With Rich & Rob as co-hosts, You NEED Excellent Guests!
Guest/sponsor inquiries = [email protected]
Thursday February 13, 2025
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Laura Schmidt possesses extensive experience in enterprise risk, internal audit, and regulatory management within the financial services sector.
Currently serving as Senior Vice President of Enterprise Risk & Internal Audit for Rate, Laura has held various leadership roles, including Vice President of Regulatory Change & Issues Management at NOVA® Home Loans and Vice President of Quality Management. Additional experience includes positions such as Director of Internal Auditing and Compliance & Policy Management Manager. Laura's career commenced as a Senior Service Representative at BMO. Educational credentials include a Bachelor's Degree in Humanities/Humanistic Studies from the University of Arizona and coursework in Journalism and Spanish at the University of Missouri-Columbia. |
Thursday February 20, 2025
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Patrick O'Brien is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of LenderLogix, a leading provider of mortgage point-of-sale and automation software for banks, credit unions, independent mortgage banks, and brokers.
With over 15 years of experience as a residential mortgage banker at a large regional financial institution, Patrick has a deep understanding of the lender-realtor relationship and the intricacies of the mortgage process. His passion for process improvement and efficiency led him to co-found LenderLogix, where he has been instrumental in developing innovative solutions that enhance the digital borrower experience and streamline lender operations. Patrick is a graduate of the University at Buffalo and resides in Buffalo, New York. He remains actively involved in the local community and is committed to advancing the mortgage industry's technological landscape. |
Thursday February 27, 2025
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Jim Parrott is a nonresident fellow at the Urban Institute and owner of Parrott Ryan Advisors, which provides strategic advice on housing finance issues to financial institutions active in the primary and secondary mortgage market.
Before joining Urban in 2013, Parrott spent several years in the Obama White House as a senior adviser at the National Economic Council, where he led the team of advisers charged with counseling the cabinet and president on housing issues. He was on point for developing the administration’s major housing policy positions; articulating and defending those positions with Congress, the press, and public; and counseling White House leadership on related communications and legislative strategy. Before his time in the White House, Parrott was counsel to Secretary Donovan at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Before that, he was a litigator, first in New York with Sullivan and Cromwell, and later in North Carolina with Smith Anderson. |
Thursday March 6, 2025
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Stan Middleman is a highly respected leader in the financial services and mortgage industry, known for his entrepreneurial spirit and strategic vision. He is the founder and CEO of Freedom Mortgage Corporation, one of the largest and most innovative mortgage lenders in the United States.
Under his leadership, Freedom Mortgage has grown into a national powerhouse, consistently ranking as a top lender for VA, FHA, and USDA loans. His commitment to customer service, technological innovation, and affordable lending solutions has solidified his reputation as a transformative figure in the mortgage industry. In addition to his business accomplishments, Stan Middleman is also a dedicated supporter of the sports community as a minority owner of the Philadelphia Phillies. His involvement with the team highlights his passion for giving back to the community and supporting institutions that bring people together. Stan is widely regarded not only as a business leader but also as a philanthropist and mentor, known for fostering growth and innovation within the mortgage sector and beyond. |
Thursday March 20, 2025
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Chris Bennett began his career as a trader at the age of fifteen in the commodities futures markets, starting with a small stake he had saved up from mowing lawns in the neighborhood. After receiving his degree in Economics from the University of Michigan, Chris began a 30-year career in mortgage banking as a trader with a mid-sized bank and later as head of Capital Markets for a nationwide independent mortgage company.
In 2001 he founded the hedge advisory firm Vice Capital Markets, now in its third decade of service to mortgage lenders of all types and sizes across the country. Today, one in every fifteen mortgages originated in the US are traded by Vice Capital or hedged using its proprietary software. Chris has given numerous talks on current US and global economic conditions as well as Federal Reserve and other central bank monetary policies and implications for the future direction of interest rates. |
Thursday March 27, 2025
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Mike Tannenbaum is an accomplished finance executive with deep expertise in financial services, capital markets, and strategic leadership within the mortgage and fintech industries. As CFO of Figure Lending, he oversees financial strategy, risk management, and operational execution to support the company’s rapid growth and innovative approach to lending.
Mike’s extensive background includes managing large-scale financial portfolios, spearheading business transformations, and driving efficiency through tech-driven financial solutions. Prior to joining Figure Lending, he held leadership roles with major financial institutions where he was instrumental in implementing successful growth initiatives, optimizing financial performance, and enhancing profitability. At Figure, Mike is part of a team redefining lending through blockchain technology and next-generation financial products. Known for his data-driven decision-making and collaborative leadership, he plays a vital role in maintaining Figure Lending’s status as a market leader in fintech innovation. |
Thursday April 3, 2025
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Sean Dugan is a seasoned mortgage industry professional with over 25 years of experience. He currently serves as the Chief Revenue Officer at Dark Matter Technologies, a leading provider of mortgage technology solutions.
In this role, Sean has been instrumental in shaping the company's customer-centric culture and product offerings, focusing on delivering solutions that enhance operational efficiency for lenders. Known for his hands-on approach and commitment to client success, Sean listens to customers and values a variety of opinions, leading a team that emphasizes proactive responsiveness and problem-solving. In November 2024, Dark Matter Technologies announced that Sean will succeed current CEO Rich Gagliano as Chief Executive Officer, effective April 2025. This planned transition underscores the company's commitment to continuity and client success, with Sean poised to lead Dark Matter into its next chapter of innovation in mortgage technology. |
Thursday April 24, 2025
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Eric Lapin is the President of FormFree, a fintech company revolutionizing the mortgage industry by providing innovative solutions that enhance lender operations and expand consumer access to sustainable credit. With over 25 years of experience in leadership roles at prominent mortgage technology firms and financial institutions, Lapin has a deep understanding of mortgage lending and the technology ecosystem that powers it.
Prior to joining FormFree, he served as First Vice President of Corporate Development, National Agency Services at Old Republic Title, where he spearheaded the structuring of new solutions, corporate alliance building, and lender and agency business development. Throughout his career, Lapin has held vice president and managing director positions at notable housing fintechs and financial institutions, including Altisource, Black Knight, First American, and Credit Suisse. In his role at FormFree, Lapin is responsible for identifying, managing, and executing growth strategies, including overseeing business initiatives, identifying key capital projects, driving strategic partnership opportunities, and managing communications and marketing. |
Thursday May 15, 2025
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Shmulik Fishman is the founder and CEO of Argyle, the leading consumer-permissioned payroll connectivity platform. Argyle has built connectivity to over 90% of the U.S. labor market and is used by companies across industries such as mortgage, consumer lending, banking and proptech for verification of income and employment (VOIE).
In 2024, Shmulik was recognized as a Tech All-Star by the Mortgage Bankers Association for Argyle’s transformative impact on mortgage technology. Before Argyle, Shmulik co-founded STRATIM, a fleet management platform that raised $42M in venture funding before being acquired by NYSE-listed KAR Global (NYSE: KAR). Before STRATIM, Shmulik worked on the S1 team at Adap.tv during its IPO and subsequent acquisition by AOL. Shmulik has an undergraduate degree from Hampshire College, where he became a philosopher by training and a published author with his book Fiction of Value. Shmulik subsequently earned a business degree at Columbia University. |
Thursday June 5, 2025
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Rob Chrane is a visionary leader in the real estate and mortgage industries with more than 30 years of experience in driving innovation, improving homeownership accessibility, and fostering strategic partnerships. As the Founder and CEO of Down Payment Resource (DPR), Rob has made it his mission to bridge the gap between homebuyers and the down payment assistance programs that can make homeownership possible.
Under Rob’s leadership, DPR has become the industry’s go-to platform for matching eligible homebuyers with down payment assistance, grants, and affordable lending programs. His deep understanding of housing finance, combined with a passion for expanding homeownership opportunities, has led to numerous collaborations with lenders, real estate professionals, and housing agencies. Prior to launching DPR, Rob held senior positions at leading mortgage companies where he built high-performing teams, enhanced lending portfolios, and developed creative homeownership solutions. |