Janice Sand

TROY, Mich. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Class Valuation, a leading real estate appraisal management company (AMC), announced that it is one of the first AMCs to receive access to Collateral Underwriter® (CU®), Fannie Mae's proprietary appraisal risk assessment tool, marking a significant milestone for appraisal review and risk management.

GREEN, Ohio /New York Netwire - National News/ -- James Nisly, CPP, of Genevieve Nisly Photography has earned the Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) designation from Professional Photographers of America (PPA). Nisly earned this prestigious credential after completing an intensive program that measures artistic and technical competence.

PLANO, Texas /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Optimal Blue today announced it will host its 2027 Optimal Blue Summit February 1-3 at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona. The annual event convenes Optimal Blue clients, integration partners and capital markets leaders from across the mortgage industry for three days of insight, collaboration and forward-looking strategy.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Dark Matter Technologies (Dark Matter®), an innovative leader in mortgage technology, today announced the launch of a new capability on the Dark Matter Developer Platform, enabling lenders to use AI agents securely within the regulated mortgage environment.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- In a brutally honest and darkly humorous exploration of the film and television industry, veteran screenwriter Jim Agnew announces the release of "To Live and Write in LA: A Street-Level Guide to Surviving as a Screenwriter" (ISBN: 979-8218906696; published by Independent Global Solutions), brand partner Legacy Launch Pad Publishing announced today.

SEATTLE, Wash. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Friday Harbor, an AI pre-underwriting platform that helps loan officers assemble complete and compliant loan files in real time, today announced the launch of Income and Asset Sandbox, a new set of capabilities that allows lending teams to structure income and asset decisions in real time without committing changes prematurely or stepping outside program guidelines. The capabilities are designed to help loan officers structure deals that qualify and close earlier in the origination process.

PLANO, Texas /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Optimal Blue today announced Virtual Economist, the first on-demand forecasting tool for mortgage capital markets leaders powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML), as the centerpiece of nine platform advancements unveiled at the company's 2026 Summit. Together, the innovations further unify the capital markets profitability experience by connecting forecasting, pricing, hedging, competitive benchmarking and workflow execution within a single, end-to-end platform.

BANNOCKBURN, Ill., and NEW YORK, N.Y. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Vertyx, a provider of intelligent mortgage servicing technology built for enhanced portfolio performance, today announced it has partnered with Great Lakes Credit Union (GLCU), through its CUSO holding company GLCU Holdings LLC, to launch Vertyx CUSO LLC, a newly formed credit union service organization (CUSO) dedicated to transforming mortgage servicing with a member-first philosophy and shared, credit union focused technology.

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 40-year industry veteran Merri Jo Cowen, CEO of Stellar MLS, is the recipient of the 2025 Beverly Faull Affordable Housing Leadership Award.

LAKE ZURICH, Ill. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Dovenmuehle Mortgage, Inc., a leading mortgage subservicing company, today announced it has successfully completed its 2025 Service Organization Control (SOC) 1® Type 2 and SOC 2® Type 2 audits. The independent examinations, conducted by public accounting and business advisory firm Plante Moran, PLLC, confirm that Dovenmuehle's internal controls, operational processes and information security practices meet stringent standards for financial reporting integrity and the safeguarding of client data.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- As the demand for highly discreet aesthetic procedures continues to rise among executives and high-profile individuals, Natural Transplants, Hair Restoration Clinic, has been officially ranked the number one facility by Miami Living Magazine in its latest feature, "Florida's Top 6 Hair Restoration Clinics for Natural & Undetectable Results."

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 President and CEO Brian Webster has been honored by National Mortgage Professional (NMP) as a 2026 Industry Titan. The NMP Industry Titan award spotlights experienced mortgage professionals whose dedicated efforts drive the industry forward.

DENVER, Colo. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- ACES Quality Management® (ACES), a leading provider of enterprise quality management and control software for the financial services industry, announced today that CEO Trevor Gauthier has been named a 2026 Industry Titan by National Mortgage Professional (NMP). The Industry Titan Award recognizes mortgage professionals whose leadership, innovation and long-term contributions have shaped the industry.

TROY, Mich. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Class Valuation, a leading real estate appraisal management company (AMC), announced today that Chief Growth Officer Jon Tallinger has been named a 2026 Industry Titan by National Mortgage Professional (NMP).

AUSTIN, Texas /New York Netwire - National News/ -- FirstClose™, a leading fintech provider of data and workflow solutions for mortgage and home equity lenders nationwide, announced today that co-founder and Chief Growth Officer Tim Smith has been named a 2026 Industry Titan National Mortgage Professional (NMP). The Industry Titan Award recognizes mortgage professionals whose leadership, innovation and long-term contributions have shaped the industry.

BOULDER, Colo. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Floify, the mortgage industry's leading point-of-sale (POS) solution, today announced that Head of Sales Jason Mapes has been named an Industry Titan by National Mortgage Professional (NMP) for 2026. The Industry Titan designation recognizes individuals whose leadership and influence have helped shape the mortgage industry.

ADDISON, Texas /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Click n' Close, a multi-state mortgage lender, today announced that mortgage industry veteran Rachel Fatino has joined the company as director of correspondent operations. In this role, Fatino will lead pipeline strategy, operational performance and partner engagement initiatives to support continued growth across the correspondent channel.

LA VERNE, Calif. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Hillcrest, a senior living community in La Verne, Calif., is hosting nationally recognized solo aging expert Dr. Sara Zeff Geber, PhD, founder of LifeEncore, for an educational seminar focused on preparing solo agers for the future. The free event will take place on Thursday, Feb. 26, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and will cover legal and financial strategies for maintaining independence. A solo ager is defined as anyone, single or partnered, who does not have children or is aging alone for any reason.

MIAMI, Fla. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Black Friday, the most recognized and influential name in global retail, is officially expanding beyond a single day-offering banks, global retailers, technology platforms, and brands worldwide a new opportunity to win with the most powerful shopping identity ever created, Empire License, Inc. announced today.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- In recent years, Las Vegas has undergone a significant transformation in its real estate landscape, emerging as an attractive market for first-time home buyers, eXp Realty announced today. Historically known for its vibrant entertainment scene and rapid development, the city has experienced shifts in affordability, inventory, and economic stability that now make it an appealing choice for those purchasing their first home.