Tag Archives: Awards and Honors

David McNeil of EPIC Named 2018 Broker of Excellence by CalMutuals Joint Powers Risk and Insurance Management Authority

ONTARIO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Principal and Risk Management Consultant David McNeil has been selected as a 2018 Broker of Excellence by The California Association of Mutual Water Companies - Joint Powers Risk & Insurance Management Authority (CalMutuals-JPRIMA).

"JPRIMA relies solidly on the skills and support of committed insurance brokers like David," said CalMutuals JPRIMA President and CEO Jim Byerrum. "We view his contributions as an integral part of our success and proudly call him a valued partner and trusted advisor."

McNeil serves on several federal, state and local task forces for critical infrastructure exposure mitigation, transfer and avoidance. He is executive producer and an advisory member of the American Association of Water Distribution & Management (AAWD&M) Thought Leadership Lab Video Module Series, a resource that helps CalMutuals-JPRIMA insureds/members stay abreast of risk management best practices and emerging issues. He represents scores of mutual water companies, public water districts and investor owned utilities, with many client relationships spanning decades of service.

"It's an honor to be recognized by CalMutuals JPRIMA as a Broker of Excellence," said McNeil. "Its dedication to providing high-quality, cost-effective risk management and insurance products and services to its members is exceptional, and I look forward to continuing our work together."

CalMutuals JPRIMA was founded in 2016 after enactment of AB656 (Garcia), authorizing mutual water companies to form and participate in a joint powers authority, to provide pooled insurance for mutual water companies and other water systems. Since then the CalMutuals JPRIMA has grown from 14 members to over 250 members representing a wide range of water suppliers across California, including some of the state's largest. CalMutuals JPRIMA is governed by a nine-member board of directors from around the state and is currently developing a portfolio of risk management and safety tools for its members.

David McNeil can be reached at david.mcneil@epicbrokers.com or 909-919-7508

About EPIC:

EPIC is a unique and innovative retail property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm. EPIC has created a values-based, client-focused culture that attracts and retains top talent, fosters employee satisfaction and loyalty and sustains a high level of customer service excellence.

EPIC team members have consistently recognized their company as a "Best Place to Work" in multiple regions and as a "Best Place to Work in the Insurance Industry" nationally.
EPIC now has more than 1,400 team members operating from 50 offices across the U.S., providing Property and Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs and Private Client solutions to more than 20,000 clients.

With run rate revenues greater than $400 million, EPIC ranks among the top 20 retail insurance brokers in the U.S. Backed by Oak Hill Capital Partners, the company continues to expand organically and through strategic acquisitions across the country.

For additional information, please visit: https://www.epicbrokers.com/.

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants ("EPIC"), a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Principal and Risk Management Consultant David McNeil has been selected as a 2018 Broker of Excellence by The California Association of Mutual Water Companies - Joint Powers Risk & Insurance Management Authority (CalMutuals-JPRIMA).

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

Real Life Urban Superhero DangerMan Will Tribute Comic Book Legend Stan Lee at Third Annual DangerMan Hero Awards

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- An evening of celebration will mark the 20th anniversary for DangerMan, America's Real Life Urban Super Hero at the Third Annual 2018 DangerMan Hero Awards, taking place on Saturday, December 8 at the California African American Museum (CAAM). During the affair, DangerMan will pay homage to his friend and recently departed mentor, comic book legend, Stan Lee.

He will also invite attendees to tribute the twelve victims murdered at the Border Line Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks, Calif. and the people who lost their lives and homes in the California wildfires, as well as the first responders, with a candlelight moment of silence.

Produced by actor, mentor and philanthropist Roger I. Tinsley, the founder of the DangerMan Urban Superhero brand and CEO/President of the DangerMan Education Foundation, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, the gala will recognize eight community activists as "DangerMan Heroes" and present California State Senators Holly J. Mitchell and Steven Bradford with the DangerMan "Hero Award for Humanity."

Red carpet and VIP reception will start at 6 p.m. CAAM is located at 600 State Drive in Los Angeles. Tickets are available at http://dangermanheroawards.com/tickets/ .

This year's DangerMan Hero Awards host, Melvin Jackson Jr., returns for a third year. Jackson is an Emmy nominated actor/producer from "This Eddie Murphy Role, is Mine and Not Yours," HBO's "The Wire" and BET's "The New Edition Story." Jackson will be honored with the "2018 DangerMan Hero Award for Creative Arts."

"Can one man make a difference?" asks Tinsley. "We believe one person can. That's why in 2016 the DangerMan Hero Awards program was created. This unique show celebrates and honors the ordinary, everyday men, women and children who help make life better for others in the state of California. DangerMan fights for real issues that affect real people."

DangerMan hero nominees were initially announced online with visitors encouraged to vote for the most compelling community accomplishments and vision. This year's "super" heroes include Reggie Berry, former NFL Payer and founder/CEO Goals For Life; Juliano Jarquin, behaviorist counselor and founder of The Human Element-Life Passage; Denise Estelle, founder/president of Estelle 4 Humanity; Eddie Jones, Jr., president of the Los Angeles Civil Rights Association; Nason Buchanan, Mayor's Office of Public Safety & Community Relations Specialist; "Coach" Ron Crockett, homeless advocate and founder of Fun Zone Kids Reading Club; Mia Torres, teen homeless advocate; and Troy Druppal, basketball coach, motivational speaker and founder of Flex Foundation.

All the recipients will receive special awards, cash and other gifts presented through the DangerMan Education Foundation, Inc. The top recipient is chosen as the DangerMan Hero of the Year and receives an additional cash prize to continue his/her work.

Roger Tinsley first introduced DangerMan to America in 1998 after being emotionally impacted by the death of a four-year-old. The toddler was tragically killed on her birthday by a stray bullet from gang-related gun fire. Tinsley felt compelled to create a real-life super hero who could serve as a role model for school age children in underserved communities while addressing issues that specifically affected them. Using his own money and resources he created DangerMan, the Urban Super Hero.

As a 'real life' urban superhero, DangerMan is an advocate for children's rights promoting literacy, safety and good health. He wages against bullying and also fights human trafficking. DangerMan visits schools and community events encouraging his audience with a motto of "No gangs, guns, drugs, alcohol or tobacco." He has traveled throughout America and Haiti, empowering children to live their best life. Tinsley credits Marvel comic book legend Stan Lee for a great portion of his inspiration and success. He achieved a career highlight when Lee met and personally congratulated DangerMan on his superhero feats of worldwide motivation.

This 20th anniversary of the DangerMan Superhero brand has been very productive, first with the release of DangerMan's debut song and the production of DangerMan's second action film "DangerMan Returns."

For sponsorship and ticket information for the Third Annual 2018 DangerMan Hero Awards go to http://www.dangermanheroawards.com and to join DangerMan as he battles for all things good, go to http://www.thedangerman.com .

Friend DangerMan on Facebook at DangerMan Urban Superhero (https://www.facebook.com/DangerManUrbanSuperhero/ ) follow DangerMan on Instagram at @dangermanurban (https://www.instagram.com/dangermanurban/ )and join him on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/user/urbansuperhero.

VIDEO (YouTube):
https://youtu.be/-V221c8fA54

An evening of celebration will mark the 20th anniversary for DangerMan, America's Real Life Urban Super Hero at the Third Annual 2018 DangerMan Hero Awards, taking place on Saturday, December 8 at the California African American Museum (CAAM). During the affair, DangerMan will pay homage to his friend and recently departed mentor, comic book legend, Stan Lee.

Related link: http://www.thedangerman.com/

Edupoint Selects Lincoln Public Schools in Nebraska for Third Annual Partner for Life Award

MESA, Ariz. /ScoopCloud/ -- Edupoint(R) Educational Systems, creator of the industry-leading Synergy(R) Education Platform for K-12 student information and learning management, is pleased to announce that its 2018 Partner for Life Award has been awarded to Lincoln Public Schools in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Bob Weathers, Founder and CEO of Edupoint, presented the award at the Opening Session at the company's 2018 National Users Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona, on November 8.

Kirk Langer, Chief Technology Officer for Lincoln Public Schools, accepted on behalf of the district.

"Edupoint's credibility as a dependable and responsive partner was one of the key reasons Lincoln Public Schools chose to implement the Synergy Platform," Langer said. "We were also looking for a partner with a vision for the future, which Edupoint demonstrated with the Synergy Analytics and RTI modules that were in development when we signed on. Our district has been pleased to work with Edupoint not only in refining and extending our own Synergy implementation, but also as an early adopter helping to mold the newest Synergy modules to benefit all Synergy districts."

"Lincoln Public Schools has been an enthusiastic partner for Edupoint from the start, with a strong commitment to extending the use of Synergy functionality - including student information management, special education management, and assessment - to serve all stakeholders in the district," said Rob Wilson, President and Chief Innovation Officer of Edupoint. "Moreover, Lincoln also demonstrated a visionary engagement with the full Synergy Education Platform, embracing the platform's newest modules hand-in-hand with its established core modules. The Partner for Life award is our way of recognizing Lincoln and saying 'thank you' for the district's valuable contributions."

At the request of the district, the $5,000 award will go to Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools to be allocated through its Fund a Need program, which creates opportunities for students by funding field trips, providing technology to support creative approaches to teaching, and meeting other classroom needs not covered by tax dollars.

About Edupoint Educational Systems:

For over thirty years, the leadership of Edupoint Educational Systems has provided well-designed, technologically-advanced student data management systems that empower all K-12 stakeholders with the tools they need to improve student achievement. The fully-integrated Synergy(R) Education Platform includes Synergy(R) SIS, the most powerful K-12 student information system available today, Synergy(R) LMS, an all-in-one learning and assessment platform, Synergy(R) SE, a collaborative end-to-end special education data management system, and Synergy Analytics, a comprehensive data analysis solution for improving student performance and district administration.

Thousands of schools nationwide choose the Synergy Education Platform to support more than four million students, including 16 of the 100 largest school districts.

Learn more: http://www.Edupoint.com/.

Edupoint(R) Educational Systems, creator of the industry-leading Synergy(R) Education Platform for K-12 student information and learning management, is pleased to announce that its 2018 Partner for Life Award has been awarded to Lincoln Public Schools in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Related link: http://www.edupoint.com/

Frisbee Sonic by Wham-O Named One of the Best New Toys of 2018 by Fatherly

CARSON, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Frisbee(R) Sonic, the new "square" Frisbee by Wham-O, has been added to the Fatherly list of 100 Best New Toys of 2018. The designations, compiled by a team of editors, dads and kids, honor the manufacturers who harness technological advancements, imagination and product design to churn out play products that inform, inspire, develop and entertain. Wham-O reinvented the way Frisbee(R) and all discs will fly in the future with the introduction of the Frisbee(R) Sonic, available in red or neon green for $16.99 on Amazon.com.

"We are thrilled to see Frisbee Sonic on this list of best new toys, each of which has been deemed innovative, educational or just really fun," said Olyvia Pronin, marketing director at Wham-O, the California toy company that has been producing some of the most trusted toys in the market for 70 years.

"Not only is the Frisbee Sonic a completely unique Frisbee experience, it actually works better than the original. As we celebrate our 70th anniversary, Wham-O continues to innovate engaging lifestyle outdoor games and products enjoyed by people of all ages around the world."

Frisbee(R) Sonic by Wham-O is the new revolutionary flying disc that has a perfect snakelike sine wave, allowing for an easy grip. The shape also creates aerodynamic pockets that make throwing and catching the Frisbee(R) easier than any flying disc in the market. Even if it's thrown at a slight angle, the Frisbee(R) Sonic will self-correct and fly straight because of its innovative design. And with only three small points ever touching ground, the Frisbee(R) Sonic is easier to pick up and tends to get less damaged over time.

About Wham-O:

With 70 years of cultural and commercial significance, and with a lineup of consumer products that appeal to people of all ages, the Wham-O brand remains synonymous with fun, play and sport. The company manufactures and markets some of the most recognizable consumer brands in the world today, from classics like Frisbee discs, Slip 'N Slide water slides and Hula Hoop toy hoops, to outdoor brands like Morey, Boogie body boards, Snow Boogie sleds and BZ Pro Boards.

Wham-O is a company and lifestyle brand that is steeped in the American cultural tradition of classic, well made toys. They continue their success and entrepreneurial spirit by building smart partnerships, targeting partners aligned with their mission of bringing new products to market that promote an ongoing commitment to the highest-quality, and to bringing families, friends, and teammates together during every season of the year - indoors and out.

For more information, visit https://wham-o.com/ and follow @WhamOOfficial on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram for the latest news on the company's world-class brands.

VIDEO (YouTube):
https://youtu.be/WCyUj2PGqKk

Frisbee(R) Sonic, the new "square" Frisbee by Wham-O, has been added to the Fatherly list of 100 Best New Toys of 2018. The designations, compiled by a team of editors, dads and kids, honor the manufacturers who harness technological advancements, imagination and product design to churn out play products that inform, inspire, develop and entertain. Wham-O reinvented the way Frisbee(R) and all discs will fly in the future with the introduction of the Frisbee Sonic.

Related link: https://wham-o.com/

Integrity Home Care and Hospice Exceeds National Averages for Patient and Family Experience

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. /ScoopCloud/ -- Integrity Home Care and Hospice exceeded the national and regional averages in each of six areas of distinction for patient and family experience, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMMS).

The welcome announcement comes as Integrity finalizes its Nov. 1 agreement with Mercy Health System to assume leadership of its home-based post-acute care services. The much-anticipated closure comes after months developing the high-value partnership which will integrate Integrity's leading home care and hospice services with Mercy's top-ranked hospital and clinic services throughout southwest Missouri and southeast Kansas.

Integrity Home Care and Hospice is a faith-based, privately held leader in quality, post-acute health care. Committed to quality patient and family experiences wherever people call home, the healthcare provider offers a comprehensive range of compassionate, client-centered home care, hospice, and home health rehabilitation services throughout Missouri.

Provider partners include forward-thinking regional providers, like Mercy Health System, to meet the needs of patients who wish to remain in their home during times of serious, life altering illness or at end of life, wherever they call home.

"We don't provide care just to check a box," says Cliff Stepp, president of Integrity Home Care and Hospice. "What matters most is the commitment to compassionate quality care at the core of every decision we make."

Integrity exceeded the national and Springfield-based regional providers overall by more than 2 percent, according to survey results. Additionally, 84 percent of respondents were willing to recommend Integrity to others.

The data set includes experiential feedback from family caregivers in the areas of communications with family, receiving timely help, treating patient with respect, emotional and spiritual support, pain and symptom management, and training family caregivers.

Released in October, the Hospice Compare reports provide transparency of care quality amongst healthcare providers.

About Integrity Home Care and Hospice:

Integrity Home Care and Hospice - https://www.integrityhc.com/ - is a faith-based, privately held leader in quality, post-acute health care in Missouri and Kansas. Integrity offers a comprehensive range of compassionate, client-centered home care, hospice, and home health rehabilitation services. We partner with forward-thinking regional providers to ensure the future of health care resides at home.

Integrity Home Care and Hospice exceeded the national and regional averages in each of six areas of distinction for patient and family experience, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMMS).

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

Simplifile’s Nancy Alley Lauded as One of Mortgage Banking’s Most Powerful Women by National Mortgage Professional

PROVO, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- Simplifile, a leading provider of real estate document collaboration and recording technologies for lenders, settlement agents and counties, today announced that Vice President of Strategic Planning Nancy Alley was recognized by National Mortgage Professional Magazine on its 2018 list of Mortgage Banking's Most Powerful Women.

Alley was recognized for shaping products and standards that have driven technology innovation in the mortgage industry throughout her 27-year career. In addition to her role helping Simplifile develop the market's leading electronic lender-settlement collaboration and post-closing documentation tools, Alley is a member of the Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization (MISMO) board, where she makes substantial contributions to formation and adoption outcomes of industry standards.

No stranger to "firsts" in the mortgage industry, Alley founded SignOnline in May 1999, the same year the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA) was passed and nearly a year before The Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce (E-Sign) Act became law. After SignOnline was acquired by eSignSystems in October 2001, Alley played a prominent role at Xerox Mortgage Services, the provider of the BlitzDocs intelligent collaborative network.

"The mortgage industry remains one of the last great frontiers to be digitally transformed, and I am determined to help it reach its full potential," Alley said. "Each day I am inspired by interacting with industry colleagues who are passionately committed to transforming the biggest financial decision that the vast majority of Americans will ever make."

"Nancy is truly dedicated to helping lenders make every transaction as 'e' as possible through her work at Simplifile," said Simplifile President Paul Clifford. "She has been the driving force behind many big wins for both our organization and the industry at large, including persuading the government sponsored enterprises to accept electronic security instruments for e-recorded loans and creating an electronic closing and post-closing loop unlike anything else in the market through our integration with Docutech's Solex eClosing platform. I commend her for her many achievements."

National Mortgage Professional Magazine's recognition program honors women who have been "instrumental to a major industry innovation" and who are "leaders in the mortgage profession." Honorees are selected by editorial staff based on criteria that include professional accomplishments, scope of management and professional network following.

For a complete listing of this year's honorees, visit: https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nmpmedia/nmp_201810/index.php#/54.

About National Mortgage Professional Magazine:

National Mortgage Professional Magazine has become "The Source for Top Originators" - that connects the mortgage professional community under various media formats. Our exceptional team of industry-seasoned monthly contributors combined with our knowledgeable editorial staff, all with meaningful expertise in their respectful disciplines, provide the most up-to-date news, insight and advice for today's mortgage professional. We are committed to ensuring that today's industry is equipped with the most comprehensive understanding of mortgage news available through our many resources, including, but not limited to, articles in the print edition of National Mortgage Professional Magazine and 38 state-specific e-editions, the NMP Daily and NMP Ticker email newsletters, the exclusive daily news stories and postings on our website ( https://nationalmortgageprofessional.com ), and our regular series.

About Simplifile:

Simplifile, the nation's largest e-recording network, was founded in 2000 to connect settlement agents and county recorders via its e-recording service. Today Simplifile has broadened its services to include collaboration tools and post-closing visibility for mortgage lenders and settlement agents working together on real estate documents. Through Simplifile, users can securely record, share, and track documents, data, and fees with ease.

To learn more, visit https://simplifile.com or call 800-460-5657.

Simplifile, a leading provider of real estate document collaboration and recording technologies for lenders, settlement agents and counties, today announced that Vice President of Strategic Planning Nancy Alley was recognized by National Mortgage Professional Magazine on its 2018 list of Mortgage Banking's Most Powerful Women.

Related link: https://simplifile.com/

Digital insurance agency Matic named a Central Ohio ‘Best Place to Work’ by Columbus Business First

COLUMBUS, Ohio /ScoopCloud/ -- Matic, a digital insurance agency whose technology enables borrowers to purchase homeowner's insurance during the mortgage transaction, has been named one of Central Ohio's top employers by Columbus Business First.

Columbus Business First's 'Best Places to Work' program has highlighted top workplaces in Central Ohio since 2005. Of the more than 200 nominations received this year, 50 honorees were selected through workplace satisfaction surveys administered independently by Omaha, Nebraska-based Quantum Workplace.

2018 has been a year of aggressive growth for Matic, which expanded its Columbus operations center with an April move to the Miranova Place office complex and has added more than a dozen new team members since the beginning of the year.

Matic's achievement was honored at an awards luncheon on Tuesday at the downtown Columbus Hyatt Regency hotel. A full list of 2018 honorees and their rankings was published in Columbus Business First.

"It's an incredible honor to be recognized by our team members as a great employer," said Jeffrey Snyder, vice president, Matic. "Our business mission is to simplify the homeowners insurance process, but we're just as devoted to building a thriving culture where people feel valued and are excited to come to work each day."

About Matic:

Matic is a technology-driven insurance agency focused on helping lenders and loan officers better integrate homeowner's insurance into the lending process. By using loan application information and first-of-its-kind technology, Matic provides homebuyers multiple policy options within seconds, helping loan officers close their loans faster. Matic delivers the most trusted, affordable insurance policies available thanks to its partnerships with a diverse network of insurance carriers. Today's borrowers expect a digital home-buying experience, and Matic gives them the digital insurance experience to match.

For more information, visit https://matic.com/ or follow Matic on LinkedIn.

Matic, a digital insurance agency whose technology enables borrowers to purchase homeowner's insurance during the mortgage transaction, has been named one of Central Ohio's top employers by Columbus Business First.

Related link: https://maticinsurance.com/

Enrolled Award Jeffrey Schneider, EA, CTRS, NTPIF Named ‘2018 Top Practitioner’ by the ASTPS

STUART, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- Stuart Enrolled Agent and Certified Tax Resolution Specialist, Jeffrey Schneider of SFS Tax Problem Solutions was chosen by the American Society of Tax Problem Solvers (ASTPS) as the 2018 Top Practitioner.

ASTPS presents the award to members who consistently work in tax problem resolution demonstrating a dedication to ASTPS principles. Top practitioners work to enhance the industry's image and maintain their skills through continuing professional education. They exhibit a willingness to assist both colleagues and taxpayers.

Top practitioners demonstrate intellectual curiosity and creativity in solving IRS problems. They inspire and motivate by action and example. They show professional and ethical integrity, passionate client advocacy, and dedication to doing what is right.

Schneider, a certified tax resolution specialist, is celebrating his 40th year in the tax field and has been practicing in the Stuart area for more than ten years. He offers tax problem tips on his website at sfstaxproblemsolutions.com, as well as a white paper on the "7 Secrets the IRS Doesn't Want You to Know."

An enrolled agent (EA) is a federally-authorized tax practitioner who has technical expertise in the field of taxation and who is empowered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to represent taxpayers before all administrative levels-examination, collection, and appeals-of the Internal Revenue Service.

A certified tax resolution specialist (CTRS) is a tax expert who helps clients deal with tax issues and represents them before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

For more information about Jeffrey Schneider, visit: http://sfstaxproblemsolutions.com/ or https://sfstaxacct.com/.

Stuart, Fla.-based Enrolled Agent (EA) and Certified Tax Resolution Specialist, Jeffrey Schneider of SFS Tax Problem Solutions was chosen by the American Society of Tax Problem Solvers (ASTPS) as the 2018 Top Practitioner.

Related link: https://sfstaxproblemsolutions.com/

Cloudvirga’s Michael Schreck and Kyle Kamrooz lauded among Orange County’s most influential business leaders

IRVINE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Cloudvirga(TM), a leading provider of digital mortgage software, today announced that company CEO Michael Schreck and Co-founder Kyle Kamrooz have been named to Orange County Business Journal's "OC 500" list of the most influential business leaders in Orange County, California.

Schreck and Kamrooz were recognized for their roles at the helm of Cloudvirga, a fast-growing Irvine-based company whose software digitizes the mortgage process for lenders and borrowers. Since its founding in 2016, Cloudvirga has also been honored as one of the top 100 North American companies and one of the world's leading fintech firms.

Schreck is a veteran tech entrepreneur with a two-decade track record of success working in C-suite and founder-level roles to nurture leading tech companies. He spearheaded a Series C funding round that netted $50 million in private-equity funding for Cloudvirga earlier this year. To date, the company has raised over $77 million.

Before founding Cloudvirga, Kamrooz launched one of Orange County's most successful direct-to-consumer lenders and later served as an executive at Calabasas-based Skyline Home Loans. A member of the Forbes Finance Council and one of Entrepreneur magazine's inspiring tech entrepreneurs under 40, Kamrooz was recently named 2018 "Innovator of the Year" by the OCBJ.

"Our incredible Orange County team is the driving force behind Cloudvirga's unrelenting pursuit of a radically simple mortgage process," said Schreck. "It's gratifying to be part of a real-estate technology ecosystem with deep local roots and to contribute to the region's burgeoning reputation as an innovation hub."

Now in its third year, the OC 500 has recognized distinguished executives from Southern California's most successful publicly traded companies, private firms, nonprofits, government organizations and NGOs. Honorees are nominated and chosen by the OCBJ editorial staff. A full list of honorees can be found in the OCBJ's Directory of Influence, available to subscribers November 5 and part of the newspaper's annual Book of Lists, available for purchase in December.

About The Orange County Business Journal:

The Orange County Business Journal is the weekly read that connects the Orange County business community. This is where the community doers in the most vibrant slice of the Southern California economy keep tabs on each other. With one of the highest circulations of all the Business Journals in the country, it continues to grow as a highly impactful and influential publication. More information on the Orange County Business Journal can be found at https://www.ocbj.com, or by calling 949-833-8373.

About Cloudvirga(TM):

Cloudvirga's digital mortgage point-of-sale (POS) software, powered by the intelligent Mortgage Platform(R), uniquely combines a world-class borrower experience with a truly automated lender workflow that radically cuts overall loan costs, increases transparency and reduces the time to close a loan. Led by top fintech veterans with a track record of building successful mortgage technologies, Cloudvirga's customer base includes nine of the top 40 non-bank mortgage originators. To date, Cloudvirga has raised over $77 million from some of the country's top lenders and private-equity firms.

For more information, visit https://www.cloudvirga.com or follow Cloudvirga on LinkedIn.

@Cloudvirga @OCBizJournal #OC500 #OrangeCounty

Cloudvirga(TM), a leading provider of digital mortgage software, today announced that company CEO Michael Schreck and Co-founder Kyle Kamrooz have been named to Orange County Business Journal's "OC 500" list of the most influential business leaders in Orange County, California.

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

Suzannah Gill of EPIC Achieves Elite Health Benefits Certification

ATLANTA, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Benefits Strategy Consultant Suzannah Gill has been accepted to join the rigorous Health Rosetta Certified Benefit Advisor program.

This distinction sets Gill apart as an innovative advisor, committed to reshaping healthcare while improving her clients' organizations, financial future, and the engagement and productivity of their employees.

Said Dave Chase, founder of Health Rosetta, "Forward-thinking benefits experts are the vanguard that are worth their weight in gold. They have left behind the wasteful, obsolete approaches that plague most employers. They are the architects of the Health Rosetta, and take what Margaret Mead once said to heart: 'Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.' I can't thank them enough."

Gill is one of less than 150 Health Rosetta certified advisors across the country today. Certification focuses on the foundational principles, broad strategies, specific tactics, and vetted solutions that drive the greatest sustainable cost savings and improved health outcomes.

"It is a great honor and a wonderful feeling to be recognized in this way as we work to re-shape the industry," says Gill. "My mission has always been to do away with the waste that has traditionally left employers spending more each year on health insurance, while getting less in benefits. This certification and the knowledge that comes with it will help me to personally take this important journey with and on behalf of my clients."

Gill's clients will gain access to a broad array of Health Rosetta certified strategies and techniques that have helped all types of organizations reduce their healthcare spending by 20 percent or more. These techniques and more are covered in Dave Chase's books, "The CEO's Guide to Restoring the American Dream" and "The Opioid Crisis Wake-Up Call."

Suzannah Gill can be reached via email at suzannah.gill@epicbrokers.com or by phone at (678) 215-3890.

About EPIC:

EPIC is a unique and innovative retail property & casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm. EPIC has created a values-based, client-focused culture that attracts and retains top talent, fosters employee satisfaction and loyalty and sustains a high level of customer service excellence.

EPIC team members have consistently recognized their company as a "Best Place to Work" in multiple regions and as a "Best Place to Work in the Insurance Industry" nationally.

EPIC now has nearly 1,400 team members operating from 50 offices across the U.S., providing Property & Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs and Private Client solutions to more than 40,000 clients

With run rate revenues greater than $400 million, EPIC ranks among the top 15 retail insurance brokers in the United States. Backed by Oak Hill Capital Partners, the company continues to expand organically and through strategic acquisitions across the country.

For additional information, please visit https://www.epicbrokers.com/.

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Benefits Strategy Consultant Suzannah Gill has been accepted to join the rigorous Health Rosetta Certified Benefit Advisor program.

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

Kara Lamphere of Mid America Mortgage Named to Mortgage Banking’s Most Powerful Women

ADDISON, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Mid America Mortgage, Inc. (Mid America) announced today that Chief Operating Officer Kara Lamphere was named to National Mortgage Professional (NMP) magazine's 2018 list of Mortgage Banking's Most Powerful Women.

Lamphere was honored for helping advance Mid America's market-transforming wholesale, correspondent and digital mortgage lending initiatives. Through her influential role as COO at Mid America, she has become one of the industry's foremost experts on making the switch to full eClosings and executing eNotes. Lamphere was instrumental in the development and launch of Mid America's direct-to-consumer digital mortgage platform Click n' Close as well as the company's eCorrespondent and Whole Loan Trading programs.

In addition to her work at Mid America, Lamphere is a compliance instructor at ComplianceOnline. A highly sought after speaker, Lamphere has appeared before audiences at Mortgage Banker Association and Texas Mortgage Banker's Associaton conferences, as well as the inaugural NEXT Women's Mortgage Technology Summit. She was recently recognized on Mortgage Professional America magazine's list of Elite Women in Mortgage for the second year running.

"My passion for personal growth, leadership and helping others achieve their best have propelled me to success in both my professional and personal life," said Lamphere. "I'm grateful that Mid America continuously presents me with opportunities to push the envelope forward with the best team in mortgage lending."

"Having helped spearhead both the launch of Mid America's digital mortgage platform, Click n' Close, and our successful initiative to become the first independent mortgage lender to transition to full eClosings and eNotes, Kara wields the kind of expertise that places her at the forefront of the mortgage industry's digital revolution," said Mid America Owner and CEO Jeff Bode. "I am proud to have Kara on our team."

NMP's Mortgage Banking's Most Powerful Women awards program recognizes women pioneer, leaders and innovators who have been "instrumental to a major industry innovation." Honorees are profiled in the October edition of NMP magazine, which can be viewed at https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nmpmedia/nmp_201810/index.php#/54.

About National Mortgage Professional:

National Mortgage Professional Magazine has become "The Source for Top Originators" - that connects the mortgage professional community under various media formats. Our exceptional team of industry-seasoned monthly contributors combined with our knowledgeable editorial staff, all with meaningful expertise in their respectful disciplines, provide the most up-to-date news, insight and advice for today's mortgage professional. We are committed to ensuring that today's industry is equipped with the most comprehensive understanding of mortgage news available through our many resources, including, but not limited to, articles in the print edition of National Mortgage Professional Magazine and 38 state-specific e-editions, the NMP Daily and NMP Ticker email newsletters, the exclusive daily news stories and postings on our website (https://nationalmortgageprofessional.com), and our regular series.

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 delivers an eight-minute application process, getting 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://clicknclose.com.

Mid America is looking for tech-savvy, service-oriented mortgage professionals to join its 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.midamericacareer.com/.

Twitter: @midamericamtge

Mid America Mortgage, Inc. (Mid America) announced today that Chief Operating Officer Kara Lamphere was named to National Mortgage Professional (NMP) magazine's 2018 list of Mortgage Banking's Most Powerful Women.

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

MReport Names LBA Ware Among Mortgage Industry’s Top 25 Employers

MACON, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- LBA Ware(TM), the leading provider of automated compensation software and systems integration solutions for mortgage lenders, announced today that it has been named to MReport's inaugural list of the Top 25 Companies to Work For in mortgage and housing.

MReport recognized LBA Ware for cultivating a workplace culture that encourages collaboration, innovation and professional development. One of just five companies recognized for being minority or woman owned and operated, LBA Ware brings its employees together for the common purpose of helping lenders motivate, incentivize and better leverage the human potential within their organizations.

"Our workplace culture is an important part of who we are," said LBA Ware Founder and CEO Lori Brewer. "As LBA Ware continues to grow, it remains a personal priority of mine to show employees that their personal contributions are as valued as their professional ones and that their desire for work-life balance is not only encouraged, but facilitated."

All new LBA Ware employees receive a pair of Chuck Taylor All-Star sneakers and attend LBA Ware University, a series of structured meetings with each department that helps team members develop a sense of cohesiveness across the organization. To support employee professional growth and spark creativity, LBA Ware employees each receive an annual continuing education stipend which they may apply to their choice of courses, conferences or professional memberships.

Applicants for MReport's Top 25 Companies to Work For are evaluated based on company accomplishments, history of community involvement and workplace characteristics such as employee benefits and recognition programs, opportunities for advancement and evidence of innovation. Employee testimonials are also reviewed by MReport's editorial staff.

All of the Top 25 Companies to Work for are profiled in the November issue of MReport. To browse job openings at LBA Ware, visit https://lbaware.com/our-company/job-opportunities/.

About MReport:
Created in response to industry professionals' need to stay on top of the issues in today's quickly evolving mortgage marketplace, MReport is one of the country's leading sources for mortgage banking news in the form of in-depth stories, commentaries, interviews, profiles, and more.

Every month, the latest edition of MReport can be found on the desks of professionals and policymakers all over the country-or online at Digital.theMReport.com.

About LBA Ware:
Founded in 2008, LBA Ware's mission is to inspire opportunity by delivering solutions that are essential to the way mortgage companies operate. We are a trusted partner and play a key role in our clients' success by enabling them to motivate, incentivize and better leverage the human potential within their organization. Our applications automate traditionally manual business processes for which an existing software solution does not exist, empowering lenders to create an integrated software environment that maximizes their productivity and operational efficiency. For more information about LBA Ware and our software solutions, visit https://lbaware.com.

Twitter: @LBAWare @TheMReportNews #Top25Companies #mortgagebanking #hiring

LBA Ware(TM), the leading provider of automated compensation software and systems integration solutions for mortgage lenders, announced today that it has been named to MReport's inaugural list of the Top 25 Companies to Work For in mortgage and housing.

Related link: https://lbaware.com/

RMA Proposed Innovation District Wins Major Award for Pompano Beach CRA

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- RMA (www.rma.us.com) is proud to announce that their proposed plan for the Pompano Beach Downtown Innovation District won the 2018 Promotion Award at the annual Florida Redevelopment Association (FRA) Awards. RMA managed the city's redevelopment agency for almost a decade and authored this award-winning plan for the creation of the city's downtown. The plan will transform undeveloped land into a vibrant urban area (downtown), becoming a revitalization role model for cities nationwide.

"We are tremendously proud of the work RMA team members did on behalf of this project for the Pompano Beach CRA," said Chris Brown, RMA Co-Founder. "The CRA benefitted from the talents of the entire RMA team for the creation of this ambitious program. We are especially grateful to Keila Rodriguez and Jessica Mulder who transformed this concept into a stunning presentation that has ignited tremendous interest in the Innovation District. Pompano Beach epitomizes the forward-thinking concept of building for 'how we will live in the future,' and this plan exemplifies that."

The Pompano Beach CRA knew it needed to devise an engaging and impactful way to communicate the great opportunities in the Innovation District. RMA's Rodriguez and Mulder created a comprehensive booklet and dynamic video to promote the Innovation District and tell the story of the steps the City and CRA have taken to bring prosperity to the community.

These marketing tools are now being used by the City, CRA, and by the Chamber of Commerce to attract new commercial businesses and developers, retain the existing industrial base, and continue to improve the neighborhood and quality of life of the residents, making the City, and in particular the Downtown, a more attractive place to live, work, invest and visit.

Future development in the Innovation District could include 750,000 square feet of office space, 166,000 square feet of retail space, 35,000 square feet of restaurant space, 1,500 residential units and two hotels. Job creation and other benefits will spill into the surrounding neighborhood and throughout the city.

Central to the success of the Innovation District is its unique approach to a new system of self-contained, linear waterways, which will create a scenic setting for outdoor restaurants, offices, shops and mixed-use buildings. Inspired by the waterway systems in Amsterdam, Netherlands and San Antonio, Texas, these waterways eliminate the need for dry retention ponds, allowing developers to maximize buildout across the parcels while creating an inviting and activated urban area that benefits the entire city.

About FRA:

FRA is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to assisting Florida professionals and volunteers in community revitalization efforts. With its mission of "transforming spaces, revitalizing places," FRA is committed to providing a forum for its more than 300 members to share knowledge and common experiences regarding revitalization opportunities and issues throughout Florida.

About RMA:

Founded in 2009 by Kim Briesemeister and Chris Brown, RMA is comprised of a phenomenal team of redevelopment experts passionate about building better communities. RMA is the most experienced full-service economic redevelopment consulting and management firm, headquartered in the state of Florida, specializing in revitalizing core areas and corridors for cities, counties and special districts nationwide. The co-founders are also the authors of one of the definitive books about city redevelopment, "Reinventing Your City: 8 Steps to Turn Your City Around." Learn more at: http://www.rma.us.com/.

RMA is proud to announce that their proposed plan for the Pompano Beach Downtown Innovation District won the 2018 Promotion Award at the annual Florida Redevelopment Association (FRA) Awards. RMA managed the city's redevelopment agency for almost a decade and authored this award-winning plan for the creation of the city's downtown.

Related link: http://www.rma.us.com/

ReverseVision Vice President Wendy Peel Recognized as One of Mortgage Banking’s Most Powerful Women

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- ReverseVision, the leading provider of technology and training for the reverse mortgage industry, announced today that Vice President of Sales and Marketing Wendy Peel has been honored by National Mortgage Professional (NMP) Magazine as one of Mortgage Banking's Most Powerful Women.

The NMP award, new this year, honors "women who continue to blaze new trails and lead the way for a brighter future in today's mortgage profession." Peel was recognized for reimagining and redirecting how Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) and other reverse mortgage products are viewed by lenders and consumers in ways that will have a long-lasting and positive impact on the mortgage industry.

Peel's innovative Generational Lending(TM) approach to serving borrower needs across the consumer lifecycle has entrenched ReverseVision as the reverse mortgage market's most dynamic and leading origination platform while simultaneously winning over lender hearts and minds on the benefits of reverse mortgages. She is a regular contributor to industry trade publications, writing on topics from Generational Lending to connecting with baby boomers online.

"When Wendy joined us in 2015, she embarked on a multi-year education campaign to enlighten lenders and brokers as to the significant opportunity open to them in originating HECMs," said John Button, president and CEO of ReverseVision. "More recently, she has expanded on that theme to demonstrate the positive impact of positioning HECMs alongside traditional mortgages for every potential borrower."

"My mission has been to help lenders realize the many potential opportunities that reverse mortgage products offer to better meet the needs of borrowers," said Peel. "It's gratifying to play a role in helping lenders succeed."

A complete list of Mortgage Banking's Most Powerful Women appears in the October issue of NMP: https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nmpmedia/nmp_201810/#/0.

About National Mortgage Professional:

National Mortgage Professional Magazine has become "The Source for Top Originators" - that connects the mortgage professional community under various media formats. Our exceptional team of industry-seasoned monthly contributors combined with our knowledgeable editorial staff, all with meaningful expertise in their respectful disciplines, provide the most up-to-date news, insight and advice for today's mortgage professional. We are committed to ensuring that today's industry is equipped with the most comprehensive understanding of mortgage news available through our many resources, including, but not limited to, articles in the print edition of National Mortgage Professional Magazine and 38 state-specific e-editions, the NMP Daily and NMP Ticker email newsletters, the exclusive daily news stories and postings on our website (https://nationalmortgageprofessional.com), and our regular series of original Webinars, along with a number of additional resources in the works.

About ReverseVision:

ReverseVision, Inc. is the leading provider of technology and training for Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) origination. With nearly 10,000 active users, ReverseVision technology is used by 10 of the top-ten reverse mortgage lenders and supports more HECM transactions than all other systems combined. The company's comprehensive product suite also includes HECM sales and education tools and a dedicated professional services team. ReverseVision partners with some of the finest and fastest-growing banks, credit unions and lending organizations in the United States to provide its HECM technology to brokers, correspondents, lenders and investors.

A three-time HousingWire TECH100(TM) company, ReverseVision has also been recognized in Deloitte's Technology Fast 500(TM) listing. ReverseVision's annual user conference, the only event of its kind in the industry, brings together more than 200 lenders, vendors and educators each year to advance HECM lending. The company continues to build on its technology's pioneering capabilities with frequent enhancements aimed at boosting users' HECM volume, workflow efficiency and data analysis capabilities.

For more information, visit https://www.reversevision.com.

Twitter: @ReverseVision #reversemortgage #HECM @NatlMortgagePro #mortgagebanking

ReverseVision, the leading provider of technology and training for the reverse mortgage industry, announced today that Vice President of Sales and Marketing Wendy Peel has been honored by National Mortgage Professional (NMP) Magazine as one of Mortgage Banking's Most Powerful Women.

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

FormFree’s Faith Schwartz Named Among Mortgage Banking’s Most Powerful Women

ATHENS, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- FormFree(R) today announced that National Mortgage Professional (NMP) magazine has named Acting President Faith Schwartz to the publication's inaugural list of Mortgage Banking's Most Powerful Women.

Unilaterally regarded as a leader in mortgage banking, Schwartz was recognized for playing a firsthand role in shaping housing finance public policy and best practices over her 25-plus-year career in the industry. Currently, Schwartz is principal and founder at Housing Finance System Strategies, a housing finance strategic advisory firm, and acting president of FormFree.

In 2007, Schwartz was recruited to lead HOPE NOW, an alliance formed by the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury in response to the housing market crisis. As HOPE NOW's executive director, Schwartz assembled a coalition of government agencies, lending institutions, nonprofits and housing trades. Schwartz has also held executive-level roles at CoreLogic and Freddie Mac and served as a strategic advisor at Accenture. She has made multiple appearances on C-SPAN and News Hour and testified numerous times to Congress and the Federal Reserve.

"Faith has devoted her career to ensuring that advances to mortgage banking technology and policies optimally serve consumers," said Brent Chandler, founder and CEO of FormFree. "Her expertise and leadership in the industry is unparalleled, and I wholeheartedly congratulate her on this well-deserved recognition."

"My career goal has been to help our housing finance market evolve into a more tech-savvy and consumer-focused business that meets the needs of the homeowners of the future," said Schwartz. "It's an honor to be recognized for a pursuit that has brought me great professional and personal satisfaction."

Mortgage Banking's Most Powerful Women honorees were selected by NMP editors and recognized in the magazine's October issue for being "women who continue to blaze new trails and lead the way for a brighter future in today's mortgage profession." The full list of honorees can be viewed at https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nmpmedia/nmp_201810/#/0.

About National Mortgage Professional:

National Mortgage Professional Magazine has become "The Source for Top Originators" - that connects the mortgage professional community under various media formats. Our exceptional team of industry-seasoned monthly contributors combined with our knowledgeable editorial staff, all with meaningful expertise in their respectful disciplines, provide the most up-to-date news, insight and advice for today's mortgage professional.

We are committed to ensuring that today's industry is equipped with the most comprehensive understanding of mortgage news available through our many resources, including, but not limited to, articles in the print edition of National Mortgage Professional Magazine and 38 state-specific e-editions, the NMP Daily and NMP Ticker email newsletters, the exclusive daily news stories and postings on our website (https://nationalmortgageprofessional.com), and our regular series of original Webinars, along with a number of additional resources in the works.

About FormFree(R):

FormFree is a fintech company whose market-leading AccountChek(R) reports are used by hundreds of lenders nationwide to verify borrower assets, employment and income in minutes. With FormFree, lenders can delight customers with a paperless experience and reduce origination timelines by up to 20 days. FormFree offers automated analysis and standardized delivery to lenders and their investors using a secure ReIssueKey(TM).

To date, AccountChek has securely placed more than one million asset reports for over 1,000 U.S. lenders. A HousingWire TECH100(TM) company for four consecutive years, FormFree is based in Athens, Georgia. For more information, visit https://www.formfree.com/ or follow FormFree on LinkedIn.

Twitter: #FormFree @NatlMortgagePro #mortgagebanking

FormFree(R) today announced that National Mortgage Professional (NMP) magazine has named Acting President Faith Schwartz to the publication's inaugural list of Mortgage Banking's Most Powerful Women.

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

Lori Brewer of LBA Ware Honored as One of Mortgage Banking’s Most Powerful Women

MACON, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- LBA Ware(TM), the leading provider of automated compensation software and systems integration solutions for mortgage lenders, today announced that company Founder and CEO Lori Brewer has been honored by National Mortgage Professional (NMP) magazine as one of Mortgage Banking's Most Powerful Women.

Brewer was recognized as an accomplished entrepreneur and technology leader who has dedicated her career to developing innovative business process optimization tools for mortgage lenders. Since founding LBA Ware in 2008, Brewer has led the development of more than 25 financial applications that have become essential to the way mortgage lenders operate, contain costs and improve productivity - including automated incentive compensation platform CompenSafe(TM) and mortgage systems integration middleware LOS Talker(TM).

A highly-sought-after resource on the topics of loan officer compensation and mortgage operations cost containment, Brewer is a frequent speaker at industry events. Recent engagements include the NEXT Mortgage Conference, The Mortgage Collaborative's Summer Conference, the Mortgage Bankers Association's 2018 Human Resources Symposium, HousingWire's inaugural engage.marketing conference and the MBA's Annual Convention & Expo.

"I'm honored to be named to National Mortgage Professional's inaugural list of Mortgage Banking's Most Powerful Women," said Brewer. "What makes my job so rewarding is being able to equip lenders with compensation and performance data that empowers the informed decisions necessary for success in a tightening market."

NMP's full list of Mortgage Banking's Most Powerful Women can be found in the magazine's October issue at https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nmpmedia/nmp_201810/#/0.

About National Mortgage Professional:

National Mortgage Professional magazine has become "The Source for Top Originators" - that connects the mortgage professional community under various media formats. Our exceptional team of industry-seasoned monthly contributors combined with our knowledgeable editorial staff, all with meaningful expertise in their respectful disciplines, provide the most up-to-date news, insight and advice for today's mortgage professional. We are committed to ensuring that today's industry is equipped with the most comprehensive understanding of mortgage news available through our many resources, including, but not limited to, articles in the print edition of National Mortgage Professional magazine and 38 state-specific e-editions, the NMP Daily and NMP Ticker email newsletters, the exclusive daily news stories and postings on our website (https://nationalmortgageprofessional.com), and our regular series of original Webinars, along with a number of additional resources in the works.

About LBA Ware:

Founded in 2008, LBA Ware's mission is to inspire opportunity by delivering solutions that are essential to the way mortgage companies operate. We are a trusted partner and play a key role in our clients' success by enabling them to motivate, incentivize and better leverage the human potential within their organization. Our applications automate traditionally manual business processes for which an existing software solution does not exist, empowering lenders to create an integrated software environment that maximizes their productivity and operational efficiency.

For more information about LBA Ware and our software solutions, visit https://lbaware.com.

Twitter: @LBAWare @NatlMortgagePro #mortgagebanking

VIDEO (YouTube):
https://youtu.be/p9dNt-UR-3k

LBA Ware(TM), the leading provider of automated compensation software and systems integration solutions for mortgage lenders, today announced that company Founder and CEO Lori Brewer has been honored by National Mortgage Professional (NMP) magazine as one of Mortgage Banking's Most Powerful Women.

Related link: https://lbaware.com/

American Veterans Center will Honor Mag Instrument at National Archives during the Annual Veterans Conference

ONTARIO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Ontario, Calif.-based Mag Instrument CEO Tony Maglica and the company will be recognized during the 21st Annual Conference at the National Archives Conference (NAC) on Friday, Oct. 26, 2018. The conference is part of the American Veterans Center's Annual three day veteran's conference. Mag Instrument is being recognized for its commitment and on-going support of the U.S. military for the past four decades.

The annual conference is attended a number of the U.S. Armed Services leaders and high-ranking Washington D.C. officials, as well as some 400 military cadets and midshipmen and Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) high school students from throughout the country. The award presentation will be held prior to luncheon and Tony Maglica, Jr. will receive the award on behalf of his father and the company.

"It will be an honor to be amongst such dedicated Americans who work tirelessly for the freedoms we enjoy," said Tony Maglica Jr. "Mag Instrument is committed to aiding our military troops and first responders with some of the finest lighting tools they use in ensuring our safety and liberty.

"These men and women are the lifeblood of the American way of life. We at Mag Instrument are grateful to be receiving this award but we are more honored to be able to help our troops in staying safe. We are indebted to each and every person in uniform."

In addition to receiving the award at the NAC, Maglica, Jr. will also be participating in the Sat., Oct. 27 culmination of the three day conference at the American Valor dinner "A Salute to Our Heroes." Maglica, Jr. will present an award to Commander Dean "Diz" Laird, the only 'Ace' pilot to have shot down both German and Japanese aircraft during WWII.

Mag Instrument is also making available a decorated American flag-engraved Maglite flashlight for the approximately 600 guests attending the American Valor black-tie dinner.

"The American Veterans Center is excited with our partnership with Mag Instrument, especially considering all they have done for our military, first responders, and veterans," said Tim Holbert, executive director of the American Veterans Center.

About Mag Instrument:

Mag Instrument Inc., manufacturer of the Maglite(R) flashlight, is proud to be a U.S.A. manufacturer. Each flashlight is a result of an obsession with fine engineering, craftsmanship and a commitment to perfection. Founder, owner and president Anthony Maglica has guided his company's growth from a one-man machine shop in 1955 to an enterprise that has proudly employed thousands of American workers since it produced its first flashlight in 1979.

For more information visit: https://maglite.com/.

Mag Instrument Inc. CEO Tony Maglica and the company will be recognized during the 21st Annual Conference at the National Archives Conference (NAC) on Friday, Oct. 26. The conference is part of the American Veterans Center's Annual three day veteran's conference.

Related link: https://maglite.com/

Jeremiah Glassford of EPIC Named a 2018 Veteran of Influence by Birmingham Business Journal

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Senior Client Executive Jeremiah Glassford has been named a 2018 Veteran of Influence by Birmingham Business Journal.

The 2018 Veterans of Influence Awards honors the men and women who have served our country and have made a place for themselves in Birmingham's business world. Winners have a strong record of innovation or outstanding performance in their work and are actively involved in the community.

"Jeremiah's experience as a litigation attorney and a noncommissioned officer in high-risk combat zones give him a very unique perspective to help our clients identify and successfully manage complex risks," said Crawford McInnis, managing principal at EPIC. "His military background and business experience make him an unparalleled leader and we are proud to have him on our team."

Glassford has served in the U.S. Army since 1999, including three tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq with extensive leadership and risk management/safety training. He currently serves on the U.S. Army Reserve's Regional Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer Team for FEMA Region IV, where he coordinates Department of Defense military assistance to other federal agencies, state governments and civilian authorities during large-scale disaster response operations.

About Jeremiah Glassford, senior client executive, EPIC:

Glassford is a Senior Client Executive in our Birmingham, Alabama office; he brings his legal and risk management proficiency to EPIC's national platform.

He is involved in all aspects of new business development, risk management and client retention, including needs assessment and exposure identification; risk management and insurance program audits; program design and placement; ongoing client management; program stewardship; and resource and vendor management.

Prior to joining EPIC, Glassford was a commercial litigator with Birmingham-based law firm Balch & Bingham who he represented clients throughout the country, ranging from private equity investors and public utilities to product manufacturers and insurance companies, in commercial litigation involving contract disputes, insurance coverage issues, business torts and unfair competition, financial services, products liability, intellectual property and trade secrets, class actions, and health care issues.

He graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management, where was on the President's List and a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma Business Honor Society. He earned his Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from the University of Alabama School of Law. He also received ratings of "exceeded course standards" and graduated in the top 20% of every U.S. Army leadership course he attended: Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, and Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course.

Glassford is a member of the American Bar Association, the Alabama State Bar, and the Birmingham Bar Association. He is also a proud supporter of Alabama Veteran, a non-profit founded and operated by veterans to help each other reintegrate into civilian society, engage their communities, and improve themselves professionally and personally.

About EPIC:

EPIC is a unique and innovative retail property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm. EPIC has created a values-based, client-focused culture that attracts and retains top talent, fosters employee satisfaction and loyalty and sustains a high level of customer service excellence.

EPIC team members have consistently recognized their company as a "Best Place to Work" in multiple regions and as a "Best Place to Work in the Insurance Industry" nationally.

EPIC now has more than 1,400 team members operating from 50 offices across the U.S., providing Property and Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs and Private Client solutions to more than 20,000 clients.

With run rate revenues greater than $400 million, EPIC ranks among the top 20 retail insurance brokers in the U.S. Backed by Oak Hill Capital Partners, the company continues to expand organically and through strategic acquisitions across the country.

For additional information, please visit https://www.epicbrokers.com/.

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Senior Client Executive Jeremiah Glassford has been named a 2018 Veteran of Influence by Birmingham Business Journal.

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

EPIC Insurance Brokers Recognized as a 2018 Best Place to Work in Pittsburgh PA

PITTSBURGH, Pa. /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, has been recognized by their team members in Pittsburgh as one of the city's 2018 Best Places to Work in a survey conducted annually by the Pittsburgh Business Times.

"We are pleased and proud to be recognized by our EPIC team members as one of Pittsburgh's Best Places to Work," said Sean Andreas, Managing Principal of EPIC's Pittsburgh operations. "The core of our local team has been together in the region for more than 20 years. We have truly found a home in EPIC's people-first culture that values and promotes client service excellence, community, alignment, respect, responsibility and fun, which this award clearly reflects."

Pittsburgh's 2018 Best Places to Work is an annual feature in the Pittsburgh Business Times. Companies were judged based on an employee survey conducted earlier this year. Awards are given in four categories based on the number of employees working in western Pennsylvania. The survey measures the satisfaction and morale of employees and the culture of the workplace, including whether it fosters engagement and creativity, and makes the workday enjoyable.

Best Place to Work recognition in Pittsburgh continues a long-standing EPIC tradition of being recognized for workplace excellence. Since the company's founding in 2007, EPIC has been consistently recognized as a 'Best Place to Work" in multiple regions across the country, and as a "Best Place to Work in the Insurance Industry" nationally on ten occasions.

EPIC encourages and supports its employees' participation in the activities of charitable organization such as the American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Alzheimer's Association and many other non-profit and community-service organizations, both local and national. Individual stories can be found in the Culture section of EPIC's website at https://www.epicbrokers.com/culture/#tabs.

About EPIC:
EPIC is a unique and innovative retail property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm. EPIC has created a values-based, client-focused culture that attracts and retains top talent, fosters employee satisfaction and loyalty and sustains a high level of customer service excellence.

EPIC team members have consistently recognized their company as a "Best Place to Work" in multiple regions and as a "Best Place to Work in the Insurance Industry" nationally.

EPIC now has more than 1,400 team members operating from 50 offices across the U.S., providing Property and Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs and Private Client solutions to more than 20,000 clients.

With run rate revenues greater than $400 million, EPIC ranks among the top 20 retail insurance brokers in the U.S. Backed by Oak Hill Capital Partners, the company continues to expand organically and through strategic acquisitions across the country.

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

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, has been recognized by their team members in Pittsburgh as one of the city's 2018 Best Places to Work in a survey conducted annually by the Pittsburgh Business Times.

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

Carol Borden, Founder and CEO of Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, Inc. Named 2018 Corporate Pet Industry Woman of the Year

WILLISTON, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- On October 3, 2018, Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs' Founder and CEO Carol Borden was selected as the 2018 Corporate Pet Industry Woman of the Year, at an awards ceremony held in Philadelphia, Pa.

Pet Industry Woman of the Year has been showcasing leaders in the $86 Billion-dollar-per-year pet industry for the past 5 years. There are 5 categories nominees can compete in: Advocate, which represents women doing advocacy for pets. Corporate, for leaders who own or work for corporations. Entrepreneur, for women opening and running one or multiple businesses. Rising Star for those women in the fast lane doing remarkable work to keep our eyes on. Lastly, Solopreneur, for women doing it all solo.

"What an honor it was to not only be a finalist, but to win the Corporate Pet Industry Woman of the Year for 2018," said Carol Borden. "There were many distinguished and accomplished women there, and to be recognized truly speaks to the incredible work of my Guardian Angels team, and the work that we do to save lives everyday."

"The Pet Industry Woman of the Year Awards recognize remarkable leaders in the pet industry who dedicate their time and talents to improving the lives of all pets - dogs, cats, birds, fish, horses and exotics - and their caregivers," said Shawna Schuh, president of WIPIN. "These awards are a celebration of women who have made highly successful careers in the pet industry: They shine in large part because they are so passionate about helping women as well as pets. Carol Borden is a perfect example! It is exciting to honor her and other women with a genuine calling to make the pet industry stronger."

About Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs:
Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs is a 501(c)(3) Based in Florida that rescues, raises, trains and then donates individually trained medical service dogs to veterans, first-responders and others who suffer from disabilities including PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury, seizure disorders, mobility issues and much more.

There is no state or federal funding available for this critical life-saving program. Over the past 9 years, Guardian Angels has paired nearly 300 individually trained medical service dogs with those in need, and with your help, that number can continue to grow. Visit our website at http://www.medicalservicedogs.org/ to get involved or learn more.

About Women in the Pet Industry Network:
Women in the Pet Industry Network (WIPIN) is a leading organization focused on women leaders in all categories of this ever-growing pet industry. Leaders don't need to be members of WIPIN to compete for Pet Industry Woman of the Year, and many of the finalists are members, however the caliber of these finalists speaks to how vital the pet space is becoming because of so many women doing remarkable work. Headquartered near Portland, Ore., WIPIN serves leaders who are making a difference in the pet space. WIPIN members come from all categories within the pet industry, from groomers and veterinarians to pet sitters and pet boutique owners. Learn more: https://www.womeninthepetindustry.com/.

On October 3, 2018, Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs' Founder and CEO Carol Borden was selected as the 2018 Corporate Pet Industry Woman of the Year, at an awards ceremony held in Philadelphia, Pa. Pet Industry Woman of the Year has been showcasing leaders in the $86 Billion-dollar-per-year pet industry for the past 5 years.

Related link: http://www.medicalservicedogs.org/

TeamSnap Named One of the Nation’s Fastest-Growing Inner City Businesses

BOULDER, Colo. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) announced that Boulder's TeamSnap was named to the 2018 Inner City 100 list of the fastest-growing inner city businesses in America. TeamSnap is ranked 19th overall based on its five-year revenue growth rate.

The ICIC recognition caps off a remarkable 2018 for TeamSnap, which has seen the company launch a new integrated ecommerce merchandise store along with a dynamic new video highlights platform into TeamSnap Live. TeamSnap's new iOS 12 app was also featured at Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference in June for its innovative new Siri Shortcut.

"We are incredibly proud to have created an efficient and easy-to-use platform that millions of sports organizations and teams trust and rely on every day," said TeamSnap co-founder and CEO Dave DuPont. "Our growth has been fueled by an unwavering commitment to helping everyone spend less time organizing sports. This industry recognition is a testament to the efforts of our determined team."

Coaches, administrators, players, parents, clubs and leagues leverage TeamSnap's innovative technology every day to sign up, schedule, communicate, and coordinate everything for the sports season. The industry leader, TeamSnap serves youth, recreational, and competitive teams and clubs across 100 different sports and activities.

The full list of ICIC recipients was revealed at the 20th Annual Inner City 100 Conference and Awards in Boston and is available on Fortune's website. TeamSnap joined the other winning companies at the Inner City 100 Conference and Awards led by Fortune 500 executives and academics from top-tier universities, including Harvard Business School. Learn more: http://www.fortune.com/innercity100

ICIC, a 25-year-old national nonprofit founded by Harvard Business School professor Michael E. Porter, promotes economic prosperity in America's inner cities through private sector investment that leads to jobs, income and wealth creation for local residents. Learn more: http://icic.org/

About TeamSnap:

Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Boulder, Colo., TeamSnap has taken the organization of youth, recreational and competitive sports into the 21st century. 20 million coaches, administrators, players and parents use TeamSnap's web and smartphone apps to sign up, schedule, communicate and coordinate everything for the team, the club and the season. TeamSnap makes organizing sports as simple as click, tap and go.

For more information, please visit https://www.teamsnap.com/.

The Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) announced that Boulder's TeamSnap was named to the 2018 Inner City 100 list of the fastest-growing inner city businesses in America. TeamSnap is ranked 19th overall based on its five-year revenue growth rate.

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

Eight Exceptional Charities Selected to Receive 2018 JL Simmons Non-profit PR Grant Awards

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Neotrope, a marketing, branding, entertainment, publishing and technology firm founded in 1983, today announced the eight U.S. 501(c)(3) charities selected for its annual J.L. Simmons Nonprofit PR Grants program for 2018/19. With this year's Grant, each charity will receive up to $2400 in services including PR, marketing and social media promotion.

"For nearly 20 years, since we first launched this grant program, our goal has been to help worthy causes raise their visibility," said Neotrope co-founder and CEO, Christopher Laird Simmons. "Again this year, we had hundreds of applicants, and we've chosen some really amazing charities to work with and donate our time and expertise."

The J.L. Simmons Nonprofit PR Grant(R) (aka "Non-Profit PR Grants") program was originally launched in 2000 to help assist worthy causes to raise awareness, attract halo sponsors, and better connect with donors and volunteers. As part of this in-kind grant program, Neotrope is providing news dissemination through its Send2Press(R) Newswire service, and social media marketing for the charities selected this year.

PR Grant recipients are selected by Neotrope staff based on qualified applications filled out and submitted by nonprofit organizations. Choices for grant recipients are both subjective, and based on overall activities and actual need, as well as best fit for support from the marketing team.

Additional information regarding the Neotrope PR Grant program for U.S. charitable nonprofits and grant recipients can be found at: https://prgrants.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NonProfitPRGrants.

Congratulations to all the charities selected for this year's PR Grant program (alphabetical):

Brainy Camps Association

Brainy Camps Association provides residential summer camps, retreat programs and services for children, teenagers and young adults with chronic health conditions. Its mission is to create healthy communities where partnerships between patients and healthcare providers are promoted, independence and self-management are nurtured, education is offered and social connections are supported. Brainy Camps is a subsidiary of Children's National Health System.

Based in Washington, D.C. and established 1994.
Learn more: https://www.brainycamps.com/

Byte Back, Inc.

Byte Back connects communities with inclusive tech training and pathways into living-wage careers. In the last 16 years, 28 million low-tech jobs in the U.S. have disappeared. Byte Back trains adults with low tech skills and helps them move up from beginners' courses into recognized tech certifications and jobs in less than a year. Other wraparound and career services help adult learners overcome barriers and launch life-changing careers in the digital economy.

Based in Washington, D.C. and established 1997.
Learn more: https://byteback.org/

Center Stage Studios - DBA Arts Detroit; Outvisible Theatre Company

Center Stage Studios was formed in 2010 with the mission to provide professional and educational opportunities within the performing arts. Since its inception, Center Stage has grown exponentially, and after transitioning into a storefront location in 2016, began operating as two functional arms: 1) Arts Detroit, the educational component, providing music, acting, and as of late 2018, dance education, primarily to school-aged children, and 2) Outvisible Theatre Company, the first professional theatre company in the area to offer contracts to union actors, which focuses on socially-minded, thought-provoking performance.

Based in Allen Park and Plymouth, Michigan, and established 2010.
Learn more: https://www.artsdetroit.org/ and https://www.outvisibletheatre.com/

C Diff Foundation

The C Diff Foundation comprises 100-percent volunteering professionals dedicated at supporting public health through education and advocacy. The Foundation's mission is to reach out to communities from villages to cities, to medical practitioners, medical students, C. diff. survivors, caregivers, and the patients combating a C. difficile infection (CDI) while providing the general public important information on prevention, treatments available, and EPA registered products available for environmental safety.

Based in New Port Richey, Fla. and established 2012. Learn more: https://cdifffoundation.org/

Food Finders

Food Finders is a multi-regional food rescue organization serving Los Angeles and Orange Counties in California. In its almost 30 years of operation Food Finders has rescued over 139 million pounds of food, provided over 115 million meals and diverted over 74 million pounds of C02 from landfills. Food is picked up 7 days a week through a network of volunteers and 2 staff drivers.

Based in Lakewood, Calif. and established 1989.
Learn more: http://www.foodfinders.org/

Hands-On Science Center

The Hands-On Science Center (HOSC) is a small facility with the mission to encourage the love and understanding of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) to the 30,000+ students it serves each year. HOSC strives to create an appreciation of, and interest in, math and science among children, their teachers, and their parents. HOSC serves students both on-site and off-site via its "traveling" programs to schools, libraries, and birthday parties.

Based in Tullahoma, Tenn. and established 1995.
Learn more: http://www.hosc.org/

Move For Hunger

Move For Hunger is a non-profit organization that mobilizes the relocation industry to fight hunger and reduce food waste. In addition to collecting food from people who are moving to new homes, Move For Hunger helps companies and individuals across the United States and Canada organize successful food drives. To date, they have collected more than 11 million pounds of food.

Based in Red Bank, N.J. and established 2009.
Learn more: https://www.moveforhunger.org/

Prancing Ponies Foundation

Prancing Ponies Foundation's mission is to develop young women's core competencies required for advancing to and succeeding in leadership roles in college and later in their careers in engineering or the automotive industry. Prancing Ponies Foundation's goal is to serve 1,000 girls nationwide by 2020. We offer two programs that support our mission and provide the optimal leadership learning experience for girls: the Prancing Ponies Online Leadership Academy provided to high-school girls from low-income backgrounds and the Prancing Ponies Leadership-Abroad Academy geared toward 3rd year (junior) University girls in either engineering or automotive programs.

Based in Mill Valley, Calif. and established 2015.
Learn more: https://prancingponies.org/

About Neotrope:
Since 1983 Neotrope(R) has delivered services to raise organization awareness including brand identity, marketing, public relations (PR), and social media services. Based in Torrance, California, Neotrope is also an entertainment publishing company involved in books, music, software, sound design, video and more. The company has been a consistent leader in new technologies including direct marketing, digital design, ecommerce, multimedia, SEO and e-marketing for 35 years. Neotrope was an Inc. 5000 company in 2009, has a 20-year A+ rating with the BBB, and is a member of GS1. Neotrope.com (2019 website revamp coming soon).

Twitter: @prgrants @ArtsDetroitPAS @BrainyCamps @ByteBackDC @cdiffFoundation @FoodFindersLBC @HandsOnScience1 @MoveForHunger @OutvisibleThCo @SupporthePonies #nonprofitgrant #PRgrants2018 @neotrope

Neotrope, a California-based marketing, branding, entertainment, publishing and technology firm founded in 1983, today announced the eight U.S. 501(c)(3) charities selected for its annual J.L. Simmons Nonprofit PR Grants program for 2018/19. With this year's Grant, each charity will receive up to $2400 in services including PR, marketing and social media promotion.

Related link: https://neotrope.com

NotaryCam’s Rick Triola Named a Finalist for Orange County Business Journal’s ‘Innovator of the Year’ Award

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- NotaryCam(R), leader in online notarization and the original provider of mortgage eClosing solutions, today announced that Founder and CEO Rick Triola was named a finalist for the Orange County Business Journal's 'Innovator of the Year' award. Triola's accomplishment was celebrated at an awards luncheon held September 20 at Hotel Irvine.

Now in its fourth year, the OCBJ's Innovator of the Year program celebrates individuals and organizations based in Orange County, California, who are creating game-changing products and services and who demonstrate brilliance and leadership in innovation.

Triola was recognized for his significant contributions to business innovation in Orange County and nationwide. Originally from Brooklyn, he cut his teeth as an Oppenheimer investment banker on Wall Street before moving into commercial real estate in New York and California. He later served as an executive at one of California's largest independent escrow companies, which he helped expand into Orange County. Triola went on to found two Orange County-based tech companies, Settileware Secure Services and NotaryCam, the first venture-backed, on-demand notary service in the world.

NotaryCam is changing the way documents get notarized with its virtual signing room, which allows parties to legally and securely execute and notarize documents on demand over the internet.The company's eClose360 platform allows entire real estate/mortgage closing ceremonies to take place online, removing the stress and cost of having to attend closings physically. To date, NotaryCam has facilitated well over 100,000 legally-binding notarizations in all 50 U.S. states and more than 70 countries.

"NotaryCam is ushering in the future of real estate closings for consumers in Orange County and around the world," said Triola. "It's an honor to remove the stress and cost from the closing ceremony, and it's likewise an honor to be recognized for the work about which we are so passionate."

Triola was profiled in the business book Game Changers (2010). In 2017, Triola received the Tech All-Star Award for career contributions to mortgage technology from the Mortgage Bankers Association, the nation's largest trade organization representing residential and commercial real estate finance professionals. He has been featured in publications from HousingWire to The New York Times and on National Public Radio.

About NotaryCam:

NotaryCam is the leader in online notarization and mortgage eClosing solutions. After pioneering the world's first entirely online mortgage closing in 2012, career real estate executive Rick Triola founded NotaryCam in 2014. NotaryCam has since helped hundreds of thousands of customers get documents notarized online from anywhere in the world while maintaining the industry's highest customer satisfaction rating. NotaryCam's patented eClose360 platform facilitates 100%-online mortgage closings and provides unparalleled identity verification, security and customer convenience.

Visit https://www.notarycam.com for additional information or to get a document notarized today.

NotaryCam(R), leader in online notarization and the original provider of mortgage eClosing solutions, today announced that Founder and CEO Rick Triola was named a finalist for the Orange County Business Journal's 'Innovator of the Year' award. Triola's accomplishment was celebrated at an awards luncheon held September 20 at Hotel Irvine.

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

Iron Cove, a division of EPIC, again Named Best U.S. Insurance Provider by Hedgeweek

NEW YORK, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants announced today that Iron Cove, a division of EPIC, was named Best US Insurance Provider by Hedgeweek, a Global Fund Media publication, which reaches over 98,000 financial services executives globally.

Principal Louis D'Agostino attended the Hedgeweek recognition event at the Intercontinental Hotel in NYC to accept the award on behalf of the Iron Cove team.

The winner of the prestigious award is determined by Hedgeweek readers, consisting of investors, managers, and industry professionals, who cast their ballots to determine which firms are the "best of the best" in their respective categories, making this a truly peer-reviewed accolade.

"Winning the US award for a second year in a row confirms our long-term commitment to the asset management industry," D'Agostino said. "After winning Hedgeweek's Best Global Insurance Provider Award earlier this year, and given our team's continuing growth as a division of EPIC, we are very excited about our future."

Iron Cove Partners currently serves many of the world's most prominent financial institutions. As Principal, D'Agostino is responsible for the oversight and management of the Iron Cove Financial Services Practice, which provides its expertise and experience to hedge funds, registered advisers, private equity funds, and broker-dealers.

"Receiving votes from your clients and industry peers acknowledging the quality and value of your work is a great feeling," D'Agostino said. "It never gets old!"

About Iron Cove - a division of EPIC:

Iron Cove, a division of EPIC is a leading full-service insurance brokerage business serving the financial services industry from its headquarters in New York City. A trusted adviser with decades of experience and over 150 Hedge Funds as clients, Iron Cove provides cutting edge brokerage and consulting services to some of the world's largest financial institutions, including Employee Benefits Consulting, Commercial Property & Casualty Insurance, Transactional M&A Insurance as well as Private Client, Life Insurance, and Estate Planning services.

For more information, contact Louis D'Agostino, Principal at louisd@ironcoveins.com or (646) 452-4031.

About EPIC:

EPIC is a unique and innovative retail property & casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm. EPIC has created a values-based, client-focused culture that attracts and retains top talent, fosters employee satisfaction and loyalty and sustains a high level of customer service excellence.

EPIC team members have consistently recognized their company as a "Best Place to Work" in multiple regions and as a "Best Place to Work in the Insurance Industry" nationally.

EPIC now has more than 1,400 team members operating from 50 offices across the U.S., providing Property & Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs and Private Client solutions to more than 20,000 clients.

With run rate revenues greater than $400 million, EPIC ranks among the top 20 retail insurance brokers in the United States. Backed by Oak Hill Capital Partners, the company continues to expand organically and through strategic acquisitions across the country.

For additional information, please visit https://www.epicbrokers.com/.

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants announced today that Iron Cove, a division of EPIC, was named Best U.S. Insurance Provider by Hedgeweek, a Global Fund Media publication, which reaches over 98,000 financial services executives globally.

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

Cloudvirga Co-founder Kyle Kamrooz named ‘Innovator of the Year’ by Orange County Business Journal

IRVINE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Cloudvirga(TM), a leading provider of digital mortgage software, today announced that company Co-founder Kyle Kamrooz has been named a 2018 "Innovator of the Year" by the Orange County Business Journal (OCBJ). Kamrooz was selected from a competitive field of over 70 nominees and honored at an awards luncheon at Hotel Irvine on September 20.

Now in its fourth year, the OCBJ's Innovator of the Year program celebrates individuals and organizations based in Orange County, California, who are creating game-changing products and services and who demonstrate brilliance and leadership in innovation. Past winners include leaders from Allergan (NYSE: AGN), Cylance, Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE: EW) and Vizio, among others.

Kamrooz was recognized for his significant contributions to business innovation in Orange County and nationwide. His first business venture grew to become one of county's largest direct-to-consumer lenders. He went on to serve as executive vice president at Calabasas-based Skyline Home Loans before founding Cloudvirga, a company that helps top lenders automate the loan process and empowers borrowers with greater transparency and engagement in the mortgage transaction.

Cloudvirga has experienced exponential growth in its first three years. Cloudvirga is already the digital mortgage technology used by eight of the top 40 mortgage lenders in the United States, and the company closed a Series C funding round that raised $50 million in May.

"Cloudvirga digitizes the mortgage process for top lenders and their borrowers," said Kamrooz. "It's an honor to be recognized for this work, which is really a testament to the amazing team we have built here in Orange County."

"In founding Cloudvirga, Kyle set a vision to transform one of the largest industries in the country and ultimately make home ownership more affordable for more Americans," said Cloudvirga CEO Michael Schreck. "Our entire company shares Kyle's passion for this movement."

Kamrooz is the recipient of numerous awards for innovation and leadership. He was a finalist for the OCBJ's Innovator of the Year program in both 2016 and 2017. He has also been recognized by HousingWire magazine as a Vanguard Award winner and by Entrepreneur magazine as an Inspiring Tech Entrepreneur Under 40. He is an active member of the Forbes Finance Council, an invitation-only community for senior-level finance executives.

About Cloudvirga(TM)

Cloudvirga's digital mortgage point-of-sale (POS) software, powered by the intelligent Mortgage Platform(r), uniquely combines a world-class borrower experience with a truly automated lender workflow that radically cuts overall loan costs, increases transparency and reduces the time to close a loan. Led by top fintech veterans with a track record of building successful mortgage technologies, Cloudvirga's customer base includes eight of the top 40 non-bank mortgage originators. To date, Cloudvirga has raised over $77 million from some of the country's top lenders and private-equity firms.

For more information, visit http://www.cloudvirga.com or follow Cloudvirga on LinkedIn.

@Cloudvirga @OCBizJournal #InnovatoroftheYear

Cloudvirga(TM), a leading provider of digital mortgage software, today announced that company Co-founder Kyle Kamrooz has been named a 2018 "Innovator of the Year" by the Orange County Business Journal (OCBJ). Kamrooz was selected from a competitive field of over 70 nominees and honored at an awards luncheon at Hotel Irvine on September 20.

Related link: http://www.cloudvirga.com/

SafeChain Honored as 2018 Seed Stage Company of the Year at VentureOhio Awards

COLUMBUS, Ohio /ScoopCloud/ -- SafeChain, the industry leader in wire fraud prevention software for land title, announced today that it was named 2018 Seed Stage Company of the Year by VentureOhio.

SafeChain was recognized for developing SafeWire, an innovative platform that implements a combination of identity verification and bank-grade authentication technology to verify ownership of accounts involved in a wire transaction, secure wire transfers and prevent wire fraud. In addition, SafeChain recently concluded the first blockchain backed real estate transaction in partnership with government. SafeChain continues to work the Auditor's Office in Franklin County, Ohio to move the jurisdiction's property records to a new platform fully backed by blockchain technology.

As a finalist among a highly competitive group of seed-stage company applicants, SafeChain was selected as the winner in its category by a panel of 22 expert judges and honored at the fifth annual Venture Dinner.

"The awards event brought together over 700 investors, entrepreneurs, community leaders, and elected officials to review the success of the Ohio entrepreneurial ecosystem and encourage statewide collaboration," said Falon Donohue, CEO of VentureOhio.

"It's an honor to be recognized as 2018 Seed Stage Company of the Year," said Tony Franco, CEO and co-founder of SafeChain. "Ohio is home to a thriving ecosystem of technical innovation and forward-thinking entrepreneurship, and we are proud to contribute to the growth of the state's business community by building out the next generation of real estate security and records systems backed by blockchain technology."

To view the winners of all of the VentureOhio Awards categories, visit https://ventureohio.org.

About VentureOhio:

VentureOhio is an Ohio non-profit which aims to improve access to capital and foster collaboration in the startup community. For more information visit https://ventureohio.org.

About SafeChain:

SafeChain makes real estate transactions safer and simpler. Built by real estate title experts in collaboration with banking technologists, SafeChain tackles the inefficiencies of the buying and selling process from the inside-out to help title companies, mortgage bankers and realtors decrease costs and deliver a better experience for customers.

Leveraging the most advanced technologies, including blockchain, SafeChain increases the speed and security of closings to deliver faster transactions and better consumer confidence. For more information visit http://www.safechain.io.

SafeChain, the industry leader in wire fraud prevention software for land title, announced today that it was named 2018 Seed Stage Company of the Year by VentureOhio.

Related link: https://www.safechain.io/

CB Structures Ranks in Engineering News-Record for Specialty Contractors

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- Current Builders (currentbuilders.com) today announced its CB Structures division has been ranked by Engineering News-Record (ENR) as #7 in the Southeast Region for the Concrete Sector, #19 in Florida for Specialty Contractors and #45 in the Southeast Region for Specialty Contractors for 2018.

Current Builders, based in Pompano Beach, has maintained a self-performing concrete structures division for more than 40 years.

"We are honored to once again be recognized by ENR," said Michael Taylor, President of Current Builders. "Having this division allows us to provide developers with varied options that can allow for both cost and time savings. In addition to our broad tunnel from capabilities, we have also expanded our conventional concrete capabilities.

"With 20 million square feet of structures performed to date, we offer a thorough understanding of the systems aspects that are advantageous to all members of the development team including the owner, architect and/or engineer. CB Structures can design or assist in the design of - the most cost-effective and sustainable structure determined to meet each project's specifications."

CB Structures was launched as an extension of Current Builders, providing services exclusively to the contracting entity. In 2004, the division was expanded and today employs more than 100 full-time team members. CB Structures now maintains its own client base and offers its talent and expertise to the region's development community including Gables Residential, Epoch Properties and Alliance Residential.

The division's areas of service/building systems include: tunnel form, conventional forming systems supported by reinforced masonry, post-tensioned slabs supported by flying forms, tilt-up construction and precast joist assemblies.

About Engineering News-Record:
Engineering News-Record provides the engineering and construction news, analysis, commentary and data that construction industry professionals need to do their jobs more effectively. ENR reports on the top design firms, both architects and engineers, and the top construction companies as well as projects in the United States and around the world

About Current Builders:
Current Builders has been a major player in the multi-family residential market since its inception in 1972 and to date has delivered over 45,000 multi-family units for Class "A" Clients from all facets of the development community. The firm's portfolio also includes 15 million square feet of office/industrial space and 250,000 square feet of retail.

From senior living to student living, village halls and community centers to luxury auto vaults, Current Builders' résumé is comprehensive with 85% of its projects commissioned by existing clients. A proven and highly respected organization, Current Builders is consistently ranked for construction volume in the state of Florida and the Southeast United States.

Learn more at: http://www.currentbuilders.com/.

Current Builders announces its CB Structures division has been ranked by Engineering News-Record (ENR) as #7 in the Southeast Region for the Concrete Sector, #19 in Florida for Specialty Contractors and #45 in the Southeast Region for Specialty Contractors for 2018.

Related link: http://www.currentbuilders.com/

San Diego Business Journal Honors Mortgage Capital Trading’s Natalie Arshakian with 2018 ‘Next Top Business Leaders Under 40’ Award

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT), a leading mortgage hedge advisory and secondary marketing software firm, announced that the San Diego Business Journal (SDBJ) named its employee Natalie Arshakian to the 2018 'Next Top Business Leaders Under 40' list. The award program recognizes dynamic, young business leaders and role models who have significantly contributed to San Diego's business climate and the community.

Arshakian was promoted to her current role as Director of Lock Desk Operations at MCT in 2016, where she manages a team of 30 analysts to accommodate monthly lock volume upwards of $2 billion in residential mortgages distributed among 51 national clients.

Natalie first joined MCT` in 2012, being promoted multiple times from Analyst Trainee to Analyst, Senior Analyst, Supervisor, Manager, and now Division Director --- within just five and half years. She is well-versed in secondary marketing software, loan origination systems, product and pricing engines, and other third party applications. Notable is that the Lock Desk Division that Natalie operates has become the mortgage industry's largest outsourced lock desk service offering.

"I am honored to be named to this revered list and held in the same company with other San Diego-based businesspeople who are making a difference in their communities and at their organizations," stated Arshakian. "MCT has afforded me many unique opportunities to grow my skill sets and advance my career, and I am proud to be a part of the outstanding team supporting me to help expand the company and provide excellence in service to our clients."

Prior to MCT, Natalie worked as an Operations Supervisor of the Alternative Investments Division LPL Financial, the largest independent broker-dealer in the United States. She holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of California Los Angeles and speaks two languages.

"Natalie is a key member of our management team and our Lock Desk Division would not be the dominant player in the mortgage industry without her contributions," stated Chris Anderson, Chief Administrative Officer at MCT. "Put simply, she is one of those rare people that you can task with a project and know that it will be fully completed and done with excellence --- every time. We are grateful to have her on our team and proud that she has been recognized by SDBJ with this prestigious award."

The winners were honored by SDBJ and the San Diego business community at a ceremony held on Tuesday, August 14, 2018 at the Westin San Diego Gaslamp Quarter. A complete list of the winners and their backgrounds can be found at http://www.sdbj.com/next40finalists.

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.

Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT), a leading mortgage hedge advisory and secondary marketing software firm, announced that the San Diego Business Journal (SDBJ) named its employee Natalie Arshakian to the 2018 'Next Top Business Leaders Under 40' list. The award program recognizes dynamic, young business leaders and role models who have significantly contributed to San Diego's business climate and the community.

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

RMA Wins First Place Communication Awards

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- Redevelopment Management Associates (RMA, www.rma.us.com) employees won multiple awards at the recent Florida Festivals and Events Association event, securing two first place prizes in categories related to communications. The economic development firm, based in Pompano Beach, was recognized with top honors for their PR/Media Campaign for the 6th Annual Dania Beach Arts and Seafood Celebration and for their Community Engagement Program for Pompano Beach's Neighborhood Ambassadors.

"We are very proud of all our RMA employees who were recognized for their outstanding achievements this past year," said Sharon McCormick, Director of Business Attraction & Marketing. "We are especially honored that our communication programs were awarded top prizes, as our firm's mission of reinventing cities is only successful if there is community buy-in and support."

In Pompano Beach, RMA's team adapted a program that has been tremendously successful with several of their other city/clients. Neighborhood Ambassadors are liaisons between local businesses, area friends, residents, community programs and events and all things "happening." The Pompano Beach program, named the VIPs, (Volunteers in Pompano), established a social structure where residents and businesses connected monthly and learned about the often undiscovered, soon-to-be "hot spots" in the City.

"We initiated our first Neighborhood Ambassadors program just over 10 years ago in the Northwood Village section of West Palm Beach," continued McCormick. "What began with one liaison, grew into 30 and then 300! Our strategy was to create a social atmosphere to share news, create a spirit of 'being in the know' and establishing connections, so together, we would reposition the community for growth and facilitate innovation."

That highly successful model receives a city-specific twist with each new reinvention project, but the element of fostering community pride, creating understanding and building a future together remain constant to each program.

In Dania Beach, the award-winning communication strategy for the festival included an extensive promotion and advertising campaign launched through broadcast and print media placements, website and social media interaction, outdoor signage, competitions and strategic partnerships with sponsors and the community (including Dania Beach Neighborhood Ambassadors being champions and volunteers for the event).

Thousands attended the festival, introducing new visitors to local merchants and expanding awareness of the growing economic development in the area.

"RMA's communication skill set differentiates us from other economic development firms," stated McCormick. "Cities are made up of citizens and engagement is a crucial part of a thriving economy. At RMA, that precept is fundamental to our core values."

About RMA:

Founded in 2009 by Kim Briesemeister and Chris Brown, Redevelopment Management Associates (RMA) is comprised of a phenomenal team of redevelopment experts passionate about building better communities. RMA is the most experienced full-service economic redevelopment consulting and management firm, headquartered in the state of Florida, specializing in revitalizing core areas and corridors for cities, counties and special districts nationwide. The co-founders are also the authors of one of the definitive books about city redevelopment, "Reinventing Your City: 8 Steps to Turn Your City Around."

Learn more about RMA at: http://www.rma.us.com/.

*Web photo caption: (L-R) Connie Barone, Kathleen Weekes and Sarah Blake. send2press.com/wire/images/18-0910-rma-awards-696x522.jpg

Redevelopment Management Associates (RMA) employees won multiple awards at the recent Florida Festivals and Events Association event, securing two first place prizes in categories related to communications. RMA was recognized with top honors for their PR/Media Campaign for the 6th Annual Dania Beach Arts and Seafood Celebration.

Related link: http://www.rma.us.com/

Carol Borden, Founder and CEO of Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, Inc. Named a Pet Industry Woman of the Year Finalist

WILLISTON, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, Founder and CEO, Carol Borden has been selected as one of twenty-five women vying for the title of Pet Industry Woman of the Year 2018. Becoming a Finalist puts Carol Borden in the running for one of the 5 category winners and from that the option of the top spot of Pet Industry Woman of the Year which will be announced during the live awards show on Oct 2, in Oaks, Pa. at The Club at Shannondell. This is in conjunction with the Pet Connections Expo being held in Greater Philadelphia Expo Center.

Pet Industry Woman of the Year has been showcasing leaders in the pet industry for the past 5 years. There are 5 categories nominees can compete in: Advocate, which represents women doing advocacy for pets. Corporate, for leaders who own or work for corporations. Entrepreneur, for women opening and running one or multiple businesses. Rising Star for those women in the fast lane doing remarkable work to keep our eyes on. Lastly, Solopreneur, for women doing it all solo.

Women in the Pet Industry Network (WIPIN) is a leading organization focused on women leaders in all categories of this ever-growing pet industry. Leaders don't need to be members of WIPIN to compete for Pet Industry Woman of the Year, and many of the finalists are members, however the caliber of these finalists speaks to how vital the pet space is becoming because of so many women doing remarkable work.

About Carol Borden:
Titling her first dog at the age of 10, Carol has spent a lifetime loving and training dogs. In 2010, she founded Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, Inc. in Williston, Florida where she has raised, trained and donated nearly 300 individually trained service dogs for those with disabilities including PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury, seizure and diabetic disorders and mobility issues.

Carol has remained a trailblazer in the Service Dog industry, working with the states of both Florida and Michigan in drafting their service dog legislation to protect the rights of the disabled; and her training curriculum has just become the first accredited service dog training program in the State of Florida. Carol was a 2015 winner of the Stephen B. Wise award and a 2018 winner of the AUSV Vetty Award for service to veterans in the Mental Health Category.

About Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs:
Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has grown into a nation-wide organization. Today, Guardian Angels receives up to 40 inquiries each day for one of their medical Service Dogs. There is no state or federal funding available for this critical life-saving program.

For more information on our program, visit: http://www.medicalservicedogs.org/ and please consider joining us, as we Unleash the Power to Heal.

About Women in the Pet Industry Network (WIPIN):
Headquartered near Portland, Ore., WIPIN serves leaders who are making a difference in the pet space. WIPIN members come from all categories within the pet industry, from groomers and veterinarians to pet sitters and pet boutique owners. Women in the Pet Industry Network is committed to igniting leaders who ignite others which in turn makes a positive impact on all pets and their people. For more information, please visit http://www.womeninthepetindustry.com/.

Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, Founder and CEO, Carol Borden has been selected as one of twenty-five women vying for the title of Pet Industry Woman of the Year 2018. Carol has remained a trailblazer in the Service Dog industry, working with the states of both Florida and Michigan in drafting their service dog legislation to protect the rights of the disabled.

Related link: http://www.medicalservicedogs.org/

Lisa Birmingham of LBA Ware Wins 2018 HousingWire Insiders Award

MACON, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- LBA Ware(TM), a leading provider of automated compensation software and systems integration solutions for mortgage lenders, announced that DevOps Manager Lisa Birmingham has been named a 2018 Insiders Award(TM) recipient by HousingWire (HW) magazine.

Birmingham was recognized for leveraging her considerable talents to help LBA Ware increase product enhancements and system adoption over the course of her two-year tenure at the company. Her deep background in mortgage fintech and laser-like focus on stellar system performance and client satisfaction has played a critical role in LBA Ware's success, enabling the firm to increase subscriptions to its system integration platform by nearly 250%.

In addition to her development contributions, Birmingham is heavily involved in LBA Ware's internal operations, serving as a member of the SOC and Vendor Management committees and the Disaster Recovery Team. She also serves as the company-wide resource on loan origination system (LOS) functionality and provides training to all LBA Ware staff members on the various LOS' that integrate with LBA Ware's platforms.

"Lisa was a key hire for us in 2016 and has never failed to impress us with her dedication, ideas and overall exemplary performance," said Lori Brewer, Founder and CEO of LBA Ware. "Clients rave about Lisa, her attention to detail, her quick response rate and her ceaseless caring about their well-being and overall happiness with LBA Ware's quality of work. I am grateful for her hard work and contributions."

"I take pride in my ability to identify opportunities for process optimization and bring increases in efficiency and production to the projects I work on," said Birmingham. "It is a high compliment to be nominated by my colleagues for the Insiders Award."

Now in its third year, HousingWire's Insiders Award program recognizes "operational all-stars" who "serve their companies in outstanding ways - through operations, product development, hiring, marketing campaigns, or making things more efficient."

"This year's group of Insiders exemplify what it means to get the job done and done right," said HW Online Editor Caroline Basile. "Each of the mortgage and housing professionals we honored made incredible contributions to their companies' successes and we're excited to recognize their achievements."

Winners are profiled in the September issue of HousingWire magazine. To view the complete listing of award honorees, visit https://www.housingwire.com/articles/46713-hw-insiders-2018.

About HousingWire:
HousingWire is the most influential source of news and information for the U.S. mortgage and housing markets. Built on a foundation of independent and original journalism, HousingWire reaches over 40,000 newsletter subscribers daily and over 4 million unique visitors each year. Our audience of mortgage, real estate, financial services and fintech professionals rely on us to Move Markets Forward. Visit https://www.HousingWire.com or https://www.solutions.housingwire.com to learn more.

About LBA Ware:
Founded in 2008, LBA Ware's mission is to inspire opportunity by delivering solutions that are essential to the way mortgage companies operate. We are a trusted partner and play a key role in our clients' success by enabling them to motivate, incentivize and better leverage the human potential within their organization. Our applications automate traditionally manual business processes for which an existing software solution does not exist, empowering lenders to create an integrated software environment that maximizes their productivity and operational efficiency. For more information about LBA Ware and our software solutions, visit https://lbaware.com.

LBA Ware(TM), a leading provider of automated compensation software and systems integration solutions for mortgage lenders, announced that DevOps Manager Lisa Birmingham has been named a 2018 Insiders Award(TM) recipient by HousingWire (HW) magazine.

Related link: https://lbaware.com/

Congresswoman Grace Napolitano Honors Gordon Brush Mfg. Co.

CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Congresswoman Grace Napolitano (CA-32) presented a Certificate of Congressional Recognition to Gordon Brush President and CEO, Ken Rakusin at a ceremony at the Company's 183,000 square foot manufacturing complex on Thursday, August 30, 2018.

"I am honored and humbled to accept this award from Congresswoman Napolitano," said Rakusin. "We truly appreciate that the Congresswoman shares our commitment to manufacturing in the United States and our commitment to remain in the greater Los Angeles area. Gordon Brush is Proud To Be An American Manufacturer and has been steadfast in its commitment to manufacturing in the United States even under competitive threats.

"All of this could not have been possible without my valued, long-tenured, skilled employees. I have over 150 employees, plus their families, for who I am responsible," adds Rakusin.

"Congratulations to Gordon Brush for receiving Congressional Recognition for his leadership at Gordon Brush, a proud American business," Napolitano said. "We salute his ongoing commitment to manufacturing products in the San Gabriel Valley, which supports local jobs and benefits other businesses in our region and beyond. This well-deserved honor recognizes his extraordinary efforts to promote American-made goods and preserve the economic health of our nation."

Mr. Rakusin presented the Congresswoman with a book, "MADE in USA," an elegant tribute to 12 companies that are proud to build and buy AMERICAN. "The Congresswoman and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer are forever immortalized in the history of the Company with a picture in the Gordon Brush chapter," Rakusin told the Congresswoman.

Gordon Brush Mfg. Co., Inc., is an ISO 9001:2015 certified American manufacturer of brooms and brushes. Established in 1951, Gordon Brush(r) includes two brands whose origin dates back to 1855 and 1897. The Company manufactures the FootMate(r) System and over 17,000 standard and custom brushes, selling to a multitude of industries including: janitorial, medical, electronics, manufacturing, military, aerospace, and pharmaceutical in its state-of-the-art, 183,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility in the City of Industry, Calif.

Gordon Brush has made brushes for the United States Army to clean the main gun on the Abrams tanks, saving the Department of Defense over $1.5 billion. The Company also has made brushes that were used on the space shuttle, the lunar module, and brushes to clean the guidance system and guns on the Apache helicopter.

Learn more about the Company at: https://www.gordonbrush.com/.

Media Contact:
Alan Schechter
323-450-2748
ASchechter@GordonBrush.com

*PHOTO link for media: Send2Press.com/300dpi/18-0905s2p-gbrush-award-300dpi.jpg
*Photo Caption: (Left to Right) Congresswoman Grace Napolitano (CA-32); Ken Rakusin, President & CEO, Gordon Brush Mfg. Co., Inc. during presentation ceremony in the factory lunchroom.

Congresswoman Grace Napolitano (CA-32) presented a Certificate of Congressional Recognition to Gordon Brush President and CEO, Ken Rakusin at a ceremony at the Company's 183,000 square foot manufacturing complex on Thursday, August 30, 2018.

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

NotaryCam’s David Kressel and Henry Smith Honored by HousingWire as Mortgage Industry ‘Insiders’

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- NotaryCam(R) today announced that its Vice President of Finance and Operations, David Kressel, and Director of Notary Operations, Henry Smith, were each named to HousingWire's 2018 HW Insiders Award(TM) list of the mortgage industry's unsung heroes.

Kressel's operational expertise, entrepreneurial spirit and passion for innovation have helped define NotaryCam as a company and enabled many of its successes. For instance, Kressel spearheaded the launch of eClose360(R), NotaryCam's eClosing platform that remotely brings together closing agents, attorneys, home buyers and real estate agents with a certified notary signing agent to perform mortgage closings. He also helped grow NotaryCam's footprint to serve customers in all 50 U.S. states and over 70 international countries.

Smith was recognized for leading the expansion of NotaryCam's network of eNotaries, the world's largest. He launched NotaryCam Academy, the company's formal program for training, graduating and onboarding professionally certified eNotaries, in 2014. Smith continues to oversee the training of NotaryCam's notary team and manages its ongoing performance to ensure fast, friendly, compliant and consistent service delivery.

Now in its third year, the HW Insiders Award program recognizes "operational all-stars" working across all sectors of the U.S. housing economy, including residential mortgage lending, servicing, investments and real estate. Nominees were selected by HousingWire's editorial staff and judged based on "tangible evidence of significant impact within their individual company, primarily focused upon the past 12 months."

"Excellent customer service is one of NotaryCam's defining values and key differentiators," said Rick Triola, founder and CEO of NotaryCam. "David and Henry lead a culture of outstanding quality and consistency, which has greatly contributed to NotaryCam's 99.8 percent customer satisfaction rating and sky-high Net Promoter Score - the best in the industry. I congratulate them both for this achievement."

"This year's group of Insiders exemplify what it means to get the job done and done right," said HousingWire Online Editor Caroline Basile. "Each of the mortgage and housing professionals we honored made incredible contributions to their companies' successes, and we're excited to recognize their achievements."

To view the full list of award honorees, visit https://www.housingwire.com/articles/46713-hw-insiders-2018.

About HousingWire:

HousingWire is the most influential source of news and information for the U.S. mortgage and housing markets. Built on a foundation of independent and original journalism, HousingWire reaches over 40,000 newsletter subscribers daily and over 4 million unique visitors each year. Its audience of mortgage, real estate, financial services and fintech professionals relies on HousingWire to "Move Markets Forward." Visit https://www.housingwire.com to learn more.

About NotaryCam:

NotaryCam is the pioneering leader in online notarization and mortgage closing solutions. NotaryCam has helped over 100,000 customers get documents notarized online from anywhere in the world and maintains the industry's highest customer satisfaction rating. NotaryCam's patented eClose360 platform helps mortgage and settlement partners facilitate 100 percent-online mortgage closings while providing unparalleled identity verification, security and customer convenience.

Visit https://www.notarycam.com for additional information or to get a document notarized today.

NotaryCam(R) today announced that its Vice President of Finance and Operations, David Kressel, and Director of Notary Operations, Henry Smith, were each named to HousingWire's 2018 HW Insiders Award(TM) list of the mortgage industry's unsung heroes.

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

MQMR’s Steven Sinn Wins 2018 HousingWire Insiders Award

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Mortgage Quality Management and Research, LLC (MQMR), a leader in mortgage risk management and compliance services, today announced that director of administration Steven Sinn has been named a 2018 Insiders Award(TM) honoree by HousingWire (HW) magazine.

"This year's group of Insiders exemplify what it means to get the job done and done right," said HW Online Editor Caroline Basile. "Each of the mortgage and housing professionals we honored made incredible contributions to their companies' successes and we're excited to recognize their achievements."

"Steve is the epitome of a dedicated employee, contributing in all aspects of the business and filling in whenever and wherever he's needed," said MQMR President Michael Steer. "He not only delivers excellence in everything he does, but he also brings out the best in those around him, elevating the personal and professional development of his fellow employees. We included the word 'quality' in our company name for a reason, and no one on our staff embodies that value more than Steve."

Sinn was recognized for his role in helping MQMR achieve its growth objectives by keeping his fingers on the pulse of all aspects of the organization and jumping in as needed to perform a variety of functions. He was instrumental in restructuring MQMR's internal audit department to streamline process workflow and reduce the time it takes to complete a client engagement. In addition to improving MQMR's client-facing operations, Sinn ensures the smooth performance of back-office operations.

"I'm honored to appear on this year's list of Insiders Award honorees," said Sinn. "Whether it's boosting the company's insurance coverage, providing client support, performing training, enhancing operational processes or conducting office lease negotiations, my top priority is ensuring the health, longevity and success of MQMR."

Now in its third year, HW's Insiders Award program recognizes "people who are often their company's best-kept secret: the one person known within the company as a critical part of that company's success, but who may or may not be as well known throughout the larger industry."

Honorees are profiled in the September issue of HW magazine. To view all of this year's Insiders Award winners, visit https://www.housingwire.com/articles/46713-hw-insiders-2018.

About HousingWire:
HousingWire is the most influential source of news and information for the U.S. mortgage and housing markets. Built on a foundation of independent and original journalism, HousingWire reaches over 40,000 newsletter subscribers daily and over 4 million unique visitors each year. Our audience of mortgage, real estate, financial services and fintech professionals rely on us to Move Markets Forward. Visit www.HousingWire.com or www.solutions.housingwire.com to learn more.

About Mortgage Quality Management and Research, LLC (MQMR):
MQMR bridges the gap between risk and compliance through its suite of risk-related services. Since its inception, MQMR has launched multiple products and services to assist lenders in navigating regulatory requirements, including providing mortgage compliance consulting throughout the origination process, conducting internal audit risk assessments and ongoing internal audit support, servicing QC and subservicing oversight to master servicers, and filling the void of meeting vendor management oversight requirements. With 2,000+ operational reviews of mortgage companies, subservicers, document custodians, and vendors annually, MQMR prides itself on being an industry leader in counterparty risk and compliance. To learn more, visit mqmresearch.com, subsequentqc.com, and hqvendormanagement.com.

Mortgage Quality Management and Research, LLC (MQMR), a leader in mortgage risk management and compliance services, today announced that director of administration Steven Sinn has been named a 2018 Insiders Award(TM) honoree by HousingWire (HW) magazine.

Related link: http://www.mqmresearch.com/

Tobias Griffith of IDS Honored as a 2018 Insiders Award Recipient by HousingWire Magazine

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- Mortgage document preparation vendor International Document Services, Inc. (IDS), announced today that Implementation Expert Tobias Griffith has been recognized by HousingWire (HW) magazine as a 2018 Insiders Award(TM) honoree.

"With so much leadership change happening in our industry, it seems particularly fitting that we highlight the accomplishments of those who help execute the day-to-day operations at the mortgage finance industry's most important firms," said HW Editor-in-Chief Jacob Gaffney. "With that, we are honored to present the 2018 HousingWire Insiders."

Griffith was recognized for ensuring new IDS clients have a smooth and overwhelmingly positive on-boarding experience, even in complex implementation circumstances. Griffith walks clients through the handling of customized document utilization characteristics and actively helps clients customize loan document content to ensure the customization process is smooth and meets each client's specific needs. Satisfied clients frequently go out of their way to express their appreciation for Griffith's responsiveness, coding abilities, problem-solving acumen and customer service skills.

"Superior customer service and seamless client on-boarding are more critical than ever," said Mark Mackey, vice president and general manager of IDS. "With every implementation, Tobias goes above and beyond to ensure new clients receive IDS' trademark customer service from day one and become clients for life. I am grateful to have Tobias on our team and commend him on his exceptional work performance."

"Setting clients up for success is crucial to their ability to fully enjoy the process efficiencies of idsDoc from the outset of implementation," said Griffith. "It's an honor to be recognized by HousingWire for my work."

For the third year, HW's Insiders Award program celebrates "people who are often their company's best-kept secret: the one person known within the company as a critical part of that company's success, but who may or may not be as well known throughout the larger industry." Awardees represent each sector of the housing industry and are chosen by the trade publication's editorial staff.

To view the complete list of awardee honorees, visit https://www.housingwire.com/articles/46713-hw-insiders-2018.

About HousingWire:
HousingWire is the most influential source of news and information for the U.S. mortgage and housing markets. Built on a foundation of independent and original journalism, HousingWire reaches over 40,000 newsletter subscribers daily and over 4 million unique visitors each year. Our audience of mortgage, real estate, financial services and fintech professionals rely on us to Move Markets Forward. Visit https://www.HousingWire.com or https://www.solutions.housingwire.com to learn more.

About IDS, Inc.:
IDS, a Reynolds and Reynolds company, was founded in 1986 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is a nationwide provider of mortgage documents and compliance. IDS services include electronic signatures, closing documents, initial disclosures, document fulfillment and integration with leading loan origination systems and eClosing platforms. The IDS flagship doc prep solution, idsDoc, is recognized in the industry for its ability to be customized to meet specific lender needs, particularly in regards to major industry compliance changes. (https://info.idsdoc.com/)

Mortgage document preparation vendor International Document Services, Inc. (IDS), announced today that Implementation Expert Tobias Griffith has been recognized by HousingWire (HW) magazine as a 2018 Insiders Award(TM) honoree.

Related link: https://info.idsdoc.com/