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2 0 2 5 F I V E S T A R C O N F E R E N C E & E X P O MortgagePoint ยป Your Trusted Source for Mortgage Banking and Servicing News 60 members could schedule meetings with asset managers to discuss the state of the industry and network in an intimate atmosphere. At the REO Asset Management Summit, presented by Xome, real estate professionals had the opportunity to discuss the challenges and opportuni- ties in today's low REO environment. The event included discussions about the current landscape of REO prop- erties, as experts in the REO space shared strategies on how to create more value and revenue by optimizing REO asset management, including effective handling of assignments, repairs, and closing processes. As advances in technology and ar- tificial intelligence (AI) change the face of the industry, Five Star's three-hour MTech Forum explored the dynamic intersection of mortgage and technol- ogy, spotlighting the tools, trends, and transformations reshaping the industry. Getting things underway at the MTech Forum was Scott Brinkley, CEO of a360inc, who outlined the agenda for the morning and delivered a state of the industry update to those in attendance. Brinkley introduced the first of three panels, "From Automation to Intelligence: Unlocking the Power of AI," to get things underway. A panel featuring Gagan Sharma, President & CEO of BSI Financial Services; Jacob Andra, CEO with Talbot West; Steve Holden, SVP-Single-Family Analytics & Modeling with Fannie Mae; Alex Verget, VP Business Services with Aspen Grove; and Renuka Kambli, Senior Partner Consulting-Lending and Payments with Cognizant explained how AI and machine learning (ML) are being applied across the mortgage lifecycle, from underwriting and fraud detection to borrower communication and portfolio management. The event was a lively discussion where real-world use cases were explained, along with regulatory considerations, and the risks and rewards of AI adoption in a highly regulated environment. As mortgage companies digitize more of their operations, the risks to data security and consumer trust grow exponentially. The second panel of the Forum, "Digital Gatekeepers: Defending Data in the Mortgage Space," assembled cybersecurity experts, legal advisors, and tech leaders exploring the evolving threat landscape, from ransomware and phishing to vendor vulnerabilities and AI-driven attacks. Panelists Ryan Bour- geois, Partner with Barrett Daffin Frap- pier Turner and Engel LLP; Michael Keaton, SVP, Technical Business Devel- opment with Onity Group; David Par- rish, CIO with Better Home and Finance Holding Company; and Jacob Andra, CEO with Talbot West shared their best practices for risk mitigation, regulatory compliance, incident response, and tip o how to build a cyber-resilient servicing and lending infrastructure. And as emerging technologies and solutions are redefining how mortgage lenders and servicers must operate, the final MTech Forum panel, "Disrupt or Be Disrupted: Embracing the Tech Revolution," highlighted cutting-edge innovations, from blockchain and digital closings to advanced analytics and customer experience platforms, that are driving efficiency, transparency, and competitive advantage. Subject matter experts, including James Curl, CIO with Xome; Michael Keaton, SVP, Technical Business Development with Onity Group; Rodney Cadwell, CEO with Quandis Inc.; Jacinta Lucey, VP of Business Services with Aspen Grove; Kate Mossop, VP Portfolio PO for Ser- vicing Products with Freddie Mac; and Keith Soura, VP of Engineering with Better Mortgage shared their success stories and discussed the challenges and advantages of implementing new tech- nologies across the mortgage space. 7 8 9