customer success and provide an outstanding customer experience. I am thrilled to have them at the helm of Mortgage Coach's customer-focused teams."

About Mortgage Coach:

Mortgage Coach is an award-winning borrower conversion platform that gives consumers the confidence to transact with educational presentations that model loan performance over time. The company's side-by-side loan comparisons allow borrowers to make faster, more informed mortgage decisions while enabling lenders to consistently deliver an on-brand, consultative home financing experience that increases borrower conversion, repeat business and referrals. To date, more than 120 enterprise independent mortgage banks, depository banks and credit unions rely on Mortgage Coach to deliver personalized, modern service that grows revenue and customer loyalty. To learn more about Mortgage Coach, visit https://www.mortgagecoach.com or follow @MortgageCoach.

Mortgage Coach, a borrower conversion platform empowering mortgage lenders to educate borrowers with interactive presentations that model home loan performance over time, announced the advancement of two of its department directors to vice president-level positions. Suzanne Duniphin was promoted from director of eLearning to VP, customer experience, and David Bowser was promoted from director of account management to VP, customer engagement.

Related link: https://mortgagecoach.com/

FormFree opens registration to its third annual Heroes Golf Classic 2022 benefiting the American Red Cross of Northeast Georgia

ATHENS, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- FormFree® today announced it has opened registration to the organization's third annual Heroes Golf Classic, which will be held on September 9, 2022, at Lanier Islands Legacy Golf Course in Buford, Georgia. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the American Red Cross of Northeast Georgia, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides emergency assistance and preparedness education to communities affected by disaster.

FormFree invites companies and individuals to participate in the Luau on the Lake themed charity golf tournament by registering to play or sponsoring the event. Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum sponsorships are available in addition to two new interactive sponsorship opportunities. The Power Red premier hole sponsorship, named to honor the life-saving impact of blood donations, features a golf cannon that allows players to launch balls up to 300 yards on a Par 3 hole. The Pillowcase Hole premier sponsorship, named for the Red Cross Pillowcase Preparedness Program, is led by a golf professional who will make the first shot, setting golfers up to make a Par 5 hole in two shots.

"When natural disasters or other emergencies threaten the safety of our community, the Red Cross of Northeast Georgia is there to help," said FormFree Founder and CEO Brent Chandler. "The FormFree team and I are honored to dedicate our time, money and effort to help support this life-saving work."

Located less than an hour north of Atlanta and situated along the shores of Lake Lanier, the award-winning Lanier Islands Legacy Golf Course features 18 holes designed to delight golf enthusiasts. Charming, tranquil and rich with wildlife, the course is distinguished by its exceptional quality and commitment to service.

The 2021 Heroes Golf Classic brought together more than 100 golfers and volunteers at the Château Élan Winery and Resort in Braselton, Georgia. The event raised $57,030 to benefit Red Cross-sponsored disaster relief services, blood drives and educational programs. This year, FormFree has set a fundraising goal of $75,000.

"Since FormFree was founded in 2008, it has supported the American Red Cross by participating in blood drives, food drives and fundraisers," said Marlon Trone, executive director of the American Red Cross of Northeast Georgia. "Now over a decade later, FormFree is one of our most cherished supporters. We are grateful for their partnership and look forward to continuing our work together."

The American Red Cross of Northeast Georgia provides direct service to 23 Georgia counties by supporting the collection, testing and distribution of blood and blood components in the region, providing emergency resources for military families, facilitating lifesaving training and helping communities impacted by disasters. FormFree CEO Brent Chandler joined the organization's board of directors in 2017, and FormFree was named the Northeast Georgia chapter's 2021 Corporate Blood Sponsor of the Year.

To register for FormFree's third annual Heroes Golf Classic, visit https://HeroesClassic22.givesmart.com.

Those who are unable to attend the tournament can support the American Red Cross of Northeast Georgia's humanitarian work by making a donation at https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html/.

About FormFree:

As the industry's go-to provider for direct-source VOA and VOI/E data, FormFree® helps lenders understand credit risk like never before. Our patented AccountChek® and Passport® products open doors to more inclusive credit decisioning by revealing each customer's true ability to pay (ATP®). We have completed over $3 trillion in loan verifications that help lenders lower operating costs while improving the borrower experience.

For more information, visit https://www.formfree.com/ or follow FormFree on LinkedIn.

FormFree today announced it has opened registration to the organization's third annual Heroes Golf Classic, which will be held on September 9, 2022, at Lanier Islands Legacy Golf Course in Buford, Georgia. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the American Red Cross of Northeast Georgia, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides emergency assistance and preparedness education to communities affected by disaster.

Related link: https://www.formfree.com/

MCTlive! Lock Volume Indices: April 2022 Data

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- MCT®, the leading pipeline hedge advisory in the residential mortgage industry, is pleased to announce the introduction of new MCTlive! Mortgage Lock Volume Indices to help all industry participants better understand key trends in the mortgage industry. As the company serving more lenders with hedging and pipeline management solutions than any other single provider, MCT is uniquely positioned to capture data and understand macro trends in the industry. MCT-collected statistics are also unique to the industry given the diversity in lender size across its client base.

This data represents a broad and balanced cross section of several hundred lenders of various sizes and business models in the mortgage industry across retail, correspondent, wholesale, and consumer direct channels. Taking this broad based, diverse, and representative view of entire market, it provides a more accurate picture of what is happening in mortgage originations than indices are influenced by mega lenders. MCT will be publishing the MCTlive! Mortgage Lock Volume Indices on a monthly basis, intended to serve as an enduring data tool for industry participants, analysts, and watchers.

MCTlive! Mortgage Lock Volume Indices are based on actual dollar volume of locked loans, not numbers of applications, therefore providing a much more accurate picture of industry lock activity than other surveys or application data. The data is also broken out by transaction type: purchase, rate/term refinance, and cash out refinance. Especially in a tight purchase market, applications are a less reliable metric for the mortgage industry as there is a higher likelihood of having multiple applications per funded loan. Prequals do not convert at as high of a rate in the current market as has historically been the case, especially when applications are counted at the early stage of entering a property address.

Covering the period from April 1 through April 30, 2022, this inaugural MCTlive! Lock Volume Indices shows that total mortgage rate locks by dollar volume decreased 5.0 percent in April, and lock volume is down 25.4 percent from a year ago. Purchase locks are up 2.2 percent over the course of the month and 7.55 percent from one year ago, a bright spot even as mortgage rates have increased rapidly in 2022. That increase in mortgage rates is evident in the refinance figures, as rate/term refinances are down 36.4 percent and cash out refinances are down 31.1 percent month-over-month. From one year ago, cash out refinance volume is down 51.7 percent, while rate/term refinance volume has dropped 89.2 percent.

INDEX VALUES TO END APRIL AS A PERCENTAGE BENCHMARKED TO THE START OF THE MONTH:

Category | Month-Over-Month Index Value Change

Total: -5.00%

Purchase: 2.22%

Rate/Term Refinance: -36.35%

Cash Out Refinance: -31.10%

INDEX VALUES YEAR-OVER-YEAR:

Category | Year-Over-Year Index Value Change

Total: -25.39%

Purchase: 7.55%

Rate/Term Refinance: -89.23%

Cash Out Refinance: -51.70%

About MCT:

Founded in 2001, Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT) has grown from a boutique mortgage pipeline hedging firm into the industry's leading provider of fully integrated capital markets services and technology. MCT offers an array of best-in-class services and software covering mortgage pipeline hedging, best execution loan sales, outsourced lock desk solutions, MSR portfolio valuations, business intelligence analytics, mark to market services, and an award-winning comprehensive capital markets software platform called MCTlive!

MCT supports independent mortgage bankers, depositories, credit unions, warehouse lenders, and correspondent investors of all sizes. Headquartered in San Diego, California, MCT also has offices in Philadelphia, Santa Rosa, Los Angeles, and Dallas. MCT is well known for its team of capital markets experts and senior traders who continue to provide the boutique-style hands-on engagement clients love. For more information, visit https://mct-trading.com/ or call (619) 543-5111.

MCT®, the leading pipeline hedge advisory in the residential mortgage industry, is pleased to announce the introduction of new MCTlive! Mortgage Lock Volume Indices to help all industry participants better understand key trends in the mortgage industry.

Related link: https://mct-trading.com/

MMI appoints Kortney Lane-Schafers as Regional Director of Growth

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- Mobility Market Intelligence (MMI), a leader in data intelligence and market insight tools for the mortgage and real estate industries, today announced it has hired Kortney Lane-Schafers as a regional director of growth. Lane-Schafers' responsibilities will include consulting and strategizing with MMI's growing roster of mortgage enterprise clients, which now includes 20 of the top 25 lenders in the nation, to identify growth opportunities to drive adoption and increase return on investment (ROI).

"Identifying and targeting the right referral partners and sales staff is an integral step in any lender's business plan, but current market conditions have made this kind of intelligence especially critical," said MMI founder and CEO Ben Teerlink. "As MMI's clients look to expand their business using data intelligence, Kortney's expertise will be instrumental in helping lenders identify growth opportunities and partnerships that will help drive their organization's long-term goals."

A seasoned account management and client success professional, Lane-Schafers comes to MMI from Total Expert, where she served as director of customer engagement and experience. Before Total Expert, she spent three years at Top of Mind Networks, now owned by Black Knight, and 12 years as a regional sales executive with Courier Express. Lane-Schafers also serves on the board of OCA, an Orlando-based non-profit organization whose mission is to enable individuals and families with autism or other disabilities the opportunity to maximize their abilities through functional, behavioral, social, recreational and vocational programs to live within the community.

"Having seen first-hand Kortney's abilities to nurture a client's success and her passion for promoting a shared mission, it's clear she will contribute immediately to the growth of MMI and our clients," said MMI VP of Growth and Client Success Jonas Kruckeberg. "One of the most exciting aspects about MMI is the enthusiasm we all share, and I know Kortney will only add to our ability to provide a spark to lenders and their business efforts. MMI has set out to help our clients use data and tech in a new way, and I look forward to seeing how Kortney helps expand those efforts."

About MMI:

Mobility Market Intelligence (MMI) is a market leader in data intelligence and market insight tools for the mortgage and real estate industries. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, the company's signature product, MMI, provides actionable intelligence for lenders, real estate agents, real estate brokerages, title companies and others in the real estate industry. MMI is currently used by more than 350 enterprise customers, including 20 of the top 25 lenders in the country.

To learn more, visit https://mmi.io or contact sales@mmi.io.

Mobility Market Intelligence (MMI), a leader in data intelligence and market insight tools for the mortgage and real estate industries, today announced it has hired Kortney Lane-Schafers as a regional director of growth. Lane-Schafers' responsibilities will include consulting and strategizing with MMI's growing roster of mortgage enterprise clients.

Related link: https://mmi.io

Housing Finance Strategies Names Allen Jones Chief Administrative Officer

WASHINGTON, D.C. /ScoopCloud/ -- Housing Finance Strategies President Faith Schwartz today announced that she has named industry veteran and former Big 4 consulting executive Allen Jones as Chief Administrative Officer and Managing Director of the Consulting Practice.

Jones joined Housing Finance Strategies in 2017 and has assisted in the growth of the firm's professional services practice with a focus on execution and client engagement. In addition to his delivery work, Jones has leveraged his consulting background to build out the firm's infrastructure and social media presence.

"We reward success and I am pleased to acknowledge Allen's efforts with today's promotion. With our continued growth trajectory, Allen will help to ensure our expansion and quality of delivery," said Faith Schwartz.

Allen Jones has worked in housing finance and mortgage policy for 25 years in both the private and public sector. His career highlights include building the nation's first automated underwriting system for FHA and VA loans while at Freddie Mac; serving as a Schedule C Political Appointee in the Office of Housing at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development for two presidential administrations; and managing the national FHA/VA business for Bank of America Home Loans.

About Housing Finance Strategies:

Housing Finance Strategies was established by Faith Schwartz in 2016 as a professional services and advisory firm specializing in mortgage modernization, housing policy and legislative and regulatory affairs. Schwartz serves on a number of bank and fintech boards and has a lengthy record of hosting and moderating housing industry events. Since 2019, Schwartz has partnered in creating and delivering national housing policy conferences under the #HousingDC umbrella.

Learn more at: https://housingfinancestrategies.com/

Housing Finance Strategies President Faith Schwartz today announced that she has named industry veteran and former Big 4 consulting executive Allen Jones as Chief Administrative Officer and Managing Director of the Consulting Practice.

Related link: https://housingfinancestrategies.com/

Centier Bank Leverages DocMagic’s eVault Technology to Accept and Manage eNotes

TORRANCE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- DocMagic, Inc., the premier provider of compliant loan document generation, automated regulatory compliance and comprehensive eMortgage services, announced that Indiana-based Centier Bank is now equipped to receive eNotes from their warehouse clients through DocMagic's eVault solution. The move positions Centier to secure more business as mortgage bankers increasingly adopt eClosing technology.

Founded in 1895, Centier Bank is Indiana's largest private family-owned community bank with more than 60 branches statewide. The bank is focused on providing excellence in service to customers and offering a one-of-a-kind personal touch. Centier's mortgage warehouse division serves as a trusted warehouse lender to mortgage bankers nationwide.

Centier implemented DocMagic's eVault specifically for its mortgage warehouse lending business. DocMagic's solution enables the bank to accept and fund eNotes from customers closing loans electronically. Company spokespeople at Centier state that the business driver to implement DocMagic's technology was to facilitate ease of doing businesses with eNotes coupled with establishing a future competitive advantage.

"We strongly believe that in the next 12-18 months, eNote acceptance will gain significant industry adoption among both mortgage bankers and end investors," said Jim Taschler, vice president of mortgage warehouse at Centier Bank. "As such, we want to have the technology in place to effectively handle that method of doing business. Centier is committed to investing in technology that makes it easier to do business with us, which DocMagic's eVault makes happen. Ease of system use and simplicity of doing business is going to determine who leads the pack as the mortgage digital ecosystem grows. DocMagic is playing a pivotal role in helping transform our bank's business model."

Centier's eWarehouse lending process is now quicker, easier and clears warehouse lines expeditiously. By using DocMagic's SmartREGISTRY(tm) system to register their eNote on the MERS® eRegistry, it is securely stored within DocMagic's eVault platform. The new eWarehouse lending process reduces cycle times functioning in minutes versus days. The overall process to close, fund and sell the note is effectively fast-tracked.

"Centier has a sterling reputation in the state of Indiana with their exemplary service levels and community involvement," stated Dominic Iannitti, president and CEO of DocMagic. "Their decision to adopt an eWarehouse lending strategy is truly impressive and will ultimately reduce their origination costs and allow them to provide even better service for their clients. We are excited to work with such a forward-thinking, tech-savvy bank."

Taschler at Centier added: "Whereas it used to just be the GSEs accepting eNotes, we now see more and more aggregators also getting on board with eNotes. Everything is clearly going digital. When we see trending in the secondary market, it supports our assertion. We are excited to ramp up and digitize our mortgage business with DocMagic."

Adoption of eNotes has grown significantly over the last couple of years with an increasing number of organizations across the mortgage supply chain realizing benefits. As of April 1, 2022, the MERS® eRegistry reported over 1.6M unique registered eNotes to-date. The industry now boasts 23 different investors that can originate, fund and purchase eNotes. Further, the MERS® eRegistry currently has 30 warehouse lenders successfully funding eNotes. The list of companies now integrated with the MERS® eRegistry continues to grow and includes originators, warehouse lenders, servicing agents, subservicers, investors, Federal Home Loan Banks, ands custodians.

DocMagic's eVault is being utilized by GSEs, investors, servicers, warehouse lenders, banks and other relevant mortgage entities. The eVault is integrated into DocMagic's comprehensive eClosing process, offering lenders options from hybrid variations to fully digital eNote and RON eClosings.

About DocMagic:

DocMagic, Inc. is the leading provider of fully compliant document generation, automated compliance, eSignature and comprehensive eMortgage solutions for the mortgage industry. Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Torrance, Calif., DocMagic, Inc. develops award-winning software, mobile apps, and web-based systems for the production and delivery of compliant loan document packages. The company's solutions connect industry participants, promote collaboration, and ensure data integrity to execute precision-based digital lending transactions. The company's compliance experts and in-house legal staff consistently monitor legal and regulatory changes at both the federal and state levels to ensure accuracy. For more information on DocMagic, visit https://www.docmagic.com/.

About Centier Bank:

Centier Bank is Indiana's largest private, family-owned bank, with 62 branches statewide and over 900 employees. The bank has retail banking locations in Allen, Boone, Elkhart, Hamilton, Lake, La Porte, Marion, Marshall, Porter, St. Joseph, and Tippecanoe Counties in Indiana. The bank was recently named as the #1 Bank in Indiana by Forbes Magazine. Centier has been named as a "Best Bank to Work For" in Indiana by American Banker and has achieved Hall of Fame status as a "Best Places to Work For" by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. Visit the company's website to learn more: https://www.centier.com/.

DocMagic, Inc., the premier provider of compliant loan document generation, automated regulatory compliance and comprehensive eMortgage services, announced that Indiana-based Centier Bank is now equipped to receive eNotes from their warehouse clients through DocMagic's eVault solution. The move positions Centier to secure more business as mortgage bankers increasingly adopt eClosing technology.

Related link: https://www.docmagic.com/

EPIC Welcomes Paul Lopez – Further Strengthens Entertainment & Sports Practice

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property and casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Paul Lopez has joined its Entertainment & Sports practice as a principal. He joins as part of the Los Angeles team and will be based in Irvine, California.

Lopez will play an important role in the continued development of the firm's Entertainment & Sports business and brings nearly two decades of experience. He specializes in Film, Entertainment, Rental and Staging Houses, Exhibit companies and the overall Event Management industry, Special Event companies, the Sporting Goods industry and more. His approach includes a focus on education and training for his clients. Lopez was previously with The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers.

Lopez will report to Christine Sadofsky, Executive Managing Principal, Global Entertainment & Sports Leader, who commented, "Paul will be a tremendous asset to our Entertainment & Sports practice group. His dedication to the Entertainment industry and his commitment to clients resonates with our culture and team. Paul is dynamic in his approach and has many ideas on how we can continue to build the practice."

"EPIC continues to invest in the expansion of our Entertainment & Sports Practice, and Paul brings a depth of expertise that will be of immediate benefit to our clients and our team," said Scott Davis, President, National Specialty Practices at EPIC. "Our focus on specialization is the key to EPIC's growth and success and Paul will be an important contributor," continued Davis.

Lopez is active in the community, supporting many organizations including through his volunteer work at the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens. He serves as an adjunct instructor at the University of San Diego, providing students with a high-level overview of risk management techniques and legal issues that might arise in the areas of contracts, torts, intellectual property rights and laws and regulations.

About EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants:

EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants, a retail insurance brokerage, has more than 2,600 team members operating from more than 80 offices across the U.S., providing Property and Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs, and Private Client solutions to clients. EPIC ranks among the top 15 retail insurance brokers in the U.S.

Learn more at: https://www.epicbrokers.com/

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property and casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Paul Lopez has joined its Entertainment & Sports practice as a principal. He joins as part of the Los Angeles team and will be based in Irvine, California.

Related link: https://www.epicbrokers.com/

EY announces Mark Cunningham and Alex Kutsishin of Sales Boomerang as Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2022 Mid-Atlantic Award finalists

BALTIMORE, Md. /ScoopCloud/ -- Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) today announced that Sales Boomerang co-founders Mark Cunningham, president, and Alex Kutsishin, CEO, were named finalists for the Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2022 Mid-Atlantic Award. Entrepreneur Of The Year is one of the preeminent competitive business awards for entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies who think big to succeed. Cunningham and Kutsishin were selected by a panel of independent judges based on demonstrated evidence of entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth and impact among other core contributions and attributes.

"It's a tremendous honor to be named one of the top entrepreneurs in and around our nation's capital. Earning this recognition for something we find so personally rewarding makes it that much sweeter," said Cunningham. "From Sales Boomerang's outset, we have swung for the fences, taking on the biggest challenge facing one of the world's largest industries. By correcting the mortgage industry's deep-seated customer retention issues, we are making a positive difference for millions of everyday consumers, and we will continue to lead our company with the best interests of borrowers firmly in mind."

"We want to marry borrowers' interests with financial institutions' offerings so they are always aligned. Borrowers never receive the wrong loan, and organizations don't have to beg for borrowers' loyalty because they have earned it," agreed Kutsihin. "Over five years of amazing growth, we have proven that this model is the future of lending. Mark and I are very proud of what Sales Boomerang has accomplished and dedicate this honor to our more than 100 team members and the hundreds of enterprise lenders that share our vision."

Regional award winners will be announced on June 29, 2022. The regional winners will then be considered by the National independent judging panel, and National awards will be presented in November at the Strategic Growth Forum®, one of the nation's most prestigious gatherings of high-growth, market-leading companies. The Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner will then move on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year(tm) Award in June 2023.

For over 35 years, EY US has celebrated the unstoppable entrepreneurs who are building a more equitable, sustainable and prosperous world for all. The Entrepreneur Of The Year program has recognized more than 10,000 US executives since its inception in 1986. Entrepreneur Of The Year Award winners have exclusive, ongoing access to the experience, insight and wisdom of fellow alumni and other members of the entrepreneurial community in over 60 countries - all supported by vast EY resources.

Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are presented by PNC Bank. In the Mid-Atlantic, sponsors also include ADP, CBRE, Cooley LLP, Donnelly Financial Solutions (DFIN), DLA Piper LLP and Kelly Benefits Strategies.

About Sales Boomerang:

Sales Boomerang transformed the relationship between mortgage lenders and borrowers with the introduction of the first automated borrower intelligence system in 2017. The company's intelligent alerts notify lenders as soon as a past customer or prospect is ready and credit-qualified for a loan. As the mortgage industry's #1 borrower retention tool, Sales Boomerang is trusted by more than 150 lenders - including brokers, independent mortgage companies, credit unions and banks - to help build lasting borrower relationships that maximize lifetime customer value. To date, Sales Boomerang alerts have enabled lenders to close more than $150 billion in additional loan volume that would have otherwise been overlooked and achieve customer retention rates that outperform industry norms by an average of 3-5X. To learn more about Sales Boomerang and its No Borrower Left Behind(tm) ethos, visit https://www.salesboomerang.com.

About Entrepreneur Of The Year®:

Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world's most prestigious business awards program for unstoppable entrepreneurs. These visionary leaders deliver innovation, growth and prosperity that transform our world. The program engages entrepreneurs with insights and experiences that foster growth. It connects them with their peers to strengthen entrepreneurship around the world. Entrepreneur Of The Year is the first and only truly global awards program of its kind. It celebrates entrepreneurs through regional and national awards programs in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries. National overall winners go on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year(tm) title. For more information, visit https://www.ey.com/en_us/entrepreneur-of-the-year-us.

Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) today announced that Sales Boomerang co-founders Mark Cunningham, president, and Alex Kutsishin, CEO, were named finalists for the Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2022 Mid-Atlantic Award. Entrepreneur Of The Year is one of the preeminent competitive business awards for entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies who think big to succeed.

Related link: https://www.salesboomerang.com/

Down Payment Resource teams up with Realtor.com to Help Home Shoppers Find Homebuyer Assistance Programs

ATLANTA, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- Down Payment Resource (DPR), the nationwide database for U.S. homebuyer assistance programs, today announced that Realtor.com® has deployed DPR's search tool that helps home shoppers find homebuyer assistance programs.

DPR maintains a comprehensive catalog of all of the homebuyer assistance programs available in the United States, including down payment and closing cost programs, Mortgage Credit Certificates and affordable first mortgages. According to DPR's Q1 2022 Homeownership Program Index (HPI), there are 2,238 homebuyer assistance programs, with at least one available in each of the United States' 3,143 counties.

Realtor.com® has deployed DPR's search tool on https://www.realtor.com/foreveryone/ to support its Closing the Gap initiative, which is aimed at increasing the homeownership rate of underserved and underrepresented communities.

The search tool can be embedded in an organization's website and enables homeshoppers to search for homebuyer assistance programs by entering property, household and relevant eligibility information.

"Record-high home prices and record-low housing inventory are making it very challenging for people, especially underserved and underrepresented communities, to become homeowners - further exacerbating the homeownership gap," said DPR CEO Rob Chrane. "The good news is that there are thousands of homebuyer assistance programs available to help with down payment and closing costs, including many designed to support people of color becoming homeowners."

"Giving home shoppers the ability to find down payment assistance programs directly on Realtor.com is another step forward in our Close the Gap initiative," said Mickey Neuberger, chief marketing officer for Realtor.com. "This program brings together many different parts of our business in a focused effort to increase the home ownership rate for underserved and underrepresented groups. Systemic discrimination in real estate has held people back for far too long, it's time for us to all work together to make a change."

"We commend Realtor.com for its generous gift and pledge to match donations made to the Homeownership Council of America's (HCA) Equity Down Payment Assistance Fund, which supports homebuyers of color and low to moderate income homebuyers," continued Chrane. "Now home shoppers who may be eligible for those funds will be able to discover them with the help of Down Payment Resource."

About Down Payment Resource:

Down Payment Resource (DPR) is a nationwide database of down payment assistance and affordable lending programs. The company tracks funding status, eligibility rules, benefits and more for approximately 2,200 programs in 11 categories. Its award winning technology helps the housing industry connect more homebuyers to the down payment help they need. DPR has been recognized by Inman News as "Most Innovative New Technology" and the HousingWire Tech100(tm). DPR is licensed to Multiple Listing Services, Realtor Associations, lenders and housing counselors across the country. DPR's subscription-based service, Down Payment Connect, helps agents and loan officers match buyers to available programs. For more information, please visit https://downpaymentresource.com/ and on Twitter at @DwnPmtResource.

Down Payment Resource (DPR), the nationwide database for U.S. homebuyer assistance programs, today announced that Realtor.com® has deployed DPR's search tool that helps home shoppers find homebuyer assistance programs.

Related link: https://www.downpaymentresource.com/

Paragon Welcomes Andy Borst who Joins as President, E&S Lines and International Programs

AVON, Conn. /ScoopCloud/ -- Paragon Insurance Holdings LLC, a nationwide multiline specialty managing general agent (MGA), is pleased to announce the hire of Andrew "Andy" Borst as President-Excess & Surplus (E&S) Lines and International Programs.

Borst, previously the interim president of international operations at Argo Group, brings decades of broad experience in the insurance industry with roles at Travelers, OneBeacon, and most recently Argo Group. He helped establish and lead Argo's U.S. Specialty Programs business from 2014 to 2018, serving as Chief Administrative Officer. He most recently led Argo's international business back to profitability in 2021 after his assignment in London, which commenced in 2019.

Borst became familiar with the early days of Paragon in 2015 and 2017 when Argo Group sold parts of Argo's Alteris MGA to the company, including its timber and landscape programs. In his new position, Borst will play a pivotal role in building on the current growth trajectory of Paragon's E&S and international business.

"I'm excited to return to the Program space," commented Borst. "My experience and familiarity with reinsurers, carriers, underwriters and other MGAs in the specialty insurance market should allow me to add to Paragon's value proposition very quickly."

Borst will report to Paragon CEO and co-founder Ron Ganiats.

"Interacting extensively with Andy in the past, we're thrilled to add him to the team. We know the value he can bring at a time when the company is focusing on expansion both in the United States and globally," Ganiats said.

About Paragon:

Paragon, a broadly diversified MGA launched in 2014, supplies distinctive coverage alternatives and options to retail brokers, insurance carriers, reinsurers, and vendor companions. The agency, owned by Galway Holdings, writes comprehensive coverages throughout greater than 20 programs.

Visit https://www.paragoninsgroup.com/ for additional information.

Paragon Insurance Holdings LLC, a nationwide multiline specialty managing general agent (MGA), is pleased to announce the hire of Andrew "Andy" Borst as President-Excess & Surplus (E&S) Lines and International Programs.

Related link: https://www.paragoninsgroup.com/

Intellimedia Network’s Immersive Technology IP Acquired by Frontera Group

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Intellimedia Networks, Inc., a Los Angeles, California based immersive solutions technology company, today announced that certain of its IP has been acquired by Frontera Group, Inc. (OTC Pink: FRTG) ("Frontera" or "the Company"), a Dallas, Texas based technology-focused strategic acquirer of revenue-generating companies and intellectual property (IP), as part of its multi-part strategy to make further acquisitions from Intellimedia's suite of technology solutions.

This acquisition provides Frontera Group with a cutting-edge mix of media technology, learning platforms, and virtual event broadcasting technologies, positioning FRTG at the forefront of a new wave of immersive technology-powered content for a wide array of customers.

Intellimedia Networks has developed and positioned several multi-million-dollar IP assets focused on media, education, and virtual event broadcasting technologies suited for a variety of market verticals. The IP that Frontera has acquired includes immersive technologies using AR, VR, and interactive experiences that open doors to innovative ways to leverage information-sharing. This form of information sharing provides high-impact, context-sensitive experiences.

The 70/20/10 model for learning and development highlights that people learn from job-related experiences, as 70 percent of what people learn is experiential, compared with 20% learned from others and 10% through formal learning. FRTG's acquisition of Intellimedia's IP positions FRTG as a "knowledge enabler" supporting the "70%" of the experiential portion of learning.

"Intellimedia is thrilled with this M&A as our products and solutions are an ideal fit with the value-creation opportunity presented by Frontera. I believe our world-class solutions will continue to deliver exceptional value to customers, employees, and shareholders," said Darshan Sedani, President, and Co-founder of Intellimedia Networks.

"Our acquisition of Intellimedia Networks' IP places Frontera at the leading edge of the metaverse world of augmented reality, virtual reality, and interactive worlds that are poised to generate significant revenue in training and media technology applications. Frontera will participate in expanding a new mode of knowledge-sharing utilizing ROI-proven technologies," said Mr. Andrew De Luna, CPA, MBA, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Vice Chairman of FRTG.

"We look forward to the growth and entry into new markets that the Frontera acquisition enables," said Teodros Gessesse, CEO and Co-founder of Intellimedia. "Our primary focus of developing platforms that deliver context-sensitive knowledge and information to our customers in media, training, and virtual event broadcasting will be greatly enhanced as a part of the Frontera Group."

Frontera's acquisition of Intellimedia Networks' IP provides FRTG with access to a broad market play for an accelerated entry into a NASDAQ listing. "We have a strategy to acquire and invest in companies that are the next wave of new technologies with a keen focus on applications that markets require and are ready to buy," said Mr. Mann Yam, Chairman of the Board of FRTG. "Intellimedia Networks has the intellectual property to get us into new and recurring revenue streams across several vertical markets."

About Frontera Group:

Frontera Group is a strategic acquirer of intellectual property and revenue-generating companies in the technology and human capital markets. It is developing and executing an aggressive, four-tier acquisition and implementation strategy intended to provide substantial increases in profitability to its acquisitions in industries which possess traditionally low and stagnant EBITDA multiples. The Company has identified and is currently pursuing several revenue-generating acquisition targets.

For further information, please visit Frontera's website at https://frtgtech.com/.

About Intellimedia Networks:

Intellimedia Networks is a US and India-based technology company that designs and deploys cloud platforms and applications that create immersive experiences. Intellimedia's award-winning products utilize AR, VR, and AI to enhance media, training, education, virtual event broadcasting, real estate, and other applications. For further information, please visit Intellimedia Networks' website at https://intellimedianetworks.com/.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

The statements contained in this news release which are not historical facts may be "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated. For example, statements that describe eFRTG's hopes, plans, objectives, goals, intentions, or expectations are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made herein are only made as of the date of this news release. Numerous factors, many of which are beyond FRTG's control, will affect actual Results. FRTG undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. This news release should be read in conjunction with FRTG's most recent financial reports and other filings posted with the OTC Markets and/or the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission by FRTG.

Intellimedia Networks Press Contact

press@intellimedianetworks.com

Intellimedia Networks, Inc., a Los Angeles based immersive solutions technology company, today announced that certain of its IP has been acquired by Frontera Group, Inc. (OTC Pink: FRTG) ("Frontera" or "the Company"), a Dallas, Texas based technology-focused strategic acquirer of revenue-generating companies and intellectual property (IP), as part of its multi-part strategy to make further acquisitions from Intellimedia's suite of technology solutions.

Related link: https://intellimedianetworks.com/

Fernando S. Ereneta, CFP® – CEO of Legacy Wealth Advisors has been named to the Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisor List for the fifth year in a row – in Illinois

WARRENVILLE, Ill. /ScoopCloud/ -- Raymond James Financial Services is proud to announce that Fernando S. Ereneta of Legacy Wealth Advisors has once again been named to the Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisor list for 2022! The recently released list recognizes advisors and practices on a state-by-state basis from national, regional and independent firms.

Learn more: https://www.forbes.com/best-in-state-wealth-advisors/#44149722291d

"For the fifth year in a row, I've been named as one of Forbes' Best in State advisors - in Illinois. We want to Go BIG - begin in gratitude and thank you, the client for this recognition. Legacy Wealth Advisors wouldn't be here without you," said Fernando S. Ereneta, CFP®.

He added, "We're so grateful to you for trusting us to serve you and your families. I am also grateful to God for each member of the team that serves you."

In gratitude to our clients' continued faith and trust in us - Fernando and the team wanted to pay this forward.

The practice made charitable donations to help Ukrainian refugees. Charitable donations were made to Samaritan's Purse, KBC Ministries, and World Vision. The donations approximate $100 per client. Fernando said, "These charities have boots on the ground in Poland, Moldova and Romania and are helping refugees from Ukraine with food, shelter and medicine."

Fernando hopes that others will be inspired to give and pay it forward as well.

He is grateful that he can help others and serve his clients.

Fernando S. Ereneta, CFP®
Registered Principal, Raymond James Financial Services, Inc.
CEO, Legacy Wealth Advisors
Raymond James Financial Services, Inc.
Member FINRA/SIPC
4200 Cantera Drive, Suite 221
Warrenville, IL 60555
630-791-9226
888-563-5524 (Toll Free)
630-791-9233 (Fax)
fernando.ereneta@raymondjames.com
http://www.legacywealthadvisorsil.com/

Investment advisory services offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc.

Legacy Wealth Advisors is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, CFP® (with plaque design) and CFP® (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.

About Forbes ranking of Best-In-State Wealth Advisors

Data provided by SHOOK™ Research, LLC.

Source: Forbes.com (April 2022)

The Forbes ranking of Best-In-State Wealth Advisors, developed by SHOOK Research, is based on an algorithm of qualitative criteria, mostly gained through telephone and in-person due diligence interviews, and quantitative data. Those advisors that are considered have a minimum of seven years of experience, and the algorithm weights factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and those that encompass best practices in their practices and approach to working with clients. Portfolio performance is not a criteria due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Out of approximately 34,925 nominations, more than 6,550 advisors received the award. This ranking is not indicative of an advisor's future performance, is not an endorsement, and may not be representative of individual clients' experience. Neither Raymond James nor any of its Financial Advisors or RIA firms pay a fee in exchange for this award/rating. Raymond James is not affiliated with Forbes or Shook Research, LLC. Please visit https://www.forbes.com/best-in-state-wealth-advisors/ for more info.

About Raymond James Financial Services

As of 12/31/2021. Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. is a financial services firm supporting independent financial advisors nationwide. Since 1974, Raymond James Financial Services Inc., member FINRA/SIPC, has provided a wide range of investment and wealth planning related services through its affiliate, Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC. Both broker/dealers are wholly owned subsidiaries of Raymond James Financial, Inc. (NYSE-RJF) a leading diversified financial services company with approximately 8,500 financial advisors throughout the United States, Canada and overseas. Total client assets are $1.26 trillion. Additional information is available at https://www.raymondjames.com/.

Raymond James Financial Services is proud to announce that Fernando S. Ereneta of Legacy Wealth Advisors has once again been named to the Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisor list for 2022! The recently released list recognizes advisors and practices on a state-by-state basis from national, regional and independent firms.

Stack Sports Partners with NEAR Foundation to Make NFTs more Accessible to Sports

PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Stack Sports - the global technology leader in sports software announced today that it will be partnering with the NEAR Foundation, a Swiss non-profit that oversees the NEAR blockchain ecosystem, to launch an athlete-focused NFT platform. The new Stack NFT platform will give all athletes an opportunity to create and mint their own NFTs on NEAR's blockchain.

"We are continually looking for new ways to serve our partners and sports families," said Brandon Shangraw VP of Marketing and Innovation at Stack Sports. "This athlete-focused NFT platform will allow our partners to access cutting edge innovation that was previously unavailable to our market. We see this as a huge value add for sports organizations and families."

Momentum continues to build around Stack Sports and its ecosystem as they add value for sports organizations. The largest ecosystem of value-add services now boasts over 50 products and services designed to help organizations grow participation while transforming the experience for athletes.

"NEAR is the perfect partner to help us bring this product to market," said Kyle Lundon, VP of Product at Stack Sports. "With their focus on scalability, security, and a consumer-friendly user experience they are a layer one blockchain technology that can support sports at scale. Their leadership in this space has given us confidence they can support the ten million plus sports families we serve."

The NEAR blockchain is faster than the world's most used blockchain and capable of 100,000s of transactions per second, with lower transaction fees. This allows the Stack NFT platform to give athletes a chance to mint their own NFTs at a very low cost and on a carbon-neutral blockchain. For Stack Sports users, the first NFTs they create will be free as an added benefit of being in the largest sports ecosystem. That means users of products like Sports Connect, CaptainU, Skyhawks, and Stack Team App will all have the opportunity to jump into creating an NFT at no cost.

NEAR runs in concert with Ethereum, along with other blockchains, allowing for the free flow of assets and communication between networks for the betterment of all. This means that the NFTs created on the NEAR blockchain are best-in-class and come without these portability restrictions that exist elsewhere in the NFT ecosystem.

"Sports is a clear space for innovation within the NEAR ecosystem," said Josh Daniels Head of Funding at the NEAR Foundation. "We are excited to partner with Stack Sports who has the vision and depth of experience to develop an NFT platform for all athletes."

The NEAR Foundation aims to help evangelize, raise awareness, support, and grow their ecosystem by allocating funding, including non-equity grants. To date, the foundation has allocated over $12M to nearly 600 grantees.

About NEAR:

NEAR is a high-performance blockchain that is designed to be super-fast, incredibly secure, and infinitely scalable. NEAR's vision is to create a network that enables people to re-imagine finance, creativity, and community in new and inclusive ways.

NEAR is built by an award-winning team of engineers and entrepreneurs to be simple to use, inclusive and good for the environment. NEAR is backed by top VCs such as A16Z, Pantera Capital, Electric Capital, Dragonfly Capital, Coinbase Ventures, Blockchain.com, and Baidu Ventures.

About Stack Sports:

With nearly 50 million users in 35 countries, Stack Sports is a global technology leader in SaaS platform offerings for the sports industry. The company provides world-class software and services to support national governing bodies, youth sports associations, leagues, clubs, parents, coaches, and athletes. Some of the largest and most prominent sports organizations including the U.S. Soccer Federation, Little League Baseball and Softball, and Pop Warner Little Scholars rely on Stack Sports technology to run and manage their organizations. Stack Sports is headquartered in Dallas and is leading the industry one team at a time focusing on four key pillars -- Grassroots Engagement, Participation Growth, Recruiting Pathways, and Elite Player Development. To learn more about how Stack Sports is transforming the sports experience, please visit: https://stacksports.com/.

Stack Sports - the global technology leader in sports software announced today that it will be partnering with the NEAR Foundation, a Swiss non-profit that oversees the NEAR blockchain ecosystem, to launch an athlete-focused NFT platform. The new Stack NFT platform will give all athletes an opportunity to create and mint their own NFTs on NEAR's blockchain.

Related link: https://stacksports.com/

Logix Federal Credit Union launches Mortgage Coach to enhance mortgage advisory service for members

IRVINE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Mortgage Coach, a borrower conversion platform empowering mortgage lenders to educate borrowers with interactive presentations that model home loan performance over time, announced today that Logix Federal Credit Union (Logix) has rolled out Mortgage Coach to enhance the mortgage advisory service it provides to members. Nearly 200 registered mortgage loan officers will use the Mortgage Coach platform to help members understand how various home financing strategies can best fulfill their homeownership goals and build wealth.

Headquartered in Los Angeles County, Logix is reputed as one of the nation's largest and most reliable credit unions. Logix has more than $9 billion in assets and operates branches in service of more than 225,000 members. In keeping with its commitment to investing in financial health and education, Logix offers a comprehensive Financial Wellness program that supports members' with money management and financial planning services to encourage better, smarter financial decisions.

By partnering with Mortgage Coach, Logix has empowered its mortgage lending arm with interactive Total Cost Analysis (TCA) presentations, which educate consumers by modeling home loan performance over time. The partnership will enable Logix loan officers to solidify themselves as trusted mortgage advisors by providing members user-friendly comparisons of lending scenarios to help them make more informed decisions. TCA presentations are personalized, digital and can be shared with borrowers via text, email or Mortgage Coach's mobile app.

"Logix is the financial institution of choice for hundreds of thousands of members because it prioritizes service, education and financial success above all else," Mortgage Coach President Joe Puthur said. "Our TCA presentations will help achieve Logix's commitment to mortgage engagement, experience and education by streamlining each loan officer's ability to provide personalized financial education to every credit union member, increasing homeownership and equity access to everyone they serve."

This service was selected by the Logix management team with intentions to provide greater value to members.

"Mortgage Coach has presented our mortgage lending division at Logix with an incredible opportunity to offer enhanced advisory services to thousands of members," Logix President and CEO Ana Fonseca said. "Mortgage Coach's TCAs will make it easier for our staff to deliver more value to members by helping them consider how their mortgage fits holistically into a broader financial picture."

About Mortgage Coach:

Mortgage Coach is an award-winning borrower conversion platform that gives consumers the confidence to transact with educational presentations that model loan performance over time. The company's side-by-side loan comparisons allow borrowers to make faster, more informed mortgage decisions while enabling lenders to consistently deliver an on-brand, consultative home financing experience that increases borrower conversion, repeat business and referrals. To date, more than 140 enterprise independent mortgage banks, depository banks and credit unions rely on Mortgage Coach to deliver personalized, modern service that grows revenue and customer loyalty. To learn more about Mortgage Coach, visit https://www.mortgagecoach.com or follow @MortgageCoach.

About Logix:

Chartered in 1937, Logix Federal Credit Union offers a full menu of financial services, and surcharge-free access to 30,000 ATMs nationwide. Logix Federal Credit Union is rated "superior" for financial strength, and is the largest credit union headquartered in Los Angeles County, with more than 225,000 members and $9 billion in assets. Logix operates 18 branches in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

Federally insured by NCUA. Logix is an Equal Housing Lending. NMLS ID 503781. For more information, visit http://www.lfcu.com/.

Mortgage Coach, a borrower conversion platform empowering mortgage lenders to educate borrowers with interactive presentations that model home loan performance over time, announced today that Logix Federal Credit Union (Logix) has rolled out Mortgage Coach to enhance the mortgage advisory service it provides to members.

Related link: https://mortgagecoach.com/

SBA commemorates 20 years of serving large and mid-sized employers’ benefits consulting needs

ATLANTA, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- Independent, full-service employee benefits consulting firm Strategic Benefits Advisors, Inc. (SBA) announced the firm is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Since opening its doors in April 2002, SBA has helped organizations in every sector of the North American economy navigate their toughest employee benefits challenges while reducing plan expenses and improving efficiency, compliance and the participant experience.

SBA was founded by industry veterans Mindy Zatto and Andy Adams, whose big-firm experience as benefits consultants and plan administrators for some of the world's largest companies earned them a reputation for innovative thinking and exceptional service. Their work also revealed a market need for a new model of employee benefits consulting that could bridge the all-too-common gap between how benefits plans are designed and how they are administered. With this objective in mind, Zatto and Adams started SBA operating out of their homes.

"From day one, SBA set out to do things differently," said Adams. "Plan sponsors need an advocate in their corner - someone who will help close the gaps in their employee benefits. Having experience with both traditional benefits consulting issues and outsourced plan administration gave us a unique perspective on how to deliver the best and most cost-effective services possible. Twenty years in, it's a calling that still energizes us."

Over the last two decades, SBA has grown from its humble beginnings into an award-winning employer whose team of nearly 30 full-time consultants - including seven credentialed actuaries - is among the industry's most experienced. The firm's clients, which range in size from 1,000 to 300,000 employees and span publicly-traded, private and government organizations, turn to SBA to address complex plan issues with practical solutions and expert support.

In the early days, SBA focused on helping plan sponsors optimize their retirement and retiree health plans through plan design, actuarial services, plan de-risking and third-party administrator management. Today, the firm supports every category of employee benefits, from health and welfare to financial wellness and from rewards and recognition to tuition assistance. SBA's more than two dozen service lines now include defined contribution (DC) compliance; vendor search, implementation, management and recovery; plan governance; outsourced pension administration; specialty call center support; and much more.

"SBA's focus on doing right by our clients and our colleagues has rewarded us with the opportunity to create lifelong relationships, not just business partnerships," said Zatto. "This commitment has been our guidepost for 20 years and will continue to define our business for the next 20 years to come."

About Strategic Benefits Advisors:

Strategic Benefits Advisors, Inc. (SBA) is an independent, full-service employee benefits consulting firm focused on creatively and effectively solving complex benefits issues for clients ranging from 1,000 to over 300,000 employees. Founded in 2002 by veteran consultants Mindy Zatto and Andy Adams, SBA provides practical consulting recommendations and expert implementation of solutions for all types of employee benefits programs, including retirement, health and welfare, financial wellness and employee recognition. With an average of over 25 years in the field, SBA's team of actuaries, consultants and systems specialists is among the most experienced in the industry. For more information, visit https://www.sba-inc.com/.

Independent, full-service employee benefits consulting firm Strategic Benefits Advisors, Inc. (SBA) announced the firm is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Since opening its doors in April 2002, SBA has helped organizations in every sector of the North American economy navigate their toughest employee benefits challenges while reducing plan expenses and improving efficiency, compliance and the participant experience.

Related link: https://www.sba-inc.com/