DS News

24 MOVERS & SHAKERS KEEP UP WITH WHO'S DOING WHAT AND WHO WENT WHERE Got something to share with us? Send it to Editor@DSNews.com. Economy Slows Down in Conference Board Data Leading U.S. economic indicators took a small step forward in August, backing off from larger increases recorded during the summer. e Conference Board's Leading Economic Index (LEI) increased 0.2 percent last month to 103.8, half the increase expected by economists. e index grew 1.1 percent in July and 0.7 percent in June. "e LEI continued to rise in August, although at a slower rate than in July," said Ataman Ozyildirim, economist at the Conference Board. "e LEI's six-month growth trend has been held back slightly by lackluster contributions from housing permits and new orders for nondefense capital orders. Despite concerns about investment picking up, the economy should continue expanding at a moderate pace for the remainder of the year." e group's measure of current economic indicators also edged up 0.2 percent to 109.7, slightly better than July's gain as personal income, employment, and retail sales continued to make strides. Meanwhile, the lagging index increased 0.3 percent to 125.1. "e leading indicators point to an economy that is continuing to gain traction, but most likely won't repeat its stellar second quarter performance in the second half," said Ken Goldstein, Economist at e Conference Board. "Meanwhile, the CEI, a measure of current economic activity, continued to expand through August, amid improving personal income, employment, and retail sales. However, industrial production registered a slight decrease for the first time in seven months." The three metropolitan statistical areas with the highest foreclosure rate in Q3 2014 were Orlando, Florida; Atlantic City, New Jersey; and Macon, Georgia, according to RealtyTrac. KNOW THIS Sentinel Field Services Taps Beckett and Tam for Integral Roles Clearfield, Utah-based asset management and maintenance company Sentinel Field Services (SFS) has announced the hiring of Tom Tam as the company's new chief financial and risk officer and Tom Beckett as the company's new national vendor manager. Tam has worked as the executive consultant for T&M Advisors for the past eight years. Prior to that, Tam, who is a native of Hong Kong, served as the chief risk officer for HealthNow. Beckett, the new national vendor manager for SFS, holds a bachelor's degree in business and marketing from Indiana University. His expertise lies in many areas, including sales, marketing, investment analysis, recruitment, and P&L responsibilities. With more than 15 years of experience in the real estate industry, Beckett has worked as a general contractor specializing in residential, commercial, and industrial flooring. Epstein Appointed to Pro Teck Advisory Board, Dickstein to National Appraisal Congress Residential real estate valuations provider Pro Teck Valuation Services has announced the addition of Arny Epstein to its Strategic Advisory Board. Epstein has previously served in several executive positions in thriving organizations. He is currently the chief technology officer for Verivo Software, handling platform architecture, development, and product management for that organization. He has worked in the same capacity for Liquid Machines, Silverstream Software, and Watermark Software, in addition to founding technology companies. Pro Teck Valuation Services' own chief appraiser, Jeff Dickstein, has been appointed to serve on the Five Star Institute's National Appraisal Congress (NAC), according to a company announcement. The NAC is the Five Star's newest member organization, having launched earlier this year as a vehicle to positively impact the residential valuation and appraisal industry through policymaking, education, and advocacy. Potestivo & Associates Adds Associate Attorney Michigan-based real estate finance and credit industry law firm Potestivo & Associates recently announced the hiring of Art Sriratana as associate attorney. Sriratana will be working in the Foreclosure Department at Potestivo's Chicago office. Sriratana graduated from the Northern Illinois University College of Law in 2008 with Dean's List Honors. Sockol Joins Aspen Grove as VP Aspen Grove Solutions, a world leader in innovative, modular, end-to-end property enterprise software for the financial and mortgage services industries, has announced the hiring of Chuck Sockol as VP of industry relations and account management. Sockol's duties at Aspen Grove Solutions will include managing and growing Aspen Grove's vendor compliance and management solutions customer base. Fifth Third Appoints New President One of the country's top superregional banks announced a change at the top: Fifth Third Bancorp promoted regional president Michelle Van Dyke to president of Fifth Third Mortgage Company, effective immediately. Van Dyke joined Fifth Third in 2001 through the company's acquisition of Old Kent Bank, where her duties included serving as SVP and manager of the Central U.S. Mortgage region. LenderLive Appoints Kent VP of National Sales Domestic-based mortgage services provider LenderLive Network has announced the hiring of Charlie Kent as VP of national sales for the Settlement Services division. Kent's responsibilities in his new position with Colorado-based LenderLive include supporting existing client relationships and developing new ones. Meg Burns Joins the Collingwood Group Meg Burns, former senior associate director for the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), has signed on to the Washington, D.C.-based Collingwood Group as managing director, the company announced. Burns is a long-time veteran of federal housing policy and finance issues. At FHFA, she administered policy and regulatory initiatives for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the 12 Federal Home Loan Banks. Birchwood Adds Shea as SVP Birchwood Credit Services recently announced the hiring of John Shea as senior vice president of sales and marketing. Based in North Conway, New Hampshire, Birchwood Credit has been offering credit information solutions, including mortgage credit and tenant screening products, plus many other professional services, to the mortgage industry since the company was founded in 1992.

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