TheMReport — News and strategies for the evolving mortgage marketplace.
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TH E M R EP O RT | 13 MCROWD ALLEN POLLACK Allen Pollack has joined fintech provider OpenClose in the newly created position of VP of Product Innovation. Pollack will assist OpenClose in continuing to expand the level of innovation invested in its customers and the industry to deliver business-altering products and processes, which align to the ever-changing digital lending landscape. "JP and I are delighted that Allen has joined the OpenClose team," said Jason Regalbuto, CEO and CTO at OpenClose. "We have competed and collaborated with Allen over the years. He has developed a reputation for innovative business and technology strategies in the fintech space. We are excited about working with him to grow and expand our product offerings and solutions into the future." DANIEL SOGORKA Cloudvirga has promoted Daniel Sogorka to CEO. Sogorka, who joined the company as Chief Revenue Officer in January 2019, has more than 20 years' experience in removing inefficiency and costs from the mortgage industry. "In a short period of time, Dan Sogorka has had a profound impact on Cloudvirga's growth, and he is without question the right person to take this company to the next level," said Mark Attaway, Co-Founder, Cloudvirga. "Already, he has built an expert sales and marketing team from the ground up, has filled our sales pipeline with the country's leading mortgage originators, and has been instrumen- tal in building out the technology partnerships required to realize Cloudvirga's digital mortgage vision." Prior to joining Cloudvirga, Sogorka was President of EXOS Technologies and EVP of Servicelink. LEGAL MARSHA BECKFORD SARA COLLINS BRIAN MERFELD LIZ MOHR PHIL SCHROEDER LISA WOODBURN McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce an- nounced that the following attorneys were named partner at the firm. Marsha Beckford, Connecticut Foreclosure, Hartford, Connecticut—Marsha Beckford is a Partner and prior Managing Attorney for the Connecticut Foreclosure group with McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC. Beckford oversees attorneys and staff in referrals and first legal, ensuring compliance with applicable statutes and regulations. Sara Collins, Florida Foreclosure, Orlando, Florida—Sara Collins is a Partner and prior Managing Attorney with McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC. Collins joined the firm when they opened the Florida office in November 2010. She focuses on uncontested foreclosures and manages the first legal department, including attorneys and staff. Brian Merfeld, Illinois Litigation, Chicago, Illinois—Brian Merfeld is a Partner and prior Senior Attorney with McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC. Merfeld specializes in foreclosure related litigation, association issues, and federal matters. He represents lenders as both a plaintiff's attorney and a defense attorney, with litigation experience in chancery actions, law division cases, and evictions. Liz Mohr, Illinois Foreclosure, Chicago, Illinois—As Partner and prior Managing Attorney of Illinois Foreclosure, Elisabeth Mohr focuses her practice primarily on the representa- tion of mortgagees and secured creditors in foreclosure cases pending in the Illinois Circuit Courts. Mohr also oversees the Illinois team of default foreclosure attorneys. Previously, Mohr represented mortgagees in foreclosure and bankruptcy litigation, including matters brought under federal and state regulations, in Illinois' state and federal courts. Phil Schroeder, Illinois Litigation, Chicago, Illinois—Phil Schroeder is a Senior Litigation Attorney with McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC. Schroeder represents national mortgage servicers as well as regional and local lenders. Attorney Schroeder handles all aspects of litigation for residential and commercial foreclo- sures, title curative actions, lien priority litigation, mechanics liens, forfeitures, and post-foreclosure disputes with contractors. In addition to this, Schroeder has significant experience in appeals securing favorable results for his clients. Lisa Woodburn, Florida Foreclosure, Fort Lauderdale, Florida—Lisa Woodburn is a Managing Attorney with McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC. Woodburn focuses her practice primarily on residential foreclosures in the state of Florida and manages the Florida foreclosure attorneys while providing support to the paralegals, and staff. Her 10-plus years' experience enables her to deliver the firm's client significant expertise and first-rate customer service. SAMMY HOODA Marinosci Law Group is proud to announce Sammy Hooda as the new Managing Attorney of its Texas office. Hooda brings a decade of mortgage servicing experience across all areas of the industry. He was named a 2019 "Super Lawyer" Texas Rising Star—a recognition limited to the top 2.5% of attorneys in the state. In 2018, Hooda was named one of the "Best Lawyers Under 40" by D Magazine—an accolade limited to Texas attorneys deemed excellent at their jobs by their peers. Prior to these awards in the practice of law, Hooda was the Valedictorian of his 2009 graduating law school class at Texas Southern University. Hooda is licensed in the States of Texas and Arizona, and has built a reputation as a litigator and advocate in the mortgage servicing industry. At MLG, Hooda will continue serving the needs of default industry clients while managing operations and litigating within MLG's Texas office. IN MEMORIAM REMEMBERING 'MARTI' ANDERSON Martha "Marti" Anderson, a veteran of the mortgage and service industry of more than three decades, passed away on July 16 in Idaho. She was 58. Anderson's career in the industry began in 1986 at First American Title in California. She served as VP of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage from 2001–2007 and was SVP and Director of REO Operations at National Default Servicing from 2008–2009. She also held positions at Freddie Mac, Berkshire Hathaway, and Hilltop Advisors before working as a consultant for the past five years. "Marti Anderson was a seasoned professional to those who worked with her and a caring friend for those lucky enough to have known her personally," said Ed Delgado, President & CEO, Five Star Global. "Her three-decade career exhibited class and an unwavering commitment to making this industry better. I offer my heartfelt condolences to her family and friends. She will be deeply missed." Delgado and Anderson were colleagues at Wells Fargo from 2003–2007, where they both worked as executives in the organization's mortgage servicing division. Anderson was born August 20, 1960, in Peoria, Illinois, spending most of her childhood along the Illinois River. She attended Bergen High School in Peoria and the University of Arizona at Tucson, before moving to San Diego, California, to start her career. Aside from her career in the mortgage industry, Anderson was an avid horseback rider, and she volunteered for several riding organizations for more than 20 years, including the Great and Small Organization, a Professional Association of Therapeutic Riding- certified riding center in Washington, D.C. Anderson is survived by her husband, Eric Anderson; her parents, Sandy and Wayne Flittner, her sister Debbie and her husband Brian; her nephew Christopher; and niece Carrie. "Her family will always treasure her quick wit, sense of humor, lighthearted tricks, and her never-ending love for her family and dear friends," read her obituary in the Jackson Hole News & Guide.