This year’s winners of October Research, LLC’s annual awards for Leadership, Innovation and Philanthropy include a forward-thinking employer, a title-decisioning pioneer, and a fisherman-turned-fundraiser.
CEO and Publisher Erica Meyer presented the awards at the 19th annual National Settlement Services Summit (NS3). Wayne Stanley, owner of Bowe Digital, received the Leadership Award. Peter Bowman, co-founder and CEO at Flueid Software Corp., received the Innovation Award. Brad Walsh, president of Eagle Title, was presented the Philanthropy Award.
“This year’s October Research Award winners truly embody leadership, innovation and philanthropy, demonstrating the best qualities of our industry,” Meyer said. “As our industry continues to grow, there are so many exceptional individuals who deserve recognition.”
2023 Leadership Award
Stanley has been involved in the industry for 10 years, as manager of external communications and director of public affairs at the American Land Title Association and as founder and “chief inspiration officer” of Bowe Digital. He is a well-known title marketing expert, frequently speaking at and contributing to industry conferences.
Stanley demonstrates exceptional leadership to his employees, providing guidance and training and setting clear expectations. As a fully remote company, he fosters opportunities for connection across the team through virtual and in-person meetings and daily video updates. Stanley is a transparent employer and has been ahead of the curve with employee benefits, offering a four-day work week and unlimited PTO. Bowe Digital was ranked one of Indiana’s Best Places to Work by the Chamber of Commerce in 2022.
He also spearheads free resources and training for the industry on improving their marketing efforts, through webinars, videos blogs and more. And he organized the annual BOOM conference, a small business marketing conference aimed at helping business owners better communicate with their customers.
2023 Innovation Award
Bowman has been at the forefront of innovation for the title industry for more than 20 years. He and his team at Flueid are responsible for driving adaptation of data and technology within the industry and creating the title decisioning category.
With a background in data science and engineering, Bowman embraces transformative technology that is redefining title’s often archaic workflows, and he champions collaboration with industry partners. The company’s technology covers home equity, refinance, loss mitigation strategies and loan modifications, so far.
It uses title underwriter-approved logic, best practices, industry experience and robust data sets to reveal the condition of title in under a minute. Under his watch, Flueid has achieved an average 60 percent clear-to-schedule closing result for lenders on home equity transactions and almost 50 percent for refi.
2023 Philanthropy Award
Walsh is president of Annapolis, Md.-based Eagle Title, an attorney-owned title company founded in 2007. His brother is CEO Jay Walsh. They lost their mother, Donna, in the spring of 2022 to cancer. During her diagnosis, Brad became involved in Fish for a Cure, a fishing fundraiser for cancer services at the local hospital.
After Donna’s passing, Brad, Jay and 13 other colleagues and friends raised $144,000 for Fish for a Cure, beating previous fundraising milestones.
As part of its mission statement, Eagle Title pledges “to support our people, and our community, through exceptional experiences.” To that end, Brad and his team members have served as board president of Wellness House and as president of the Annapolis Touchdown Club, as well as head the Rotary Crab Feast and collect toys for their annual Christmas in July toy drive.
Previous OR Award winners were:
2022
Leadership: Sam Verma, Peoples Processing, Inc
Innovation: Annette Cotton, DataTrace
Philanthropy: Justin Nepola, Nepola Yonta Attorneys at Law
2021:
Leadership: Fred Westerlund, MBH Settlement Group
Innovation: Nate Baker, Qualia
Philanthropy: Aaron Davis, AMD Enterprises
2020
Leadership: Patrick Stone, Williston Financial Group
Innovation: Rick Triola, NotaryCam
Philanthropy: Patrick Hagler, Alliant National Title Insurance Co.
2019
Leadership: Erin Faulkner, Amrock
Innovation: Gorkem Kuterdam, Adeptive Software
Philanthropy: John Voso, Old Republic National Title
2018
Leadership: Monte Reinert, Transnation Title Agency of Michigan
Innovation: Dominic Iannitti, DocMagic
Philanthropy: Joyce Weiland, SoftPro
2017
Leadership: George Holler, Holler Law Firm LLC
Innovation: Paul Clifford, Simplifile
Philanthropy: Curt Szymanski, Windward Consulting
2016
Leadership: Mary Schuster, RamQuest
Innovation: Dan Sogorka, RealEC Technologies
Philanthropy: Tali Raphaely, Armour Settlement Services
2015
Leadership: Diane Evans, Land Title Guarantee Co.
Innovation: Dick Reass, RynohLive
Philanthropy: Kevin Tacher, Independence Title
2014
Leadership: John Hollenbeck, First American Title Insurance Co.
Innovation: Tim Armbruster, Woodfinn
Philanthropy: Kent Stewart, Reli Settlement Solutions
2013
Leadership: Joseph Drum, WFG National Title Insurance Co.
Innovation: Brian Coester, Coester VMS
Philanthropy: Dave Heine, Closemytimeshare.com
2012
Leadership: Robert Klein, Safeguard Properties
Innovation: Stewart Morris Jr., Stewart Information Services Corp.
Philanthropy: Chris Gulotta, The Gulotta Law Group, PLLC