For the fifth year, October Research, LLC, presented its annual awards for leadership, innovation and philanthropy, with some of the brightest stars in the title industry recognized for their work.
CEO and Publisher Erica Meyer presented the awards Tuesday at the 12th annual National Settlement Services Summit (NS3) in Charlotte, N.C. Mary Schuser, the chief product officer and executive vice president of regulatory affairs for RamQuest, was presented the leadership award. Dan Sogorka, the president of RealEC Technologies, a division of Black Knight Financial Services, was presented the innovation award. And Tali Raphaely, the president of Armour Settlement Services, was presented the philanthropy award.
The industry has continued to evolve and grow in the five years since we began presenting these awards,” Meyer said. "We established this program to recognize the highest standard of professional achievement in the settlement services industries, and today we honor three more talented individuals in our industry. Along with the honorees before them, these individuals have demonstrated their dedication to the success of our industry."
2016 Leadership Award
The epitome of outreach in the industry, Schuster grew up as the daughter of two teachers, helping to foretell her future occupation. She has been involved in the settlement services industry for 18 years, starting as a closing officer and growing through the ranks of agency management, marketing and consulting.
In her role with RamQuest, Schuster has taken the leadership she provides to her own companies and spread it throughout the title and settlement services industry. Whether at a conference or on webinars, at home or in Washington, Schuster is active in lending her voice to issues affecting the industry, and working to help all members of it learn and better understand the jobs with which they have been assigned.
Schuster is an original member of ALTA’s RESPA Implementation Task Force and serves on the association’s TRID Implementation Task Force as well.
2016 Innovation Award
Few innovations have affected the title industry as much as the one which Sogorka helped create – Closing Insight. Sogorka has been in the industry for 17 years, starting with Fidelity National Financial before moving to RealEC Technologies in 2002, and becoming an executive officer in 2006.
As Closing Insight evolved its integration with Black Knight Financial Services’ loan origination system, Empower, it was Sogorka who envisioned an advisory committee that included executives from lenders, underwriters, title agents, software providers and trade associations. Their input helped spur the portal framework that Closing Insight launched in conjunction with the new TRID process. Although still early in the process of implementation, the idea of a technology platform which would unite all players in the mortgage lending process – much as the new TRID regulations have enhanced the partnerships needed between each of the players – is a foundation which has been used throughout the lending industry.
2016 Philanthropy Award
Raphaely has spent 13 years in the industry and is also the founder and CEO of the Discrimination Free Zone Foundation, a nonprofit social movement with the mission of ending discrimination nationwide. Supporters pledge not to discriminate against others based on race, color, gender, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, age or disability, and also informs other that they will not participate in discriminatory behavior.
Pledges are able to be shared through social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter while creating a forum to share stories and unite in solidarity. In addition, products are available for people to display their “Discrimination Free Zone” message in the hopes that people who want to spread insensitive and ignorant language will find they no longer have a willing audience.