AUGUST 31 – SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 | NAPLES, FL
Speakers
Click on their photos below to learn more about this year’s speakers.
Gino Blefari
Chief Executive Officer
HomeServices of America
Gino Blefari is the chief executive officer for HomeServices of America, the country’s largest residential real estate brokerage company based on transactions. He is also chairman of HSF Affiliates LLC which operates the franchise networks of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and Real Living Real Estate. Gino is the chairman of both brands, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and Real Living Real Estate.
Blefari joined the HomeServices of America family from Silicon Valley, CA-based Intero Real Estate Services, Inc., which he founded in 2002 and through mid-2014 served as its president and CEO. Under Blefari’s direction, Intero became one of the fastest organically growing companies in the history of real estate.
Keynote Speaker
Stanley C. Middleman
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Freedom Mortgage Corporation
Stanley C. Middleman
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Freedom Mortgage Corporation
Stanley C. Middleman is the founder and CEO of Freedom Mortgage Corporation, one of the largest and fastest-growing full-service mortgage companies in the country. He is a nationally recognized business strategist, investor, and philanthropist with over 30 years of experience in the mortgage banking industry. Since founding Freedom Mortgage in 1990, Mr. Middleman has grown the company into one of the nation’s largest U.S. originators and servicers and a top VA and FHA (government-insured) lender, with over 13,000 employees and contractors in more than 75 U.S. locations.
Mr. Middleman is an active member of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), where he serves on both the MBA Board of Directors and the MBA Residential Board of Governors. He has also served on numerous advisory boards in the mortgage industry, including the boards of Freddie Mac and Ellie Mae. He is currently a member of the Housing Policy Executive Council and serves on the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP) Corporate Board of Governors. Mr. Middleman also serves on several non-profit boards, including the Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Foundation Board of Overseers.
Featured Speaker
Kathy Kraninger
Vice President of Regulatory Affairs
Solidus Labs
Former Director
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
Kathy Kraninger
Vice President of Regulatory Affairs
Solidus Labs
Former Director
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
Kathy Kraninger served as the Senate-confirmed Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) from December 2018 until January 2021. From her early days as a Peace Corps volunteer, to her role establishing the Department of Homeland Security, to her policy work at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to the CFPB, Director Kraninger dedicated her career to public service.
At the CFPB, Kraninger directed outcomes across the $650-million independent, regulatory and law enforcement agency – reaching millions of consumers with quality education materials; issuing significant regulations and guidance documents affecting institutions across consumer finance; instituting a risk-management approach to supervision of 1000s of financial institutions; and rebuilding enforcement to file the second highest number of public actions in the agency’s history in 2020. To facilitate innovation and financial inclusion while promoting regulatory compliance, Kraninger established new mechanisms such as No Action Letters, the Compliance Assistance Sandbox, advisory opinions, and tech sprints. She optimized all aspects of internal operations – assessing the skills of the existing team and building programs to enhance their capabilities; instituting a staffing planning process to manage skills needs over time and foster diversity; and creating the Director’s management agenda to integrate workstreams across operations and ensure accountability. Kraninger also served on the board of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Financial Stability Oversight Board, and as chair of the Federal Financial Institutions Examinations Council.
Director Kraninger came to the CFPB from the Office of Management and Budget, where as a Policy Associate Director she oversaw the budgets for executive branch agencies including the Departments of Commerce, Justice, Homeland Security (DHS), Housing and Urban Development, Transportation (DOT), and Treasury, in addition to 30 other government agencies.
Previously she worked in the U.S. Senate, where she was the Clerk for the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, which provides DHS with its $40 billion discretionary budget. On Capitol Hill, she also worked for the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security as well as the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
Ms. Kraninger also served in executive branch posts at DOT. There, after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, she volunteered to join the leadership team that set up the newly created DHS.
Her work at DHS led to awards including the Secretary of Homeland Security’s Award of Exceptional Service, the International Police and Public Safety 9/11 Medal, and the Meritorious Public Service Award from the United States Coast Guard.
Ms. Kraninger graduated magna cum laude from Marquette University and earned a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. She served as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Ukraine.
Brian Montgomery
Chairman & Founding Partner
Gate House Strategies LLC
Current Chairman and Co-Founder of Gate House Strategies, LLC, Brian D. Montgomery served as the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) until January 2021. Montgomery was previously confirmed by the U.S. Senate in May 2018 as the Federal Housing Commissioner—Assistant Secretary for Housing at HUD. Montgomery’s confirmation marks the first time an individual has served as head of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) twice, and under three different Administrations. Montgomery was a Co-Founder of the Collingwood Group in 2009 (now SitusAMC).
As Deputy Secretary, Montgomery oversaw both the FHA and Ginnie Mae while also managing the day-to-day operations of the agency including Disaster Recovery, the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, the Office of the Chief Information Officer, and the Office of Administration. Montgomery also advised and assisted the Secretary in leading the Department’s nearly 8,000 employees and $53 billion annual budget. Montgomery oversaw more than $55 billion in Disaster Recovery funding targeted at 17 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Montgomery led the agency’s COVID-19 response which included a myriad of process and policy modifications and extensive coordination with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to assist FHA borrowers impacted by the coronavirus. Montgomery also helped develop solutions for Public Housing Authorities and subsidized housing property owners dealing with impacted tenants as well as state/local governments and tribal nations as they assisted vulnerable constituencies including homeless populations.
Montgomery worked with Congress to help secure appropriations to help fund FHA’s $80 million generational information technology modernization known as FHACatalyst. Among many improvements, FHACatalyst replaced paper endorsement and claim files with digital data submission and will ultimately offer a full end-to-end digital platform and provide lenders and servicers a more robust suite of services.
Montgomery’s additional government experience includes serving as Deputy Assistant to President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005, including serving as Secretary of the Cabinet from 2003 to 2005. While serving as Director of Presidential Advance, Montgomery was traveling with President George W. Bush on September 11, 2001 and later received “September 11 Presidential Distinguished Service” recognition. Montgomery also served as the White House point of contact for the shuttle Columbia accident investigation and for this effort was awarded the “NASA Exceptional Service Medal” in 2003.
Montgomery has testified on more than 25 occasions before Congressional Committees and Sub-committees to include House Financial Services, House Appropriations, Senate Banking, and Senate Appropriations. Montgomery currently serves on the Boards of two established and well respected mortgage market enterprises—Radian (NYSE: RDN) and Reverse Mortgage Investment Trust (Reverse Mortgage Funding).
A Texas native, Montgomery holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Houston and attended the University of Texas at Austin. Montgomery resides in Alexandria, Virginia.
Tim Anderson
Executive Vice President of eMortgage Strategy
eVolve Mortgage Services
Tim Anderson
Executive Vice President of eMortgage Strategy
eVolve Mortgage Services
Tim Anderson is EVP of eMortgage Strategy for eVolve Mortgage Services. He is responsible for developing product and corporate strategy and strategic partner relationships that enhance and drive adoption of their digital mortgage platform and services. Prior to joining eVolve he was SVP of Digital Strategy and Product Innovation for MortgageConnect.
He brings over 35 years of industry experience having worked on both the lender and vendor side of the business. He has held executive management positions with Pavaso, DocMagic, Docutech, Black Knight Financial Services, Stewart Title, FreddieMac and HomeSide Lending where he ran the eCommerce Division and worked at technology companies like Microsoft, Dexma and Tuttle Information Services. He was also the original founder of the eMortgage Alliance™ which promoted MISMO standards for delivering legally compliant paperless processes.
He has served on the Advisory Boards of Microsoft and the Housing Roundtable. He is a past member of the MBA’s Board of Technology, (BodTech), eMortgage Adoption Task Force and MBA MISMO Governance Board and is a current member of the MBA Residential Technology Committee (ResTech), MISMO eMortgage Workgroup, the Electronic Records and Signature Association, (ERSA), ALTA Technology Committee and both FannieMae and FreddieMac Vendor Technology Advisory Committees. Known for promoting strategic applications and trends in technology such as eSign and MISMO category one SMARTDocs®, Tim has received many industry awards and accolades including the prestigious Steven Fraser Award from Mortgage Technology Magazine, Mortgage Professional’s Hot 100, Top Tech Innovator Award, Progress in Lending Thought Leader Award and named Mortgage IT AllStar by Mortgage Banker Magazine.
Susan Apel
Senior Deputy Attorney General
Office of Pennsylvania Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection
Susan Apel
Senior Deputy Attorney General
Office of Pennsylvania Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection
Susan Apel is a Senior Deputy Attorney General with the Office of Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection, based in Pittsburgh. Although she has handled a variety of consumer protection matters, her focus over the past several years has been on prosecuting “rent to own” and “for sale by owner” scams. Prior to joining the OAG’s office, she was a Partner at the Pittsburgh office of the international law firm K&L Gates LLP, where she focused primarily on commercial and transactional matters, including mergers & acquisitions. Susan also has executive corporate experience, having taken a 10-year hiatus from K&L Gates to serve as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of a privately held steel manufacturing and forging company, Ellwood Group, Inc. She has been on the Board of Directors of Bridgeway Capital, a Pittsburgh based CDFI (Community Financial Development Institution) for over ten years, the mission of which is to make western Pennsylvania a thriving region for all. She is a graduate of Kenyon College and Harvard Law School.
Bobbi Babitz Armstrong
Co-founder and Partner
Britehorn Partners and Britehorn Securities
Bobbi Babitz Armstrong
Co-founder and Partner
Britehorn Partners and Britehorn Securities
An expert in M&A, investment banking and private equity, Bobbi is co-founder and co-CEO of the Britehorn Partners and its broker/dealer subsidiary, Britehorn Securities “Britehorn”. Britehorn is a middle market investment bank that focuses on M&A and buy/sell-side advisory in the business services, technology, consumer and healthcare sectors. She brings over twenty five years of investment banking and private equity experience in high-growth companies in both the public and private capital markets. Over the course of her career, she has served as banker, advisor, principal investor, board member, and interim management for companies in a wide range of industries with an emphasis on business services and technology. Prior to founding Britehorn Partners, Bobbi served as a principal of lower middle market private equity firm Mercantile Capital Group where she sourced, structured, and added value to portfolio investments. Before joining Mercantile, Bobbi was a biotech research analyst with Union Bank of Switzerland Lifescience Group. She started her financial career with Trebol, the U.S. investment arm of Argentine private bank Banco General de Negocios.
Simon Blank
Director
Florida Department of Financial Services
Simon Blank
Director
Florida Department of Financial Services
Director Simon Blank has been in law enforcement for over thirty-three years, serving with local and state government in various positions. He joined the Department of Financial Services, Division of Insurance Fraud in 1996. In September 2013, Simon was appointed Director of the Florida Division of Insurance Fraud by Florida’s Chief Financial Officer. In 2016, the Florida Department of Financial Services merged law enforcement operations and Simon was named the Director of the new Division of Investigative & Forensic Services.
Simon holds a bachelor’s in Public Safety and Security from Florida State University and is a 2014 graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy Session #257, the 55th Southern Police Institute Command Officer Development Course and Florida’s 50th Criminal Justice Chief Executive Seminar. Simon participates on several professional boards and is currently serving on the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation.
Prior to starting a career in law enforcement, he served in the United States Air Force from 1982 through 1986.
Jeff Bluhm
Executive Vice President
Old Republic National Title Insurance Co.
Jeff Bluhm
Executive Vice President
Old Republic National Title Insurance Co.
Jeff Bluhm is Executive Vice President of Old Republic National Title Insurance Company (ORNTIC), and Executive Liaison for Attorneys’ Title Fund Services (The Fund), which is a subsidiary of the Old Republic Title Insurance Group (ORTIG).
Jeff joined Old Republic Title almost 39 years ago as an auditor and has held progressively significant positions in the Company’s direct and agency operations in: auditing, financial, strategic and leadership roles. He most recently served as Executive Vice President, Agency Services & Administration, a Corporate department that he played an integral part in forming 10 years ago.
Jeff is a prolific speaker at various industry related organizations, as he has a deep knowledge of the title insurance business and a well-rounded understanding of direct and agency operations.
In his current leadership role, Jeff supports The Fund, which has nearly 500 employees, who provide title insurance and related services to approximately 3,000 member/agents on behalf of ORNTIC. In addition to his responsibilities with The Fund, Jeff is a key member of the Company’s innovation team that explores efficiencies and disruptions in the title insurance industry. Jeff provides subject matter expertise, strategy contributions and acts as a liaison to the Company’s field operations regarding technological and digital initiatives that will shape the title insurance industry in the future.
Jeff is a graduate of St. Could State University with a degree in accounting. He is a long-time member of the Minnesota Land Title Association, the American Land Title Association’s Best Practices Executive Committee and Task Force, Underwriter Section Executive Committee and TIPAC Committee.
Richard Bramhall
Chief Underwriting Counsel
Westcor Land Title Insurance Co.
Richard Bramhall
Chief Underwriting Counsel
Westcor Land Title Insurance Co.
Richard Bramhall is Chief Underwriting Counsel for Westcor Land Title Insurance Company. He is responsible for coordinating overall underwriting policy, providing national underwriting guidance, establishing uniform policies and procedures for Westcor contracts, and issuance of legal bulletins.
A veteran of the multi-state title industry, Bramhall was the original Title Agency Counsel for Chesapeake Appraisal & Settlement Services, one of the first lender-owned Vendor Management companies. From December 2001 until joining Westcor in February 2012, he served as Chief Title Officer at Bank of America, where he provided title underwriting guidance for the LandSafe Services Division. While at Bank of America, Bramhall served as an instructor for the MBA School of Mortgage Banking and also developed and conducted Title Training classes at several of the Bank’s Loan Centers. He is a member of ALTA’s Title Counsel Committee and an adviser on the ALTA Forms Committee. Bramhall is a Past President of the Property Records Industry Association (PRIA) and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Real Estate Services Providers Council (RESPRO). He is a graduate of Princeton University and Emory University School of Law.
Bill Burding
Executive Vice President/General Counsel
Orange Coast Title
Bill Burding
Executive Vice President/General Counsel
Orange Coast Title
Bill Burding Jr. NTP is executive vice president and general counsel for Orange Coast Title Company and its Family of Companies. In addition to his legal responsibilities, he is a member of the company’s Executive Committee and oversees its Nevada operations, which are among the state’s largest providers of title related services. Prior to joining Orange Coast Title in 1998, Burding was the chief operating officer and general counsel for a Colorado-based title company specializing in large multi-state commercial transactions. Burding is a member of the American Land Title Association’s Board of Governors. In addition to the Board, he serves on the Government Affairs Committee, Best Practices Executive Committee and Information Security Committee. Additionally, Bill is past chair of the Title Industry Political Action Committee. He earned ALTA’s National Title Professional Designation in 2017. Burding also is active in numerous state land title associations, including the California Land Title Association, where he was awarded the 2010 and 2016 President’s Awards for outstanding contribution to the California title insurance industry. He graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Whittier College and received his juris doctorate from Loyola Law School-Los Angeles. A frequent lecturer and author in various publications, Burding is licensed to practice law in California and Colorado.
Jim Campbell
Chief Executive Officer
Title Alliance
Jim Campbell
Chief Executive Officer
Title Alliance
Starting with the company in 2004 as an Affiliated Business Specialist and becoming the Director of Sales and Marketing in 2007, Jim has always been focused on helping the company with strategic growth. In 2015, Jim was promoted to Chief Executive Officer.
He leads using a customer-centric management style and promotes individual and company growth. Jim received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Widener University.
Tony Chahal
Head of Strategic Relationships
HomeLight
Tony Chahal
Head of Strategic Relationships
HomeLight
Tony Chahal is Head of Strategic Relationships at HomeLight, the end-to-end real estate technology platform building the future of real estate — today. Each year, HomeLight facilitates billions of dollars of real estate on its platform. As Head of Channel Development, Tony uses his 15+ years as a PropTech leader to help HomeLight launch new vertical businesses and build successful go-to-market strategies across the United States. He has spearheaded the go-to-market strategies and led sales teams for HomeLight’s various business units including Cash Close and Closing Services that have both experienced exponential growth under his leadership in a short period of time.
Prior to joining HomeLight in 2017, Tony co-founded realCoached, a real estate SaaS company offering demand generation and CRM designed to help real estate professionals and companies with marketing, social media campaigns, sales training, and increased sales opportunities. Prior to that, he served as the Partner and Director of Business Development at Better Homes and Garden Real Estate Mason-McDuffie, and founded Resolute Real Estate, an independent real estate firm concentrating in commercial and residential real estate in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Tony is based in the San Francisco Bay Area and, when not engaged in growing ProTech businesses, he enjoys traveling around the world with his wife and children.
Tom Cronkright
Co-Founder and CEO
CertifID
Tom Cronkright
Co-Founder and CEO
CertifID
Tom is the CEO of CertifID, a wire fraud prevention solution to protect money transfers in real estate transactions. Using CertifID provides up to $1 million of direct insurance coverage after identities have been confirmed and wiring instructions are securely shared. He and his business partner, Lawrence Duthler, created the solution in response to a fraud incident they experienced in 2015 and the accelerating instances of fraud in real estate transactions.
Thomas W. Cronkright II is also the CEO of Sun Title, one of the largest commercial and residential title agencies in Michigan and has been recognized as an Inc. 5000 company for five consecutive years, 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For, and 50 Businesses to Watch in Michigan. Tom is a licensed attorney, and frequent national speaker on identity, cyber fraud, real estate and financial topics and an award winning business leader.
Art Davis
Executive Director
American Escrow Association
Art Davis
Executive Director
American Escrow Association
Art has represented escrow settlement providers and other clients in Washington DC since 1992. His representation has covered all regulatory, legislative and judicial matters at the federal level that affect, or could affect, these interests. As well Art has worked in collaboration with many lender, title and Realtor organizations located in the Washington DC area to affect and minimize the impact of federal legislation and regulations on small business. He has represented clients before the US Congress and numerous agencies including HUD, CFPB, Treasury, Commerce, State and the FTC. His representation includes the Coalition to Save Seller Financing, with the preparation of a white paper and assistance in drafting recommended regulatory text and legislation.
Art began his career at a major international accounting firm. He then spent 5 years at the US Treasury Department working on federal tax regulations and rulings. Since 1991 he has served a wide variety of clients as a private consultant-advisor with his primary work being to represent the American Escrow Association. He has spoken to numerous groups and organizations on a wide variety of federal regulatory and other technical topics.
Art is married with 3 children.
Steven Day
President, National Agency Operations
The FNF Family of Companies
Steven Day
President, National Agency Operations
The FNF Family of Companies
Steven Day is President of National Agency Operations for Fidelity National Title Group. In this position, Steve oversees Fidelity’s network of over 5,000 agents across the country.
Since joining Chicago Title in 1986, he has held a variety of positions, including Rhode Island state counsel and Rhode Island state manager for Chicago Title, as well as New Jersey state manager for both Chicago Title and Ticor Title’s direct and agency operations and Regional Manager for the Northeast Region of the company. Steve previously served as Executive Vice President and Divisional Manager for Fidelity National Title Group, responsible for the direct, agency and commercial title operations in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.
Steve served as the 2017- 2018 President of the American Land Title Association.
Steve earned his Bachelor Science in Business Management from the University of Bridgeport and his Juris Doctorate from Suffolk University in Boston.
Noemi Dedouh, Esq.
Chief Claims Counsel and Vice President
Alliant National Title Insurance Co.
Noemi Dedouh, Esq.
Chief Claims Counsel and Vice President
Alliant National Title Insurance Co.
For the past fifteen years, Noemi’s career has focused exclusively on handling claims for national and regional underwriters. As Chief Claims Counsel and Vice President for Alliant National Title Insurance Company, Noemi has managed claims, nationwide, for Alliant National since 2013.
Noemi also has a background in teaching real estate law for an accredited paralegal studies program and has taught seminars in various jurisdictions on Claims Avoidance and on title insurance.
Noemi graduated from the Honors College at the University of Central Florida with a B.A. in Political Science, and a second B.A. in History. Thereafter, she graduated cum laude from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where she was a member of the Journal of Law and Public Policy.
Noemi is a member of the Florida Bar, the Bar’s Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, and the Florida Land Title Association. She enjoys giving back to the community, raising funds and volunteering for various organizations including Habitat for Humanity, Ronald McDonald house, and the American Cancer Society.
Noemi lives in Florida, is married to a wonderful husband, and has a son currently in college.
Stephen Dougherty
Cyber-enabled financial fraud investigator
U.S. Secret Service Global Investigative Operations Center
Stephen Dougherty
Cyber-endabled financial fraud investigator
U.S. Secret Service Global Investigative Operations Center
Stephen Dougherty has over 15 years of investigative experience. His career as a Financial Fraud Investigator, in support of the federal government, has played a pivotal role in criminal investigations surrounding cyber-enabled financial crime, money laundering, human trafficking, identity theft, healthcare fraud, embezzlement, tax/government program fraud, dark web crimes, among others. Stephen’s main area of expertise is combating money laundering in all its forms. Aside from this, Stephen has been proactive in identifying new and future trends in the world of financial crime. Such trends include the cyber security nexus of financial crimes and its ever-growing relationship in major financial crimes such as Business Email Compromise and the rise of the dark web and the use of virtual currency as a vehicle for the facilitation of financial crimes. Stephen has been a leader and a mentor to other investigators teaching them how to uncover fraud internally and externally. Stephen is currently a Financial Investigator/Forensic Analyst assigned to the U.S. Secret Service’s Global Investigative Operations Center (GIOC).
Alan Fields
Senior Vice President, Director of Underwriting
WFG National Title Insurance Co.
Alan Fields
Senior Vice President, Director of Underwriting
WFG National Title Insurance Co.
Alan is senior vice president and director of underwriting services for WFG National Title Insurance Company®. Since first trained as an examiner in 1977, Alan has gained experience as a field surveyor, a title agent, an attorney practicing real estate and development law, Florida state counsel for a major title insurer, national Agency counsel for WFG, and executive director of the Florida Land Title Association. Alan brings all of these experiences and more to WFG and in service to our agents.
Alan is a graduate of Davidson College, Davidson, NC, where he earned a bachelor’s in economics, and the Florida State University College of Law. He is an active member of the executive council of the Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section of the Florida Bar, is currently vice chair of its Legislation and Foreclosure Reform committees and is a fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers. He has lectured and written extensively on real property and title issues, and taught Florida attorneys seeking board certification in real estate law for the last 25 years.
Veronica Figueroa
Chief Executive Officer
The Figueroa Team Brokered by eXp Realty
Veronica Figueroa
Chief Executive Officer
The Figueroa Team Brokered by eXp Realty
Veronica Figueroa is known for her vivacious personality. Veronica is the former Broker-Owner of RE/MAX Innovation in Orlando. RE/MAX Hall of Fame and Diamond Recipient. She is the Team Lead of The Figueroa Team, a nationally recognized team serving Central Florida. Her contributions to the industry have led her to become a thought leader on motivation as well for her passion for teams and real estate innovation. Veronica regularly engages with other team leads to share her unique techniques that fuel her team’s success. She sits on Zillow’s Advisory Board. Veronica has been named an Inman Influencer. In 2017 The Figueroa Team won Most Innovative Team of the Year by Inman. Veronica is Zillow’s Broker Partner for Zillow Offers. The Figueroa Team is on track to sell over 175 million in 2020 in sales volume (700+ units). The Figueroa Team moves over a 17 roster team from RE/MAX to now a 60+ team since joining eXp Realty in June 2019. Today, Veronica is proud to be aligned with over 1000+ partners at eXp Realty and growing.
Veronica’s true passion is to inspire and help others with directional wisdom to follow their dreams. She will inspire you to take action. She will inspire you to become the leader you were always meant to be!
Bob Hart
Vice President of Business Development
ICE Mortgage Technology
Bob Hart
Vice President of Business Development
ICE Mortgage Technology
Bob Hart is VP of Business Development at ICE Mortgage Technology, with a focus on supporting partnerships and ensuring they have a pathway to success. Bob is also responsible for identifying new partners that provide ICE Mortgage Technology customers with an operational or compliance lift in their process. Bob has been in the real estate and mortgage tech space for the past 17 years, and worked for a partner of ICE Mortgage Technology before joining the team.
Craig Haskins
Chief Operating Officer
Knight Barry Title
Craig Haskins
Chief Operating Officer
Knight Barry Title
Craig’s initial areas of expertise focused on title insurance, complicated closings and troubled titles. Now Craig spends most of his time growing Knight Barry Title via acquisition and organic growth. Currently he oversees all 65+ offices and 400+ employees in five states – Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Florida and Texas.
Craig is also quite a title nerd. He is a Past President of the Wisconsin Land Title Association and has a seat on the ALTA Agent Board. Craig established the rules for electronic recording in Wisconsin and recorded the first electronic deed in Wisconsin. Unfortunately, he wore an awful blue sweater for the picture in the newspaper detailing the accomplishment so you won’t be seeing that on social media.
In college, Craig barely studied yet received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida (Go Gators). Then he really studied to earn an MBA from Marquette University. He has three sons and spends all summer coaching baseball and mowing straight lines in his lawn. He is the co-host of the title insurance podcast THAT FLOATS which you can watch on most social media networks. Like we said, he’s quite a nerd.
Aaron Kanter
Chief Legal Officer
Tempo Title
Aaron Kanter
Chief Legal Officer
Tempo Title
Aaron is Chief Legal Officer of Tempo Title and leads the acquisition team, legal diligence and compliance efforts. Prior to Tempo, Aaron was partner and general counsel of Forte Capital Advisors. In this role, Aaron managed and negotiated over $500 million in acquisitions and over $1 billion in financings (term loans and 144A offerings). Aaron holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and a JD from the University of Virginia School of Law.
Christopher Kiblin
Area Branch Leader
Movement Mortgage
Christopher Kiblin
Area Branch Leader
Movement Mortgage
Christopher Kiblin is an Area Branch Leader for Movement Mortgage, Leadership Coach, and Author of Amazon’s bestselling motivational book “Own Your Day.” He is part of the Top 1 percent of Mortgage Loan Officer’s in the Country. Chris also holds multiple certificates such as Grant Cardone Ambassador Program, John Maxwell Master Coaching, and DISC Program. As an ARMY Veteran, Chris knows hard work and determination. He is always improving his knowledge and skills with continuing education and coaching programs. Christopher is a Public speaker and owns a Leadership Coaching Company. He started MVP Elite Coaching because his passion is to help his clients maximize their greatest potential in both their professional and personal lives. Most recently, Christopher started his own Podcast “Real Hustle.” Chris’ Motto is to “Own your day before it owns you.”
Mitch Kider
Chairman and Managing Partner
Weiner Brodsky Kider PC
Mitch Kider
Chairman and Managing Partner
Weiner Brodsky Kider PC
Mitchel H. Kider is the Chairman and Managing Partner of Weiner Brodsky Kider PC, a national law firm specializing in the representation of financial institutions, residential homebuilders, and real estate settlement service providers. Mitch represents banks, mortgage companies, homebuilders, credit card issuers, and other financial service companies in a broad range of litigation and regulatory and compliance matters. He defends clients in investigations and enforcement actions before the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Justice, Department of Veterans Affairs, Federal Trade Commission, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Ginnie Mae, and various state and local regulatory authorities and Attorneys General offices. Mitch speaks frequently on regulatory and litigation matters before trade associations and other industry groups. He is a Fellow of the American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers, and a Faculty Fellow of the Mortgage Bankers Association. Mitch is the author of six books pertaining to residential mortgage finance and also has written numerous law review and real estate journal articles on the subject. His most recent books are Consumer Protection and Mortgage Regulation Under Dodd-Frank (West/Thomson Reuters 2018) and Real Estate and Mortgage Banking: A New Era of Regulatory Reform (West/Thomson Reuters 2017-2018).
Brian Levy
Of Counsel
Katten & Temple, LLP
Brian Levy
Of Counsel
Katten & Temple, LLP
Brian Levy, Of Counsel with Katten & Temple, LLP in Chicago, provides practical and creative guidance for mortgage lenders and related providers. Brian has unique banking, sales and in-house experience enabling him to offer actionable guidance and training on matters such as RESPA (MSAs, AfBAs, etc.), LO compensation, state licensing, mortgage repurchase defense, loan sale agreements, transactions and business structuring and regulatory enforcement issues. Brian is the author of Levy’s Mortgage Musings blog at www.mortgagemusings.com and is a frequent conference speaker, magazine contributor and podcast guest.
Brian was General Counsel from 1994-2009 for a mid-sized midwestern bank and its 3 mortgage banking subsidiaries and prior to that worked for 5 years in commercial real estate law at a large firm in Chicago. Brian graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, (A.B.,1986, Summa Cum Laude) and Harvard Law School (J.D.,1989). Brian can be reached at 262/241-7977 or blevy@kattentemple.com and can be followed on Linked-in and Twitter @BrianSLevy.
Chris McChesney
Chief Claims Counsel
Doma
Chris McChesney
Chief Claims Counsel
Doma
As Chief Claims Counsel for Doma (formerly North American Title Insurance Company and North American Title Company), Chris McChesney oversees title and escrow claims and litigation across the country. After earning his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Florida and his Juris Doctor from the American University’s Washington College of Law, Chris began his career as a Presidential Management Fellow for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, where he worked on the conveyance of federal real property for homeless and public health purposes. He also completed a rotation as a title attorney with the Land Acquisition Section of the U.S. Department of Justice. Prior to joining Doma in 2018 as a senior claims counsel, Chris served as a claims counsel for a top national underwriter. He is an active member of the American Land Title Association’s Title Counsel Committee.
Chuck Myers
Supervisor, RESA Investigations Section
Virginia Bureau of Insurance
Chuck Myers
Supervisor, RESA Investigations Section
Virginia Bureau of Insurance
Chuck currently supervises the Real Estate Settlement Agents (RESA) Investigations Section for the Virginia State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Insurance. Chuck formed and led his team toward the review, renovation and successful adoption of the Virginia Administrative Code concerning Final Rules and Regulations Governing Settlement Agents. His current responsibilities include management of an awesome team who investigate violations of Virginia insurance laws and regulations as it pertains to Real Estate Title Settlement Agents.
Chuck came to the State Corporation Commission from the Virginia State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation where he served as a Special Agent Accountant and Certified Crime Scene Analyst. Chuck holds a Master’s of Science in Management Risk Management and Insurance from Florida State University and a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from the University of Central Florida. Chuck maintains credentials as a sworn law enforcement officer from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. His professional designations include Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified Economic Crime Forensic Examiner and Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter.
Tony Nuckolls
Vice President, Business Development
Rocket Mortgage
Tony Nuckolls
Vice President, Business Development
Rocket Mortgage
Tony Nuckolls is a Vice President of Business Development for Rocket Mortgage, the nation’s largest mortgage lender. In this role, he is responsible for creating strategic partnerships that deliver value to partners and their customers by extending the Rocket Mortgage experience.
He joined Rock Financial – the company that would later become Rocket Mortgage – in 1996 and quickly became one of the company’s top mortgage professionals. Since then, he has served as a leader in the company’s in-house Marketing Team, was the Vice President of Training & Development and has held many leadership positions within the Mortgage Banking Team.
Tony is an active member in his local community and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Detroit Police Athletic League, as well as the Advisory Board for Oakland University’s Galileo Institute.
Throughout his career, Tony has been recognized for his work with Rocket Mortgage and in the community. He was named a Man of Excellence by the Michigan Chronicle and the Community Leader of the Year by the University of Phoenix. He also received Michigan State University’s Clarence “Biggie” Munn Extra Effort Award – an accolade bestowed upon graduates who possess the highest standards of integrity and character, exemplifying the belief that “the difference between good and great is just a little extra effort.”
He earned a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and a master’s degree from University of Phoenix.
Tony and his family reside in metro Detroit.
Michelle Osborne
Chief Deputy Commissioner
North Carolina Department of Insurance
Michelle Osborne
Chief Deputy Commissioner
North Carolina Department of Insurance
Dr. Michelle Flynn Osborne, MBA, CIC serves as the Chief Deputy Commissioner for the North Carolina Department of Insurance. She has worked in the insurance industry since 1990 and started two successful insurance agencies from the ground up. She also served 16 years as a sales manager for a Fortune 500 company.
Dr. Osborne held the position of professor at Campbell University and as an MBA adjunct professor at N.C. State MBA Partnership International School of Knowledge, Management, and Economics and North Carolina Wesleyan.
She earned her MBA from Campbell University and a Doctorate of Business Administration degree from George Fox University in Oregon.
Leah Sakas
Vice President of Central Operations
Zillow Offers
Leah Sakas
Vice President of Central Operations
Zillow Offers
Leah Sakas is the VP of Central Operations for Zillow Offers. Leah is responsible for business process optimization, capacity planning, and service operations. In addition, she partners across the company to design and execute standardized, scalable solutions in service of customers, operators and partners. Before joining Zillow Group in 2018, Leah served as Vice President at Invitation Homes and its predecessors Starwood Waypoint Homes, Colony Starwood Homes and Colony American Homes. At these companies, Leah institutionalized transaction management from Colony American Homes’ founding in 2012 through two mergers, resulting in the largest single-family rental real estate investment trust in the U.S. Before entering the single-family rental space, Leah managed entitlements and land development for single-family subdivisions and planned communities for Taylor Morrison and its predecessor Taylor Woodrow Homes. Leah graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Tara Smith
Group President, Agency Operations
Stewart
Tara Smith
Group President, Agency Operations
Stewart
Tara S. Smith, serves as Group President of Stewart’s Agency Operations. In this role, she serves on the executive team and oversees Stewart’s independent title agency network of Trusted Providers™ and all products and services offered to our agency network. Ms. Smith joined Stewart in 2013 with 12 years in public accounting through which she provided strategic guidance to clients in the oil-and-gas and financial services industries. Her leadership, deep knowledge, strategy implementation and problem-solving led to her rising through leadership roles that included the positions of Vice President, Agency Financial Director, and Executive Vice President. She serves on the American Land Title Association’s Board of Governors and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance from the University of Texas at Austin.
Lisa Steele
Chief Operating Officer
Mother Lode Holding Company
Lisa Steele
Chief Operating Officer
Mother Lode Holding Company
Marx Sterbcow
Managing Attorney
Sterbcow Law Group LLC
Marx Sterbcow
Managing Attorney
Sterbcow Law Group LLC
Marx Sterbcow is nationally recognized as one of the leading legal authorities in the financial settlement services industry. Sterbcow’s practice focuses on RESPA, UDAAP, TILA, Fair Lending Act, FTC, and other administrative and regulatory compliance issues. He advises banks, mortgage lenders, title insurance agencies and underwriters, law firms, and real estate brokerage companies across the United States on matters involving affiliated business arrangements, third-party vendor management auditing, CFPB & state regulatory enforcement, social media oversight, mergers and acquisitions, marketing and advertising agreement compliance, lead generation programs, and promotional advertising program guidance.
Sterbcow graduated from Tulane University with a B.A., Gonzaga University School of Law with a J.D., and the John Marshall School of Law’s Center for Real Estate Law with an LLM. Among his many accolades, he was recognized as a Trendsetter by The Title Report.
Shelley Stewart
President/CEO
Southern Title
Shelley Stewart
President/CEO
Southern Title
Shelley Stewart has served as President/CEO of Southern Title since its founding in 1994. Since then, she has successfully spearheaded its growth into one of the most successful independent agencies in the state of Florida, managing 10 locations in Volusia County, Flagler County, Duval County, and Lake County.
Ms. Stewart is a highly respected leader and agent advocate and is well regarded for her knowledge, insight, and integrity throughout the title insurance industry. She is currently chairing the Public Records Redaction Task Force Subgroup at the request of Florida Senator Kathleen Passidomo, and is an active member of many industry trade associations on a local, state and national level.
Over the past 44 years she has taken active leadership roles in the real estate title industry with American Land Title Association (ALTA); Florida Land Title Association (FLTA); Florida Home Builders Association (FHBA); and Volusia Building Industry Association (VBIA).
Many of her Awards and Accolades include: Dick Baker Awards for Outstanding Service; Top Women in Title; Woman of the Year, by Volusia/Flagler Association of Women Lawyers; Raymond O. Denham Memorial Award for Outstanding Service, FLTA; Women in Business Award Winner, Daytona Beach News-Journal.
David Townsend
President and Chief Executive Officer
Agents National Title Insurance Co.
David Townsend
President and Chief Executive Officer
Agents National Title Insurance Co.
David Townsend is President and CEO of Agents National Title Insurance Co., a title insurance underwriter based in Columbia, Missouri. Agents National Title Insurance was founded to meet the needs of independent title agents. In February of 2018, Agents National was acquired by Incenter, a Blackstone portfolio company.
Mr. Townsend is a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Law and Drury University and has many years of experience in the areas of real estate and title law. He teaches Title Insurance Practice at the University of Missouri School of Law and is a speaker for the American Land Title Association, Mortgage Bankers Association, October Research Seminars and other continuing education seminars. He is a current member of the American Land Title Association’s Board of Governors and the Chairman of the Title Industry Political Action Committee.
Townsend is the author of the Missouri Bar Insurance Practice Series: “Title Insurance” and the Missouri Bar Journal article “Mechanics Lien Law: Section 429.016 establishes New Notice Requirements.” Named the Missouri Land Title Young Title Professional for 2009, he was awarded the National Title Professional designation in 2013 by the American Land Title Association. He is married to Kerry Townsend, has one daughter, Blair and one son, Charlie, and lives in Columbia, Missouri.
Stephen-Michael Washington
Vice President, CRA Market Manager
Trustmark
Stephen-Michael Washington
Vice President, CRA Market Manager
Trustmark
Stephen-Michael has 18 years of valuable mortgage experience. Due to his continued dedication, he was awarded ‘Mortgage Lender of the Month’ by the Alabama Housing Authority and received a certification from the Mortgage Banker’s Association as an Accredited Mortgage Professional. He is thrilled to apply his skill set to help borrowers realize the homeownership dream as well as help grow and support his colleagues. Stephen-Michael originally pursued working in the mortgage industry out of his desire to help others achieve their financial goals and dreams. Throughout the years, he has developed a true passion for mortgages. He enjoys assisting first-time homebuyers who did not believe it was possible for them to become homeowners. Guiding his clients through one of the most important decisions of their lives is something he finds very rewarding. In his free time, Stephen-Michael enjoys spending time with his five children, fishing, good music and spending time with family and friends.
Brian Woodbury
Vice President of Agency Title Production
Stewart
Brian Woodbury
Vice President, Enterprise Operations
Stewart
An innovative and results-oriented professional with more than 30 years of experience in management and leadership positions, Brian is responsible for national title production, title plants and additional ancillary services for Stewart agents.
Prior to joining Stewart, Brian held senior-level positions with a national underwriter and a national title insurance agent responsible for title and settlement services operations. He has served as National Sales Manager for Quattro Mortgage Solutions, Managing Partner of Benalty Consulting, and Managing Director – Asset Acquisition for GMAC Residential Funding Corp.
Brian has an outstanding reputation in the industry due to his commitment to excellence and his ability to identify best practices and integrate them into day-to-day agency operations. He is recognized for his expertise in operations management, business development, risk management and strategic planning. Brian is effective in creating and developing high performance, cross-functional business teams to drive high impact, profitable growth strategies that meet the needs of the company and our agency customers. With Stewart, Brian will focus on the strategic alignment of products and services offered by the Agency Division.
Evan Zanic
EVP, Division President Agency Division
First American Title Insurance Co.
Evan Zanic
EVP, Division President Agency Division
First American Title Insurance Co.
Evan Zanic has served as executive vice president for First American Title Insurance Company and president of the company’s Agency Division since May 2014.
With extensive experience in the title industry and a track record of increasing responsibilities at First American Title, Zanic has held a number of leadership roles since joining the company as Western Pennsylvania area manager in 2001. During his tenure, he also has served as Pennsylvania state manager, regional vice president and as the Agency Division’s senior vice president and chief operating officer.
Zanic is a member of the Allegheny County Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Federal Court in the Western District of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Supreme Court Bar. He is also a member of the Pennsylvania Land Title Association and the American Land Title Association. He earned his law degree and a dual-major bachelor’s degree in political science and business from the University of Pittsburgh.
First American Title Insurance Company, the largest subsidiary of First American Financial Corporation (NYSE: FAF), traces its history to 1889. One of the largest title insurers in the nation, the company offers title services through its direct operations and an extensive network of agents throughout the United States and abroad. The company has its headquarters in Santa Ana, Calif. Information about First American Financial Corporation’s subsidiaries and an archive of its press releases can be found on the Internet at www.firstam.com.
Ask the Experts
Kevin Brown
Chief Executive Officer
Avanta Risk Management LLC
Kevin Brown
Chief Executive Officer
Avanta Risk Management LLC
Kevin Brown is one of the founding members and the Chief Executive Officer of Avanta Risk Management, Inc. Avanta is dedicated to creating HOA solutions that create efficiencies and improve transparency in real estate transactions.
For over 25 years, Kevin has been creating property data solutions for the origination and mortgage servicing space. Following the voice of his customers he decided to tackle the task of centralizing high-quality HOA data into a single database to create meaningful products and services for title companies and the overall real estate vertical.
After attending college, Kevin received his six sigma blackbelt and utilizes those principles today to gain a superior understanding of the challenges facing his clients and the industry. Over the past 4 years Kevin and his team have incorporated the latest technologies, such as RPA and Blockchain to create new insights and transform the current HOA landscape for the betterment of everyone involved in a HOA related real estate transaction.
Kevin is a Texas native and resides in Dallas, TX. When not tackling the industry’s most complex problems, he enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, mentoring colleagues and contemplating his next car purchase.
Ruth Dillingham
Owner
Dillingham Consulting LLC
Ruth Dillingham
Owner
Dillingham Consulting LLC
Ruth Dillingham, NTP is a highly regarded and nationally recognized attorney who advises mortgage banking and real estate conveyancing professions on legal and regulatory compliance issues related to residential real estate sales and mortgage lending. An attorney in the conveyancing and lending profession for many years, Ruth has a high level of industry specific knowledge and uses her excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills to communicate legal and technical regulatory information in clear, relatable terms.
In her previous employment with a national title insurance company, Ruth focused on emerging developments which impacted lending, compliance and conveyancing at the national level. She created and presented training programs nationally for the company’s attorneys/agents with a concentration on emerging issues and regulatory compliance.
Prior to that, Ruth was in private practice representing buyers, sellers and mortgage lenders with a special concentration in real estate, mortgage lending and compliance law.
Ruth received her Juris Doctor from Boston University School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts from Mount Holyoke College. She was admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1978.
Tim Evans
President
Evans Title Agency
Tim Evans
President
Evans Title Agency
Linda Grahovec
Vice President, National Agency Director of Education and Marketing Strategy
FNF Family of Companies
Linda Grahovec
Vice President, National Agency Director of Education and Marketing Strategy
FNF Family of Companies
Linda has been in real estate transactions services since 1986. She was a full time real estate broker for 10 years and still holds her managing broker’s license in Illinois. She expanded her knowledge base by working for a law firm as a real estate paralegal for 8 years. She worked closely with attorneys, lenders, realtors and consumers from contracts to closings.
The next open chair at the closing table was that of a title officer. Linda spent 8 years working in a direct operation with responsibilities from new construction to sales management. For several years she worked with title agents of all sizes in Illinois and a 15 State Division. She now supports title agency business development, web and digital technology, marketing strategy, national communications, internal and agent education on various topics (CLE and non-CLE), and business plan analysis for FNF National Agency.
Linda, an award winning speaker, has presented for ALTA, FBI, FNF, HUD OIG, IDFPR, ILTA, IRELA, NBI, WLTA and other organizations across the country. She is part of the IL Mortgage Fraud Task Force and administers regulatory compliance laws, Industry Best Practices and CyberSecurity for Title Agents of Alamo Title, Chicago Title, Commonwealth Land Title, Fidelity National Title and National Title of NY.
When not at her job, she enjoys her 6 children, 9 grandchildren, loves to cook, entertain, photography and water sports
Regina Lowrie
President and CEO, former Chairman, Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)
Dytrix
Regina Lowrie
President and CEO, former Chairman, Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)
Dytrix
Regina M. Lowrie, CMB, is a recognized national leader and authority in the mortgage and lending industry. She has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry and has established and managed multiple successful banking/lending organizations. In 2005, Regina became the first woman chairperson of the national Mortgage Bankers Association and continues to serve on many MBA committees. Regina has also testified before Congress on public policy to include GSE Reform and has served as an expert witness for the financial services industry. As president and CEO of Dytrix, Regina is arming banks and lenders with a comprehensive, real time defense system against wire and identity fraud, the fastest growing type of cybercrime according to the FBI.
Tali Raphaely
President
Armour Title Company
Tali Raphaely
President
Armour Title Company
Tali Raphaely is the President of Armour Title Company, a nationwide real estate title company. He’s also an attorney, real estate and tech investor, and an author. Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, he now resides in Miami, Florida.
In 1996, he was awarded a full tuition scholarship by the Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad School of Law. While in law school, he was selected to serve as an intern for one semester at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, where he worked closely on developing policies and structuring agreements with world leaders on a daily basis. Raphaely was also one of the few who had the honor of being a member of the Law review. He graduated from law school in the top 5% of his class with Magna Cum Laude Honors in 1999. After graduating law school, he had the great honor and privilege of starting his legal career as a Law Clerk for two Judges in the very prestigious Court of Special Appeals of Maryland, where he worked on, and was actively involved in, the drafting of numerous published appellate court opinions that still remain the authoritative law on the legal topics these cases and opinions addressed. Subsequent to providing his service as a law clerk in the Court of Special Appeals, he joined a prominent law firm as a litigation attorney prior to becoming involved in the real estate industry.
Raphaely specializes in real estate law, real estate transactions, complex commercial transactions, and all title matters related to real estate. He has become a leader and prominent figure in his field through his role as President of Armour Title Company, a nationally recognized real estate title company that conducts thousands of real estate transactions nationwide annually. Armour has often been recognized as a true leader in the title insurance industry and has pioneered many programs, systems and processes currently being used by many of Armour’s counterparts in the real estate title industry.
Raphaely’s title company works regularly with the nation’s leading real estate brokerages, banks, and mortgage companies. Among his regular clients are Long and Foster Real Estate, Inc., Coldwell Banker Real Estate, LLC, RE/MAX, LLC, Keller Williams Realty, Inc., Wells Fargo Bank, Bank of America, and countless other industry giants throughout the country.
Having always had a passion for teaching and enriching the lives of those around him, Raphaely is also an author. The focus of his writing is primarily on self-help topics, business advice and on providing others with motivation and inspiration to live greater, more fulfilling lives. His writing topics are derived from over a decade of experience in sales, marketing, management, recruiting, the ownership of his business, buying and selling real estate, buying, and selling businesses, negotiating with clients, vendors and employees, and his intense research and involvement in countless self-help, self-improvement, and self-awareness seminars, books and hands-on programs and events. His new book, The Complete Guide on How to Negotiate, is available for sale on Amazon and in select bookstores.
Tali Raphaely has been at the forefront of blockchain technology since its early days. Being involved with this growing technology for so long has granted him unique insights on how blockchain affect our world. As an expert on blockchain, and regular speaker for blockchain events, Raphaely helps to make sense of this evolving technology. Tali Raphaely speaks on a regular basis to groups and conferences on a variety of Blockchain-related topics in a way which makes sense of this technology and provides quality insight. People who have come to hear him speak have said great things about his ability to translate this subject and engage with audiences in a meaningful way.
Michael Ridgway
CEO and President
Community Title Network, LLC
Michael Ridgway
CEO and President
Community Title Network, LLC
Mr. Ridgway brings 36 years of experience in successful entrepreneurship, business strategy, business development, organizational leadership, and executive management, with a significant focus in all aspects of the title industry. He has directed, acquired and organically grown title agencies throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region, spearheading two successful exits to title insurance underwriting companies.
After his agency was acquired by Lawyers Title in 1995, Ridgway was asked to serve as a Senior Vice-President of the national management team of LandAmerica, with a specific role of leading Direct Operations for the Northeast Region, where he oversaw the operations of 43 closing offices throughout Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Maine, Maryland, DC, and Virginia.
In 1999, he led the repurchase of his agency from LandAmerica and embarked on a path of successful growth while also standardizing systems, creating economic efficiencies in workflow production, and driving improvements in customer service. In 2005, he sold his title agency to First American and exited the company in 2007.
From 2007 through 2015 he was engaged periodically by principals and executives of small to mid- size title agencies to assist in sales or acquisition strategies, design and implementation of strategic marketing initiatives, analyzing and implementing operational improvements and resolving employee issues. Outside of the title industry, Ridgway has also consulted to regional and international service companies, and assisted executives in strategic M&A planning and execution.
In 2016, envisioning that compliance and regulation would drive mergers and acquisitions within the title industry, he started Community Title Network with the vision to deliver modern business solutions to title agents and to initiate an acquisition and organic growth strategy. Community Title Network has become one of, if not, the fastest growing title agencies in the mid-Atlantic, growing in less than 5 years to more than 20 office locations across Maryland, DC, Virginia, and Delaware.
Ridgway is a proactive and passionate leader, deeply committed to both internal and external customers. He is dedicated to ensuring people, process and profit are aligned properly for the purpose of achieving sustained and profitable relationships among the organization, its management and staff and its customers and clients.
Ridgway has been very active in the Washington Region community, volunteering his time and often taking leadership roles in many non-profit organizations and efforts that serve youth- particularly underprivileged youth. In 2016 he was named the Catholic Business Network for Montgomery County Community Person of the Year. He has been named the 2021 Catholic Businessperson of the Year by the Catholic Business Network of Washington, DC.
Ridgway holds a JD degree from The Columbus School of Law, Catholic University, 1984, and a BA in Economics from Dickinson College, Carlisle PA, 1981. He is a lifelong resident of the Washington Metro Area and resides in Chevy Chase, MD with his wife, Nancy, of 36 years. He and Nancy have 3 adult children and 3 grandchildren.
Francis “Trip” Riley
Partner
Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LP
Francis Trip Riley
Partner
Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LP
Francis “Trip” Riley, a partner at Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LP, counsels and defends clients who are facing complex civil litigation filed by a single plaintiff, as well as class actions, relating to commercial and consumer financing, consumer facing services and product sales, and business to business transactions. He prides himself on understanding his clients’ unique businesses and partners with them to help achieve results in line with their goals in the often highly-charged setting of commercial, consumer and corporate litigation.
As co-chair of the firm’s Consumer Financial Services Litiation & Gov’t Enforcement Group, he and the group’s lawyers represent and counsel companies who provide consumer financial products and services, such as those in the real estate settlement services industry, including title insurance underwriters, their insureds and agents, mortgage lenders, brokers and investors, and real estate brokerages and their agents, in all types of civil litigation and government investigations and enforcement actions.
James Schlimmer
CEO
Equity Real Estate Services
James Schlimmer
Managing Partner
Cottrell Title & Escrow
Renowned as a pioneer in the real estate industry, James P. Schlimmer has been paving the way for innovation in a field that has been stagnant and overly complicated for far too long. As a licensed Title Agent, Schlimmer currently serves as the Managing Partner of Cottrell Title & Escrow in Naples, Florida. For nearly a decade, Schlimmer has worked diligently, assisting buyers and sellers by revolutionizing the closing process with a more modern, seamless approach. From remote online notarization, artificial intelligence to expedited closing procedures through Resware’s title production software, Schlimmer and his team at Cottrell have cultivated laborious, outdated practices into more efficacious, streamlined initiatives while still maintaining an unprecedented level of professionalism, ensuring all parties involved needs are met and expectations are surpassed.
As the incumbent Board Director for Alanna.ai, Schlimmer spearheaded the implementation of the first virtual ai resource to simplify the closing process, saving real estate agents, lenders, buyers, and sellers time and effort. In 2021, Schlimmer founded efizbo, becoming the CEO of a pioneering real estate online platform that streamlines the entire For-Sale-By-Owner process, from contract to close. Designed to offer a 100% online real estate closing experience, this ingenious e-service helps sellers save thousands of dollars on closing costs while making the entire experience easier. Whether it’s saving clients money or it’s developing new ways to change the real estate industry, Schlimmer remains dedicated to redefining the closing experience and providing game-changing updates to the title & escrow methodology.
Ken Trepeta
President and Executive Director
Real Estate Services Provider’s Council (RESPRO®)
Ken Trepeta
President and Executive Director
Real Estate Services Provider’s Council (RESPRO®)
Ken Trepeta became President and Executive Director of RESPRO® in July of 2015. Prior to joining RESPRO®, Ken served as Director of Real Estate Services for the National Association of Realtors®. He was liaison to senior executives at large real estate firms and their affiliated businesses and NAR’s in house RESPA expert.
Ken worked in government affairs for five years prior to joining NAR as a vice president at both JP Morgan Chase and representing the CEOs of the largest financial services firms in the world at the Financial Services Forum.
Ken began his career in government serving as the Deputy Director for Commission on Affordable Housing and Health Facility Needs for Seniors in the 21st Century and for five years as counsel to Representative Rick Lazio (R-NY).
Ken has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Political Science, and Law and Society from Binghamton University (SUNY Binghamton, 1992). He has a J.D. from Hofstra University School of Law (1995) and is a member of the bar in New York and the District of Columbia.
Darryl Turner
CEO
The Darryl Turner Corporation
Darryl Turner
CEO
The Darryl Turner Corporation
Darryl Turner is the CEO of The Darryl Turner Corporation, Author and Key Note Speaker at over 100 events across the nation, and internationally, each year. He is also CEO of The Leader’s Life Executive Coaching where Darryl personally coaches the top executives from many of the nation’s largest real estate settlement services companies.
Some of Darryl’s books include “The 9 Undeniable Principles of Uncommon Sense” and “Quote Me On That, 365 Daily Quotes To Live By”.
The Darryl Turner Corporation have coached and trained over 6400 settlement services salespeople, over 3,000 escrow / closing professionals from over 1,100 title companies and agencies since 1994.
Darryl & his wife, Raquell, live in South Reno, Nevada and have 5 children and 3 grandchildren. Along with watersports, boating and skiing, Darryl & Raquell love aviation & spending time together working on strategies to help their title and settlement clients achieve their giant goals.
For more information, visit www.DarrylTurner.com or email Info@DarrylTurner.com
Leslie Wyatt
Director of Regulatory Compliance
SoftPro
Leslie Wyatt
Director of Regulatory Compliance
SoftPro
Leslie Wyatt is the Director of Regulatory Compliance at SoftPro. She began her career in the real estate industry over 20 years ago, and joined SoftPro in 2002. She currently oversees the Compliance Department with her primary focus being on regulatory issues at the Federal, state and county levels.
Leslie is a member of the ALTA Implementation Task Force, the Title Action Network Steering Committee, the ALTA Government Affairs Committee, the ALTA Membership Committee, the ALTA Education Committee and the TLTA Federal Issues Committee. She has represented ALTA at a congressional briefing regarding the CFPB and the TRID changes. Leslie travels though out country speaking on our industry’s hot topics with a focus on regulatory and compliance. Leslie continuous to work with the CFPB on various projects regarding TRID, UCD, MISMO and other industry hot topics.
Women in Business Breakfast
Erica Meyer
CEO and Publisher
October Research, LLC
Erica Meyer
CEO and Publisher
October Research, LLC
Erica Meyer is Owner and Publisher of October Research, LLC. October Research is dedicated to educating and empowering professionals in the real estate transaction to strengthen their business and enhance their position in the marketplace, ensuring the integrity of home ownership. The company provides education through their five B2B publications, annual conferences, webinars, websites, email newsletters, marketing and advertising services, social media and custom publishing.
Prior to purchasing October Research in 2011, Ms. Meyer worked in the online business unit at Sears Holdings Corporation and spent 10+ years with UPS in sales management, technology, revenue management and marketing.
Ms. Meyer earned her BA from the University of Dayton and MBA from National-Louis University. She has been a member of Specialized Information Publishers Association (SIPA), Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), serves on the Talent and PR Committees for the American Land Title Association (ALTA) and works closely with numerous industry associations. She has completed the Aileron Course for Presidents, spoken at the Kent State 2019 Spirit of Women in Business conference and other industry conferences.
In 2019, Ms. Meyer was recognized by Crain’s as a Notable Woman in Entrepreneurship and in 2014 a Women of Influence in Housing by HousingWire Magazine. In her free time, she has tutored high school students for the ACT, fundraised and coordinated numerous community service events, ran half marathons but her favorite pastime is spending time with her husband and kids.
Ashley Cook
President and CEO
ZOCCAM
Ashley Cook
President and CEO
ZOCCAM
Ashley Cook, founder and CEO of ZOCCAM, is a licensed attorney in the state of Texas. She received her BA and Juris Doctorate from the Southern Methodist University. Prior to ZOCCAM, Cook built a legal practice focused on representing title companies and real estate brokers. This experience gave her the vision and passion for transforming payments in the real estate industry, in which she has been granted several patents.
Ashley serves on the SMU Dedman School of Law Emerging Leader Board; the Ebby Halliday Foundation Board; the Texas Land Title PAC Board; the University Park Firefighter Pension Board, the NAR RES Advisory Group of General Counsels. She is also an active member of the American Land Title Association and Texas Land Title Association.
Randy DeFoor
Senior Vice President, National Agency Counsel, National Support Services
FNF Family of Companies
Randy DeFoor
Senior Vice President, National Agency Counsel, National Support Services
FNF Family of Companies
Attorney Randle P. DeFoor (“Randy”) is with Fidelity National Financial Group as SVP, National Agency Counsel in their corporate home office located in Jacksonville, Florida. She obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of the South and her law degree from the Cumberland School of Law, Samford University. Randy joined FNTG in 2010 as Regional Major Claims Counsel and became a Senior Staff Underwriter in 2012 in the office of the Chief Underwriting Counsel. In 2014, Randy was promoted to National Agency Counsel reporting to the President of National Agency Operations. Under Randy’s direction National Agency Commercial Services was created which services agents across the country (“NACS”). In addition to NACS, Randy manages National Agency Support Services and Quality Assurance. Prior to joining Fidelity, Randy was Senior Corporate Counsel, VP, and Assistant Secretary with Regency Centers Corp., a real estate investment trust.
In 2019 Randy was elected to the Jacksonville City Council for District 14 representing over 40,000 people.
Shelley Stewart
President/CEO
Southern Title
Shelley Stewart
President/CEO
Southern Title
Shelley Stewart has served as President/CEO of Southern Title since its founding in 1994. Since then, she has successfully spearheaded its growth into one of the most successful independent agencies in the state of Florida, managing 10 locations in Volusia County, Flagler County, Duval County, and Lake County.
Ms. Stewart is a highly respected leader and agent advocate and is well regarded for her knowledge, insight, and integrity throughout the title insurance industry. She is currently chairing the Public Records Redaction Task Force Subgroup at the request of Florida Senator Kathleen Passidomo, and is an active member of many industry trade associations on a local, state and national level.
Over the past 44 years she has taken active leadership roles in the real estate title industry with American Land Title Association (ALTA); Florida Land Title Association (FLTA); Florida Home Builders Association (FHBA); and Volusia Building Industry Association (VBIA).
Many of her Awards and Accolades include: Dick Baker Awards for Outstanding Service; Top Women in Title; Woman of the Year, by Volusia/Flagler Association of Women Lawyers; Raymond O. Denham Memorial Award for Outstanding Service, FLTA; Women in Business Award Winner, Daytona Beach News-Journal.