Janice Sand

PLANO, Texas /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Optimal Blue today released its August 2025 Market Advantage mortgage data report, which found a sharp split between purchase and refinance trends as seasonal factors and falling rates reshaped origination activity. Total lock volume dipped about 2% month over month (MoM) as a roughly 10% drop in purchase locks outweighed the strongest month for rate-and-term refinances this year, which surged nearly 70%.

WASHINGTON, D.C. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- In a world where disruption is constant and crises can strike without warning, a new book by crisis management expert Edward Segal offers a timely roadmap for organizations, leaders, and public figures who want to be prepared for the inevitable. "The Crisis Casebook: Lessons in Crisis Management from the World's Leading Brands" (ISBN: 978-1399822381; hardcover) is published by John Murray Business.

PHOENIX, Ariz. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Autism Life and Living (ALL) today announced the launch of the Celebrity Paddle Battle 2025, a premier table tennis fundraiser set for Friday, November 1, 2025, in Phoenix, Arizona. The event will bring together celebrities, athletes, business leaders, and community members to raise much needed funds for Oak Tree Ranch, a first-of-its-kind independent living community for adults with autism and intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD).

MCLEAN, Va. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Holzman Laser Vision, led by nationally renowned refractive surgeon Dr. Andrew Holzman, MD, FACS, is proud to be the first practice to bring the Wavelight® Plus procedure - the latest advancement in laser vision correction - to patients across the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia area.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- ReLogic Research today announced the launch of ReLogic3D, a new distribution and solutions company making high-precision 3D scanning technology more accessible to U.S. industries. ReLogic3D is proud to serve as the exclusive U.S. partner of SMARTTECH3D METROLOGY, a European based, industry leader known for its high-quality structured-light systems.

NEW YORK, N.Y. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Vmake, a leading AI Talking video editor, introduced a new tool, "Auto Generated Captions," designed to integrate real-time captions, and it is worth the hype. Powered by AI, it helps businesses and creators to add and customize subtitles for videos in a few clicks. The tool is web-based and can help you add auto-generated captions in any language.

LISLE, Ill. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Enkaytech, a trusted name in enterprise integration and cloud solutions, is helping forward-thinking businesses retire Microsoft BizTalk Server - without the stress, downtime, or complexity that often comes with legacy system transitions.

GLENDALE, Ariz. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- The Black Chamber of Arizona has announced its 27th Anniversary Pinnacle Pathways Gala, to be held Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, at the Sheraton Glendale Renaissance Ballroom. The event will be presented by Arizona State University and Arizona Public Service.

SEATTLE, Wash. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Friday Harbor, an AI-powered platform that helps loan officers assemble complete and compliant loan files in real time, today announced its new integration with the Encompass® loan origination system (LOS) from ICE Mortgage Technology, part of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE: ICE), a leading global provider of data, technology and market infrastructure. Built using ICE's latest Developer Connect API framework for mortgage technology, the integration enables seamless use of Friday Harbor within the Encompass environment.

ADDISON, Texas /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Click n' Close, a multi-state mortgage lender, today announced the launch of its SmartBuy 5/1 ARM Down Payment Assistance (DPA) product, designed specifically to help home builders address affordability concerns and support new home sales.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. /New York Netwire/ -- Mobilfy is proud to announce that David "Dave" Terlizzi joins the company on Tuesday, September 2, 2025 as Director of SMB & Mid-Market Sales. In this new role, Dave will lead Mobilfy's expansion in the SMB and mid-market segment, driving growth strategies and partner engagement to strengthen the company's position as the premier master agent for T-Mobile for Business.

MARLTON, N.J. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- After helping more than 15 million people worldwide discover their personality style, Merrick Rosenberg - entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and the creative force behind the popular "bird" framework of personality - announces the release of his groundbreaking new book, "Personality Intelligence: Master the Art of Being You (For Your Sake and Everyone Else's)" (ISBN: 978-1959554080; hardcover), available now.

ATLANTA, Ga. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Down Payment Resource (DPR), the housing industry's leading technology for connecting homebuyers with homebuyer assistance programs, today announced that founder and CEO Rob Chrane has been named a 2025 HousingWire Vanguard. The prestigious award recognizes C-level executives whose leadership reshapes the housing economy and drives meaningful progress in mortgage and real estate.

BUFFALO, N.Y. /New York Netwire/ -- LenderLogix, a leading provider of mortgage point-of-sale and automation software for banks, credit unions, independent mortgage banks and brokers, today announced its founder and CEO Patrick O'Brien has been recognized as a 2025 HousingWire Vanguard. The award honors C-suite professionals and business leaders whose vision and leadership are driving the housing industry forward across lending, servicing, investments, and real estate.

ADDISON, Texas /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Click n' Close, a multi-state mortgage lender, today announced that its Chief Operations Officer, Kara Lamphere, has been named a 2025 HousingWire Vanguard. The award recognizes C-suite professionals and business leaders whose vision and leadership are driving the housing industry forward across lending, servicing, investments and real estate.

AUSTIN, Texas /New York Netwire - National News/ -- FirstClose™, Inc., a leading fintech provider of data and workflow solutions for mortgage and home equity lenders nationwide, announced today that co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Tedd Smith has been named a 2025 HousingWire Vanguard.

TROY, Mich. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Class Valuation, a leading real estate appraisal management company (AMC), announced today that Chief Operations Officer Andrew Bough has been named a 2025 HousingWire Vanguard, a prestigious recognition honoring C-level executives whose leadership is advancing the housing and mortgage finance industry.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Dark Matter Technologies (Dark Matter®), an innovative leader in mortgage technology, announced today that Chief Product Officer Stephanie Durflinger has been named a 2025 HousingWire Vanguard. This prestigious recognition honors C-level executives whose leadership drives meaningful innovation and growth in the housing and mortgage finance industry.

HOUSTON, Texas /New York Netwire - National News/ -- NotaryCam®, a Stewart-owned company and a pioneering provider of remote online notarization (RON) and identity verification/authentication technology for real estate and legal transactions, today announced that President and CEO Brian Webster has been honored as a 2025 HousingWire Vanguard.

VICTORIA, B.C. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Kathy Forbes, a certified wedding and event planner with decades of experience, announces the release of her practical and refreshingly candid guidebook, "Wedding Planning: Five Easy Steps & The Secret to Pull it Together" (ISBN: 978-1779621962; June 2025). This indispensable wedding guide is designed to help couples plan with confidence, stay organized, and genuinely enjoy their big day - without getting overwhelmed.