October Research, publisher of The Title Report, The Legal Description, Valuation Review, RESPA News and Dodd Frank Update, announced that it is launching an awards program to honor men and women in the mortgage and settlement services industries for exemplary accomplishment in the areas of leadership, innovation and philanthropy.
The Joe Casa Awards for Leadership, Innovation and Philanthropy were named after the late founder of October Research. These prestigious awards will recognize the highest standard of professional achievement in the mortgage and settlement services industries. The awards will be presented to the winners each year during the National Settlement Services and Compliance Summit in Cleveland, Ohio, which is slated for June 12-13. Nominations can be made online by clicking here to fill out the brief questionnaire.
“Having worked with — and for — the talented men and women in the mortgage and settlement services industry over the past decade, we came to the conclusion that more needed to be done to honor the drive, talent and generosity that provides a critically important foundation not only for the mortgage industry, but also for the communities in which we work,” said Chris Casa, chief executive officer and co-founder of October Research.
Erica Meyer, owner and publisher of October Research, said she is looking forward to presenting the awards in June. “We are gratified to launch this awards program as a way to honor Joe’s memory and his legacy. We feel the National Settlement Services and Compliance Summit provides the perfect platform for highlighting the three aspects of this stellar industry that are so often hidden from the general population,” she said.
She also noted that as active members of their communities, mortgage professionals and settlement services providers have often, in myriad ways, supported their local communities through volunteer efforts, donations and philanthropic program development.
“These are the efforts we would like to honor through this awards program and through our new October Research Community site,” she said.
October Research launched the October Research Community in November 2011 to promote and bring awareness to efforts by individuals in the real estate, mortgage and settlement services industries to support their communities through volunteer efforts, fund raising and innovative program creation.
Eligibility
Nominations are open to anyone with a track record of accomplishment in the mortgage and settlement services industries.
Awards Criteria
An independent judging panel chosen by October Research will assess each entry, based on the following criteria:
Leadership
•How long has the nominee worked in the settlement services industry, and what positions has the nominee held?
•In what ways has the nominee demonstrated leadership within his or her company or organization over the course of his or her career?
•How has the mortgage or settlement services industry benefitted from the leadership the nominee has exhibited over the course of his or her career?
Innovation
•How significant has the nominee’s development and implementation of resources or programs been in advancing industry standards or best practices?
•Has the nominee adopted these best practices or standards within his or her own business or organization, and how successful has that effort been?
•Is the nominee helping further collaboration and thought leadership within the mortgage or settlement services industry?
Philanthropy
•How does the nominee exemplify a strong commitment to philanthropy, a positive impact on society, or to community or church organizations?
•What specific programs or projects has the nominee initiated or supported through his or her philanthropic efforts?
Nomination process
Click here to enter a nomination. For further information, contact Syndie Eardly, editorial director at [email protected] or by calling (330) 659-6101 ext. 6619.