Tag Archives: Texas Business

Autocraft Bodywerks Is Certified For Mercedes-Benz Collision Repair!

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 15, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Autocraft Bodywerks, now celebrating 40 years of excellence in automotive collision repair, located at 5411 Wasson Rd, Austin, Texas, has met all the program standards in the certification process for the Mercedes-Benz Elite Certified Collision Program, Autocraft Principal Chris Raeder announced today. Completion of the Mercedes-Benz certification program confirms Autocraft Bodywerks’ commitment to restoring Mercedes-Benz vehicles back to original factory specifications and showroom condition.

Image caption: Autocraft Bodywerks is now a proud Mercedes-Benz Elite Certified Collision Center.

“Autocraft has proudly served the Austin community since 1984,” Principal Chris Raeder explains, “and we’re excited to add the Mercedes-Benz certification to our long list of collision repair services. Our Wasson Road location will continue serving owners of all makes and models in Austin and surrounding communities.”

Autocraft Bodywerks, now with locations in South Austin, North Austin, and San Marcos, and coming soon to Spicewood, is a locally owned and operated Austin, Texas based collision repair company that has been restoring Automotive Dreams Since 1984. Autocraft is now a Mercedes-Benz Elite Certified Collision Center, with the training and equipment to handle all aspects of collision repairs for these luxury, high-tech vehicles.

Autocraft is Austin’s premier I-CAR Gold Class body shop specializing in the repair and restoration of luxury vehicles. Autocraft Bodywerks combines the latest technology and the most comprehensive training available to repair damaged vehicles and restore them back to the original manufacturer factory specifications for performance and structural integrity.

The team of collision repair specialists at Autocraft Bodywerks has years, and in many cases, decades of experience in automotive collision repair. Autocraft Bodywerks is Aluminum Certified and is approved in the repair of Mercedes-Benz, Tesla, Rivian, Ford, and many other luxury vehicles. Autocraft Bodywerks uses only OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) replacement parts.

For more information about Autocraft Bodywerks services please call Autocraft Bodywerks South at 512-441-7444, Autocraft Bodywerks North at 737-238-3752, Autocraft Bodywerks San Marcos at 512-214-8696, or visit https://www.AutocraftBodywerks.com/.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Chris Raeder
Autocraft Bodywerks
512-441-7444
Website: www.AutocraftBodywerks.com
Email: Chris@AutocraftBodywerks.com

NEWS SOURCE: Autocraft Bodywerks

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Autocraft Bodywerks), who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. Image, if any, was provided by the news source and not this website or the wire service. Information is believed accurate, as provided by the news source, but is not guaranteed.

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/autocraft-bodywerks-is-certified-for-mercedes-benz-collision-repair/

Rate-and-Term Refinance Locks Surge 700% Over Previous Year Following the FOMC’s September Interest Rate Reduction

Optimal Blue's September 2024 Market Advantage mortgage data report released in conjunction with the inaugural Market Advantage podcast featuring Mortgage Bankers Association economist Joel Kan guest commentator

PLANO, Texas, Oct. 8, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Optimal Blue today released its September 2024 Market Advantage mortgage data report, which found a 50% month-over-month (MoM) increase in rate-and-term refinance activity as people who purchased homes in recent years jumped at the opportunity to lower their interest rates and mortgage payments. While the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) lowered its target federal funds rate by 50 bps on Sept. 18, the market had already priced in a portion of the rate reduction, leading to a full month of increased refinance activity in September.

Image caption: Optimal Blue Sept. 2024 Report.

“Refinance production has been trending higher for a few months now as mortgage rates rallied, but purchase activity had been stubbornly stagnant. However, September volumes indicate the tide may be turning,” said Brennan O’Connell, director of data solutions at Optimal Blue. “Excluding April of this year, which was impacted by the timing of Easter, September marks the first month with a year-over-year (YoY) increase in purchase locks since the Fed began raising rates in Spring of 2022. As we move into Q4, this is a very encouraging sign that the market may have found a floor and production is on the upswing.”

Key findings from the Market Advantage report, which are drawn from direct-source mortgage lock data, include:

Refinance volumes surge: On an absolute basis, refinance production reached the highest level seen since January 2022. Rate-and-term refinance lock volume was up nearly 50% MoM and 700% YoY. Cash-out refinance volume rose a more modest 6% MoM but was still up more than 50% YoY.
Mortgage rates fall across the board: The Optimal Blue Mortgage Market Indices (OBMMI) 30-year conforming benchmark interest rate dropped 23 bps, while jumbo, FHA, and VA rates were down 22, 25, and 16 bps, respectively. The drop in mortgage interest rates did not directly correspond to the 50 bps FOMC rate cut because an anticipatory market had already priced a reduction in rates leading into September.
Conventional and VA production grew market share: The share of conforming loan production rose roughly .5% to 54.4%, and the share of non-conforming production – including jumbo and non-QM loans – rose .25% to 12.6%. The share of FHA loans fell roughly 1% to 18.7%, while VA rose .2% to 13.7%.
Average borrower credit increased across the board: The credit scores of rate-and-term refinance borrowers rose an average of 6 points to 737. The average conventional borrower credit score rose to 757, the highest since December 2020.
Average loan amounts and home prices rose: From August 2024 to September 2024, the average loan amount increased from $372.4K to $383.7K. The average home purchase price ticked up $10K to $475.8K after falling the previous two months.

The inaugural Market Advantage podcast has been released today in conjunction with the September Report. This month’s podcast features Joel Kan, vice president and deputy chief economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association, as a guest commentator. The podcast can be accessed at: https://market-advantage.captivate.fm/listen.

The full September 2024 Market Advantage report, which provides more detailed findings and additional insights into U.S. mortgage market trends, can be viewed at: https://www2.optimalblue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/OB_MarketAdvantage_MortgageDataReport_Sept2024.pdf.

About the Market Advantage Report:

Formerly known as the Originations Market Monitor, Optimal Blue issues the Market Advantage mortgage data report each month to provide early insight into U.S. mortgage trends. Leveraging lender rate lock data from the Optimal Blue PPE – the mortgage industry’s most widely used product, pricing, and eligibility engine – the Market Advantage provides a view of early-stage origination activity. Unlike self-reported survey data, mortgage lock data is direct-source data that accurately reflects the in-process loans in lenders’ pipelines.

Nothing herein shall be construed as, nor is Optimal Blue providing, any legal, trading, hedging, or financial advice.

About Optimal Blue

Optimal Blue effectively bridges the primary and secondary mortgage markets to deliver the industry’s only end-to-end capital markets platform. The company helps lenders of all sizes and scopes maximize profitability and operate efficiently so they can help American borrowers achieve the dream of homeownership. Through innovative technology, a network of interconnectivity, rich data insights, and expertise gathered over more than 20 years, Optimal Blue is an experienced partner that, in any market environment, allows lenders to optimize their advantage from pricing accuracy to margin protection, and every step in between. To learn more, visit https://OptimalBlue.com/.

LOGO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/14-0625-s2p-optimal-blue-300dpi.jpg

NEWS SOURCE: Optimal Blue

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Optimal Blue), who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. Image, if any, was provided by the news source and not this website or the wire service. Information is believed accurate, as provided by the news source, but is not guaranteed.

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/rate-and-term-refinance-locks-surge-700-over-previous-year-following-the-fomcs-september-interest-rate-reduction/

Optimal Blue Expands Expertise, Market Leadership With Launch of Two In-House Podcasts

Weekly Optimal Insights podcast provides timely market analysis; monthly Market Advantage podcast will complement existing mortgage data report

PLANO, Texas, Oct. 1, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Optimal Blue announced the release of two in-house podcasts that extend the reach of the company’s capital markets experience and expertise built over its decades as the technology leader in its space. The Optimal Insights podcast and video, which will be released weekly, will provide timely analyses of market factors impacting loan originators and capital markets professionals. Additionally, the Market Advantage podcast will complement the company’s popular monthly Market Advantage mortgage data report to deliver additional commentary and guest interviews.

Image caption: Optimal Blue.

“Optimal Blue is committed to sharing our unmatched depth of capital markets expertise with our clients,” said Sara Holtz, chief marketing officer of Optimal Blue. “By adding weekly, point-in-time market analysis via the Optimal Insights podcast, as well as deeper data insights and guest discussions by way of the Market Advantage podcast, we expand our outreach and extend additional, no-cost value into the industry.”

The first episode of the Optimal Insights podcast is now available, and the initial episode of the Market Advantage podcast will be released in tandem with Optimal Blue’s monthly mortgage data report in early October. Viewers can access both productions via the Optimal Blue LinkedIn page and on major podcast platforms.

“Our clients and industry partners have long relied on Optimal Blue for trusted insights and commentary, and these podcasts are an evolution of our commitment to keeping the industry informed,” said Jim Glennon, vice president of hedging and trading client services at Optimal Blue. “We have worked in the trenches throughout all market cycles, and we are thrilled to share our expertise in these new ways.”

For additional market insights and analysis, Optimal Blue clients are encouraged to attend the inaugural Optimal Blue Summit, which will take place February 3–5 at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina. Additional details and registration information for the Summit are available on the Optimal Blue Summit 2025 webpage at: https://www2.optimalblue.com/optimal-blue-summit/.

About Optimal Blue

LOGO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/14-0625-s2p-optimal-blue-300dpi.jpg

NEWS SOURCE: Optimal Blue

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/optimal-blue-expands-expertise-market-leadership-with-launch-of-two-in-house-podcasts/

Eagle Ventures Partners with Keel Point to Combat Human Trafficking Through Technology Investments

DALLAS, Texas, Sept. 23, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Eagle Ventures, through its Eagle Freedom Fund, a leading impact investment vehicle focused on combating human trafficking, is pleased to announce its strategic partnership with Keel Point, a national private wealth management, family office services, and institutional asset management firm. Keel Point will serve as a Sub-Advisor to the Eagle Freedom Fund, bringing its financial expertise to amplify the Fund’s efforts to invest in innovative technologies designed to combat human trafficking globally.

Image caption: Keel Point.

This partnership reflects a shared commitment to eradicating one of the world’s most pressing issues. Human trafficking impacts more than 50 million people annually[*1], generating over $345 billion in illicit revenue[*2]. Through this collaboration, Eagle Freedom Fund and Keel Point will channel capital into cutting-edge technologies and solutions that empower law enforcement, businesses, and nonprofits to disrupt trafficking networks and provide protection for vulnerable populations.

Wes Lyons, General Partner at Eagle Venture Fund, emphasized the alignment between Eagle’s mission and Keel Point’s values: “At Eagle, we believe that capitalism can be a force for good. This partnership allows us to leverage Keel Point’s deep financial expertise to scale investments that save lives and protect the dignity of millions of trafficking victims.”

Keel Point’s role as a Sub-Advisor will enhance the Fund’s capacity to identify and support scalable, market-based solutions in the technology sector. These technologies include AI-enabled platforms, supply chain transparency tools, and predictive analytics to help prevent human trafficking and disrupt criminal networks.

Lyle Minton, CIO of Keel Point, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration: “Joining forces with the Eagle Freedom Fund on this critical issue aligns perfectly with our firm’s mission to offer clients financial strategies that not only grow wealth, but also align with their values and have a significant positive impact on society. Together, we will work to help create a future where human trafficking is no longer tolerated.”

This partnership is part of Eagle Freedom Fund’s broader initiative to decimate human trafficking through high-impact investments. The Fund focuses on native impact—where profit and positive social outcomes are directly linked—ensuring that each dollar invested contributes to measurable, life-saving results.

For more information, visit www.eagleventurefund.com or contact info@eagleventurefund.com.

About Eagle Freedom Fund:

Eagle Freedom Fund is a specialized impact fund under Eagle Venture Fund, with a mission to combat human trafficking through for-profit investments. By backing innovative technologies and market-based solutions, Eagle Freedom Fund seeks to transform the lives of millions affected by trafficking and exploitation.

About Keel Point:

Keel Point is a national financial planning and investment management firm that combines deep financial expertise with a passion for serving clients. The firm offers tailored investment strategies and financial services to a broad range of individuals, families and institutions that align financial objectives with purposeful impact.

For more information, visit keelpoint.com.

*Citations:

[1] https://www.ilo.org/resource/news/50-million-people-worldwide-modern-slavery-0

[2] https://www.nasdaq.com/global-financial-crime-report

MULTIMEDIA:

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NEWS SOURCE: Keel Point Capital LLC

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Keel Point Capital LLC), who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. Image, if any, was provided by the news source and not this website or the wire service. Information is believed accurate, as provided by the news source, but is not guaranteed.

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/eagle-ventures-partners-with-keel-point-to-combat-human-trafficking-through-technology-investments/

Optimal Blue Rolls Out Innovations in New UI, Gen AI, Originator Capabilities and New No-Cost Solutions

PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Optimal Blue today announced its extensive plans for innovation across its complete capital markets technology ecosystem leading up to its Optimal Blue Summit, where innovations will be unveiled live.

"Our focus is on client profitability, so we are investing and delivering in areas that will have the biggest impact on a lender's bottom line," said Joe Tyrrell, CEO of Optimal Blue. "We're rolling out our new intuitive UI to all clients, introducing new tools to help loan originators be more effective and efficient, and delivering automation solutions to address real operational issues through our new GenAI capabilities - all at no cost to our clients. We are also introducing new data solutions at no incremental costs for clients and shifting a number of our current solutions to unlimited usage models to help our clients get the most out of our innovations."

New capabilities will be introduced into the core platform beginning in mid-September and continuing through the Optimal Blue Summit, a national user conference being held in San Diego in February. For originators, areas of innovative focus include new origination tools, such as true side-by-side loan scenario comparison functionality, simplified capabilities for configuration and margin management, and a new GenAI solution.

"We are focusing on delivering new value, at no additional cost, in order to help our clients improve their ROI on every loan," said Erin Wester, VP of product management for Optimal Blue. "I'm thrilled about our ability and commitment to innovate in ways that directly allow Optimal Blue clients to even further increase the value they currently receive, all while we continue to lead the market in our use of APIs and automation."

Generative AI solutions that address specific secondary market use cases, will be unveiled across all Optimal Blue's capital markets solutions. This initiative began with the company's Profitability Assistant, designed to help chief financial officers and capital markets executives better manage gain and loss down to the individual loan. New AI capabilities will continue to be added to the hedging and loan trading platform, and will be expanded into the Optimal Blue PPE, in the next two quarters. The GenAI solutions will culminate with a definitive GenAI "ask" functionality that will be unmatched in terms of the value lenders realize, solving complex business challenges and identifying critical profitability opportunities by clients simply asking a question.

"Optimal Blue has committed to significant investments in GenAI, providing these capabilities at no additional cost to our clients, and our engineering team is excited to build solutions that solve real problems and see high levels of utilization," said Seever Sulaiman, Optimal Blue chief technology officer. "These capabilities along with our machine-learning functionality, will enable automation for the entire end-to-end capital markets lifecycle, from origination through trading, making the data and processes more efficient, more accurate, and substantially faster."

Optimal Blue clients are invited to attend the inaugural Optimal Blue Summit February 3-5 at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina, where major product announcements will be made live. Additional details and registration information for the Summit are available on the Optimal Blue Summit 2025 webpage at https://www2.optimalblue.com/optimal-blue-summit/.

About Optimal Blue

Optimal Blue effectively bridges the primary and secondary mortgage markets to deliver the industry's only end-to-end capital markets platform. The company helps lenders of all sizes and scopes maximize profitability and operate efficiently so they can help American borrowers achieve the dream of homeownership. Through innovative technology, a network of interconnectivity, rich data insights, and expertise gathered over more than 20 years, Optimal Blue is an experienced partner that, in any market environment, allows lenders to optimize their advantage from pricing accuracy to margin protection, and every step in between. To learn more, visit OptimalBlue.com.

Logo link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/14-0625-s2p-optimal-blue-300dpi.jpg

Optimal Blue today announced its extensive plans for innovation across its complete capital markets technology ecosystem leading up to its Optimal Blue Summit, where innovations will be unveiled live. New capabilities will be introduced into the core platform beginning in mid-September and continuing through the Optimal Blue Summit, a national user conference being held in San Diego in February.

Related link: https://www2.optimalblue.com/

NotaryCam hires Sam McPherson as new Head of Customer Success

HOUSTON, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- NotaryCam®, a Stewart-owned company and a pioneering provider of remote online notarization technology for real estate and legal transactions, today announced the appointment of Sam McPherson as the new Head of Customer Success. In this role, McPherson will oversee customer relationships, focusing on delivering an exceptional client experience while driving retention and advocacy.

"We are pleased to welcome Sam to the NotaryCam team. His depth of experience in developing customer success strategies, especially within digital environments, makes him an ideal fit as we continue to grow," said Brian Webster, President of NotaryCam. "Sam's proven ability to scale processes, foster deep customer relationships and drive meaningful results will be instrumental as we enhance our client services and maintain our position as the leader in remote online notarization. We're confident that our customers will continue to experience best-in-class support and innovation under Sam's leadership."

McPherson brings over a decade of experience in customer success and growth strategies within the B2B SaaS sector. He has held key roles, including Director of Growth and Customer Success at Hire Ground and Director of Customer Success at SharpSpring, where he developed innovative onboarding and customer engagement programs that increased client satisfaction and retention rates. His expertise in building and leading teams that drive long-term success aligns with NotaryCam's mission to deliver secure, convenient, scalable eClosing and online notarization solutions.

"NotaryCam has a stellar reputation in the industry, and I'm honored to join a company that has consistently set the standard for excellence in eClosings and online notarization," said McPherson. "I look forward to contributing to the continued success of our customers by helping them maximize the value they get from our solutions."

About NotaryCam, a Stewart Company

NotaryCam, a Stewart-owned company, is the leader in online notarization and mortgage eClosing solutions, having notarized documents worldwide for more than a million customers in all 50 states and more than 146 countries. The company's eClose360® platform delivers the "perfect" online mortgage closing in every jurisdiction and supports all eClosing scenarios with a flexible workflow for document recording and unparalleled identity verification, security and customer convenience. In addition to real estate transactions, NotaryCam provides RON services to many Fortune 500 companies as well as small and midsize businesses. The company also proudly maintains an industry-leading 99.8 percent customer satisfaction rating and the highest Net Promoter Score (NPS) amongst the best global tech brands.

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

NotaryCam®, a Stewart-owned company and a pioneering provider of remote online notarization technology for real estate and legal transactions, today announced the appointment of Sam McPherson as the new Head of Customer Success. In this role, McPherson will oversee customer relationships, focusing on delivering an exceptional client experience while driving retention and advocacy.

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

Rate-and-Term Refinances Surge 109% MoM in August as Mortgage Rates Decline

PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Optimal Blue today released its August 2024 Market Advantage mortgage data report, which reveals an overall 1% rise in rate lock volume despite the typical seasonal slowdown in purchase lending. Lock volume growth was driven by a surge in refinance activity as homeowners reacted to declining mortgage rates.

"Refinance activity, particularly rate-and-term refinances, surged as mortgage rates declined across all loan types," said Brennan O'Connell, director of data solutions at Optimal Blue. "Notably, August saw a remarkable 109% month-over-month (MoM) increase in rate-and-term refi volume in response to a 31-basis-point drop in the benchmark OBMMI 30-year conforming rate, which ended the month at 6.37%. Rate-and-term refi activity was up 300% from the same period last year."

Key findings from the Market Advantage report, which are drawn from direct-source mortgage lock data, include:

* Refinance volume spikes and purchase volume falls: Refinances now account for 26% of total production, the highest level since March 2022, when the Federal Reserve began increasing interest rates. Rate-and-term refinance volume more than doubled in August, rising 109% MoM, while cash-out refinances also saw a more modest increase of 8%. Purchase volume fell by 10% MoM.

* Mortgage rates decline: 30-year mortgage rates trended downward in August across all loan types, with the biggest shift in FHA rates, which fell by 40 bps to 6.13%, and the smallest shift occurring in conforming rates, which fell by 31 bps to 6.37%.

* Narrowed spreads provide more refinance incentive: The 10-Year Treasury yield decreased by 18 bps to 3.91%, with the spread between the 10-Year Treasury and the 30-year conforming mortgage rate narrowing by 13 bps to 246 bps. This marks a significant improvement in the spread, which has fallen by over 50 bps from the same period last year.

* Purchase counts reflect persisting challenges for homebuyers: Despite the increase in refinance activity, purchase lock counts - a key indicator of housing market conditions - dropped 16% YoY due to continued affordability and inventory challenges. Purchase locks are down 45% over August 2019.

* 2024 FHA and purchase borrowers' credit scores at highest in seven years: Throughout 2024, monthly average credit scores have been higher than average for FHA borrowers (675.3), as well as for borrowers seeking purchase loans (736.4), than any other month dating back to January 2018, when Optimal Blue started tracking the data. The average credit score across all production in August 2024 was 731.

* Loan amount and purchase price: The average loan amount rose from $369.1K to $372.4K, while the average purchase price fell from $471K to $465.5K.

View the full August 2024 Market Advantage report, which provides more detailed findings and additional insights into U.S. mortgage market trends, at (PDF): https://www2.optimalblue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/OB_MarketAdvantage_MortgageDataReport_August2024.pdf.

About the Market Advantage Report:

Formerly known as the Originations Market Monitor, Optimal Blue issues the Market Advantage mortgage data report each month to provide early insight into U.S. mortgage trends. Leveraging lender rate lock data from the Optimal Blue PPE - the mortgage industry's most widely used product, pricing, and eligibility engine - the Market Advantage provides a view of early-stage origination activity. Unlike self-reported survey data, mortgage lock data is direct-source data that accurately reflects the in-process loans in lenders' pipelines.

Nothing herein shall be construed as, nor is Optimal Blue providing, any legal, trading, hedging, or financial advice.

About Optimal Blue

Optimal Blue effectively bridges the primary and secondary mortgage markets to deliver the industry's only end-to-end capital markets platform. The company helps lenders of all sizes and scopes maximize profitability and operate efficiently so they can help American borrowers achieve the dream of homeownership. Through innovative technology, a network of interconnectivity, rich data insights, and expertise gathered over more than 20 years, Optimal Blue is an experienced partner that, in any market environment, allows lenders to optimize their advantage from pricing accuracy to margin protection, and every step in between. To learn more, visit OptimalBlue.com.

Optimal Blue today released its August 2024 Market Advantage mortgage data report, which reveals an overall 1% rise in rate lock volume despite the typical seasonal slowdown in purchase lending. Lock volume growth was driven by a surge in refinance activity as homeowners reacted to declining mortgage rates.

Related link: https://www2.optimalblue.com/

Optimal Blue to Host Inaugural Industry Summit February 3-5, 2025

PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Optimal Blue today announced it will host its inaugural Optimal Blue Summit from February 3-5, 2025, at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina. Set against the scenic backdrop of San Diego Bay, the Optimal Blue Summit 2025 will bring together clients from across primary and secondary mortgage networks to connect, learn, and share best practices for pricing and profitability.

This three-day event will feature engaging panels and multi-track sessions led by leading economists, policymakers, lenders, and Optimal Blue's team of subject matter experts to provide attendees with unique tools and insights they need to optimize their competitive advantage in today's dynamic market.

"Optimal Blue has a distinct depth of expertise and resources built and refined over decades as the industry leader," said Joe Tyrrell, CEO of Optimal Blue. "Our Summit will deliver new value to all of our clients and partners through announcements of new innovation and sharing of best practices and ideas from experts in closing more business at higher levels of profitability. Working with Optimal Blue has always helped clients maximize their profitability, and we look forward to bringing the industry together for uniquely valuable content and connections they cannot access elsewhere."

Highlights from the event will include:

* Generative AI roadmap: Be the first to hear about the latest updates to the Optimal Blue product roadmap, including AI and automation advancements.

* Loan officer tools: Discover more about a new suite of solutions designed and built to help loan officers close more business, faster.

* Market insights: Gain exclusive access to original market analysis, customer behavior trends, and emerging opportunities to optimize lending strategies and make informed decisions.

* Best practice sharing: Learn how leading lenders and capital markets experts leverage Optimal Blue solutions to navigate market challenges and achieve superior results.

* Feedback forums: Participate in product feedback sessions, focus groups, and user forums to shape the future of Optimal Blue's offerings.

* Networking opportunities: Connect with industry peers, lenders, capital markets leaders, economists, policymakers, and technology partners through interactive sessions, idea exchanges, and fun, shared experiences.

Additional details and registration information are available on the Optimal Blue Summit 2025 webpage at https://www2.optimalblue.com/optimal-blue-summit/.

About Optimal Blue

Optimal Blue effectively bridges the primary and secondary mortgage markets to deliver the industry's only end-to-end capital markets platform. The company helps lenders of all sizes and scopes maximize profitability and operate efficiently so they can help American borrowers achieve the dream of homeownership. Through innovative technology, a network of interconnectivity, rich data insights, and expertise gathered over more than 20 years, Optimal Blue is an experienced partner that, in any market environment, allows lenders to optimize their advantage from pricing accuracy to margin protection, and every step in between. To learn more, visit OptimalBlue.com.

Optimal Blue today announced it will host its inaugural Optimal Blue Summit from February 3-5, 2025, at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina. Set against the scenic backdrop of San Diego Bay, the Optimal Blue Summit 2025 will bring together clients from across primary and secondary mortgage networks to connect, learn, and share best practices for pricing and profitability.

Related link: https://www2.optimalblue.com/

TMC Emerging Technology Fund Announces Newest Corporate Partner: Andromeda Division Constellation Software’s Perseus Operating Group

AUSTIN, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- The Mortgage Collaborative (TMC), the nation's largest independent cooperative network serving the mortgage industry, announced today that the TMC Emerging Technology Fund LP has secured its first corporate partner, Andromeda. Andromeda is a Division of the Perseus Operating Group, of Constellation Software, Inc. (TSX: CSU; "Constellation"). Constellation is a long-term investor and operator of over a thousand software companies in multiple vertical markets with a cumulative investment of over $10 billion. Andromeda builds, acquires, and invests in financial software companies that provide mission-critical solutions for the mortgage industry.

"We are excited to partner with The Mortgage Collaborative through their Emerging Technology Fund," said Bonnie Wilhelm, Chief Executive Officer at Andromeda. "TMC's deep industry expertise and focus on innovation perfectly aligns with our own commitment to supporting growth in the mortgage technology sector. Together, we can identify and invest in promising companies that are shaping the future of lending."

"We could not be more thrilled to welcome Andromeda to our program. In addition to strengthening our investment capacity, we look forward to closely collaborating with their team and benefitting from their considerable industry experience to help us make smart, strategic investments," commented Sandy Selman, General Partner of the TMC Emerging Technology Fund LP.

About TMC Emerging Technology Fund LP

TMC Emerging Technology Fund LP (the "Fund") is a specialist fintech fund explicitly focused on the mortgage industry and immediately adjacent verticals. Its Limited Partners consist of some of the most technology-forward lender members of TMC and help the Fund understand where the industry is headed, what will work, what won't and why. The Fund continues to look for investments in exciting companies that will have the most profound impact on this multi-trillion-dollar industry. For more information, please reach out to info@tmctechfund.com.

About Andromeda

Andromeda is a global investment firm specializing in acquiring and investing in mission-critical software companies. It partners with exceptional entrepreneurs to scale businesses that serve essential needs across a wide range of industries. Andromeda's long-term approach empowers management teams to drive sustainable growth and achieve enduring success. In the mortgage industry, our businesses include Optimal Blue, Dark Matter Technologies, Constellation Mortgage Solutions, Axacore and ReverseVision. Together, our business units work tirelessly to empower lenders on the front lines with innovative solutions designed to lower origination costs in a regulatory-compliant manner. For more information, visit https://www.csiandromeda.com

About The Mortgage Collaborative

The Mortgage Collaborative The Mortgage Collaborative (TMC) is a membership-driven* organization dedicated to empowering mortgage lenders across the United States through networking, education, and advocacy. Our goal is to support the success of our members by fostering an environment of collaboration and innovation. For more information, visit http://www.mortgagecollaborative.com/

The Mortgage Collaborative (TMC), the nation's largest independent cooperative network serving the mortgage industry, announced today that the TMC Emerging Technology Fund LP has secured its first corporate partner, Andromeda. Andromeda is a Division of the Perseus Operating Group, of Constellation Software, Inc. (TSX: CSU; "Constellation").

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

System4 Expands in Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex

FORT WORTH, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- System4 Facility Services Management ("System4"), an industry leader in facility management solutions that specializes in customized commercial cleaning, disinfection and repair and maintenance services announced that a new office has opened in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. System4 DFW takes an existing office in Tarrant County and adds Collin, Denton, Johnson and Rockwell Counties to their service area.

System4 DFW will be your one-stop shop for customized solutions that seamlessly deliver facility services within your budget and is powered by the winning combination of people and software. Whether you are looking for a commercial cleaning, disinfection, or building maintenance, we have you covered - inside and out!

On August 1, 2024, Warren and Sylvia Goss opened the System4 DFW location. The System4 DFW office is located at 504 Thompson Terrace, Suite 108, Colleyville, TX, 76034 and can be reached at 817-207-8000.

"Warren's years of experience in sales leadership and business ownership combine for a winning formula with System4," said Scott Kubec, Chief Operating Officer, System4 Facility Services Management. "We are excited to help and support Warren as he works to provide the best service possible for the DFW metroplex."

"We are thrilled to continue and introduce the System4 brand across Tarrant, Collin and surrounding counties of the North Texas Metropolitan area. Our decision to commit and partner with System4 was driven by several reasons. First, we recognize the significant value we can provide in assisting businesses of all sizes to save time and money," said Warren and Sylvia Goss, Franchise Partners, System4 DFW. "Second, we appreciate the company's strong foundation of service and their desire for us to be the business service experts for our customer base. Third, there is simply no other facilities management company with the experience and expertise of System4. We look forward to becoming the best Facility Services Management Company in the DFW area."

Learn more at: https://system4dfw.com/.

About System4:

Founded in 2004, System4 Facility Services Management has become an industry leader in commercial cleaning, disinfection and repair and maintenance. With more than 60 locations nationally, System4 manages the interior and exterior of any size or type facility. As a business's one point of contact for all facility service needs, System4 simplifies processes for business owners, operators, and management by saving time, reducing complexity and overall cost.

Learn more: https://system4.com/.

System4 Facility Services Management ("System4"), an industry leader in facility management solutions that specializes in customized commercial cleaning, disinfection and repair and maintenance services announced that a new office has opened in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. System4 DFW takes an existing office in Tarrant County and adds Collin, Denton, Johnson and Rockwell Counties to their service area.

Related link: https://system4.com/

Mortgage Machine Services Enhances AI-Powered Document Management System to Accelerate Loan Processing Speed

ADDISON, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Mortgage Machine Services, an industry leader in digital origination technology to residential mortgage lenders, announced the launch of Auto Split, an enhancement to the Click n' File document management system embedded into the Mortgage Machine™ loan origination system (LOS). Specifically designed to extract and store loan documents, Auto Split enables lending staff to improve loan processing efficiency, enabling mortgage lenders to optimize speed to close.

"With the introduction of Auto Split, we're taking a significant step forward in streamlining loan processing for our clients," said Mortgage Machine CEO Jeff Bode, Founder and CEO of Mortgage Machine Services. "This enhancement reflects our commitment to innovation, ensuring that mortgage lenders can operate with greater efficiency and precision. By automating document management within the Mortgage Machine LOS, we're empowering our clients to reduce processing times and improve overall productivity, ultimately helping them achieve faster closings."

Using artificial intelligence (AI), Auto Split seamlessly dissects large PDF loan files uploaded to Mortgage Machine into their individual components, automatically classifying each extracted document. From there, Click n' File identifies, categorizes and indexes the information from these documents to sort them into the appropriate folders.

"Our goal with Auto Split is to empower lenders by reducing the time and effort required for document management," said Dan McGrew, director of sales at Mortgage Machine. "By leveraging AI to automate the extraction, classification, and organization of loan documents, we're providing our clients with a powerful tool that enhances operational efficiency and ensures accuracy throughout the loan processing workflow."

In addition to incorporating the latest AI and document management, Mortgage Machine offers all-in-one eClosing functionality, including an eClose room, eNotes, eVault and remote online notarization (RON). The platform also includes SMART Doc(r) data and security standards from the Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization (MISMO), enabling lenders to utilize this electronic document format throughout the entire lending process and even into loan servicing.

To learn more about Mortgage Machine, visit http://www.mmachine.net/.

About Mortgage Machine™ Services, Inc.

Mortgage Machine™ is an industry leader in transforming residential mortgages using a range of digital solutions. Drawing on its extensive industry knowledge and advanced technology infrastructure, the company has been innovating in financial markets since 2007. Today, its flagship LOS product utilizes intelligent automation, configurable business workflows and a cloud-based infrastructure to optimize the entire loan lifecycle. By consolidating retail, wholesale, correspondent and home equity lending onto a single platform, Mortgage Machine™ enables lenders of all sizes to reduce cycle times, costs and risks while improving data quality and borrower satisfaction. Visit http://www.mmachine.net/ to learn more.

Mortgage Machine Services, an industry leader in digital origination technology to residential mortgage lenders, announced the launch of Auto Split, an enhancement to the Click n' File document management system embedded into the Mortgage Machine™ loan origination system (LOS).

Related link: https://www.mmachine.net/

Ke Kino Institute of Healing Launches Innovative Bodywork for Babies Massage Therapy Program

DALLAS, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Ke Kino Institute of Healing is proud to announce our Bodywork for Babies massage therapy program in Dallas. Where we combine multiple modalities, specialties and decades of practice to bring you targeted care with a holistic approach. Focusing entirely on the well-being of both mothers and their babies, treating them as the unit that they are. Because one cannot excel and thrive without the balance of the other.

Our Family Clinic therapists are united in their belief that the key to a happy, healthy baby is a happy, healthy mother. This is why at every mother/baby appointment the mother is treated with bodywork first, prior to her baby receiving treatment. Ke Kino is passionate about this core principle. Our experts will help with the "bounce back" to be just that, a jump start to your postpartum healing. So, you can begin to feel your best as you continue to grow and bond with your baby.

A strong bond often follows a strong latch. One of the most common areas of the program is to treat patients for poor feeding or challenges with the baby's latch. When a baby's latch is challenged or compromised by tethered oral tissues, it is a multi-faceted issue within the mother/baby duo. Not only does the baby typically face challenges with weight gain, often it leads to pain for the mother as well.

Birth is a complicated process. Even when it goes completely seamlessly and according to plan. Occasionally, a surgical birth may be indicated for the well-being of both mother and baby. This results in a completely different dynamic regarding the healing needs of the mom/baby unit. Not only are we experienced in treating these cases, but we are also passionate encouragers of informed choice surrounding the topic of birth and we offer bodywork for VBAC preparation.

"We are dedicated to providing the highest quality care for mothers and babies. Our Bodywork for Babies program is a testament of our commitment to holistic healing and nurturing the bond between mother and child," says John James, Owner of Kekino Institute of Healing.

We support and cheer for you and your growing family. We aim to support the baby's overall well-being and promote a deeper bond between mother and child.

Our massage academy provides unique massage therapy with a holistic approach. To find out more call the office at 972-509-5588 or visit here. https://kekino.com/

Ke Kino Institute of Healing is proud to announce our Bodywork for Babies massage therapy program in Dallas. Where we combine multiple modalities, specialties and decades of practice to bring you targeted care with a holistic approach. Focusing entirely on the well-being of both mothers and their babies, treating them as the unit that they are.

Related link: https://kekino.com/

Accountable CRM Launches First Activity-Based Platform for Mortgage Teams

AUSTIN, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- 90-Day Sales Manager proudly launches the first activity-based CRM with built-in coaching and accountability for mortgage teams at credit unions and community banks. The 3-in-1 platform provides mortgage departments an affordable solution to help loan officers stay productive during challenging times.

"Accountable CRM was born out of necessity," says Dr. Bruce Lund, Founder and CEO. "We initially sought to integrate our accountability software into existing CRMs for our credit union clients. However, we quickly discovered that many mortgage departments either lacked a dedicated mortgage CRM or rely on organizational CRMs that don't meet the needs of their mortgage departments. Accountable can plug into existing CRMs or serve as a standalone mortgage-specific CRM."

The core focus at Accountable CRM is centered around improving productivity by placing loan officers back at the heart of their CRM through daily activities and goal-setting. The platform has already achieved a 90% adoption rate-significantly outpacing the industry average of less than 20%. Sales managers are particularly drawn to the platform's activity tracking capabilities, which provide measurable results.

Mortgage-Specific CRM Features

Once the accountability tools were established, the next critical step was to develop mortgage-specific features and integrations. To lead this initiative, Dr. Lund brought on board Maggie Mae, a former Director of Product at a leading mortgage CRM, renowned for her expertise in CRM development and her deep understanding of the mortgage industry.

"Maggie's impressive track record in CRM development and her comprehensive understanding of mortgage processes made this platform the perfect playground for her expertise," says Dr. Lund. "With her insights, we've built a platform that not only fulfills all the expectations of a mortgage CRM but also integrates our unique accountability software to truly set us apart."

Accountable CRM includes a host of essential functionalities such as seamless Loan Origination System (LOS) integrations, automated email marketing, and a comprehensive mortgage marketing suite with hundreds of templates. The marketing suite offers one-click access to company-branded flyers, postcards, social posts, and more-all approved and managed by the marketing department. Additionally, the platform's mobile app ensures loan officers remain productive, whether in the office or on the go.

"Accountable CRM's emphasis on activity tracking and its commitment to supporting loan officers resonated deeply with me," adds Maggie Mae, Chief of Product. "The software is built on new technology which allows for continuous innovation and seamless integration with industry standards, making this software truly unique in the mortgage CRM space."

A Preferred Solution for Managers and Loan Officers

What truly distinguishes Accountable CRM from traditional CRMs is its focus on the daily activities of loan officers. While many CRMs prioritize internal marketing efforts, Accountable bridges the gap by collaborating closely with marketing teams to ensure that loan officers have the tools and support needed to succeed. This approach boosts productivity but also aligns sales and marketing efforts to drive better outcomes for the entire organization.

Setup your demo by emailing info@90daysales.com or visit https://www.accountablecrm.com/.

90-Day Sales Manager proudly launches the first activity-based CRM with built-in coaching and accountability for mortgage teams at credit unions and community banks. The 3-in-1 platform provides mortgage departments an affordable solution to help loan officers stay productive during challenging times.

Related link: https://90daysales.com/

July Refinance Activity Hits Highest Levels Since September 2022

PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Optimal Blue today released its July 2024 Market Advantage mortgage data report, which revealed that mortgage refinance demand surged to levels not seen since September 2022 amid softening interest rates. The lower interest rates seen in July also coaxed increased purchase activity, which, combined with greater refi activity, drove a 3.5% month-over-month (MoM) increase in mortgage rate lock volumes.

"The July report shows a notable uptick in refinance activity, particularly rate-and-term refinances, which jumped 12% as borrowers responded to declining interest rates," said Brennan O'Connell, director of data solutions at Optimal Blue. "The drop in the Optimal Blue Mortgage Market Indices 30-year conforming rate to 6.67% played a significant role in this growth, and we observed the highest level of refinance activity since September 2022."

Key findings from the Market Advantage report, which are drawn from direct-source mortgage lock data, are:

* Increase in rate lock volume: Overall rate lock volume rose by 3.5% MoM, with purchase activity up 2.5% and refinance activity showing even stronger growth. Cash-out refinance volume grew by 5.9% MoM, while rate-and-term refinance activity surged 12.3%, reflecting borrower sensitivity to lower rates.

* Purchase lock count growth: Purchase lock counts grew by 2.5% MoM in July, though they remained down 7% year-over-year (YoY). This is a significant improvement over June's 17% YoY decline, suggesting a potential stabilization in purchase demand as the market adjusts.

* Refinance activity surge: Refinance activity reached its highest level since September 2022, with the refinance share growing to 17% of total volume - an 81-basis-point increase from June and a 472-basis-point rise YoY. This aligns with trends in the OBMMI 30-year conforming rate, which ended July 2024 at 6.67%, nearly identical to the 6.68% rate that closed out September in 2022.

* Rate and treasury movements: The OBMMI 30-year conforming rate ended July at 6.67%, down 26 basis points from June. Meanwhile, the 10-year Treasury yield dropped by 27 basis points to 4.09%. The spread between the 30-year conforming rate and the 10-year Treasury remained stable at 258 basis points, an uptick of just 1 basis point.

* Shift in loan mix: The loan mix in July shifted toward agency production. Conforming loans increased market share to 56.1% (+18 bps), FHA loans grew to 19.0% (+61 bps), and VA loans rose to 11.9% (+22 bps). Conversely, non-conforming loans, including jumbo and non-QM, saw a decline in market share, falling to 12.4% (-107 bps).

* Decrease in average loan amount: The average loan amount decreased from $374K in June to $369K in July, reflecting the shift away from non-conforming loan types.

* Stable credit quality: Credit scores remained stable, with the average score holding steady at 732.

The full July 2024 Market Advantage report provides more detailed findings and additional insights into U.S. mortgage market trends (PDF): https://www2.optimalblue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/OB_MarketAdvantage_MortgageDataReport_July2024.pdf.

About the Market Advantage Report:

Formerly known as the Originations Market Monitor, Optimal Blue issues the Market Advantage mortgage data report each month to provide early insight into U.S. mortgage trends. Leveraging lender rate lock data from the Optimal Blue PPE - the mortgage industry's most widely used product, pricing, and eligibility engine - the Market Advantage provides a view of early-stage origination activity. Unlike self-reported survey data, mortgage lock data is direct-source data that accurately reflects the in-process loans in lenders' pipelines.

Nothing herein shall be construed as, nor is Optimal Blue providing, any legal, trading, hedging, or financial advice.

About Optimal Blue

Optimal Blue effectively bridges the primary and secondary mortgage markets to deliver the industry's only end-to-end capital markets platform. The company helps lenders of all sizes and scopes maximize profitability and operate efficiently so they can help American borrowers achieve the dream of homeownership. Through innovative technology, a network of interconnectivity, rich data insights, and expertise gathered over more than 20 years, Optimal Blue is an experienced partner that, in any market environment, allows lenders to optimize their advantage from pricing accuracy to margin protection, and every step in between. To learn more, visit https://OptimalBlue.com/.

Optimal Blue today released its July 2024 Market Advantage mortgage data report, which revealed that mortgage refinance demand surged to levels not seen since September 2022 amid softening interest rates. The lower interest rates seen in July also coaxed increased purchase activity, which, combined with greater refi activity, drove a 3.5% month-over-month (MoM) increase in mortgage rate lock volumes.

Related link: https://www2.optimalblue.com/

Plumber Near Me Providing Free School Supplies to Local Families

KYLE, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Free school supplies will be provided by Plumber Near Me to families with children attending Camino Real School, Fuentes School, Tobias School, and Hemphill School. Plumber Near Me, who serves the Kyle and Austin area, is excited to support local families and students as they head back to school this year.

Event Details:

Date: August 9, 2024

Time: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Location: Plumber Near Me

101 Petra's Way, Kyle, Texas 78640

https://g.co/kgs/2nZoe12

Each family is eligible to receive 1 fully-stocked bag of school supplies. Of all the charity work we do, this one is by far our favorite. We understand the challenges that families face. We want to do our part to ease the burden.

Stephen Harwell, CEO of Plumber Near Me, stated, "This really is our favorite way to give back to our community. Families shouldn't have to worry about whether they can afford school supplies. We scheduled this during the lunch hour so that working families can make it. It really feels better to give than receive."

* Bags of supplies are available on a first-come, first-served basis
* Limit of one bag per family
* Plumber Near Me staff will be on hand to assist and answer any questions

For more information about the event or Plumber Near Me's services, please visit our website https://myplumbernearme.com/contact-us/ or call at 512-361-0502.

Free school supplies will be provided by Plumber Near Me to families with children attending Camino Real School, Fuentes School, Tobias School, and Hemphill School. Plumber Near Me, who serves the Kyle and Austin area, is excited to support local families and students as they head back to school this year.

Related link: https://myplumbernearme.com/

Optimal Blue Launches New Generative AI Assistant Capabilities

PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Optimal Blue today announced the delivery of generative AI capabilities centered on helping lenders maximize profitability on every loan transaction. Through direct engagement with its thousands of clients, the company has begun delivering generative AI capabilities built for secondary-market-specific use cases and purposefully designed to solve the real-world challenges that mortgage lenders face. The company's launch of AI assistants has initiated with the release of three new AI capabilities in Optimal Blue's CompassEdge hedging and loan trading platform.

"Optimal Blue's priority is to continuously maximize profitability for lenders on every single loan, and generative AI affords us infinite opportunities to do so," said Joe Tyrrell, CEO of Optimal Blue. "We deploy an intentional approach to developing and delivering AI assistants with machine learning capabilities that are based on actual opportunities and challenges lenders are facing. At a time when there is so much noise in the industry with companies claiming to have AI, at Optimal Blue, we are delivering true AI with the sole purpose to increase profitability for lenders, so all of these generative AI capabilities are being provided to our clients at no additional cost. We believe that core innovation shouldn't represent incremental cost, but rather should be what you expect out of your partner."

Optimal Blue Chief Technology Officer Seever Sulaiman, who has led the development and adoption of the company's AI framework, added, "We've established a foundation for implementing AI capabilities across the entire organization. Our engineering team has been trained on utilizing AI tools internally to enhance productivity. This has, in turn, positioned us to deliver AI capabilities and other value-add innovation to our clients even faster."

As part of its directed focus on AI, Optimal Blue has channeled its decades of experience and expertise to launch three new AI-powered assistants in its CompassEdge platform. These capabilities - a Profitability Assistant designed for chief financial officers (CFOs), a Projections Assistant designed for capital markets leaders, and a Trade Assistant designed for leaders of a lender's trading desk - all help lenders reduce manual processes associated with profitability attribution, calculating projections, and optimizing trade selection.

"Secondary teams are responsible for maximizing pipeline profitability and communicating results to their executive teams, but doing so is fraught with time-consuming analyses, complex calculations, and inevitable human bias," said Mike Vough, vice president of hedging and trading products at Optimal Blue. "We built the AI-powered assistants in CompassEdge with these pain points in mind so our clients can benefit from more accuracy and less manual work, all in favor of more basis points and greater profitability. We estimate that these assistants can help save a secondary marketing manager up to 30 hours a month in some instances - valuable time that can instead be channeled toward more strategic work."

The first new capability in CompassEdge, Profitability Assistant, uses generative AI to write a succinct summary of the top drivers that caused a gain or loss of profitability in a pipeline, including new locks, fallout, loan sales, bulk AOT, and more. Designed specifically for CFOs and other members of a lender's executive team, these summaries promote greater transparency between secondary and the C-suite.

Another new capability, Projections Assistant, uses AI to predict the real-time impact of various factors on the risk profile of a hedged mortgage pipeline, including originations, fallout, loan sales, and more. Otherwise requiring a seasoned capital markets professional, Projections Assistant automates the consumption of Optimal Blue's extensive data sets and completes complex calculations to deliver extremely granular projections for position management.

Finally, Trade Assistant uses AI to reduce the guesswork that goes into the selection of a hedge, a process that would otherwise require an experienced capital markets professional. With one click, the tool suggests a combination of sells, buys, rolls, and swaps to maximize effectiveness in alignment with a lender's hedge policy, while minimizing transaction cost.

All three AI assistants are available to CompassEdge users for no additional fee.

About Optimal Blue:

Optimal Blue effectively bridges the primary and secondary mortgage markets to deliver the industry's only end-to-end capital markets platform. The company helps lenders of all sizes and scopes maximize profitability and operate efficiently so they can help American borrowers achieve the dream of homeownership. Through innovative technology, a network of interconnectivity, rich data insights, and expertise gathered over more than 20 years, Optimal Blue is an experienced partner that, in any market environment, allows lenders to optimize their advantage from pricing accuracy to margin protection, and every step in between. To learn more, visit https://OptimalBlue.com/

Optimal Blue today announced the delivery of generative AI capabilities centered on helping lenders maximize profitability on every loan transaction. Through direct engagement with its thousands of clients, the company has begun delivering generative AI capabilities built for secondary-market-specific use cases and purposefully designed to solve the real-world challenges that mortgage lenders face.

Related link: https://www2.optimalblue.com/

Stack Sports Teams Up with The Miracle League to Revolutionize Inclusive Sports

PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Stack Sports, the leading provider of sports management solutions, is excited to announce the signing of its new strategic partnership with The Miracle League, an organization focused on providing opportunities for children with disabilities to play Miracle League baseball.

As part of this partnership, Sports Connect will serve as the official registration and league management technology partner of Miracle Leagues across the United States. Through Stack Sports' easy-to-use Sports Connect platform, Miracle Leagues everywhere can streamline online player registration processes, easily manage schedules, and improve communication channels, resulting in a more seamless experience for athletes, coaches, and administrators.

Adam Abney, General Manager of Sports Connect, expressed excitement over the new partnership with The Miracle League. "This collaboration aligns seamlessly with our mission to expand youth sports participation and accessibility everywhere. By equipping Miracle Leagues with our intuitive solutions, we're thrilled to help volunteers create world-class programs and inspire the development of young athletes, regardless of their abilities."

Key highlights of the partnership include:

* Access to Stack Sports' comprehensive suite of solutions, including registration management, scheduling tools, communication platforms, and more.

* Access to a connected Mobile-App experience through Stack Team App, online FanWear stores, and live streaming capabilities via Stack Streaming.

* Committed support from Stack Sports' team of experts, offering training and assistance to optimize The Miracle League's platform utilization, including Sports Connect Academy, a learning management system designed to assist and educate all Sports Connect administrators.

"We are excited to be working with Stack Sports and their innovative suite of tools," said Diane Alford, Executive Director at The Miracle League. "Sports Connect will be instrumental in helping us enhance our operations and provide a top-notch experience for our participants. By continuing to work together, we are confident that we can further elevate the standard of youth sports in our community and support our mission of providing individuals with disabilities the opportunity to experience the joy and benefits that come from playing our National pastime-baseball."

As Stack Sports looks ahead, announcing the partnership with The Miracle League reaffirms its commitment to driving innovation and excellence within the youth sports industry.

For more information about Stack Sports and its solutions, visit: https://sportsconnect.com/miracle-league/.

About Stack Sports:

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

Stack Sports is headquartered in Dallas and is leading the industry one team at a time focusing on four key pillars - Grassroots Engagement, Participation Growth, Recruiting Pathways, and Elite Player Development. To learn more about how Stack Sports transforms the sports experience, please visit https://stacksports.com/ .

About The Miracle League:

Founded in 1998, The Miracle League began as a mission-driven organization to create opportunities for athletes of all abilities to compete in team sports. With more than 350 organizations across the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Australia, The Miracle League allows more than 450,000 individuals with disabilities to enjoy America's favorite pastime. The Miracle League promotes community support and simultaneously advocates for the construction of special facilities that meet Miracle League players' and their families unique needs. For more information visit https://www.miracleleague.com/

Stack Sports, the leading provider of sports management solutions, is excited to announce the signing of its new strategic partnership with The Miracle League, an organization focused on providing opportunities for children with disabilities to play Miracle League baseball.

Related link: https://stacksports.com/

Click n’ Close Chief Operations Officer Kara Lamphere Selected in Mortgage Women Magazine’s Annual Mortgage Star Award Program

ADDISON, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Click n' Close, a multi-state mortgage lender serving consumers and mortgage originators through its wholesale and correspondent channels, today announced Kara Lamphere has been named a Mortgage Star in Mortgage Women Magazine's annual awards program.

Kara's position as a Mortgage Star is marked by her exceptional leadership, innovative mindset and unwavering commitment to excellence. With more than 20 years of experience in various facets of the mortgage industry, Kara possesses a unique blend of expertise in compliance, operations, quality control and audit.

"Kara is the COO every business wants," said Click n' Close Founder and CEO Jeff Bode. "In addition to ensuring the efficiency of our internal operations, Kara has also played a key role in bringing our initiatives such as our down payment assistance with shared appreciation product to market. She's extremely deserving of this recognition, and we congratulate her on this latest achievement."

"My passion for mentoring, team building and problem solving has been the key to my professional success, and I'm proud to have leveraged those skills in developing the proprietary DPA offerings we've created at Click n' Close to help address the affordability issues affecting potential homebuyers," said Lamphere. "I'm honored the Mortgage Women Magazine team has chosen me as a recipient of this year's Mortgage Star award and hope to continue addressing future market challenges through technology and innovation."

The Mortgage Star awards program celebrates strong and inspiring women within the mortgage sector. To view the complete list of the 2024 Mortgage Stars, visit: https://nationalmortgageprofessional.com/magazine/mortgage-women-magazine/empire-state-drive/digital-edition

About Click n' Close, Inc.:

Click n' Close, Inc., formerly known as Mid America Mortgage, is a multi-state mortgage lender serving consumers and mortgage originators through its wholesale and correspondent channels and is also the nation's leading provider of Section 184 home loans for Native Americans. In operation since 1940, Click n' Close has thrived by retaining its entrepreneurial spirit and leading the market in innovation, including its adoption of eClosings and eNotes.

Combining this culture of innovation with a risk management mindset enables Click n' Close to deliver new products to market that address the challenges facing both borrowers and third-party originators (TPOs). These innovations include its USDA one-time close construction loans, proprietary down payment assistance (DPA) program and reverse mortgage division. Its direct relationships with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Ginnie Mae and private investors afford Click n' Close direct access to the capital markets, thus ensuring maximum liquidity for its product innovations. By servicing its loan programs in-house, Click n' Close provides its wholesale and correspondent partners with an additional level of certainty regarding loan salability and superior borrower service over the life of the loan.

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

Click n' Close, a multi-state mortgage lender serving consumers and mortgage originators through its wholesale and correspondent channels, today announced Kara Lamphere has been named a Mortgage Star in Mortgage Women Magazine's annual awards program.

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

Falling Home Prices and Purchase Mortgage Locks Reveal a Stagnant Late-Spring Housing Market

PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Optimal Blue today released its June 2024 Market Advantage mortgage data report, which revealed a stagnant late-spring housing market as home prices dropped for the first time in 2024 and purchase lock counts fell 8% over the previous year. All mortgage lock figures in this news release have been controlled for fewer market days in June.

"Despite an improvement in interest rates, purchase activity was subdued in June. However, many homeowners with higher rates - particularly those who closed on their mortgage in the last 12 to 18 months - jumped at the opportunity to refinance, even for a small reduction in monthly payments. This behavior speaks to the ongoing inventory and affordability challenges consumers are experiencing," said Brennan O'Connell, director of data solutions at Optimal Blue. "As we look toward the back half of 2024 and the potential for rate relief from the Fed, purchase lock counts will provide insight into if and when production will turn the corner."

Key findings from the Market Advantage report, which are drawn from direct-source mortgage lock data are:

* Small dip in interest rates: The benchmark OBMMI 30-year conforming rate bottomed out on June 13 at 6.810% before ending the month at 6.938%, 8 bps lower than the close of May. The retreat in mortgage rates prompted a 39% MoM increase in rate-and-term refinance volume.

* Year-over-Year purchase lock counts fall: After showing a YoY increase in April, purchase lock counts - a key measure for market health that excludes the impact of home price appreciation (HPA) and volatile refinance activity - have been down for two consecutive months this spring, falling 4% YoY in May and 8% YoY in June.

* Lethargic volume despite jump in refis: Total volume was up 2% over the previous month, an incremental increase driven by a 22% jump in refinance activity[1][BO2]. Purchase volume declined by 1% over the same time period.

* Credit remains high, but varies by locale: While average credit scores remained high across the board at 738, they varied widely among the top 20 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) by lock volume. The San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward MSA had the highest average credit score at 757, while Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA, had the lowest.

* Home prices drop for first time this year: The average home purchase price ended its five-month growth streak, dropping $1.5K, from $480.3K to $478.8K. MoM, the average loan amount declined by $300 to $374.2K.

The full June 2024 Market Advantage report provides more detailed findings and additional insights into U.S. mortgage market trends.

About the Market Advantage Report:

Formerly known as the Originations Market Monitor, Optimal Blue issues the Market Advantage mortgage data report each month to provide early insight into U.S. mortgage trends. Leveraging lender rate lock data from the Optimal Blue PPE - the mortgage industry's most widely used product, pricing, and eligibility engine - the Market Advantage provides a view of early-stage origination activity. Unlike self-reported survey data, mortgage lock data is direct-source data that accurately reflects the in-process loans in lenders' pipelines.

Nothing herein shall be construed as, nor is Optimal Blue providing, any legal, trading, hedging, or financial advice.

About Optimal Blue

Optimal Blue effectively bridges the primary and secondary mortgage markets to deliver the industry's only end-to-end capital markets platform. The company helps lenders of all sizes and scopes operate profitably and efficiently so they can fulfill the momentous role of helping American borrowers achieve the dream of homeownership, regardless of market dynamics. Through innovative technology, a network of interconnectivity, rich data insights, and expertise gathered over more than 20 years, Optimal Blue is an experienced partner that allows lenders to optimize their advantage from pricing accuracy to margin protection, and every step in between. To learn more, visit OptimalBlue.com.

Optimal Blue today released its June 2024 Market Advantage mortgage data report, which revealed a stagnant late-spring housing market as home prices dropped for the first time in 2024 and purchase lock counts fell 8% over the previous year. All mortgage lock figures in this news release have been controlled for fewer market days in June.

Related link: https://www2.optimalblue.com/

ProNotary Announces Exciting New Partner Program

DALLAS, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- ProNotary™, an intuitive and user-friendly digital signing solution, has announced a new partner program. Designed to enable businesses to notarize documents online, ProNotary is excited to collaborate with new partners and generate new income streams for everyone involved.

The software provider offers $50 for each sale delivered by partners promoting ProNotary to notaries. You can also join now and receive a limited-time offer: an initial deposit of $50!

The commission-based program is free to join, the entire process is quick and seamless, and its payouts are generous.

A few more details:

* Payout requirements: A $100.00 minimum balance is required

* Payout duration: Payments are processed two months after the end of the month in which the sale occurred (and issued via wire transfer)

* The process involves 1) Registration, 2) Promotion, and 3) Earning Commissions

* Discounts/coupon codes are available on a custom basis

* Sales are tracked through affiliate links and custom coupon codes via a partner portal

If your audience includes notaries, it's a no-brainer. Take a few minutes to join the ProNotary™ partner program and start promoting it through your unique link. You'll wish you joined sooner!

Learn more: https://pronotary.com/partners.html

To learn more about remote online notarization (RON): (YouTube Video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ca84ltXe-S8&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fpronotary.com%2F&source_ve_path=MTM5MTE3LDEzOTExNywyODY2Ng&feature=emb_logo

ProNotary™, an intuitive and user-friendly digital signing solution, has announced a new partner program. Designed to enable businesses to notarize documents online, ProNotary is excited to collaborate with new partners and generate new income streams for everyone involved.

Related link: https://pronotary.com/

Texas A&M Global Youth Sport for Development Initiative Partners with Skyhawks Sports Academy and Wellspring Consulting

COLLEGE STATION, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Texas A&M University's Global Youth Sport for Development Initiative (GYS4D) and Center for Sport Management Research and Education is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Skyhawks Sports Academy powered by Stack Sports, and Wellspring Consulting. This collaboration aims to leverage the unique strengths of each organization to empower youth worldwide through innovative sports programs designed to build leadership, educational, and life skills.

A Shared Mission

The partnership will see Skyhawks Sports Academy, a leader in providing physical education and sports programs, joining forces with Texas A&M's Global Youth Sport for Development Initiative and Center for Sport Management Research and Education. Together, they will implement cutting-edge sports programs that go beyond physical activity to teach critical life skills.

James Guinn, Director for the Texas A&M Center for Sport Management Research and Education, emphasized the alignment of values and mission between the partners:

"The heart of the Global Youth Sport for Development Initiative is to equip youth with leadership, educational, and life skills through sport. With Skyhawks, we have found the perfect partner that shares our same mission, values, and goals. We are beyond excited to launch this partnership, and to begin impacting the lives of students and families across the world!"

Enhancing Impact through Collaboration

Wellspring Consulting brings its extensive experience in character development and conflict management to the table, further enhancing the impact of this initiative. Boyd Brigman, CEO of Wellspring Consulting, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership:

"Wellspring is thrilled for the launch of our strategic partnership with Skyhawks Sports Academy and Texas A&M's Global Youth Sport for Development initiative. This collaboration aims to enhance youth development through innovative sports and character-building programs. Wellspring is dedicated to empowering the next generation, and our partnership with Skyhawks Sports Academy and Texas A&M will significantly amplify our impact. Combining our expertise in character development and conflict management with their renowned sports and youth development programs, we are poised to create transformative experiences for young people across the globe."

This initiative will increase participation and transform young athletes' sports experience while helping GYS4D and Wellspring Consulting scale their efforts. For more information, visit the Global Youth Sport for Development Initiative at https://www.gys4dinitiative.com/ and Wellspring Consulting at https://www.wellspringconsult.com/.

About GYS4D:

The Global Youth Sport for Development (GYS4D) Initiative is a 10 Year global outreach initiative to leverage sport & physical activity programming to promote holistic development in age and contextually appropriate ways, to advance the method and research of sport for development funding, to advance sport for development programming, to integrate sport science, developmental, and sport management expertise and theory to advance sport, community, and human development outcomes.

About Wellspring Consulting:

Since its inception, Wellspring has been helping individuals and companies perform and thrive in multi-dimensional ways. Our focus is enhancing human flourishing among individuals, young and old, schools, non-profit organizations, and corporate entities. Through our leadership and character development process, Wellspring changes the culture of schools, organizations, and families by helping people live life at its best, by design and not by default. Today, our mission remains to unleash human performance in all areas of life, for every generation.

About Skyhawks:

Founded in Spokane, Washington in 1979, Skyhawks has established itself as one of the largest youth sport program providers in North America. Skyhawks provides a wide variety of fun, safe and positive programs that emphasize critical lessons by "teaching life skills through sports." Programs range from week-long summer camps to after-school programs, clinics, and leagues for children aged 18mths to 14 in a variety of sports.

About Stack Sports:

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

Stack Sports is headquartered in Dallas and is leading the industry one team at a time focusing on four key pillars - Grassroots Engagement, Participation Growth, Recruiting Pathways, and Elite Player Development. To learn more about how Stack Sports is transforming the sports experience, please visit https://stacksports.com/.

VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/WBYD-BZAy2M

Texas A&M University's Global Youth Sport for Development Initiative (GYS4D) and Center for Sport Management Research and Education is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Skyhawks Sports Academy powered by Stack Sports, and Wellspring Consulting. This collaboration aims to leverage the unique strengths of each organization to empower youth worldwide through innovative sports programs designed to build leadership, educational, and life skills.

Related link: https://stacksports.com/

Optimal Blue Launches Competitive Data License to Help Lenders Optimize Margins With Competitive Loan Pricing Data

PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Optimal Blue announced the release of Competitive Data License, a collection of key national mortgage pricing data that enables lenders to price products competitively, operate more profitably, and react swiftly to changing market conditions.

Competitive Data License draws upon direct-source loan data from the Optimal Blue PPE, which is used to price and lock over 35% of loans in the United States. The data solution provides lenders with extensive insight into markups, loan-level price adjustments (LLPAs), servicing-released premiums (SRP), concessions, loan officer compensation, base price, and PAR rate. The offering's data set allows for granular benchmarking at various levels - from organization-wide to individual loan officers - enabling lenders to identify areas for improvement, replicate successful strategies, and maintain a competitive edge.

"We often hear from our lenders how difficult it is to make informed pricing decisions given the lack of visibility into detailed market data," said Brennan O'Connell, director of data solutions at Optimal Blue. "Competitive Data License ensures that our PPE customers have full transparency into the granular pricing components needed for a full price trace from buy-side to sell-side - giving Optimal Blue clients a strategic advantage in benchmarking their entire pricing strategy."

Competitive Data License highlights which locks were completed by the lender using the data set, while also offering additional details, such as which loan officer locked the loan. Lenders have the flexibility to feed the raw data from Competitive Data License into their own business intelligence platforms to assess their performance relative to competitors and adjust pricing strategies - such as repricing or hedging optimization - based on market shifts.

Competitive Data License is available exclusively to Optimal Blue PPE users, and those currently using Market Data License for competitive analytics will be upgraded automatically to the more robust Competitive Data License data set. Market Data License will remain available to lenders not using the Optimal Blue PPE.

Optimal Blue will be hosting a webinar on July 10 for those interested in learning more about Competitive Data License.

About Optimal Blue

Optimal Blue effectively bridges the primary and secondary mortgage markets to deliver the industry's only end-to-end capital markets platform. The company helps lenders of all sizes and scopes operate profitably and efficiently so they can fulfill the momentous role of helping American borrowers achieve the dream of homeownership, regardless of market dynamics. Through innovative technology, a network of interconnectivity, rich data insights, and expertise gathered over more than 20 years, Optimal Blue is an experienced partner that allows lenders to optimize their advantage from pricing accuracy to margin protection, and every step in between.

To learn more, visit https://www2.optimalblue.com/.

Optimal Blue announced the release of Competitive Data License, a collection of key national mortgage pricing data that enables lenders to price products competitively, operate more profitably, and react swiftly to changing market conditions. Competitive Data License draws upon direct-source loan data from the Optimal Blue PPE, which is used to price and lock over 35% of loans in the United States.

Related link: https://www2.optimalblue.com/

Stack Sports and The Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Renew Strategic Partnership to Grow Participation

PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Stack Sports, the leading provider of sports management solutions, announced the renewal of its multi-year partnership with Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Sports, an interdenominational Christian sports ministry working to see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes.

As part of this continued collaboration, Sports Connect will serve as the official sports technology partner of FCA Sports programs. This partnership signifies a mutual dedication to leveraging technology to drive efficiency within FCA Sports' operations.

Through Stack Sports' robust Sports Connect platform, FCA Sports programs can streamline online player registration, manage season schedules, improve communication channels, and more, resulting in a seamless experience for athletes, coaches, and program administrators.

"We are thrilled to extend our partnership with FCA Sports," said Jeff Brunsberg, Chief Revenue and Strategy Officer at Stack Sports. "This collaboration allows us to continue innovating and working together to grow youth sports. By providing FCA operators with industry-leading support and easy-to-use solutions, we aim to serve as a valuable partner that allows volunteers to deliver high-quality experiences and foster the development of young athletes."

Key features of the Sports Connect platform include:

* Mobile-First player and volunteer registration

* Mobile Stack Team App with push notifications

* A comprehensive suite of additional features for schedule management, code-free professional websites, team communication, real-time membership reporting, and more

* Industry-leading live support team and online resources

* Collaborative efforts to identify and implement enhancements

"We are excited to continue working with Stack Sports to streamline our operations," said Derek Parks, Executive Vice President at FCA Sports. "Sports Connect has been a valued partner that makes each season easy for our volunteers and participants. By continuing to work together, we can continue to focus on our mission of leading every coach and athlete into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His church."

For more information about Sports Connect for FCA programs, visit https://sportsconnect.com/fca/.

About Stack Sports:

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

About Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA):

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is touching millions of lives...one heart at a time. Since 1954, FCA has been challenging coaches and athletes on the professional, college, high school, junior high and youth levels to use the powerful platform of sport to reach every coach and every athlete with the transforming power of Jesus Christ. FCA focuses on serving local communities around the globe by engaging, equipping and empowering coaches and athletes to unite, inspire and change the world through the gospel.

Stack Sports, the leading provider of sports management solutions, announced the renewal of its multi-year partnership with Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Sports, an interdenominational Christian sports ministry working to see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes.

Related link: https://stacksports.com/

One Man’s Tragedy Becomes a Treasure: Announcing the Release of ‘Concrete Dreams’

AUSTIN, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- A local Austin man, Woody Shea, stood at the pinnacle of his career as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of a multinational corporation. A leader, innovator, and problem-solver, his days were filled with high-stakes decisions and groundbreaking technology. But in 2019, life took an unexpected turn, leading him to release a book of poetry, "Concrete Dreams" (ISBN: 979-8328164092).

Woody suffered a debilitating brain injury that left him in a coma. When he awoke, the challenges he faced were profound. The injury had severely affected his motor skills, and he had to relearn how to use his muscles and speak again, an effort that tested his resilience and determination to the core.

After four long years of rehabilitation, Woody found himself on a different path. With immense perseverance and the right tools, he regained the ability to write again-not as a technologist, but as a poet. His new book, "Concrete Dreams," chronicles a year of his recovery, offering readers an intimate glimpse into his struggles and triumphs.

"Concrete Dreams" is more than just a collection of poems. It is a testament to the human spirit's capacity for endurance and transformation. Each poem is a milestone in Woody's journey, capturing moments of pain, hope, and renewal.

Woody's transition from CTO to poet is not just a career change; it is a profound reinvention of self. Using his cellphone's predictive text features, he found a way to write despite the challenges. His poetry, raw and honest, speaks to one person's reaction to adversity.

"I hope my experience can help others who are struggling in life," says Woody. "My poems are a reflection of my journey, but they also carry a universal message of resilience. Life can change in an instant, but it's how we respond to those changes that define us."

Through "Concrete Dreams," Woody's goal is to inspire others to find strength in their darkest moments. His story is a reminder that even in the face of overwhelming odds, there is always hope. Woody's journey from the high-powered world of technology to the introspective realm of poetry shows that no matter where life takes us, our capacity for growth and reinvention remains boundless.

Woody's story is one of courage and hope, a beacon for those navigating their own challenges. As he continues to write and share his experiences, he invites others to join him in embracing the journey, finding beauty and strength in every shaky step.

For more information, visit https://braindeadpoetssociety.com/ or purchase "Concrete Dreams" on Amazon (https://a.co/d/eWUiW4Q).

A local Austin man, Woody Shea, stood at the pinnacle of his career as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of a multinational corporation. A leader, innovator, and problem-solver, his days were filled with high-stakes decisions and groundbreaking technology. But in 2019, life took an unexpected turn, leading him to release a book of poetry, "Concrete Dreams" (ISBN: 979-8328164092).

Related link: https://braindeadpoetssociety.com/

Mortgage Interest Rate Sensitivity Triggers 25% Spike in May Rate-and-Term Refinance Activity

PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Optimal Blue today released its May 2024 Market Advantage mortgage data report, which revealed a 25.6% month-over-month (MoM) spike in rate-and-term mortgage refinances. The spike was a response to a modest drop in the Optimal Blue Mortgage Market Indices (OBMMI) 30-year conforming rate, which ended the month at 7.02%.

"The sharp increase in demand for rate-and-term refinances following a dip in rates indicates that homeowners with rates above 7% feel pinched and are sensitive to even modest interest rate movements in the current economic landscape," said Brennan O'Connell, director of data solutions at Optimal Blue. "For context, since Optimal Blue began tracking the 30-year conforming rate as a market index in January 2017, interest rates only exceeded 7.02% on 120 market days. Based on other measures, buyers who locked loans on those days have the highest mortgage rates of the past two decades."

Key findings from the May 2024 Market Advantage report, which are drawn from direct-source mortgage lock data, include:

* Shallow dip in interest rates: The benchmark OBMMI 30-year conforming rate bottomed out on May 15 at 6.875% before ending the month at 7.02%, 22 bps lower than at the close of April. This reprieve in mortgage rates prompted a 25.6% MoM increase in rate-and-term refinance volume.

* Overall volume increase: Total volume rose by 5.3% MoM and 1.8% year-over-year (YoY), driven by a 4.1% increase in MoM purchase lock volume, a 7.2% rise in cash-out refinances, and a substantial 25.6% increase in rate-and-term refinances.

* YoY decline in purchase lock counts: Purchase lock counts, a key market health indicator that controls for home price appreciation and refinance volatility, were down 4% YoY. Despite the decline, May YoY purchase lock counts were stronger than the 7% YoY decline recorded in February, the last month unimpacted by the timing of the Easter holiday.

* Coastal market growth: Major coastal cities saw the highest MoM volume increases, with East Coast cities New York, Boston, and Jacksonville and West Coast cities Riverside-San Bernardino, San Diego, Sacramento, and Portland each seeing volume gains of 13% or greater.

* Stable, high credit quality: Average credit scores remained high, with the purchase borrower score averaging 738.

* Stable loan amounts, rising home prices: MoM, the average loan amount remained flat at $374.5K. MoM, the average home purchase price rose for the fifth consecutive month this year, up $2.4K from $477.9K to $480.3K.

The full May 2024 Market Advantage report provides further detail on these findings and more insights into U.S. mortgage market trends.

View report: https://www2.optimalblue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/OB_MarketAdvantage_May2024_Report.pdf

About the Market Advantage Report:

Formerly known as the Originations Market Monitor, Optimal Blue issues the Market Advantage mortgage data report each month to provide early insight into U.S. mortgage trends. Leveraging lender rate lock data from the Optimal Blue PPE - the mortgage industry's most widely used product, pricing, and eligibility engine - the Market Advantage provides a view of early-stage origination activity. Unlike self-reported survey data, mortgage lock data is direct-source data that accurately reflects the in-process loans in lenders' pipelines.

Nothing herein shall be construed as, nor is Optimal Blue providing, any legal, trading, hedging, or financial advice.

About Optimal Blue:

Optimal Blue effectively bridges the primary and secondary mortgage markets to deliver the industry's only end-to-end capital markets platform. The company helps lenders of all sizes and scopes operate profitably and efficiently so they can fulfill the momentous role of helping American borrowers achieve the dream of homeownership, regardless of market dynamics. Through innovative technology, a network of interconnectivity, rich data insights, and expertise gathered over more than 20 years, Optimal Blue is an experienced partner that allows lenders to optimize their advantage from pricing accuracy to margin protection, and every step in between. To learn more, visit https://OptimalBlue.com/.

Optimal Blue today released its May 2024 Market Advantage mortgage data report, which revealed a 25.6% month-over-month (MoM) spike in rate-and-term mortgage refinances. The spike was a response to a modest drop in the Optimal Blue Mortgage Market Indices (OBMMI) 30-year conforming rate, which ended the month at 7.02%.

Related link: https://www2.optimalblue.com/

Optimal Blue Names Joe Tyrrell Chief Executive Officer

PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Optimal Blue today announced the appointment of Joe Tyrrell as CEO. Tyrrell succeeds interim CEO Scott Smith of Optimal Blue's parent company, Constellation Software Inc.

Tyrrell brings over 25 years of experience in the mortgage, finance, and technology industries to Optimal Blue. This includes serving as president of ICE Mortgage Technology, as well as in various leadership roles at Ellie Mae, including chief operating officer, prior to its acquisition in 2020. Most recently, Tyrrell served as the CEO of Medallia, a customer and employee experience company.

"I have always been attracted to companies that make their clients' success their top priority, and that is especially true with Optimal Blue, the clear market leader in secondary marketing technology," said Tyrrell. "For the past year and a half, I have been delivering innovation and real generative AI capabilities to the largest and most trusted consumer, health care, hospitality, financial services, and technology brands in the world, and I am excited to now bring those capabilities to Optimal Blue's lenders and partners in an industry that I love."

Smith will continue his role within Constellation Software, where he serves as president of Andromeda, the portfolio in which Optimal Blue operates. In addition to overseeing the CEO transition, Smith will continue supporting the success of the Optimal Blue business through his position.

"It was a priority to identify the right leader to support our investment in Optimal Blue and the long-term success of the business," said Smith. "We've found that and more with Joe Tyrrell, who is passionate about client relationships and innovation - two tenets that have been core to Optimal Blue's culture throughout its decades as a market leader. Joe's extensive experience in this industry affords him a fundamental understanding of the needs and challenges lenders face and ways innovative technology and real-time data can solve them. Along with the other leaders within the Andromeda portfolio of Constellation Software, I look forward to continuing to support the success of Optimal Blue under Joe's leadership."

About Optimal Blue

Optimal Blue effectively bridges the primary and secondary mortgage markets to deliver the industry's only end-to-end capital markets platform. The company helps lenders of all sizes and scopes operate profitably and efficiently so they can fulfill the momentous role of helping American borrowers achieve the dream of homeownership, regardless of market dynamics. Through innovative technology, a network of interconnectivity, rich data insights, and expertise gathered over more than 20 years, Optimal Blue is an experienced partner that allows lenders to optimize their advantage from pricing accuracy to margin protection, and every step in between.

To learn more, visit http://OptimalBlue.com/.

Optimal Blue today announced the appointment of Joe Tyrrell as CEO. Tyrrell succeeds interim CEO Scott Smith of Optimal Blue's parent company, Constellation Software Inc. Tyrrell brings over 25 years of experience in the mortgage, finance, and technology industries to Optimal Blue.

Related link: https://www2.optimalblue.com/

ProNotary Enhances Business Efficiency with Advanced Remote Online Notarization Solutions

DALLAS, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- ProNotary (https://pronotary.com/), a pioneering force in the remote online notarization industry, is proud to announce its continued commitment to transforming the landscape of notary services through cutting-edge remote online notarization (RON) solutions. Founded in 2018, ProNotary has been at the forefront of innovation, providing businesses with a comprehensive suite of notarization software designed to meet the evolving needs of the digital age.

ProNotary's RON solutions offer a seamless and complete platform for businesses to notarize documents remotely, eliminating the need for in-person meetings and streamlining the notarization process. As an industry-neutral platform, ProNotary caters to businesses across various sectors, primarily serving law firms, construction companies, solar & roofing businesses, virtual mailbox companies, the automotive sector, insurance companies, the yacht industry and many more.

Key Features of ProNotary's RON Solutions:

1. An all-in-one comprehensive solution that covers every aspect of the notarization process, from document preparation to finalization.

2. A powerful API that allows businesses to integrate ProNotary's capabilities into their existing systems, enhancing operational efficiency and customization.

3. An intuitive and easy-to-navigate platform that simplifies the notarization process for both notaries and signers.

4. Real-time notarization capabilities reduce the turnaround time for document processing, enhancing business productivity.

5. Fully compliant with federal and state regulations, ensuring that all notarizations are legally binding and recognized.

Global Coverage and Expert Support:

ProNotary's software supports notarizing documents for both US citizens and foreign nationals, ensuring global coverage and accessibility. Additionally, our team of expert consultants is ready to assist. Whether you prefer to bring your own notaries or utilize our notary network, we have a solution tailored to fit any business's needs.

"At ProNotary, we are dedicated to driving the future of notarization by providing comprehensive solutions that meet the needs of modern businesses," said Sam McGuffie, Co-Founder and CEO. "Our remote online notarization software, not only enhances efficiency but also provides a flexible and customizable way to handle notarizations, ultimately saving time and resources for our clients."

About ProNotary:

Since its inception in 2018, ProNotary has experienced significant growth and recognition in the industry, establishing itself as a trusted partner for businesses seeking reliable notarization solutions. With a focus on customer satisfaction, ProNotary continues to lead the way in remote online notarization, dedicated to transforming the notarization process for businesses across the globe.

Learn more: https://pronotary.com/

ProNotary, a pioneering force in the remote online notarization industry, is proud to announce its continued commitment to transforming the landscape of notary services through cutting-edge remote online notarization (RON) solutions. Founded in 2018, ProNotary has been at the forefront of innovation, providing businesses with a comprehensive suite of notarization software designed to meet the evolving needs of the digital age.

Related link: https://pronotary.com/

Click n’ Close to Receive Top Lender Award at USDA’s Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program Ceremony

ADDISON, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Click n' Close, a multi-state mortgage lender, today announced that it will be honored with a top lender award at the United States Department of Agriculture's Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program ceremony. This recognition underscores Click n' Close's commitment to fostering homeownership and supporting community development through innovative loan programs.

Click n' Close has been instrumental in extending more than $1.5 billion in Down Payment Assistant-related financing, helping over 6,000 borrowers become homeowners. The company continues to innovate with programs like SmartBuy(tm), which combines USDA or FHA-insured 30-year first mortgages with second-lien options to assist homebuyers with down payments, closing costs or interest rate reductions. Most recently, Click n' Close unveiled its DPA with Shared Appreciation loan program, which offers a below-market interest rate for first-lien FHA and USDA loans and a repayable DPA second lien in exchange for up to 40% of the home's appreciation during the first five years.

Other innovations include Click n' Close's One-Time Close (OTC) program, which offers 100% loan-to-value (LTV) financing covering land, construction and closing costs and features no down payment or minimum investment requirements and the ability to finance the 1% USDA Guarantee Fee up to 101% LTV.

"We are deeply honored to receive this recognition from the Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program. This award reflects our dedication to providing accessible and affordable mortgage solutions to families across the country," said Jeff Bode, founder and CEO of Click n' Close. "We look forward to celebrating this achievement with our peers. This honor motivates us to continue our efforts in expanding homeownership opportunities and supporting the diverse needs of American homebuyers."

The award ceremony will be at 11 a.m. EST on Thursday, June 12, on the Whitten Patio at the Whitten Building in Washington, D.C. The event will celebrate the achievements of 27 top lending partners across the nation across 11 different categories, with Click n' Close receiving accolades for its significant contributions to homeownership.

About Click n' Close, Inc.

Click n' Close, Inc. is a multi-state mortgage lender serving consumers and mortgage originators through its wholesale and correspondent channels and is also the nation's leading provider of Section 184 home loans for Native Americans. In operation since 1940, Click n' Close has thrived by retaining its entrepreneurial spirit and leading the market in innovation, including its adoption of eClosings and eNotes.

Combining this culture of innovation with a risk management mindset enables Click n' Close to deliver new products to market that address the challenges facing both borrowers and third-party originators (TPOs). These innovations include its USDA one-time close construction loans, proprietary down payment assistance (DPA) program and reverse mortgage division. Its direct relationships with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Ginnie Mae and private investors afford Click n' Close direct access to the capital markets, thus ensuring maximum liquidity for its product innovations. By servicing its loan programs in-house, Click n' Close provides its wholesale and correspondent partners with an additional level of certainty regarding loan salability and superior borrower service over the life of the loan.

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

Click n' Close, a multi-state mortgage lender, today announced that it will be honored with a top lender award at the United States Department of Agriculture's Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program ceremony. This recognition underscores Click n' Close's commitment to fostering homeownership and supporting community development through innovative loan programs.

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

Optimal Blue Announces ‘Optimize Your Advantage’ to Showcase How Its Capital Markets Platform Puts Lenders in Control of Their Margins

PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Optimal Blue announced the launch of its Optimize Your Advantage campaign in advance of the MBA Secondary and Capital Markets Conference. This comprehensive brand initiative highlights the value and innovation the company delivers to clients. Through Optimal Blue's position as the housing industry's only end-to-end capital markets platform, lenders and other market participants have greater control of their profit margins, giving them distinct advantages, regardless of market conditions. In turn, they are better positioned to make housing finance accessible to more American borrowers.

"'Optimize Your Advantage' illustrates how Optimal Blue helps lenders effectively manage and significantly improve their return on investment," said Sara Holtz, chief marketing officer of Optimal Blue. "There are benefits to working with a nimble partner like Optimal Blue that can anticipate and quickly deliver the innovations clients need to operate efficiently and profitably. In turn, these lenders can help more borrowers fulfill the dream of homeownership - a momentous purpose that requires a proven partner with the technology, network, data, and expertise necessary to succeed in dynamic markets. We're incredibly proud of the fact that Optimal Blue is the only provider that delivers on these needs from pricing accuracy to pipeline risk management, and every step in between."

The campaign showcases the interconnectedness of Optimal Blue's ever-growing network. Through an API-first approach, the company bridges critical connections between the primary and secondary mortgage markets to the benefit of the larger industry. This network brings together hundreds of thousands of individual lenders, investors, brokers, and vendors to yield constant value by way of knowledge-sharing and real-time, competitive benchmarking.

Further, Optimal Blue's technology and data offerings form a critical, complete, and scalable capital markets infrastructure - from the time an American borrower looks into homes they can afford in terms of accurate product and pricing options, to when a lender considers originating a mortgage, through rate locking, counterparty oversight, pipeline hedging, securitization and trading, and on through the valuation of mortgage servicing rights and portfolio monitoring for additional lead generation opportunities.

The company was acquired by Constellation Software in September 2023, and this new campaign marks Optimal Blue's continued commitment to the future of mortgage lending and secondary marketing. Through Constellation's independent ownership model, Optimal Blue operates as a distinct entity with access to resources and best practice sharing from its parent company.

"Optimal Blue has been setting the pace of innovation and product delivery in the capital markets space for decades, and a key to that long-term success is our company's ability to continuously innovate and evolve for the market's needs," said Scott Smith, interim CEO of Optimal Blue and president of Andromeda, Constellation Software. "Our clients are the driving motivation behind everything we do, and we're pleased to shine a light on the unique value Optimal Blue brings to their success."

The campaign will include efforts to further enhance Optimal Blue's existing client advocacy program, through which the company solicits client feedback that is used to directly inform innovation. Enhancements to the advocacy program will include additional value-add forums for clients, as well as new brand initiatives to showcase Optimal Blue's value in action through client spotlights.

About Optimal Blue

Optimal Blue effectively bridges the primary and secondary mortgage markets to deliver the industry's only end-to-end capital markets platform. The company helps lenders of all sizes and scopes operate profitably and efficiently so they can fulfill the momentous role of helping American borrowers achieve the dream of homeownership, regardless of market dynamics. Through innovative technology, a network of interconnectivity, rich data insights, and expertise gathered over more than 20 years, Optimal Blue is an experienced partner that allows lenders to optimize their advantage from pricing accuracy to margin protection, and every step in between.

To learn more, visit https://www2.optimalblue.com/.

Optimal Blue announced the launch of its Optimize Your Advantage campaign in advance of the MBA Secondary and Capital Markets Conference. This comprehensive brand initiative highlights the value and innovation the company delivers to clients. Through Optimal Blue's position as the housing industry's only end-to-end capital markets platform, lenders and other market participants have greater control of their profit margins, giving them distinct advantages, regardless of market conditions.

Related link: https://www2.optimalblue.com/

Mortgage Purchase Lock Counts See First YoY Gain Since Fed Rate Hikes Began Two Years Ago

PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Optimal Blue today released its April 2024 Originations Market Monitor report, which reveals the first year-over-year increase in purchase mortgage lock counts since the Federal Reserve initiated rate hikes in March 2022.

"Purchase lock counts are a key market indicator as they control for changes in home prices and more volatile refi activity, so the year-over-year increase in April is a particularly encouraging sign that mortgage production may be turning a corner," said Brennan O'Connell, director of data solutions at Optimal Blue. "While we are cautiously optimistic, May figures will provide further confidence in the positive trend, as April 2024 numbers got a boost from the Easter holiday landing in March this year."

Key findings from the April 2024 Originations Market Monitor report, which are drawn from direct-source mortgage lock data, include:

* Year-over-year lock count growth: April purchase lock counts rose 5% over April 2023, the first increase in annual lock counts in more than two years.

* Spring homebuying drove overall increase in lock volume: Total monthly rate lock volume increased by 8.7% in April, driven by an 11.0% month-over-month increase in purchase lock volume.

* Declining refinance activity: The refinance share of total volume decreased to 12%, tying the low levels seen during the summer of 2023. Rate/term refinance volume fell by 13.7%, and cash-out volume remained flat.

* Rising interest rates: The benchmark Optimal Blue Mortgage Market Indices (OBMMI) observed significant increases across all categories as higher-than-anticipated inflation readings have cooled market expectations for rate cuts in 2024. The 30-year conforming fixed rate rose 51 basis points to finish the month at 7.24%. This figure is 80 basis points higher than one year ago.

* Shifts in loan type popularity: Nonconforming loan products, including jumbo and non-QM loans, increased their market share by 1.85% to 13.7%. Meanwhile, shares for conforming, FHA, and VA loans declined.

* Increasing loan and home purchase prices: The average loan amount increased $7,200 to $374.5K, and the average home purchase price climbed $14,100 to $477.9K.

The full April 2024 Originations Market Monitor report provides further detail on these findings and more insights into U.S. mortgage market trends: https://www2.optimalblue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/OB_OMM_APR2024_Report.pdf

About the OMM Report:

Each month, Optimal Blue issues the Originations Market Monitor report, which provides early insight into U.S. mortgage trends. Leveraging lender rate lock data from the Optimal Blue PPE - the mortgage industry's most widely used product, pricing, and eligibility engine - the Originations Market Monitor provides a view of early-stage origination activity. Unlike self-reported survey data, mortgage lock data is direct-source data that accurately reflects the in-process loans in lenders' pipelines.

Nothing herein shall be construed as, nor is Optimal Blue providing, any legal, trading, hedging, or financial advice.

About Optimal Blue:

Optimal Blue is a market leader in mortgage secondary marketing technology. The company facilitates transactions among mortgage market participants through its Marketplace Platform, actionable data, and technology vendor connections. The platform supports a range of functions for originators and investors to automate and optimize core processes related to product, pricing, and eligibility, hedge analytics, MSR valuation, loan trading, social media compliance, and counterparty oversight. The company's premier products are used by 68% of the top 500 mortgage lenders in the U.S. For more information on Optimal Blue's end-to-end secondary marketing automation, visit OptimalBlue.com.

Optimal Blue today released its April 2024 Originations Market Monitor report, which reveals the first year-over-year increase in purchase mortgage lock counts since the Federal Reserve initiated rate hikes in March 2022.

Related link: https://www2.optimalblue.com/

Stack Sports launches Stack Rewards to Save Youth Sports Families $100M

DALLAS, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Stack Sports, the leading provider of youth sports software has launched a new rewards program delivering significant savings to youth sports families in the United States and North America. With Stack Rewards, families can earn cashback on everyday shopping and access special offers and deals to help pay for sports, resulting in projected savings of $100 million annually.

The current economic challenges that families are experiencing with increased prices on everyday goods create a real dilemma when it comes time to register children for youth sports. Recognizing this issue, Stack Sports has developed Stack Rewards as a proactive solution to alleviate financial burdens and put money back in the pockets of sports families.

Stack Rewards will launch to over 10 million families in the Stack Sports ecosystem this year to give cashback to families on everyday purchases they already make at retailers like Walmart, Nike, Old Navy, and Target. The average family spends over $9k on groceries alone, using Stack Rewards they could earn over $180 cashback to offset the cost of equipment, travel, or registration fees at their local club. This is just one of many ways the program will give back to families through purchases they are already making.

FlipGive will help power the Stack Rewards cashback shopping platform along with Stack ecosystem rewards that families will earn by using Stack Sports software products.

"Youth sports have never been more expensive, especially as families feel the pressures of double-digit inflation. 44% of parents say they struggle to fund their kids' sports and activities," said Amy Halpenny, CEO of FlipGive. "We are proud to provide Stack Sports an embedded rewards solution that gives sports families a fast, free, and easy way to earn cashback on everyday shopping so they can play more and spend less on the sports they love."

Stack Rewards underscores Stack Sports' commitment to advancing youth sports participation and fostering a supportive and inclusive sports community. By providing families with access to substantial savings through Stack Rewards, Stack Sports aims to remove financial barriers and ensure that every child has the opportunity to experience the many benefits of sports participation.

"We are thrilled to introduce Stack Rewards to help lower the cost of youth sports and support our mission to grow participation and transform the sports experience," said Brandon Shangraw, SVP of Marketing and Innovation at Stack Sports. "By harnessing the power of our scale and partnerships, Stack Rewards has the potential to save families over $100 million annually, allowing more families to participate in sports and pursue their athletic dreams."

Stack Rewards has launched through a 'Shop & Earn' tab within Stack Team App and later will appear in products like Sports Connect and CaptainU. In the first week of the program, over 10 thousand families have already signed up for Stack Rewards.

To learn more about Stack Rewards and how it can benefit your family or organization, download Stack Team App - https://www.teamapp.com/?_detail=v1

About FlipGive:

FlipGive (flipgive.com) is an easy-to-use cashback app where everyone wins. Teams raise funds without fundraising and brands earn new shopper loyalty by giving back where it matters. FlipGive has given back over $50M by helping families across North America turn everyday shopping into effortless fundraising so kids can play more and spend less on the sports they love. FlipGive Rewards, a white-label shopping rewards and cashback platform, gives companies an easy way to turn everyday shopping into cashback donations that give back to their users. Launched in 2016, FlipGive is a Certified B Corporation and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

For more information visit https://try.flipgive.com/.

About Stack Sports:

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

Stack Sports is headquartered in Dallas and is leading the industry one team at a time focusing on four key pillars - Grassroots Engagement, Participation Growth, Recruiting Pathways, and Elite Player Development. To learn more about how Stack Sports is transforming the sports experience, please visit https://stacksports.com/.

Stack Sports, the leading provider of youth sports software has launched a new rewards program delivering significant savings to youth sports families in the United States and North America. With Stack Rewards, families can earn cashback on everyday shopping and access special offers and deals to help pay for sports, resulting in projected savings of $100 million annually.

Related link: https://stacksports.com/

Elevated Roofing Launches Emergency Response Team for Hail Damage in the Dallas Area

DALLAS, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Elevated Roofing is pleased to announce its emergency response team equipped to handle the urgent needs of homeowners in the aftermath of hail storms across the Dallas area. Elevated Roofing promises to deliver 24/7 emergency roof tarping and repair services, mitigating further damage to properties affected by severe weather.

In light of the recent hail storms and the anticipation of similar weather conditions in upcoming months, Elevated Roofing recognizes the vital need for prompt and professional roofing solutions. Responding quickly to wind and hail damage can be the difference between a minor inconvenience and a major disaster.

The emergency response team at Elevated Roofing is committed to providing immediate, reliable, and expert service to ensure residents' homes are protected and preserved following significant hail events. The team stands ready around the clock to assist homeowners with fast roof tarping and temporary roof repairs-a crucial step in averting additional water damage while insurance claims are processed.

"Elevated Roofing has always prioritized the safety and satisfaction of our clients," says Mike Witte, owner of Elevated Roofing. "Our emergency response team is a testament to our unwavering commitment to community support when they need us the most."

Elevated Roofing has a longstanding presence in Frisco, Texas, offering top-tier commercial and residential roofing services. Their reputation in the Dallas area is built on a solid foundation of trust and performance. They have consistently delivered exceptional workmanship since 1995 and boast over 900 5-star reviews on Google.

Homeowners are encouraged to contact Elevated Roofing if their home suffers from storm damage that results in leaks or another roofing emergency. The emergency response team will tarp the roof and make temporary roof repairs. Then, they will provide the homeowner with a detailed roof repair or roof replacement estimate with all the necessary insurance requirements. The Elevated Roofing team can also directly coordinate with the homeowner's insurance company to ensure a smooth claim process.

For more information on Elevated Roofing and to request assistance from the emergency response team, visit their website at https://elevatedroofing.com/ or contact them directly at 469-871-6835.

About Elevated Roofing:

Elevated Roofing, located in Frisco, Texas provides superior commercial and residential roofing services in the North Dallas, Dallas and Fort Worth areas. Since 1995, we have been serving homeowners and property owners with quality roofing services: roof repairs, replacements, hail and storm damage, ventilation, gutters, and more. We are local, licensed with the Roofing Contractors Association of Texas and insured.

Visit https://elevatedroofing.com/ or call 469-871-6875 to schedule a free roof inspection.

RELATED LINKS:

https://elevatedroofing.com/emergency-services/

https://elevatedroofing.com/services/hail-and-storm-roof-damage-repair/

https://elevatedroofing.com/services/dallas-home-roof-replacement/

Elevated Roofing is pleased to announce its emergency response team equipped to handle the urgent needs of homeowners in the aftermath of hail storms across the Dallas area. Elevated Roofing promises to deliver 24/7 emergency roof tarping and repair services, mitigating further damage to properties affected by severe weather.

Related link: https://elevatedroofing.com/

Stack Sports Surges Forward: Doubles in Size and Reaches 50 Million Users Globally in 2023

DALLAS, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Stack Sports, the largest provider of sports management solutions, camps, recruiting, and elite player development software, proudly reflects on a year of unprecedented growth and success in 2023. Building upon its commitment to grow participation and transform the sports experience, Stack Sports has doubled in size over the past three years, now serving over 50 million users worldwide.

Stack Sports' commitment to innovation and excellence has garnered attention and acclaim from industry leaders and media outlets like the Aspen Institute and The Atlantic which called Stack Sports "the premier software provider and event operator in baseball." According to Tom Ferry, Executive Director of the Sports & Society Program at the Aspen Institute, "Their [Stack Sports] passion for enhancing the sports experience and commitment to increasing participation aligns perfectly with our mission. By working together, we can create meaningful change and help ensure every child has the opportunity to reap the benefits of sports."

Throughout 2023, Stack Sports continued to strengthen its position as a global leader in sports technology, forging strategic partnerships with over 10 new Governing Bodies and multiple long-term renewals with New Jersey Youth Soccer, Iowa Soccer, USA Wrestling, English Ice Hockey Association, Cricket Hong Kong, Kevin Garnett's Big Ticket Sports, Panini, and Gatorade just to name a few. In addition to Partner growth, Stack Sports has also released a suite of new products including Stack Tourney, Stack Streaming, AI-driven analytics tools, ship-to-home uniform technology, and Stack Coach. This is in addition to the over 200 features and improvements to the existing products serving sports organizations.

The remarkable momentum achieved by Stack Sports in 2023 puts an exclamation point on a year dedicated to serving sports organizations and families across its 4 pillars.

:: 1. Grassroots Engagement - Highlighted by another year on the Franchise 500 list and being named #1 in their category again the Skyhawks serve over 250,000 families a year through camps nationally and have given away nearly 1000 hours at camps this year alone through the Skyhawks RISE program.

"At USA Field Hockey, we are committed to expanding the reach of Field Hockey which boasts over 2 billion fans worldwide. We recognize Stack Sports as a leader in growing participation for sports organizations, and their dedication to nurturing youth sports aligns perfectly with our mission. We chose Skyhawks as one of our partners due to their unwavering commitment to providing a fun and safe experience for kids, making them the ideal collaborator to introduce field hockey to the next generation of players," said Simon Hoskins, Executive Director at USA Field Hockey.

:: 2. Participation Growth - The highest-rated and most used youth sports platform in the United States is Sports Connect again in 2023 and continues to focus on creating a great experience for organizations while providing the best support in the industry for the families playing sports.

"Little League has always valued our long-standing partnership with Stack Sports and Sports Connect as our Official League Technology Provider," said Liz DiLullo Brown, Little League EVP | Chief Marketing and Business Relationship Officer. "Our volunteers and local leagues rely on their innovative technology, dependable support, and administrative solutions to operate their Little League programs efficiently, keeping the focus on creating the best experience for athletes, families, and their community."

:: 3. Recruiting Pathways - Stack Sports is dedicated to advancing athlete recruitment through its leading brands Elite 11, Area Code Baseball, and CaptainU. The Elite 11 is renowned as the sole event in the nation catering to elite athletes, preparing them for the next level. Notably, in 2023, a new cohort of its 2019 graduates entered the first round of the NFL Draft, including standouts Bryce Young and CJ Stroud. With over 30 first-round draft picks and more than 15 Heisman Trophy winners among its alumni, E11 stands as a pinnacle of athletic development. Area Code Baseball, in partnership with MLB, facilitates pathways for aspiring baseball players, with over 500 athletes drafted to the MLB. Meanwhile, CaptainU extends its services to millions of athletes aspiring to play in college and beyond, nurturing their dreams. These three platforms collectively offer invaluable opportunities for athletes to pursue collegiate and professional sports careers.

From the E11 Podcast, Episode 4. About the E11 2019 class with Bryce Young and CJ Stroud: "In Dallas Texas when they were at the Elite 11 finals and I think of that first night we took all the players outside and we had a moment where we said all right like we are going to allow you to just tap back into that childlike wonderment around the game. You had Bryce (Young) the biggest recruit in the world committed I think to SC at the time you had CJ (Stroud) under recruited he really became known much like Sam Darnold and other players through the Elite 11 process but you watch them tap back tap back into the joy of playing because of all the things around them started to get bigger and bigger and bigger." -- Yogi Roth, Host of THE IT FACTORY on the Pac-12 Network, Co-author of the New York Times best-seller "Win Forever with Pete Carroll," and most recently Author of "5 Star QB."

:: 4. Elite Player Development - Culminating in the Texas Rangers winning the World Series title, FC Bayern München winning the German Championship, and the Baltimore Ravens reaching the AFC Championship GamePlan boasts some of the winningest organizations across all sports in the last 10 years. It's no doubt that teams win more with GamePlan.

Ryan Murray, Senior Director of Baseball Research & Development for the Texas Rangers, emphasized the importance of such tools: "Triumph in the realm of sports demands a forward-thinking approach, and leveraging tools like GamePlan is instrumental in achieving that success. In today's highly competitive sports landscape, evolution is the name of the game. The seamless technology and dedicated support we receive from the Stack Sports team are instrumental in our ability to compete at the highest level."

"We are thrilled to celebrate the remarkable growth and achievements of Stack Sports partners in 2023," said Jeff Young, CEO at Stack Sports. "As we continue to expand our reach and capabilities, our focus remains on empowering our partners and users to achieve their goals, whether it's increasing participation, improving player development, or enhancing the overall sports experience."

As Stack Sports looks ahead to the future, the company remains committed to driving positive change and innovation in the sports industry. Through continued collaboration, technological advancement, and a steadfast dedication to its mission, Stack Sports is poised to further empower athletes, coaches, and organizations, enabling them to reach new heights of success and fulfillment.

For more information about Stack Sports and its range of sports management solutions, visit https://stacksports.com/.

About Stack Sports:

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

Stack Sports is headquartered in Dallas and is leading the industry one team at a time focusing on four key pillars - Grassroots Engagement, Participation Growth, Recruiting Pathways, and Elite Player Development.

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

RELATED LINKS:

YouTube: "Elite 11 Podcast Ep4: YOGI ROTH"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9hPhoVpGFU

Stack Sports, the largest provider of sports management solutions, camps, recruiting, and elite player development software, proudly reflects on a year of unprecedented growth and success in 2023. Building upon its commitment to grow participation and transform the sports experience, Stack Sports has doubled in size over the past three years, now serving over 50 million users worldwide.

Related link: https://stacksports.com/

Florida’s Leading Podiatric Group Takes A Giant Leap Into Texas

SPRING, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Houston, we don't have a foot care problem - now that Modern Foot & Ankle has moved into the Lone Star State. The podiatric group originated in Florida and has a strong presence in Tampa, Orlando, and Palm Beach. But with its recent acquisition of a clinic in Spring, Texas, Modern Foot & Ankle enters a watershed moment.

According to Erika Correa, the vice president of operations for Texas, expanding to a new state has been a pivotal and ambitious undertaking-one that reshapes the group's identity and reaffirms its commitment to broadening access to exceptional podiatric healthcare.

"We view the expansion as a remarkable opportunity to extend our unique brand of high-quality, technology-driven, and patient-centric care to even more individuals," she elaborated. "We're excited for Texans to experience the superior level of service that defines Modern Foot & Ankle."

The podiatric field is growing quickly in Texas, continued Correa, which is home to many state-of-the-art facilities and hospitals. She added that the group is "always looking for ways to expand both geographically and technologically, so Texas is the perfect place for growth."

Located outside of Houston at 2616 FM 2920 Road in Spring, the group's newest clinic was originally founded more than 25 years ago by Robert J. Moore III, DPM, a board-certified podiatric surgeon. Dr. Moore will stay on as the office's sole practitioner, as his dedication to patient care and ties to the area make him an invaluable addition to the Modern Foot & Ankle team.

"We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Moore and his staff to the MFA family," said Correa. "His values align perfectly with ours, and we look forward to working together to continue providing top-tier podiatric services to the Spring community."

Dr. Moore says he shares her enthusiasm and is excited to introduce the group's reputation for excellence to Texas. He plans to leverage the organization's resources to promote foot and ankle wellness in innovative ways.

"I can think of no better partner than Modern Foot & Ankle to expand what we have created here in Spring to other parts of Houston and Texas," said Dr. Moore. "The confluence of our office's commitment to strong relationships and MFA's technological and operational expertise makes us an unstoppable force."

Though the Spring clinic officially transitioned into a Modern Foot & Ankle location this month, the group has immediate plans to launch more offices in Texas. Correa says the leadership team is in the early stages of opening another clinic in the Houston area and intends to grow rapidly from there.

"Convenience is key to our healthcare model," she explained. "We prioritize convenience by not only offering multiple locations within each serviced area but also by providing extended office hours and access to on-site diagnostic equipment. This ensures our physicians can deliver swift and comprehensive assessments and enables our patients to prioritize their foot health without compromising their busy lives."

Patients of the Spring clinic can expect to receive the group's signature experience: compassionate care complemented by excellent customer service. With a focus on education and fostering strong doctor-patient relationships, Dr. Moore and Modern Foot & Ankle are dedicated to helping patients achieve optimal foot health and improve their overall well-being.

"I eagerly anticipate the ongoing opportunity to treat and educate my community for years to come," said Dr. Moore. "With MFA on board, our journey promises to elevate even further, ensuring enhanced care for all."

For appointments and inquiries, patients can visit book.mfahealth.com or call 1-844-MODERN9.

About Modern Foot & Ankle®

Through Big-City Technology. Small-Town Care.® Modern Foot & Ankle is reshaping the patient experience and curating a progressive model for podiatric healthcare. Our physicians provide comprehensive medical and surgical solutions for foot and ankle conditions in clinics throughout Florida and Texas. With 24/7 online booking and check-in, extended office hours, advanced on-site equipment, and cutting-edge treatment options, Modern Foot & Ankle serves patients efficiently, comfortably, and on their schedule.

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

MULTIMEDIA:

PHOTO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/24-0426-s2p-modfootdoc-300dpi.jpg

Caption: Dr. Robert J. Moore III

RELATED LINKS:

https://www.modernfootankle.com/locations/houston-spring

https://www.modernfootankle.com/podiatrists/dr-robert-moore

https://www.modernfootankle.com/podiatric-clinics/all-locations

https://www.modernfootankle.com/company/about-us

Houston, we don't have a foot care problem - now that Modern Foot & Ankle has moved into the Lone Star State. The podiatric group originated in Florida and has a strong presence in Tampa, Orlando, and Palm Beach. But with its recent acquisition of a clinic in Spring, Texas, Modern Foot & Ankle enters a watershed moment.

Related link: https://modernfootankle.com/

Optimal Blue Director of Data Solutions Brennan O’Connell Named a 2024 HousingWire Rising Star

PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Optimal Blue today announced that Brennan O'Connell, director of data solutions, has been honored with the 2024 HousingWire Rising Stars award. The award program celebrates emerging leaders in real estate and mortgage who have demonstrated rapid career growth and an ability to lead, achieving remarkable milestones before the age of 40.

"We are incredibly proud of Brennan's accomplishments and the recognition he has received as a 2024 Rising Star," said Optimal Blue interim CEO Scott Smith. "Brennan inspires those around him each day with his passion for sharing Optimal Blue's rich data assets with our customers and beyond. He embodies and directly supports our company's commitment to fostering a more competitive, informed, and successful housing industry."

O'Connell joined Optimal Blue in 2019 with the task of productizing the company's data sets for new markets. Since that time, he has expanded customer profiles to include government entities, hedge funds, universities, think tanks, and research institutions.

Today, O'Connell leads Optimal Blue's strategy, business development, and sales engineering across all data products, including competitive loan pricing, origination activity, and pipeline hedging and trading. He also serves as an advisor for Optimal Blue clients who are building out their analytics capabilities using Optimal Blue's data.

"The most outstanding leaders are forged in times of crisis. As the housing industry navigates the higher-for-longer rate environment, many emerging leaders have come to the surface to guide their companies, teams and clients to a more successful and promising future," said Clayton Collins, CEO of HW Media. "Through Rising Stars, HousingWire has identified these leaders who are making their mark with leadership qualities and innovative ideas. The future will look different, and I'm confident these Rising Stars will play prominent roles in housing's forward evolution."

HousingWire's selection committee chose this year's Rising Stars based on their professional achievements within their organizations, contributions to the overall housing economy, community outreach, client impact and personal success. The full list of 2024 HW Rising Stars award winners can be viewed on the HousingWire website.

About Optimal Blue

Optimal Blue is a market leader in mortgage secondary marketing technology. The company facilitates transactions among mortgage market participants through its Marketplace Platform, actionable data, and technology vendor connections. The platform supports a range of functions for originators and investors to automate and optimize core processes related to product, pricing, and eligibility, hedge analytics, MSR valuation, loan trading, social media compliance, and counterparty oversight. The company's premier products are used by 68% of the top 500 mortgage lenders in the U.S. For more information on Optimal Blue's end-to-end secondary marketing automation, visit OptimalBlue.com.

Optimal Blue today announced that Brennan O'Connell, director of data solutions, has been honored with the 2024 HousingWire Rising Stars award. The award program celebrates emerging leaders in real estate and mortgage who have demonstrated rapid career growth and an ability to lead, achieving remarkable milestones before the age of 40.

Related link: https://www2.optimalblue.com/