A lot of technology ingenuity and utility from both lenders and vendors was recognized in Chicago recently when our sister publication Mortgage Technology gave out its 12th annual Technology Awards.
Two new awards, for harnessing mobile technology and for top online originator, were added this year to existing categories like the Release of the Year Award, the Fix-It Award and the Lasting Impact Award.
And while most of the categories recognize companies, either lenders or vendors, one category goes to a technology visionary. This year's winner of the Steve Fraser Award went to Nancy Alley, who has fought for e-mortgage and e-sign advances for more than 20 years, most recently at Xerox Mortgage Services.
The new category awards went to Zillow (Harnessing Mobile Award) and Quicken Loans (Online Originator Award). Zillow was recognized for its Zillow Mortgage Marketplace mobile app, while Quicken Loans got the nod for a comprehensive effort to use the Web to generate leads and convert them into closed mortgages. The 10X Award, given for exponential effect on mortgage technology, was won by Aklero Risk Analytics for its Q-Close Loan Quality Management Platform.
The Fix-It Award went to BlackBox Logic for its Crystal Logic Web interface and analytics program. The Green Lender Award went to Starkey Mortgage, not just for paperless processes but also energy-saving initiatives.
Cogent QC Systems took the Lasting Impact Award for enduring impact in the area of quality control. Doc Velocity won the Release of the Year Award for a new version of its electronic document management system.
ServiceLink LoanCare Servicing got the nod for the Servicer of the Year Award. The company, a unit of Fidelity National Financial, handles both performing and nonperforming subservicing tasks for 80 companies.
The Synergy Award went to Equifax and Interthinx, for integrating Equifax's Undisclosed Debt monitoring into Interthinx's FraudGuard.
Congratulations to all these winners and the winners of the special commendations in each category. We're happy to have stuck in with the mortgage technology niche, recognizing innovation in both good and bad times. That's why we are also happy to be reviving our Mortgage Technology Conference, which we are holding in Miami Nov. 14-16. More lenders and vendors will be on display in the conference sessions and exhibit halls to show off the very latest in mortgage technology.
