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2 Turning the Page on 2022 As we wrap up the year that was 2022 and enter 2023, we move onward with a sense of hope and renewed sense of confidence in the mortgage servicing space. As the pandemic overtook the industry and has let up slightly on its grip over the past 12 months, we endured unprecedented times and have come out the other side wiser, more educated, and ready to tackle any hurdles thrown our way. As the landscape of the servicing space continues to evolve, a recent Five Star webinar dissected the challenges of managing a subservicer relationship, the evolution of the industry, what to look for in fees, and the pitfalls involved in transferring loans. In our December 2022 issue of DS News, Phil Britt, in his story "Finding the Right Fit," shares perspectives from Donny Atkins, Jr., Director of Servicing for e Money Store; Chris Sabbe, SVP of Sales for PHH Mortgage; and Seth Sprague, Director of Consulting Services for Richey May on the topics of delinquencies, foreclosures, and other servicing-facing issues. Shifting gears a bit, Rachel Richardson, Content Manager for Rent., takes a deeper look at what can property owners can learn from e-commerce giants such as Amazon in her aptly titled article, "What Property Owners Can Learn From E-Commerce Giants." As much as technology has eased most of the way we do things today, as Richardson describes, the element of the human touch must be present. She highlights three critical factors in searching for a rental property tied to standard online shopping habits: customer service; availability and ease of access; and community engagement. Many seek a fresh start to a new year, and this month, Wendy Lee, Chief Legal Officer at Sagent, brings us the article "Uncovering Diamonds in the Rough." Talent acquisition and talent retention is key no matter what time of the year, and Lee discusses how properly cultivating talent will make them an ideal employee for life. Also this month, Jim Albertelli, CEO of Voxtur, discusses four ways to drive innovation and change during the industry's leaner times in his feature, "Opportunity Amid Adversity." As Albertelli states, "History has proven that times of turmoil are cauldrons for revolutionary thinking," its times of trouble that produce innovative and dynamic results as a result of new challenges faced by the industry. In "Managing 'Buy vs. Build,'" Clarifire's Jane Mason explains why the traditional mindset that servicers either need to buy technology or build it themselves has handcuffed the industry'sdigital growth, and how to break free of this view. We at DS News would like to wish you and your family a very happy and healthy holiday season. We look forward to new beginnings in 2023, including a very special announcement in the coming weeks from DS News as well. Embrace change and relish in innovation as a new year brings new beginnings and the opportunity to get 2023 off on the right foot in a positive direction. David Wharton Editor-in-Chief VOL. 20 NO. 12 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF David Wharton MANAGING DIGITAL EDITOR Eric C. Peck REPORTERS Kyle G. Horst, Demetria Lester MAGAZINE CONTRIBUTORS Jim Albertelli Phil Britt Wendy Lee Jane Mason Rachel Richardson COPY EDITOR Brandy Scott ADVERTISING Sales: 214.525.6700 EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD John Dunnery, VP, Government Loan Servicing, Mr. Cooper Benjamin Gottheim, Director, Mortgage Servicing Policy, Freddie Mac Michele Kryczkowski, SVP Operations, Distributed Retail, Planet Home Lending Alex McGillis, Senior Director, Product Development, The Answer, Quicken Loans Erik Schmitt, Managing Director, Origination Division, Chase Home Lending Douglas Whittemore, Head of Default Servicing, US Bank Jacob Williamson, VP Single-Family Collateral Risk Management, Fannie Mae Kim Yowell, EVP of Servicing, Fairway Independent Mortgage Servicing PRESIDENT & CFO Jonathan Hughes DESIGN Jordan Funderburk Jason Stone No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. ©2022 Five Star Global, LLC—All Rights Reserved This publication is intended to provide accurate, authoritative, and detailed information in regard to the subject matter covered. All written materials are disseminated with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal advice or other professional services. Under no circumstance should the information contained herein be relied upon as legal advice as it is designed to be a source of information only. DS News strongly encourages the use of qualified attorneys or other qualified experts with regard to the subject matter covered. DS News does not guarantee the accuracy of the information, and is not liable for any damages, losses, or other detriments that may result from the use of these materials. Follow DSNewsDaily on From Our Desk