Janice Sand

BOULDER, Colo. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Floify, the mortgage industry's leading point-of-sale (POS) solution, today announced that Sydney Barber, head of product, has received a 2025 Mortgage Star Award. The Mortgage Star awards honor exceptional women in the mortgage and housing finance industry who demonstrate leadership, innovation and a commitment to advancing the profession.

NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Argyle, a service provider automating income, employment and asset verifications for some of the largest lenders in the United States, has been honored with PROGRESS in Lending's inaugural Game Changer award. The recognition celebrates technology providers whose products solve real industry challenges and improve the mortgage lending process.

NEW YORK, N.Y. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- We are pleased to announce that GGAssist GamiMate is now available. As a customized software for gamers, GamiMate is able to communicate with players in-game and discuss strategies. Who says AI teammates are not as good as real teammates? GamiMate will crush that statement!

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah and ATLANTA, Ga. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Arcasa, a provider of solar-integrated mortgage solutions, and Down Payment Resource, the housing industry's leading technology for connecting homebuyers with homebuyer assistance programs, today announced that Arcasa's Energy-Smart DPA program is now listed nationwide in Down Payment Resource's DPA Directory. Energy-Smart DPA combines a market-rate home loan with energy-efficient upgrades, giving homebuyers a single, streamlined path to both homeownership and long-term utility savings.

BOULDER, Colo. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Floify, the mortgage industry's leading point-of-sale (POS) solution, announced today that its no-code Dynamic Apps engine has been selected as the first-ever Game Changer Award recipient by PROGRESS in Lending. The technology tailors every loan application to a borrower's exact purpose while ensuring airtight compliance.

DENVER, Colo. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- ACES Quality Management® (ACES), the leading provider of enterprise quality management and control software for the financial services industry, today announced the promotion of two internal compliance leaders: Amanda Phillips to general counsel and executive vice president of compliance, and Savannah Prout to associate vice president of compliance.

PLANO, Texas /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Optimal Blue today released its June 2025 Market Advantage mortgage data report showing total lock volume rose 1.95% month-over-month (MoM), driven by increased refinance activity. Refinance share climbed from 16% to 18% of all locks as rate-and-term refinances jumped 17.4% MoM and 18.4% year-over-year (YoY). Cash-out refinances rose 8.1% from May and nearly 28% YoY.

PANAMA CITY, Panama /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Plait, the web platform that converts wearable metrics into precision nutrition (10,000+ meal plans generated to date), today introduced its AI Nutrition Coach, the first solution designed to adapt meal plans in real time to WHOOP® data. Core workout, strain and sleep metrics are pulled directly from WHOOP's API, while WHOOP webhooks push fresh recovery scores the moment they're available-triggering immediate adjustments so users always know what to eat next.

SEATTLE, Wash. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- It's been 250 years since the first tax revolution. Media Arts Institute, a Seattle-based media company, has just released a new book, "Tax Revolution 2.0, Let's Get Rid of the Income Tax" (ISBN: 979-8288643385; paper) by media consultant and researcher Rich Germaine.

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 its Senior Vice President of Human Resources Katie Smith has been named a 2025 HousingWire Woman of Influence. The national award recognizes her exceptional leadership, commitment to company culture and impact on the fintech and mortgage lending industry.

PHOENIX, Ariz. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- The Black Chamber of Arizona, in partnership with the Millionaire Mastermind Academy, will kick off the third cohort of its signature Impact AZ 2025 business accelerator with a full-day launch event Tuesday, July 8, at the Better Business Bureau Innovation & Event Hub Center in Phoenix.

VICTORIA, B.C. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Tony Cond, a retired Royal Canadian Navy Marine Systems Engineer and lifelong sailor, shares a collection of personal stories in his new book, "Rigged: The Misadventures of a Classic Wooden Sailboat" (ISBN: 978-1779622808), released June 2025 through Tellwell Publishing. The book captures decades of misadventures, quiet triumphs, and family traditions centered around a classic 1947 wooden boat named Rufus.

CLEVELAND, Ohio /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Top mortgage industry webcast The Big Picture, broadcast live every Thursday at 3 p.m. ET, has unveiled its July guest lineup featuring five impressive leaders who will explore the power of analytics, interpret public policy signals, unpack the barriers to home ownership and deliver pragmatic capital markets perspective. Co-hosted by mortgage business consultant and executive coach Rich Swerbinsky and capital markets authority Rob Chrisman, author of the widely read Chrisman Commentary newsletter, the webcast delivers timely, thought-provoking conversations with mortgage professionals, innovators and thought leaders.

TROY, Mich. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Class Valuation, a leading real estate appraisal management company (AMC), announced today that Executive Vice President, Head of Operations Melinda (Mindy) Lesinski has been named to HousingWire's 2025 Women of Influence list. HousingWire's Women of Influence program was launched in 2010 to recognize women making notable contributions to both their businesses and the industry at large, with a specific focus on contributions during the most recent 12 months.

NEW YORK, N.Y. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- As Americans gear up to celebrate Independence Day, StarknightMT is saluting the spirit of freedom with unbeatable deals for off-road enthusiasts. The company recently announced the launch of its 4th of July Sale, running from June 28 through July 10. And the excitement doesn't end there-StarknightMT' s Prime Day Sale kicks off July 5, bringing more deals to fuel your next adventure.

LEXINGTON, Ky. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- In a world captivated by billion-dollar headlines and corporate giants, a new book turns the spotlight to the real engines of economic and social change: small business owners. Bestselling author David Grau Sr., JD, launches his newest and most important work, "Changing the World... Through Small Business Stewardship" (ISBN: 979-8991262996), now available worldwide in paperback and Ebook formats via Amazon and major online distributors.

ORLANDO, Fla. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Cole Engineering Services, Inc. (CESI), a By Light Company, has been awarded a $62 million production contract by the U.S. Army's Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation (PEO STRI) to deliver more than 100 Stinger Training Systems (STS) over the next five years.

FORT COLLINS, Colo. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Street Media Group, a leading out-of-home advertising provider in northern Colorado, has been awarded a multi-year contract with the City of Fort Collins, Colorado. The agreement allows Street Media Group to market and sell out-of-home advertising space on Transfort's public transit amenities, including buses, bus stop shelters, and bus stop benches.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Dark Matter Technologies (Dark Matter®), an innovative leader in mortgage technology, today announced it has established an integration with Uniform Collateral Data Portal® (UCDP®), a single portal jointly maintained by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the GSEs). This expansion positions Dark Matter as an early adopter of the technology needed to support the Uniform Appraisal Dataset (UAD) 3.6 and Forms Redesign initiative.

SEATTLE, Wash. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- The National Pygmy Goat Association (NPGA) is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 Champion Challenge held in Porterville, California June 20, 2025. Hosted by the Sequoia Pygmy Goat Association, How the West Was Won National Convention brought together the best animals from across the country for a chance to claim the top honor of national champion.