JUNE 16 – 18, 2025 | PITTSBURGH, PA
Speakers
Click on their photos below to learn more about this year’s speakers. Check back for updates as our roster continues to grow.
Featured Speaker
Brian Carter
CEO
Optymedia
Brian shared a sneak peek of his NS3 presentation with the Keys to Real Estate podcast.
Brian Carter
CEO
Optymedia
Featured speaker Brian Carter’s highly entertaining, research-driven, customized and up-to-the-minute talks receive rave reviews from audiences, meeting planners and executives. They love his stand-up comedy background, insights from his continued work in the business world, and his commitment to customization that meets your biggest needs now and in the future.
As a speaker, author and entertainer, Brian has worked with some of the world’s most successful leaders, experts and organizations… from multi-billion-dollar, household-name Fortune 500 brands and national associations to iconic entertainment powerhouses. Brian is passionate about sharing experiences, insights and strategies on sales, customer service, generations, leadership and innovation.
An internationally bestselling author of five books, Brian is regularly sourced by major media including Bloomberg TV, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, ABC News, and Entrepreneur Magazine, to name a few. He was named an IBM Futurist and LinkedIn has called him, “One of the top experts you need to listen to.” Brian has an overall reach of more than 300,000 fans through Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and his other marketing channels. He has taught more than 150,000 students and reaches more than 5 million people annually.
Brian’s hands-on business experience, cutting-edge insights, and background in improv and stand up comedy culminate in a keynote speaker who leaves every audience not just entertained, but armed with powerful strategies and tactics.
Brian’s hands-on business experience, cutting edge insights, and background in improv and stand up comedy culminate in a keynote speaker and trainer who leaves every audience not only entertained, but also armed with powerful strategies and tactics.
Featured Speaker
Jessica Lautz
Deputy Chief Economist and VP of Research
National Association of Realtors®
Jessica Lautz
Deputy Chief Economist and VP of Research
National Association of Realtors®
Dr. Jessica Lautz is the Deputy Chief Economist and Vice President of Research at the National Association of REALTORS®. She has been with NAR since 2007.
The core of her research focuses on analyzing trends for both NAR members and housing consumers. She is in demand as a speaker and by major media outlets to provide commentary on the real estate market. She has testified before Congress on behalf of NAR.
She also volunteers at Nottingham Trent University as an industry fellow mentoring real estate graduate students, is a committee chair at the National Association of Business Economics, bakes birthday cakes for underserved youth with Cake4Kids, and sits on the board of the Food Recovery Network.
Dr. Lautz has been recognized by Housing Wire’s Women of Influence and RISMedia’s Newsmaker award.
Jessica received her Doctorate of Real Estate from Nottingham Trent University in the United Kingdom. She also holds a Master’s in Public Policy from American University and undergraduate degrees in Political Science and Law and Justice from Central Washington University.
Featured Speaker & Special Emcee
Phil Schulman
Senior Counsel
Mayer Brown
Phil Schulman
Senior Counsel
Mayer Brown
Phillip Schulman retired from the practice of law in 2021. For 46 years before that, he was a distinguished consumer finance attorney and partner in Mayer Brown’s Washington, DC office.
As a member of the Firm’s Consumer Financial Services Group, his practice focused on a range of matters related to real estate finance, mortgage banking and consumer finance in the primary and secondary markets.
He represented companies in the mortgage lending, title insurance and real estate industries in connection with administrative and regulatory compliance matters, including those involving the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
His practice also included matters before the US Department of Justice (DOJ) in connection with actions brought under the False Claims Act.
Mr. Schulman has authored numerous articles on issues affecting the settlement service industry, presented hundreds of presentations regarding the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) and co-authored a RESPA Compliance Manual with partner Holly Bunting for the Mortgage Bankers Association. In addition, Mr. Schulman has been a frequent contributor to October Research and other publications. His informative educational presentations were always peppered with jokes and amusing stories.
Since retiring, among other pursuits, Mr. Schulman has educated executives, sales representatives, and trade association members on the art of joke telling. October Research is pleased that Mr. Schulman will offer a master class on joke telling at this year’s NS3.
Regulators
Susan Apel
Senior Deputy Attorney General
Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection
Susan Apel
Senior Deputy Attorney General
Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection
Susan Apel is a Senior Deputy Attorney General with the Pennsylvania 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, she was a Partner at the Pittsburgh office of the international law firm K&L Gates LLP, where she focused primarily on transactional and corporate 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 serves on the Board of Directors of several non-profits, including the Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting Corporation and Neighborhood Legal Services, and served for over ten years on the Board of Directors of Bridgeway Capital, a Pittsburgh based CDFI (Community Financial Development Institution). She is a graduate of Kenyon College and Harvard Law School.
Angela Crooker
Manager RESA Investigations Section, Agent Regulation Division
Virginia Bureau of Insurance
Angela Crooker
Manager RESPA Investigations Section, Agent Regulation Division
Virginia Bureau of Insurance
Angela Crooker is the manager of the Real Estate Settlement Agents Investigations Section, within the State Corporation Commission’s, Bureau of Insurance, Agent Regulation Division. Angela has 13 years of experience as an investigator for the State Corporation Commission. Angela is responsible for the oversight of staff investigators, decision-making concerning enforcement action against licensees, and responding to requests for information and interpretation of Code Sections and Regulations from regulators, industry, and the public regarding Real Estate Settlement Agent Investigations and Title Insurance questions. A graduate of Longwood University, Angela holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a focus on Accounting and Real Estate. She also obtained and maintains her Certified Fraud Examiner, CFE designation.
Chuck Myers
Deputy Commissioner Office of Property and Casualty
Louisiana Department of Insurance
Chuck Myers
Deputy Commissioner, Office of Property and Casualty
Louisiana Department of Insurance
Chuck Myers serves as the Deputy Commissioner for the Louisiana Department of Insurance – Office of Property and Casualty. Chuck’s professional background includes: 8 years with the Virginia Bureau of Insurance as Manager of the Real Estate Settlement Agents Investigations Section and 7+ years with the Virginia State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation as a Special Agent Accountant and Certified Crime Scene Analyst. Chuck has 39 years of insurance industry experience, a master’s degree in Risk Management and Insurance from the Florida State University and holds designations as a: Senior Professional in Insurance Regulation, Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter and Certified Fraud Examiner.
Susan Nicolson
Commissioner
Arizona Department of Real Estate
Susan Nicolson
Commissioner
Arizona Department of Real Estate
On February 17, 2023, Governor Katie Hobbs appointed Susan Nicolson as the Commissioner of the Arizona Department of Real Estate (ADRE).
For nearly three decades, Commissioner Nicolson worked as a real estate professional and up until the appointment was a Designated Broker and small business owner of a boutique brokerage in Phoenix, AZ. She also ran and operated a real estate school working as the school administrator and an instructor. Nicolson was also a Director at the National Association of REALTORS®, a Director at Arizona REALTORS® and the 2023 President Elect of her local association, WeSERV.
In 2021, the now-Commissioner graduated from the Women’s Council of REALTORS® Leadership Institute and was the recipient of the Tyler Strout Vision Award from Arizona REALTORS®. She is a Graduate of the REALTOR® Institute, certified by the National Association of REALTORS® as Pricing Strategy Advisor, a member of the Residential Real Estate Council, endorsed by the National Association of REALTORS® with the C2EX (Commitment to Excellence) certification, a Seniors Real Estate Specialist and holder of the PMN, SRS, ABR and CRS designations.
For Nicolson, these accomplishments are an acknowledgement to her success in practice and her pursuit of the highest levels of real estate education.
As the Arizona Real Estate Commissioner, Nicolson sees a future for the Department of Real Estate of not only upholding the laws of Arizona but a Department that is also proactive in supporting and educating small businesses while protecting the public.
Speakers
Tara Asquith
Chief Product Officer
SoftPro
Tara Asquith
Chief Product Officer
SoftPro
Tara Asquith serves as the Chief Product Officer (CPO) at SoftPro, where she oversees product planning and execution across all SoftPro product lines, including Select, Standard/Enterprise, ClosingsLIVE, and SoftPro 360. She joined SoftPro in 2020, bringing with her two decades of experience as Senior Vice President of Product for agency technology applications at Fidelity National Financial. Prior to her tenure at Fidelity, Tara held various positions in a full-service agency operation in the Northeast, gaining comprehensive experience in all aspects of title insurance. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management and Management Information Systems from the University of Delaware and is a Certified Project Management Professional.
Sabrina Bier
Director of Digital Media and Education
Proper Title
Sabrina Bier
Director of Digital Media and Education
Proper Title
After a decade as a top-producing Realtor, Sabrina joined Proper Title to bridge the gap between real estate agents (and/or attorney agents) and title insurance through education and digital media. Known to “speak and think Realtor,” her unique insight has driven the creation of tailored educational programs, drawing large crowds for their relevance and timeliness within the industry. As a licensed CE and CLE instructor, her weekly classes and her online live show interviewing a myriad of real estate experts are a testament to her commitment to the industry’s professional growth while nurturing new partnerships and strengthening existing connections.
Beyond education, Sabrina is passionate about emphasizing the art of networking and strategic marketing. Her belief: the perfect blend of “old school” and “new school” techniques cultivates genuine, lasting relationships.
Tim Boike
VP, Industry Relations
Federal Reserve Financial Services
Tim Boike
VP, Industry Relations
Federal Reserve Financial Services
Tim Boike is Vice President of Industry Relations for Federal Reserve Financial Services (FRFS). Boike and his team oversee key FRFS relationships and strategic engagement initiatives with the fintech sector, federal trade groups, payment facilitators, and large end users.
Prior to joining the Federal Reserve in 2018, Boike spent 26 years in the private sector of financial services with several large financial institutions. During that time, Boike led teams with functional responsibilities in strategy planning, analytics, partnership & business development, industry relations, and deposit fraud investigations.
Rick Bruhn
SVP, Head of Specialty Deposit and Payment Solutions
Associated Bank
Rick Bruhn
SVP, Specialty Deposit and Payment Solutions
Associated Bank
Rick Bruhn has over 20 years of financial services experience. He currently leads Specialty Deposit and Payment Solutions for Associated Bank where he leads industry verticals focused on Title & Escrow, 1031 Exchange, HOA & Property Management and Fintech. In addition, he leads strategy for Deposits and Payments for the Corporate and Commercial Bank. Prior to joining Associated Bank, Rick was at U.S. Bank where he spent 18 years leading several deposit focused strategies and industry verticals. Rick lives in Springboro, OH. When he is not traveling for work, he’s most likely traveling around the country with his son for Dave Matthews Band Concerts.
Holly Spencer Bunting
Partner
Mayer Brown
Holly Spencer Bunting
Partner
Mayer Brown
Holly Spencer Bunting offers clients strategic advice related to residential mortgage banking and consumer finance, alternative mortgage products, real estate brokerage, title insurance, and fintech/proptech/insurtech products, especially on issues of federal and state regulatory compliance and enforcement. Companies turn to Holly for representation in the mortgage lending, title insurance and real estate industries on regulatory compliance matters, including matters involving the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA). She reviews and analyzes existing and proposed business arrangements for compliance with state and federal requirements. Holly also defends clients subject to government audits, investigations and enforcement proceedings.
Holly assists companies in complying with the anti-kickback requirements of RESPA, including counseling clients on the creation and operation of affiliated business arrangements, reviewing proposed and existing business relationships, and drafting disclosures under Section 8 of RESPA. Mortgage companies and settlement agents seek out Holly’s advice on the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure regulations, and Holly counsels mortgage companies related to approval, origination and servicing requirements under government lending programs, including the Federal Housing Administration single-family loan program.
She conducts regulatory due diligence related to compliance with government loan origination and servicing regulations and guidelines, strategic referral arrangements and alliances under RESPA, development of alternative mortgage products and associated regulatory risks, compliance management programs, and compliance with federal consumer protection laws and state licensing requirements. Companies enlist Holly for defense in government enforcement proceedings, including, among others, RESPA enforcement matters, FHA and VA audits and CFPB investigations.
Chuck Cain
SVP National Agency
FNF Family of Companies
Chuck Cain
SVP National Agency
FNF Family of Companies
Chuck Cain has been in the Title Insurance industry since 1977. He is a graduate of The Ohio State University and the Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University. He is admitted to practice in Ohio and Kentucky, several Federal District courts and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. He is a past trustee of the Ohio Land Title Association and is a current member of the Government Affairs Committee of ALTA. He is former chair of the Real Property Section of the Cincinnati Bar Association, a former director of the Cincinnati Mortgage Bankers Association, a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland’s Fair Credit Task Force and a recipient of a special citation from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development concerning Fair Housing Best Practices.
A native Cincinnatian, he has been a licensed title insurance agent for over 35 years, was an owner-operator of title agencies for 18 years and corporate officer with LandAmerica for over 10 years. He was EVP of Agency at WFG National Title for 10 years. He joined FNF as SVP in the Agency Division in August of 2020. He has spoken before many state land title associations, state and local bar associations, MBA, ABA, ALTA, NAR, RESPRO, the National Settlement Services Summit, The Realty Alliance, Leading Real Estate Companies of the World and numerous other groups and classes on the topics of title insurance and compliance. His many articles have been published in state land title publications, numerous mortgage and title industry trade journals and in October Research publications. Having worked in all areas of the title industry and with its customers he brings a great depth of knowledge of all aspects of the real estate industry.
James Chou
Senior Associate
Orrick
James Chou
Senior Associate
Orrick
James Chou assists clients in a wide range of regulatory, compliance, corporate and transactional matters. His transactional work includes mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, credit facilities and vendor agreements. He advises clients on cybersecurity and privacy regulatory compliance matters, including conducting National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) assessments. James also helps clients navigate cross-border cybersecurity incidents and related investigations and enforcement actions.
Prior to joining Orrick, James was an associate at Buckley LLP. Previously, he spent nearly 10 years as a Defense Analyst and a Senior Operations Research Analyst for the U.S. Army, where he focused on cybersecurity, defense policy, and program analysis. He also spent more than three years in the defense industrial base as an IT Project Manager and Policy Analyst.
James is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), a Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP), and a Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer (CDPSE). He is conversational in Mandarin.
Jim Colassano
SVP, Product Development and Strategy
The Clearing House
Jim Colassano
SVP, Product Development and Strategy
The Clearing House
Mr. Colassano has more than 30 years of experience in all facets of the Payments and Cash Management business. He joined The Clearing House in 2016 as a Senior Vice President in the Product Development and Strategy group, where he is focused on product strategy and bank readiness for TCH’s new real-time payments system. In this role he works closely with TCH owner banks on opportunities and applications to address business related payment problems, and identify strategic priorities for this new payments infrastructure.
Before joining The Clearing House, Jim spent 10 years with HSBC as a Product Executive in their Payments and Cash Management group. During that period he served as the Global Product Head for their Payables business which had responsibility for faster payments initiatives as well as cash, check and ACH payment products worldwide. Before joining HSBC, he spent 15 years with JPMorgan Chase in a variety of cash and treasury management roles. Mr. Colassano holds Masters Degrees in Banking and Finance from Pace University.
Stan Czaja
SVP, Central Region Manager & Underwriting Counsel
WFG National Title Insurance Co.
Stan Czaja
SVP, Central Region Manager & Underwriting Counsel
WFG National Title Insurance Co.
Stan Czaja is Senior Vice President, Central Region Manager for WFG National Title Insurance Company. He oversees WFG’s Agency operations for the Central Region. Stan also serves as Underwriting Counsel for the states of Illinois and Indiana. Before joining WFG, Stan spent 13 years in private practice. He focused on residential and commercial real estate transactions, real estate-related litigation, short sale negotiations, loan modifications, and loan workouts.
Stan graduated magna cum laude from DePaul University in 1999, with an undergraduate degree in business management. He received his law degree, magna cum laude, from DePaul University College of Law in 2003. He enjoys teaching continuing legal education classes on a variety of topics involving title insurance underwriting issues. His areas of expertise include but are not limited to, Bankruptcy, Easements, Divorce, Judgments, Liens, Title Claims, Title Clearance, Trusts, Estates, and Probate, Business Entities, Medicaid FSSA Reimbursements, Transfer on Death Instruments and Endorsements. He is also a licensed title agent in the State of Illinois. Stan is a member of the Board of Directors for the Illinois Land Title Association and an active member of the Legislative and Title Counsel Committees and co-chair of the Education Committee. Stan also served as the Chairman of the Indiana Land Title Association Underwriters Committee and is an active member of the Government Affairs Committee. Stan holds the Illinois Title Professional designation conferred by the Illinois Land Title Association.
Stan is a sports fanatic and he enjoys working out, reading, golfing, and spending time with his family and friends. Stan is also a super fan of both Seinfeld and The Office. He also collects title industry pens and has coined the hashtag, #titlepensforlife.
Rick Diamond
VP of Information Technology, Agency Operations
Fidelity National Financial
Rick Diamond
VP of Information Technology, Agency Operations
Fidelity National Financial
Rick Diamond currently serves as Vice President of Information Technology, Agency Operations Fidelity National Financial. Rick is involved in all I.T. initiatives in the company’s agency operations nationwide. Rick maintains dialogue with agents and speaks throughout the country about technology, Digital Closing processes, A.I., RTP, Data Security, Wire Fraud, I.T. trends and ways to use technology to assist in title processing and compliance. He consults with agents in many aspects of technology with the main focuses being; how to make the relationship easier between Title Agents and FNF through technology, how to streamline back office procedures to save time, money and to be more efficient, data security to protect the agents as well as their businesses, helping agents’ clients close on their terms and how to use technology to grow their business. Rick is a staunch advocate for a great number of agents across the country and has a reputation for putting his clients ahead of all else. Rick has over 36 years of experience in the industry, he was VP, Division IT Director for 24 years and served as VP and State Manager. Rick is a member of the American Land Title Association, ALTA’s Best Practices Executive Committee, ALTA’s Technology Committee, ALTA’s Best Practices Committee, ALTA’s Information Security Executive Committee, MMBA Technology Committee and the New England Land Title Association. He served on the Executive Board of Directors for Massachusetts Title, the oldest Title Insurance Company in the United States. He is a former board member and remains actively involved with the Room to Dream Foundation, a children’s charity which donates renovation and home improvement services to chronically ill children in Massachusetts.
Stephen Dougherty
Asset Recovery Investigator
Cybera.io
Stephen Dougherty
Asset Recovery Investigator
Cybera.io
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.
Keith Dutton
SVP, Mortgage Fulfillment Operations
Flagstar Bank
Keith Dutton
SVP, Mortgage Fulfillment Operations
Flagstar Bank
Dutton has over 35 years in the mortgage and title insurance industry. His extensive management experience spans all aspects of mortgage fulfillment and includes a strong background in closing, funding, and settlement services.
Dutton joined Flagstar in 2020 after 17 years at CitiMortgage and ABN AMRO as an SVP of Mortgage Operations, leading fulfillment in multiple channels; he had managed direct and agency operations for 13 years at LandAmerica.
In his current role at Flagstar, he leads the closing, funding, post-closing, and construction administration teams. Dutton has worked on numerous process improvement initiatives with the goal of improving the customer experience; he and his team are currently focused on maximizing efficiency by transitioning services from a paper-centric to an electronic process. Dutton utilizes six sigma and lean methodologies as a foundation in his efforts, which reduces expense and maximizes productivity.
Dutton has a master’s degree from Central Michigan University. A father of four, with the youngest currently attending the University of Michigan, he resides with his wife in Ann Arbor.
Bradley Erb
VP, Growth & Partnerships
Bowe Digital
Bradley Erb
VP, Growth & Partnerships
Federal Reserve Financial Services
Bradley Erb is the Vice President of Growth & Partnerships at Bowe Digital, a custom marketing firm specializing in the land title and real estate industry. With more than 5 years of experience in this industry, Bradley helps best position Bowe Digital for growth through title industry education, understanding agent needs, cultivating vendor relationships and attending numerous industry conferences and events. Bradley shares his ideas for the industry broadly by speaking at American Land Title Association events, underwriter seminars, state land title association conferences and more. He recently received Bowe Digital’s internal MVP award and has completed the Alex Halff Leadership Institute through the Texas Land Title Association. Outside of Bowe Digital, you’ll find Bradley spending time with his two sons and family playing games, Pickleball, traveling and much more.
Connect with Bradley today to see how Bowe Digital can help provide you with the best marketing and communication uniquely fit for your organization.
Shawn Fox
Chief Revenue Officer
Premier One
Shawn Fox
Chief Revenue Officer
Premier One
Shawn Fox is the Chief Revenue Officer at Premier One, a national Managed Service Provider specializing in cybersecurity. With over 20 years of experience in the title industry and a former role as IT Manager and Marketing Manager for a national title company with more than 300 employees, Shawn has a robust history of leading sales and marketing initiatives within the information technology and services sector. He collaborates with companies on implementing AI and cybersecurity solutions, helping them enhance operational efficiency, strengthen security frameworks, drive sustainable growth, and move into the future with advanced technologies. Shawn is skilled in cybersecurity, AI implementation and application, marketing management, strategic market planning, and sales enhancement.
Deb Grace
EVP of Business Development
AccuTitle
Deb Grace
EVP of Business Development
AccuTitle
As the Executive Vice President of Business Development at AccuTitle, I specialize in strategic accounts and partnerships.
Being highly skilled in intra-personal and communication skills, I have built an extensive network across the industry over my 15 year tenure.
I am passionate about connecting the right people to create impactful deals and drive success.
Through my involvement in national conference’s, I represent my company with confidence and clarity.
Networking and fostering strong relationships are at the core of what I do, ensuring mutual growth and success.
Amy Gregory
President
Florida Agency Network
Amy Gregory
President
Florida Agency Network
Amy Gregory was born and raised in the vibrant Tampa Bay area by her two amazing parents. Her journey in the title insurance industry began in 1995 as a receptionist at a local independent title agency. Her passion for the field quickly ignited, leading her to join a national title insurance company where she advanced through roles in post-closing, processing, closing, and ultimately, management.
In 2007, Amy joined Hillsborough Title, playing a pivotal role in the company’s expansion by directly assisting Aaron Davis in opening its second office. Her deep expertise and leadership quickly elevated her to executive roles—rising from Branch Manager to General Manager, then State Manager, and now serving as President and CAO for the Florida Agency Network.
As a Licensed Title Agent, Amy oversees statewide operations including personnel, title production, escrow offices, and ancillary service divisions. With hands-on experience in both residential and commercial transactions, she brings exceptional insight into operations, training, mentoring, and process development—ensuring top-tier customer service throughout the network.
Amy is a credentialed CAMS® professional through the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists® (ACAMS®). She is also a dedicated member of the Florida Land Title Association (FLTA) and serves on the Education Committee for the American Land Title Association (ALTA). In 2019, ALTA honored her with the prestigious “We Protect” Value Award for her contributions to the industry. In 2024, she was honored as a Spotlight for the HER. (Women of Title) group.
Beyond her professional achievements, Amy enjoys spending time with her husband, children and her favorite little granddaughter, Rylynn. She loves to shop, attend concerts with friends and take Zumba classes. Amy has a heart of giving and a love for her church, where she actively supports local nonprofits and participates in fundraising efforts that serve the community.
T.J. Harrington
SVP, National Product and Sales Enablement
Stewart Lender Services
T.J. Harrington
SVP, National Product and Sales Enablement
Stewart Lender Services
T.J. Harrington serves Stewart Lender Services (SLS) as Senior Vice President of Product Strategy. In this role, T.J. focuses on expanding Stewart’s reach and influence in the title, appraisal/valuation and credit/verification industries. T.J. also leads Stewart’s outreach to industry constituents such as the GSEs, FHFA, NAR and industry trade associations.
His extensive experience includes serving as general counsel and strategy-focused roles at industry leading lenders, lender services groups and mortgage related startups. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and the University of South Carolina School of Law and has maintained an active law license in South Carolina since 2005.
Mark Holley
VP of Sales
Domidocs
Mark Holley
VP of Sales
Domidocs
Mark has over four decades of extensive experience in sales and sales management, with a diverse background that includes:
- Title Production software
- Underwriting
- Title Company
- Homeowner-focused software solution
His expertise also extends to contributing to the development and successful launch of the inaugural NS3 conference with Joe Casa, highlighting his leadership and deep industry insight.
Professional Philosophy Mark is guided by the belief: “The only way I will get what I want in life is to first help someone else get what they want.”
Jaime Kosofsky
EVP, Business Development and Compliance, Founding Partner
Brady & Kosofsky
Jaime Kosofsky
EVP, Business Development and Compliance, Founding Partner
Brady & Kosofsky
Jaime Kosofsky is a seasoned real estate attorney with over two decades of experience in real estate transactions, REO, title, and closing services across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. As one of the founding partners of Brady & Kosofsky, PA (BK LAW), Jaime has played a pivotal role in redefining the practice of real estate law. Established in 2008 during the mortgage crisis, BK LAW emerged as a leader in the industry, emphasizing consumer experience, compliance, and innovative legal solutions.
Beyond his expertise in real estate law, Jaime has been a key figure in the development of eClosings and remote notarization, serving on the North Carolina Department of Secretary of State eClosing Advisory Committee. His contributions were instrumental in shaping the North Carolina Remote Electronic Notarization Act, positioning him as a thought leader in the evolution of digital real estate transactions. While at BK LAW, Jaime was responsible for the development, implementation and maintenance of the BK LAW compliance management program which has formed the backbone of the Type 2 SOC 2 Audit which BK Law has maintained for the past 10 years. This CMP was critical when BK LAW was destroyed by a Fire and later had to adjust for the COVID pandemic.
Jaime remains a respected figure in the REO space, maintaining strong industry relationships since 2003. He is known for his strategic insights, creative problem-solving, and commitment to delivering top-tier legal services to clients ranging from residential real estate investors to institutional lenders.
Outside of law, Jaime is a dedicated advocate for streamlined real estate processes and technological advancements in the legal field. His leadership and forward-thinking approach continue to shape the industry’s future.
Before transitioning to law, Jaime built a career as a professional photographer and sports agent in the NASCAR, INDYCAR, and IMSA sports car industries. His deep-rooted connections in motorsports continue to influence his legal work, blending his passion for the industry with his expertise in transactional law. And he fully reengaged as a professional photographer in the NASCAR and IndyCar industry.
Jenny Martin
SVP and Chief Business Development Officer
Futura Title & Escrow
Jenny Martin
SVP and Chief Business Development Officer
Futura Title & Escrow
Jenny Martin is senior vice president, chief business development officer and national division manager for Futura Title & Escrow in Boise, Idaho. In her role, she oversees corporate business development and marketing services for a network of more than 70 offices and five brands in addition to national division sales and operations. With a career spanning more than 30 years in the title industry, Martin has held key operational, business development and management roles, demonstrating a commitment to the industry with a passion for growth.
Jenny holds leadership roles in several American Land Title Association (ALTA) groups, including board member of the ALTA Good Deeds Foundation, secretary of the Abstracters and Title Insurance Agents Section Executive Committee, co-chair of the ALTA Registry Committee, co-chair of the ALTA Membership Retention Sub-Committee, and member of the ALTA Membership Committee.
In addition to her leadership within the title industry, Martin is an active volunteer in her community, serving on the Board of Directors and Downtown Development Force for the Treasure Valley YMCA in Boise.
Jenny graduated from Boise State University with a degree in Business Administration. Outside of work, Jenny enjoys spending time with family and friends and participating in many of the outdoor activities that the Northwest has to offer.
Brie McDaniel
Founder & Owner
Title Insurance Consultants
Brie McDaniel
Founder & Owner
Title Insurance Consultants
Brie McDaniel is a seasoned professional with over twenty years of experience in the title industry, specializing in operations, technology implementation, and strategic consulting. She is the founder & owner of Title Insurance Consultants, serving title companies, underwriters, and ancillary service providers throughout the United States.
Working with diverse clients ranging from small agencies to Fortune 500 companies, she uses her expertise in operations, underwriting, compliance, technology, and sales to guide companies through optimizing their operations, mergers & acquisitions, and updating technology.
She excels in implementation and optimization of production software programs. Using her skills she develops proactive procedures and technology solutions to enhance operational efficiency and accuracy. Brie is a strategic planner that can execute in high-growth environments. Operational assessment and talent management also fall in her core competencies.
Brie is known for her ability to assess individuals, teams, and organizations with precision, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and compliance through the strategic use of employee talent and technology. Currently based in Maryland, she continues to drive innovation and excellence in the title industry.
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.
Dave Nichols
VP – Western Michigan Division
Lighthouse Title Group
Dave Nichols
VP – Western Michigan Division
Lighthouse Title Group
Dave Nichols is the Vice President at Lighthouse Title Group and President of LTA-America’s One. He oversees the Western Michigan Division of Lighthouse Title Group, which comprises 25 branches and 12 unique title agency brands. Prior to his current roles, Dave was the owner and President of America’s One Title, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which he founded in 2006.
Dave began his career in the title business in 1993 while in college, working as a courier for a local title office. He remained in the industry and later earned a bachelor’s degree from Davenport University. Over his 30+ year career, he has worked for both a national underwriter and small agencies and considers himself a serial entrepreneur. He founded an escrow consulting firm, a title agency, and a mobile notary company. Currently, he serves on the boards of the HBA of Greater Grand Rapids and the HBA Foundation.
Dave enjoys serving at his church and volunteering for Operation Christmas Child/Samaritan’s Purse. He is an avid Detroit Red Wings hockey fan, enjoys traveling, and loves spending time with his family, especially outdoors hiking or boating.
Wendy Penn
VP, Affordable Housing Initiatives
Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)
Wendy Penn
VP, Affordable Housing Initiatives
Mortgage Bankers Assocation (MBA)
Wendy Penn is Vice President, Affordable Housing Initiatives, at the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), where she provides strategic leadership in advancing innovative solutions to housing affordability challenges nationwide. In this role, Wendy leads CONVERGENCE, MBA’s flagship initiative focused on increasing home-ownership through place-based partnerships and systemic change. She oversees CONVERGENCE’s local market programs and directs the CONVERGENCE Collaborative—a nonprofit coalition of leading industry stakeholders committed to bridging the information, trust, market, and resource gaps that limit access to sustainable home-ownership. Wendy is a member of the National Housing Conference’s National Advisory Council, and the Up for Growth Action Board. She holds an MS degree in Management from the University of Maryland Global Campus, and a BS in Communications from James Madison University.
Cartree Pettis II
Director of Product Implementation
Ardán
Cartree Pettis II
Director of Product Implementation
Ardán
Cartree Pettis II is a seasoned technology and operations leader with deep roots in both the real estate and fintech sectors. Currently serving as Director of Product Implementation at GridBase, he drives the strategic deployment of complex technology solutions across client ecosystems. His work bridges the gap between engineering, compliance, client success, and data teams, ensuring enterprise-grade delivery aligned with regulatory standards and client satisfaction. Cartree’s leadership in scaling enterprise PMO governance and optimizing implementation frameworks reflects a passion for process innovation and a commitment to delivering measurable results.
With a strong program and project management foundation honed through pivotal roles at Westcor Land Title Insurance and United Launch Alliance, Cartree brings over a decade of experience leading cross-functional teams and launching transformative IT initiatives. His previous work as an IT Project Manager involved modernizing the Salesforce ecosystem, deploying custom tech stacks, and building analytical dashboards that empowered business decisions across multi-million-dollar portfolios. Combined with his early entrepreneurial ventures as a licensed realtor, Cartree offers a unique blend of technical acumen and industry insight that enables him to execute at the intersection of real estate operations and digital transformation.
Francis “Trip” Riley
Partner
Saul Ewing LLP
Francis 'Trip' Riley
Partner
Saul Ewing LLP
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.
Mary Schuster
Chief Knowledge Officer
October Research, LLC
Mary Schuster
Chief Knowledge Officer
October Research, LLC
Her unique career spans more than 25 years in the industry as a Closing Officer and Agency Manager, Corporate Marketing Director, Software Specialist and regulatory expert. She is a nationally recognized speaker to groups of title & settlement providers, lenders, realtors and attorneys.
While she didn’t set out to become a regulatory nerd, RESPA Reform and later TRID provided an opportunity to blend her talents in industry, software and education, when Mary helped lead title and settlement companies through learning and implementing those changes.
She recently moved to Galena IL, where she lives with her partner Dan and their two doggies, Grace and Shelby.
Amy Shaftlein
Executive Director
United Housing Inc./ Convergence Memphis
Amy Shaftlein
Executive Director
United Housing Inc./ Convergence Memphis
Amy joined United Housing’s team in 2018 with a vision to carry on the organization’s legacy of providing economic self-sufficiency, increase financing options for families and build new homes in Memphis market. With a master’s in urban anthropology from the University of Memphis, and a wealth of knowledge gained by her previous work in community development and at the Tennessee Housing and Development Agency to guide her, Amy has brought United into its 30th year by helping over 4,500 individuals find their dream of homeownership and financial stability. Amy sits on the board of the Community Redevelopment Agency, BLDG Memphis, National NeighborWorks Association, and advisory council for Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati.
Bart Shaw
Sales & Marketing
Knox-Title
Bart Shaw
Sales & Marketing
Knox-Title
Bart joined the Knox-Title family in February 2022 as part of the Lenders Title Company leading operations in his home market of Central Arkansas. Working with the dynamic-high talent team, this market has grown exponentially and currently captures roughly one-third of the market share.
Additionally, Bart leads sales efforts across many of the Knox brands including supporting growth initiatives in the Chicago and New Orleans markets.
Prior to joining Knox-Title, he served on the executive leadership team of a regional title company as Director of Sales & Marketing overseeing business development strategy, leading corporate level marketing initiatives, and driving a coordinated sales effort in over 24 locations. Prior to the executive role, Bart started with the company in the summer of 2014 as North Central Arkansas Area Manager overseeing the highest volume single closing office as well as leading expansion into new markets.
Additionally, he is frequently an adjunct instructor for the University of Central Arkansas College of Business over the past 15 years.
Bart resides in Conway, AR with his wife, Rachel, and eight-year-old daughter, Georgia.
Kate Steineman
SVP, Business Execution Senior Manager
Wells Fargo Home Lending
Kate Steineman
SVP, Business Execution Senior Manager
Wells Fargo Home Lending
Kate Steineman is Senior Vice President, Business Execution Senior Manager within the Business Initiatives and Global Support team at Wells Fargo Home Lending. She is accountable for the Assumptions Product Support Team as well as the team that supports all business strategic initiatives, procedure, and process updates for all of Home Lending Operations as well as Industry Outreach and Change Management protocols. She has been with Wells Fargo for 26 years and has held positions in Sales, Sales Management, Vendor Management, Implementation, Risk, Customer Excellence, Relationship Management, Title and Settlement Strategy, and her current role.
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, ECOA, Fair Housing Act, and other administrative and regulatory compliance laws. He advises banks, mortgage lenders, title insurance agencies and underwriters, law firms, property & casualty insurance agencies, 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 University of Illinois at Chicago’s Center for Real Estate Law with an LLM. His commitment to excellence in the field has earned him recognition as a Trendsetter by The Title Report.
A sought-after speaker and thought leader, Sterbcow continues to shape the industry’s response to emerging regulatory challenges, pioneering innovative legal strategies in this rapidly evolving landscape.
Kay Underwood-Zach
Owner
Title Insurance Consultants
Kay Underwood-Zach
Owner
Title Insurance Consultants
Kay Underwood-Zach transforms title insurance operations by bridging the gap between traditional practices and modern innovation. With over 30 years of experience spanning every level of the business, she began her career in Colorado in 1992 before spending two decades with a national underwriter, ultimately serving as Colorado Escrow Operations Manager.
Since 2015, Kay has worked as an independent consultant, partnering with title agencies and law firms nationwide to revolutionize their operations. She specializes in creating seamless integrations between software solutions and established workflows, guiding organizations through complex mergers and acquisitions, and building sustainable operational frameworks that stand the test of time. Her expertise in SoftPro, Qualia, and other industry-leading platforms enables her to maximize technology investments while preserving institutional knowledge.
Kay’s distinctive approach combines technical precision with exceptional change management skills. She has a rare talent for securing buy-in across all organizational levels while implementing strategic improvements that enhance both operational efficiency and employee satisfaction. Her comprehensive understanding of title insurance operations, coupled with her ability to identify hidden productivity barriers, makes her an invaluable partner in transforming traditional title agencies into modern, efficient organizations.
Greg Yeager
Director, Simplifile Sales
ICE Mortgage Technology
Greg Yeager
Director, Simplifile Sales
ICE Mortgage Technology
Greg Yeager is an accomplished leader in the financial services industry, bringing over 20 years of expertise to his role as Director of Simplifile Sales and Business Development at ICE Mortgage Technology. As a sales leader, he specializes in Know Your Customer (KYC) processes, fraud prevention, and compliance, playing a pivotal role in ensuring the security and integrity of Simplifile’s products.
Having been instrumental in shaping Simplifile’s product strategy in his prior role, Greg was a driving force behind the development of the platform’s lender-focused tools and eSign capabilities, which enhance efficiency and scalability for mortgage and title professionals.
With deep domain expertise in compliance, technology integration, and process innovation, Greg offers clear strategies for fostering trust and reducing risk in today’s title transactions. His proven leadership and technical insights make him a sought-after voice in the industry, particularly for leveraging technology to optimize processes, improve operational efficiency, enhance compliance measures, and implement forward-thinking solutions to meet market challenges head-on.
Tracy Zobel
EVP, Client Experience
Rocket Close
Tracy Zobel
EVP, Client Experience
Rocket Close
Tracy Zobel With over 30 years of experience in the mortgage industry, Tracy Zobel has built a distinguished career encompassing Servicing, Originations, Title, Settlement, and Appraisal. Her extensive expertise and multifaceted background reflect a deep understanding of the mortgage ecosystem. Driven by a passion for creating seamless experiences, Tracy is committed to removing friction for both clients and team members. Her dedication to innovation and efficiency continues to shape exceptional service standards across the industry.