Free News Articles, General Editorial

At 14, Married Off to a 26-Year-Old Ex-Convict: What This Child Bride Survivor Did With Her Story

DALLAS, Texas -- Texas ranks number 2 with the highest number of child marriages. Child bride survivor, Trevicia Williams, helped lawmakers outlaw forced marriages in Texas and step in the direction of ending child marriages when she courageously became the face of the problem as she shared her jaw dropping testimony, and, on June 1, bolstered her advocacy work by writing a heartfelt letter to Governor Greg Abbott urging him to sign SB 1705.

She shared how, at 14, she was picked up from high school by her mother, carried to Justice of the Peace court, married off to a 26 year old man recently out of prison, and, slept on the floor of the church that helped arrange the marriage. On the list of new laws in Texas effective September 1, is a stricter marriage law; however, 16 and 17 year olds can still marry with the approval of a judge or if they have been legally emancipated from their parents.

Williams says there's still work to do. "Most women that I've coached during my 'I Love You, But, I Can't Stand You Right Now' healthy mother daughter relationship seminar admit that they were not psychologically mature enough to handle being in a serious relationship during their teenage years and want their daughters to enjoy being girls," says Williams.

A Frontline.com report shows that over 200,000 child marriages have taken place in America since 2,000, 90% of them being girls. Texas is on America's leader board with some 40,000 children under the age of 18 married between 2000 and 2014. Williams feels strongly that the minimum age for marriage should be at least 18 in all 50 states.

She recently served as a panelist during a Tahirih Justice Center sponsored Falling Through the Cracks: A Conversation on Child Marriage in Today's America consultation that was moderated by renowned journalist Gayle Tzemach Lemmon. of PBS, noting that "Child marriage is a mindset problem that must be changed." Understanding the power of a survivor's voice and story, she also shared her written testimony with Florida legislators during their October 24th hearing on SB 140 on banning child marriages which was unanimously voted in favor of. The new law would mandate that the minimum age for marriage is 18 with no exceptions.

"As with my experience, girls who are in underage marriages suffer many things including domestic violence, restrictions on access to education, stifled social development due to isolation, fewer opportunities to grow and advance, poor and inadequate health care and lack of knowledge about their rights," said Williams.

There are many consequences associated with early marriage. Domestic violence is one of them. All too often, the public hears stories about domestic violence involving adult women like the recent news about Ezekiel Elliott and ex-girlfriend, Tiffany Thomas. Those stories are awful and unacceptable. Adding to the issue, few people know the number of underage girls who are in arranged and forced marriages and suffering domestic violence.

Williams said that her own experiences of being physically and psychologically abused during her child marriage and pregnancy is another reason that she became the face for the child marriage problem in Texas. "Domestic violence within child marriages is yet another way that the inherent vulnerabilities of underage girls is violated," says Williams.

"Not only was parental consent a mask for coercion and child abuse, it was also robbery of my childhood...years of normal academic, social and life skill developing teenage experiences that I can't get back," says Williams.

Consent is another aspect of child marriages that's oftentimes overlooked. Whether you're talking about Bill Cosby, DeMario and Corrine on Bachelor in Paradise or Savannah, the Alabama teen who reported being raped by a popular football player or a child bride, consent is the focal point. Many states have established an age floor for sexual consent between 16 and 18, but, child marriages enable people to bypass statutory rape laws.

The new Texas marriage law means new marriage license guidelines for county clerks, and, perhaps fewer under aged marriage related divorces for family lawyers. Jacquelyn Floyd of the Dallas Morning News commended Williams for helping to outlaw forced child marriages in Texas noting that, for once, she's proud of her state.

"Being a high school freshman should have been a prohibitive factor to me becoming a child bride. However, due to Texas' parental consent legal loophole that was previously on the law books, it wasn't. Now, it is, and, I'm happy about what that means for protecting the childhood and potentials of girls all over Texas," said Williams.

About Real Beauty Inside Out:

Trevicia Williams, Ph.D., a child marriage survivor, advocate and motivational speaker, went on to found The Institute for Full Potential Living through which she runs a program called Real Beauty Inside Out to foster healthy mother, daughter and family relationships. She has helped countless moms and daughters work through their differences through her popular, "I Love You, But, I Can't Stand You Right Now" seminars and book. She also inspires, motivates and empowers women, staff, and, members of organizations through her inspirational speeches and learning and development training at conferences throughout the year.

To learn more about Dr. Williams, visit http://www.treviciawilliams.com/.

Twitter: @DrTrevicia

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Business, Free News Articles, Insurance

EPIC Attends Worldwide Broker Network Global Conference in Paris and Hosts WBN 2018 Spring Conference

HOUSTON, Texas -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that it is attending the 57th Worldwide Broker Network (WBN) Global Conference on Oct. 25-28, 2017 in Paris, France.

WBN members, clients, prospects and insurer partners meet in Global Conferences twice a year to collaborate, learn and maintain professional and personal relationships. The 57th WBN Global Conference will host 250 brokers from more than 100 countries for discussions on international insurance programs, plenary sessions, technical workshops, the sharing of experiences and business appointments.

Ascende - a division of EPIC is hosting the Spring conference on April 11-14, 2018. This comes from EPIC Southwest Region President Jim Watt's close ties to WBN. Formerly the WBN treasurer, WBN is announcing Jim's 2018 chairman of the board appointment at the conference in Paris this week.

As is customary at the Fall and Spring WBN conferences, the host city of the upcoming conference reveals the next conference location by presenting a video to promote the upcoming venue.

Here's a link to the video promoting the 58th annual WBN Global Conference in Texas: https://vimeo.com/238336204/7cf7a06134

Through EPIC's partnership with WBN - the largest fully integrated network of independent Property and Casualty and Employee Benefits brokers in the world - it is positioned to conduct business internationally with maximum flexibility, innovation and success. WBN brokers are located in over 100 countries and have offices in more than 500 cities around the globe. This partnership gives EPIC instant access to insurance experts from nearly every conceivable insurance specialty and current, reliable information on changes in their markets.

Click here for more information: https://wbnglobal.com/conferences/2017-october-paris.html

About Worldwide Broker Network:

Founded in 1989, WBN has grown from nine member firms in Western Europe to more than 100 firms spanning the globe and serving clients through 500+ offices in six continents. Today, as an important part of the insurance industry's distribution network, WBN generates over $5 billion in P&C and Employee Benefits revenue annually.

About EPIC:

EPIC is a unique and innovative retail property & casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm. EPIC has created a values-based, client-focused culture that attracts and retains top talent, fosters employee satisfaction and loyalty and sustains a high level of customer service excellence. EPIC team members have consistently recognized their company as a "Best Place to Work" in multiple regions and as a "Best Place to Work in the Insurance Industry" nationally.

EPIC now has more than 1,300 team members operating from offices across the U.S., providing Property & Casualty insurance, Employee Benefits Consulting, Specialty Programs and Private Client solutions to more than 30,000 clients.

With run rate revenues of roughly $400 million, EPIC ranks among the top 20 retail insurance brokers in the United States. Backed by Oak Hill Capital Partners, the company continues to expand organically and through strategic acquisitions across the country.

For additional information, please visit http://www.epicbrokers.com/.

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TWITTER: @WBNGlobal @EPIC_Insurance

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Business, Free News Articles, Product Launches, Surgery and Neurotechnology

TSI’s Phantom XL3 Lateral Access System Redefines the Standard of Care in Spine Surgery

SUGAR LAND, Texas -- TeDan Surgical Innovations (TSI) today announced the launch of the Phantom XL3(TM) Lateral Access System for lumbar spine surgical retraction. A full product release will be held later this month at the North American Spine Society Meeting (NASS) in Orlando from October 25 to 27.

Unencumbered access to the anatomy while maintaining a small surgical incision remains a clinical challenge for the minimally invasive surgeon. The all-new Phantom XL3 transforms the approach by eliminating instrumentation fiddle factor through the integration of unparalleled surgical access design elements - all with the focus of elevating the surgeon's experience.

"There are a variety of lateral lumbar retractors available today, but finding the system that meets all of your needs as a surgeon can be difficult. The intuitive design of the Phantom XL3 provides reliable retraction with a sweeping blade motion unlike any retractor on the market," said James J. Lynch, MD, FAANS, CEO Spine Nevada.

As a full solution to lateral lumbar access, the Phantom XL3 comes equipped with an integrated 360-degree directional EMG neuromonitoring dilator kit as well as lighting and shim components to provide additional stability and visualization.

"With a rise in minimally invasive approaches (MIS) for spinal fusions, we believe that the versatility and ease of use offered with our Phantom XL3 Lateral Access System will redefine the standard of care for MIS approaches," said Terry Johnston, VP of Sales and Marketing of TSI.

For a full product showcase, visit the TSI booth #1723 and attend the NASS Simulation Lab. To learn more about TSI's Phantom XL3 Lateral Access System or to register for the lab, visit http://www.tedansurgical.com/ or call 877-726-0886.

About TeDan Surgical Innovations:

TeDan Surgical Innovations was founded in 2006 with the goal to innovate and address evolving techniques in surgical access. The company has developed a wide variety of retractors and disc prep instruments for posterior, lateral and anterior spine, as well as cardiothoracic, neurological and orthopedic procedures. TeDan Surgical Innovations is committed to providing high-quality, state-of-the-art medical devices that address customer and market needs.

For more information about TeDan Surgical Innovations, please visit http://www.tedansurgical.com/.

*PHOTO for media: Send2Press.com/300dpi/17-1023s2p-tedanx3-300dpi.jpg
*Photo Caption: TSI's Phantom XL3 Lateral Access System

*VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/ymYlapWQHkQ

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Business, Free News Articles

Mid America Mortgage Assists Lenders, Borrowers Affected By Recent Disasters

ADDISON, Texas -- Mid America Mortgage, Inc. (Mid America) announced measures it has taken to provide assistance to both lenders and borrowers that were impacted by recent federally declared disasters. In addition to $20,000 in donations from employees and the corporation toward relief efforts, Mid America will also purchase loans on properties located in areas impacted by the recent storms or fires. This includes both government and conventional loans underwritten to agency guidelines.

For government loans, Mid America will purchase insured loans, as well as loans pending endorsement, for properties that have been damaged. In addition, the program allows for the sale of loans for properties without damage where the borrowers may have experienced a temporary hardship related to a disruption in income or unforeseen expenses. On conventional loans, Mid America will purchase loans with property damage if it does not impact the safety, soundness or structural integrity of the property. If there is extensive property damage, the program includes a repurchase line of credit to allow lenders time to manage the repair and re-inspection process.

"Mid America has established itself as a valued partner to mortgage originators by providing liquidity for loans that traditional investors may not be willing or able to purchase. This announcement complements our current program to purchase loans that may have missed other investors' overlays or have minor underwriting or compliance issues," said Michael Lima, managing director of whole loan trading for Mid America.

The company also announced that its retail origination and correspondent channels will be providing assistance through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) 203(h) program, which provides borrowers with 100 percent financing to purchase a new residence or refinance an existing residence impacted by a disaster.

"Helping consumers and mortgage lenders recover from these unfortunate events should be the goal of every entity in the housing industry, and our announcement today is our step toward that objective," said Mid America Owner and CEO Jeff Bode. "Mid America is dedicated to helping victims through its charitable donations, the origination of loans under federal programs or by offering loss mitigation options to our current borrowers. We will also continue to work with our industry partners to provide an outlet for loans that traditional investors may not purchase."

For more information on the Correspondent Whole Loan Program, please contact Michael Lima at michael.lima@midamericamortgage.com or 214-261-3336. For all other inquiries, visit https://www.midamericamortgage.com/get-started/ or call 866-544-7013.


About Mid America Mortgage, Inc.:

Mid America Mortgage, Inc., Addison, Texas, is a multi-state, full-service mortgage lender serving consumers and mortgage originators through its retail, wholesale and correspondent channels. In operation since 1940, Mid America has thrived by retaining its entrepreneurial spirit and leading the market in innovation, most recently with its adoption of electronic mortgage closings (eClosings) and promissory notes (eNotes). We offer a wide range of residential home loan programs to meet the needs of most home buyers and homeowners, and are also the nation's leading provider of Section 184 home loans for Native Americans.

Mid America is looking for tech-savvy, service-oriented mortgage professionals to join its growing team. We are dedicated to providing our employees with industry-leading tools and technology to deliver a great package of competitive pricing, programs and knowledgeable service. Want to join our team? Visit https://www.midamericacareer.com/.

Additional information about Mid America Mortgage, Inc. can be found on the company's website at https://www.midamericamortgage.com/about/.

Twitter: @midamericamtge

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*Photo Caption: Mid America Owner and CEO Jeff Bode.

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Business, Electronics, Entertainment, Free News Articles, Funding and Investment, Product Launches

New Talking Lexa Bear Turns Your Digital Assistant Into Your Forever Friend

AUSTIN, Texas -- Wetwire Robotics today announced they are launching the first in a new line of smart toys geared towards digital assistants like Amazon's Alexa devices. The first model is called Lexa Bear and is a talking teddy bear that is designed to hold an Echo Dot or connect with any Bluetooth device like a mobile phone or tablet. Wetwire Robotics has designed the bear to synchronize its mouth movements in real time to the human voice. It is not limited to pre-recorded audio and can speak with about any audio it's connected to.

A 2017 study by Accenture recently found that 46-percent of U.S. consumers are using voice-enabled digital assistants. As digital assistants like Amazon's Alexa and Google Assistant are growing in popularity and abilities, many new and better ways are being developed to interface with the technology.

"It was really exciting when we showed the first talking bears speaking for Alexa to kids and even adults," said Victor Wong, Creator and CEO, Wetwire Robotics. "We saw how much more engaged and alive the technology can be."

Wetwire Robotics goals are to humanize access to digital assistants and AI technology into forms that people can relate to and embrace in their daily lives. Realizing technology is constantly growing and improving, Wetwire began working on Lexa Bear as an interface. Since it is not hard coded with programmed sounds and activities, but can respond in real time, Lexa Bear can continue to grow in its abilities.

"We realized early on that Lexa Bear had to be able to not only react to any audio it was connected to but it also had to focus its mouth response to the human voice," said Travis Redding, lead developer and President, Wetwire Robotics. "It was really challenging to get Lexa to be able to sing mostly the vocals and not react to the music it was hearing. Now Lexa Bear has a speaking voice and can sing to music too."

Lexa Bear(TM) already has all of the skills of the Echo Dot it's paired with such as telling jokes, stories, trivia, games, teaching, singing, and solving problems. When paired with a Bluetooth device, Lexa Bear can talk using any audio producing app. As skills and apps are added every day from around the world, people and families are integrating digital assistants into their daily lives and can add those abilities to Lexa Bear as they develop over time.

Wetwire Robotics will be launching a Kickstarter campaign October 23, 2017.

To contribute and help bring Lexa Bear to life, follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheLexaBear for updates.

Or visit the Lexa Bear Kickstarter "campaign preview" at: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/244672618/1466702416?ref=355784&token=6ae7fb35

*PHOTO for Media: Send2Press.com/300dpi/17-1011s2p-lexa-bear-300dpi.jpg
*Photo Caption: Wetwire Robotics Lexa Bear, a talking teddy bear that is designed to hold an Echo Dot or connect with a Bluetooth device.

*VIDEO (YouTube):
https://youtu.be/LPH7Z44CqLc

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Awards and Honors, Business, Free News Articles, Insurance

EPIC’s Retirement Consulting Team Named to 2017 Financial Times 401 Top Retirement Plan Advisers List

HOUSTON, Texas -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Director of Retirement Rob Massa and Ascende Wealth Advisers Inc., EPIC's Retirement Consulting Team, has been named to the 2017 Financial Times 401 Top Retirement Plan Advisers. This list recognizes the top financial advisers who specialize in serving Defined Contribution (DC) retirement plans.

This is the third annual FT 401 list, produced independently by the Financial Times in collaboration with Ignites Research, a subsidiary of the FT that provides business intelligence on asset management. Applicants were graded on seven criteria: DC assets under management (AUM), DC AUM growth rate, specialization in DC plans, years of experience, advanced industry credentials, compliance record and DC plan participation rate.

"It is an honor for Rob Massa and his team to be named a 401 Top Retirement Plan Adviser," said Jim Watt, EPIC Southwest Region President and National Employee Benefits Practice Leader. "This recognition validates our team's commitment to continue to deliver a higher standard of care to help our clients meet their retirement goals. Our team has earned a well-deserved place among the industry's most prominent retirement plan advisers."

The final FT 401 represents an impressive cohort of elite advisers: the "average" adviser in this year's FT 401 has 19 years of experience advising DC plans and manages $1.6 billion in DC plan assets. The FT 401 advisers hail from 38 states and Washington D.C., and DC plans on average account for 74% of their total assets under management.

The FT 401 is one of a series of rankings of top advisers developed by the FT in partnership with Ignites Research, including the FT 300 (independent RIA firms) and the FT 400 (broker-dealer advisers).

About Ascende Wealth Advisers, Inc.:

Ascende Wealth Advisers, Inc. (AWAI) is an SEC registered investment advisory firm dedicated to providing unbiased investment advice by acting as either an ERISA 3(21) co-fiduciary or an ERISA 3(38) investment fiduciary to corporate sponsored qualified and nonqualified plans, as well as international and offshore savings arrangements.

About EPIC:
EPIC is a unique and innovative retail property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm. EPIC has created a values-based, client-focused culture that attracts and retains top talent, fosters employee satisfaction and loyalty and sustains a high level of customer service excellence. EPIC team members have consistently recognized their company as a "Best Place to Work" in multiple regions and as a "Best Place to Work in the Insurance Industry" nationally.

EPIC now has 1,100 team members operating from offices across the U.S., providing Property Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs and Private Client solutions to more than 20,000 clients.

With run rate revenues approaching $300 million, EPIC ranks among the top 20 retail insurance brokers in the United States. Backed by Oak Hill Capital Partners, the company continues to expand organically and through strategic acquisitions across the country.

For additional information, please visit http://www.epicbrokers.com/.

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Business, Free News Articles, NonProfit and Charities, Taxes and Accounting, Webinars

Nonprofit Executive Series Fall and Winter 2017 Schedule Announced by Xanegy

AUSTIN, Texas -- The Nonprofit Executive Series webcasts, hosted by Xanegy, will kick off on Tuesday, September 26, with "Trends in Human Capital Management." The Nonprofit Executive Series is a monthly webcast for nonprofit leaders.

The October topic will be "Why Forward-thinking Nonprofits are Automating Expense Management" followed by "Trends in Grant Management Tracking and Reporting" in November. A complete listing of Nonprofit Executive Series presentations and registration information can be found at http://xanegy.com/calendar/.

The Nonprofit Executive Series takes a pragmatic look at the internal operational challenges nonprofit leaders face as they strive to fulfill their mission and serve their constituents and community.

"Our first webcast, 'Trends in Human Capital Management' begins with issues around building and retaining a strong team," says Xanegy President Bob Blake. "Every nonprofit is being disrupted. The workforce is undergoing radical changes with the need to manage a team comprised of millennials to baby boomers. Since teams are lean and time is finite, we will show how to leverage technology to increase employee engagement, as well as provide insights on attracting and retaining key talent."

The fall and winter presentations in the Nonprofit Executive Series include:

Sep 26 - Trends in Human Capital Management
Oct 24 - Why Forward-thinking Nonprofits are Automating Expense Management
Nov 21 - Trends in Grant Management Tracking and Reporting
Dec 19 - 3 Essentials You Cannot Live Without: Budget Tracking, Transparency, and Regulatory Reporting
Jan 23 - Engaging Employees with Real-Time Data-at-a-Glance: Reporting and Dashboards
Feb 27 - Nonprofit Software Selection Journey
Mar 23 - Engaging Your IT Director: Cloud 101.

Xanegy assists nonprofit organizations with the purchase and implementation of cloud-based Sage Intacct. "Technology has never been more comprehensive, easy-to-use, and affordable for the nonprofit sector," explains Blake. "Savvy Nonprofit leaders understand the importance of sound financials when it comes to attracting new sources of funding. When a financial management system is easy to use, program managers can operate programs at an optimal level."

About Xanegy:

Xanegy, based in Austin, Texas, serves nonprofit organizations exclusively by assisting them in the purchase, implementation, and training of cloud-based Sage Intacct financial accounting solution for nonprofits. Xanegy believes that mission fulfillment, accountability, and transparency can only occur with a foundation of strong financial management - and Xanegy is committed to working with clients to help them put the best accounting and reporting processes in place. Xanegy consultants and staff have over 100 years combined experience working at and with nonprofit and government organizations across the globe.

More information: http://xanegy.com/.

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*Photo Caption: Xanegy President Bob Blake.

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Business, Free News Articles, Insurance, Regional Events

EPIC’s Clay Ma to Present at Texas Total Rewards Conference in Fort Worth

HOUSTON, Texas -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Retirement Senior Associate Clay Ma will present at the Texas Total Rewards Conference on Friday, Sept. 15 at 8:30 a.m. at The Worthington Renaissance Fort Worth Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas.

The Texas Total Rewards Conference features two days of educational sessions presented by several of the top minds in total rewards. In his presentation, "Wait! How Did I Get on the Pension Committee? A Practical Guide to Understanding Defined Benefit Plans," Ma will provide a high-level overview of pension plans and translate complex actuarial speak to plain English for those looking for an easy-to-understand crash course on pension plans.

Click here to view the full agenda: http://txtotalrewards.starchapter.com/Schedule.

About Clay Ma, Senior Associate:

Clay Ma is a senior associate at Ascende Wealth Advisers, Inc. (AWAI), EPIC's Retirement Consulting Team. His responsibilities include, but are not limited to, investment research and analysis, vendor search and management, and ERISA compliance for AWAI clients. Ma graduated with honors from UT Austin with a concentration in Finance and Accounting. He currently holds the QPA and QKA designations from ASPPA and is a licensed enrolled retirement plan agent with the Internal Revenue Service.

About the Texas Total Rewards Conference:

The Texas Total Rewards Conference features two days of educational sessions presented by several of the top minds in total rewards. Attendees can earn HRCI, SHRM, and WorldatWork recertification credits. Anyone looking for new strategies, insights from industry thought leaders and the opportunity to grow their network, won't want to miss this year's conference.

About EPIC:

EPIC is a unique and innovative retail property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm. EPIC has created a values-based, client-focused culture that attracts and retains top talent, fosters employee satisfaction and loyalty and sustains a high level of customer service excellence. EPIC team members have consistently recognized their company as a "Best Place to Work" in multiple regions and as a "Best Place to Work in the Insurance Industry" nationally.

EPIC now has 1,100 team members operating from offices across the U.S., providing Property Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs and Private Client solutions to more than 20,000 clients.

With run rate revenues approaching $300 million, EPIC ranks among the top 20 retail insurance brokers in the United States. Soon to be backed by Oak Hill Capital Partners, the company continues to expand organically and through strategic acquisitions across the country.

For additional information, please visit http://www.epicbrokers.com/.

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*Photo Caption: Retirement Senior Associate Clay Ma will present at the Texas Total Rewards Conference.

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Alliances and Partnerships, Business, Free News Articles

Spectrum Mortgage Holdings Partners with Mid America Mortgage to Purchase eNotes

ADDISON, Texas -- Mid America Mortgage, Inc. (Mid America) announced today that Spectrum Mortgage Holdings has signed on as an eWarehouse line provider for Mid America's eCorrespondent division. Through this partnership, Spectrum will offer lower net worth requirements (*see note 1). on warehouse lines and purchase eNotes from qualified emerging mortgage bankers approved as Mid America eCorrespondent sellers.

"eMortgages provide an avenue for brokers to become mortgage bankers without incurring the crippling overhead of a traditional, paper-based mortgage process, but lack of liquidity for eNotes has been one of the major roadblocks to more widespread eMortgage adoption," said Mid America Owner and CEO Jeff Bode. "Our partnership with Spectrum Mortgage Holdings eliminates that barrier."

Spectrum will not require Mid America eCorrespondents to possess net worth or cash liquidity requirements beyond their respective states' minimum, enabling many more aspiring mortgage bankers to participate in the emerging eMortgage market.

Additional benefits of a Spectrum eWarehouse line include:
* No personal guarantees;
* No leverage covenants; and
* No negative interest carry.

"Thanks to Spectrum Mortgage Holdings, and partners like them, Mid America eCorrespondents can clear their warehouse lines in as little as one day after funding," Bode added. "Since the resulting notes are electronic, the warehouse bank is able to receive and collateralize the note in seconds, allowing our eCorrespondents to turn over their lines faster and, essentially, do more with less."

For more information on Mid America's eCorrespondent program, visit http://mamcorrespondent.com/ecorrespondent/.

About Mid America Mortgage, Inc.:
Mid America Mortgage, Inc., Addison, Texas, is a multi-state, full-service mortgage lender serving consumers and mortgage originators through its retail, wholesale and correspondent channels. In operation since 1940, Mid America has thrived by retaining its entrepreneurial spirit and leading the market in innovation, most recently with its adoption of electronic mortgage closings (eClosings) and promissory notes (eNotes). We offer a wide range of residential home loan programs to meet the needs of most home buyers and homeowners and are also the nation's leading provider of Section 184 home loans for Native Americans.

Mid America is looking for tech-savvy, service-oriented mortgage professionals to join its growing team. We are dedicated to providing our employees with industry-leading tools and technology to deliver a great package of competitive pricing, programs and knowledgeable service. Want to join our team? Visit http://www.midamericacareer.com/.

Additional information about Mid America Mortgage, Inc. can be found on the company's website at http://www.midamericamortgage.com/about/.

Twitter: @midamericamtge

*(Note 1) - Net worth requirements will vary based on individual states' minimum net worth requirements for mortgage bankers.

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Awards and Honors, Business, Free News Articles

Cooksey Team Founder Michael Cooksey Named Mortgage Industry ‘Insider’ for 2017 by HousingWire Magazine

DALLAS, Texas -- The Cooksey Team, a top producing retail branch of Mid America Mortgage, Inc., announced today that its founder Michael Cooksey has been honored by housing industry trade magazine HousingWire (HW) as one of its "2017 Insiders."

In its profile on Cooksey, which will be featured in the September issue of the magazine, HousingWire cited the success of the Cooksey Team ($212 million in 2016 origination volume), the branch's expansion into the North Dallas and Los Angeles areas and Cooksey's individual track record of coaching both his internal staff and housing industry professionals across the country as reasons for his selection to the "2017 Insiders" list.

"The Cooksey Team would not be where it is today without my amazingly dedicated, hardworking staff," Cooksey said. "My success is merely a reflection of the awesome work my team does day in and day out to help homebuyers purchase the house of their dreams, and because of that, I take immense pride in this honor."

HW's 2017 Insiders were selected by HousingWire's editorial board based on their vital and dynamic contributions to their companies. The 33 winners are the "go-to" team members in their companies and represent a wide range of occupations within the housing industry, from lending and servicing to investments and real estate. The Insiders are the professionals their companies turn to with their most important or challenging projects because their contributions and hard work lead to superior results.

"The 2017 Insiders award winners made outstanding contributions to the success of their companies," said Sarah Wheeler, HousingWire Magazine Editor. "HousingWire is excited to celebrate the accomplishments of such an important group within the housing ecosystem."

To view the full list of winners, visit https://www.housingwire.com/articles/41179-hw-insiders-2017.

About HousingWire:
HousingWire is by far the nation's most influential source of news and information for U.S. mortgage markets, boasting a readership that spans lending, servicing, investments and real estate market participants as well as financial market professionals.

Winner of numerous awards, including a 2012 Eddie Award for national editorial excellence in the B-to-B Banking/Business/Finance, HousingWire has been recognized for excellence in journalism by the Society of Business Editors and Writers, the American Society of Business Press Editors, the National Association of Real Estate Editors, and Trade Association Business Publications International.

About The Cooksey Team:
Headquartered in Dallas, The Cooksey Team is a top performing retail branch of Texas-based lender Mid America Mortgage and has offices located throughout the North Texas and Los Angeles County areas.

With 16 years in the industry and nearly $1 billion in funded loans over the last five years with Mid America, Cooksey Team Founder Michael Cooksey brings the experience and knowledge needed to lead a successful mortgage transaction. Utilizing The CORE Training methodology, Michael has coached his own staff, as well as loan officers, brokers and real estate agents across the country, to become top producers. Cooksey Team loan officers average six closings per month and $250,000 in annual income. In addition, the branch has increased its annual origination volume by nearly 50 percent year-over-year and is projected to achieve $300 million in volume in 2017. For more information on The Cooksey Team, visit http://cookseyteam.com.

About Mid America Mortgage, Inc.:
Mid America Mortgage, Inc., Addison, Texas, is a multi-state, full-service mortgage lender serving consumers and mortgage originators through its retail, wholesale and correspondent channels. In operation since 1940, Mid America has thrived by retaining its entrepreneurial spirit and leading the market in innovation, most recently with its adoption of electronic mortgage closings (eClosings) and promissory notes (eNotes). We offer a wide range of residential home loan programs to meet the needs of most home buyers and homeowners and are also the nation's leading provider of Section 184 home loans for Native Americans.

Mid America is looking for tech-savvy, service-oriented mortgage professionals to join its growing team. We are dedicated to providing our employees with industry-leading tools and technology to deliver a great package of competitive pricing, programs and knowledgeable service. Want to join our team? Visit http://www.midamericacareer.com/.

Additional information about Mid America Mortgage, Inc. can be found on the company's website at http://www.midamericamortgage.com/about/.

Twitter: @midamericamtge

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