The home of automobiles and Motown music is also the host for the biggest National Settlement Services Summit (NS3) to date, featuring an expected record crowd of 700 attendees at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center.
Drawing attendees from coast to coast is a packed lineup featuring a live eClosing with remote online notarization, the CEO of the fifth-largest bank mortgage originator in the country, federal and state regulators, and much more.
Highlighting the program is Flagstar Bank President and CEO Alessandro DiNello. The CEO at Flagstar since 2013, he has served in a variety of roles over his career, including head of branch banking, retail product strategy and branch expansion. His business affiliations include membership on the board of directors of the Business Leaders of Michigan and the American Bankers Council of the American Bankers Association, and the company operates more than 100 bank branches in Michigan and California. The mortgage division has 92 retail locations, a wholesale network of more than 1,700 brokers and correspondent lenders in all 50 states.
The 14th annual NS3 opens its doors Wednesday beginning with a set of eClosing technology demonstrations, getting visitors prepared for eClosing-focused sessions and solutions to come.
Wednesday’s agenda locks in on compliance, kicking off with the CEO of Meridian Title, Mark Myers, making his first public appearance to discuss the company’s growth following a highly publicized enforcement action last fall. Myers will be joined on stage by attorney Francis “Trip” Riley and SoftPro’s Leslie Wyatt.
Following the passage of Congress’ regulatory reform bill two weeks ago, a session titled “Your Newest Regulator” will discuss the impact of Congress on compliance in the industry, featuring attorney Marx Sterbcow, Justin Wiseman of the Mortgage Bankers Association, and moderated by WFG’s Chuck Cain.
A session on the impact of New York state regulations follows, with Chris Gulotta and Benchmark Title Agency’s Jean Partridge taking attendees through the lessons and impacts of title and cybersecurity rulemaking in the state and how it may affect every state.
The day wraps up with a regulation panel featuring Illinois and Virginia state regulators, attorney Richard Horn and American Land Title Association CEO Michelle Korsmo.
The day closes with the Make a Child Smile community service event, followed by the Opening Night Reception and the Networking Nightcap.
Thursday kicks off with DiNello discussing the growth at Flagstar on his watch, as well as regulatory and business issues facing the industry today.
Breakout sessions follow, discussing the way title agents are driving revitalization in urban neighborhoods, using the broad data available to companies from UCD compliance, settlement agents perfecting closings with lenders, creating a stronger staff through diversity, RESPA compliance updates with Phillip Schulman, threats to escrow and winning sales strategies.
The day closes with two eClosing-focused sessions. First, the “Zero to eClosing” session discusses the rule of eNotarizations and legislative efforts in the space which are bringing the industry closer to eClosings. That session features Fannie Mae’s Shane Hartzler, Amrock’s Brian Hughes, Wells Fargo’s Brian Webster and attorney Jaime Kosofsky.
That’s followed by a live demonstration of an eClosing that features a remote online notarization. Members of Amrock, led by Hughes, lead attendees through the eClosing, with Simplifile’s Brian Boike and eOriginal’s Simon Moir on hand to provide additional insight.
The industry’s leading networking event, the annual Networking Reception, follows, with attendees treated to a night at Punch Bowl Social, filled with a Taste of Detroit, music from the area, and pedal pub tours of the revitalized downtown.
NS3 closes with a trio of power-packed sessions, starting with our annual underwriter panel. Stewart CEO Matt Morris appears for the first time on the NS3 stage, joined by Fidelity’s Steven Day, WFG’s Patrick Stone and First American’s Evan Zanic.
A session on cybersecurity follows, featuring Jon Miller Steiger of the Federal Trade Commission, BankUnited’s Tom Linehan and attorney Amelia Bower.
And on the heels of last year’s blockbuster session on Blockchain, NS3 closes with a session titled “Blockchain, Bitcoin and You,” showing how Blockchain is being used in the real estate industry, and how Bitcoin is being used in property sales. The Crypto Realty Group CEO Piper Moretti is joined by DXC Technology’s John Heck and title agent Matt Einheber for the technology-forward education.
On-site registration remains available, opening at 10 a.m. Wednesday, 7 a.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. Friday.