In 1996, Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall became the first woman ever elected to a statewide, executive branch office in North Carolina.

Secretary Marshall was a member of the NC State Senate before rising to statewide office. She holds a B.S. in Home Economics from the University of Maryland and a law degree from Campbell University. She has received Honorary Doctorate Degrees from Campbell University, Lees-McRae College, Meredith College and the Republic of Moldova Testemitanu State University of Medicine.

Her work experiences include teaching Home Economics in the public school and community college systems, co-ownership of a book and gift store, establishing an interior decorating business and the private practice of law.

Secretary Marshall has been very active in many civic groups in the areas of child welfare, women's issues, and agriculture and small town economic development.

Since becoming Secretary of State, she has received numerous state and national awards for leadership in technology, government innovation, and women's leadership. These awards include:

• • The NC Bar Association’s 2020 Chief Justice I. Beverly Lake Jr. Public Service Award honoring exceptional attorneys practicing in North Carolina who’ve contributed to the community with exemplary public service. Secretary Marshall is the first woman to receive the Lake Public Service Award;
• 2019 Brand Protection Hero Award from the Center for Anti-Counterfeiting and Product Protection (A-CAPP);
• 2018 Person of the Year Award from The Women’s Business Center of North Carolina;
• 2018 Inductee to the North Carolina Women Business Owners Hall of Fame;
• The 2017 International Trade Lifetime Achievement Award from the Charlotte Business Journal;
• The 2017 Woman of Achievement Award from Meredith College;
• Leadership North Carolina’s 2016 Governor’s Award for public service and commitment to developing leaders;
• U.S. Department of State’s Office of International Visitors Certificate of Appreciation, 2016;
• President of the National Association of Secretaries of State, 2015;
• Campbell University’s 2014 Distinguished Alumni Award;
• Induction into the National 4-H Hall of Fame, Class of 2014;
• The 2014 Public Policy Leader of the Year Award from the National Association of Women Business Owners, Charlotte;
• The North Carolina 4-H Lifetime Achievement Award;
• The National Foundation for Women Legislators 2013 Elected Women of Excellence Award;
• Named to the Triangle’s 100 Most Influential Business Leaders of 2012 list by Triangle Business Journal;
• The Moldovan Order of Honor, the highest distinction Moldova awards to non-Moldovan citizens;
• The Distinguished Attorney Award from the NC Association of Women Attorneys. She was the second person ever to be honored with this award;
• Induction into the Honor Society of Agriculture of N.C. State University;
• Leadership awards from Common Cause North Carolina, the NCAE and the Delta Kappa Gamma Society;
• The Lifetime Achievement Award for Women in Business by the Triangle Business Journal;
• Named to National Notary Magazine's list of “The 50 Most Influential People in Notarization in the Last 50 Years”;
• Served as President of the National Electronic Commerce Coordinating Council, a think tank dedicated to bringing best technology practices to government across this country;
• Recognized leader in state Trademark protection by the US Chamber of Commerce, the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition and Underwriters Laboratories;
• And Secretary Marshall has even received an official “Gold Record” from the Recording Industry Association of America for her law enforcement work to protect Trademarked goods and patent holders, as well as being named an honorary member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for trademark protection!

She is married to Jessie Thomas Bunn.

Serving as the Chairman of the North Carolina Electronic Mortgage Closing Advisory Committee, Mr. Stallworth worked with mortgage industry stakeholders and directed the implementation of the state’s first viable electronic closing solution which will transform the multi-billion dollar mortgage industry. He also oversaw the publication of the Electronic Mortgage Closings in North Carolina 101 white paper, a first of its kind roadmap for lenders, attorneys and realtors to electronic mortgage closings. His efforts have led to North Carolina being the clear leader in eCommerce with the most registered eNotaries, having more than 90% of the state’s population with access to eRecording services and boasting the largest stream of electronic mortgage closing performed by the largest mortgage company in the nation. Stallworth developed the Secretary of State’s Continuing Legal Education program with a focus on educating the legal community on the laws governing notaries and electronic commerce. He is also responsible for the statewide notary education and training program including certifying notary instructors. Stallworth is charged with overseeing statewide investigations of notary misconduct and often serves as an expert witness for federal and state notary cases. He routinely engages and collaborates with other law enforcement agencies when notary misconduct intertwines with other criminal activities. A commissioned North Carolina Notary, registered eNotary and notarial practices expert, Stallworth graduated from Howard University in Washington, D.C., with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and public relations and was named by the National Notary Association as one of the 50 most influential people in the field of notarization over the past 50 years.

Harry Gardner is Director of Digital Services at ICE Mortgage TechnologyTM, part of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE: ICE), a leading global provider of data, technology and market infrastructure. In this role, Gardner leads product management for MERSCORP, including the MERS® System, MERS® eRegistry, and new product development. He also provides eClosing and eVaulting subject matter expertise to help guide the development of new product offerings for the Encompass loan origination system and Simplifile (all part of ICE Mortgage Technology).

Prior to his current role at ICE Mortgage Technology, Gardner served as Executive Vice President of eStrategies at Docutech where he guided the design and development of a new eVault/eClosing product offering. Before that, Gardner served as Vice President of eStrategies at Ellie Mae (now part of ICE Mortgage Technology), President of SigniaDocs (now eVolve Mortgage Services), and Vice President of Industry Technology for the Mortgage Bankers Association, supporting and guiding the digital transformation needs of the lending industry.

Gardner has been a significant contributor to the mortgage industry during his 20+ year tenure as an industry expert and MISMO® leader. He began his professional career as an electrical engineer and then turned mortgage technologist and eMortgage evangelist in 2001, taking turns along the way as a network administrator, database systems designer, and early intranet systems designer.

Gardner has served the industry in numerous roles, including Chair of the Board of Directors for the Electronic Signature and Records Association (ESRA), President of MISMO, Chair of the MISMO Residential Governance Committee, and then as a member of its Board of Directors. A recognized industry expert, Gardner was recognized for his industry contributions by Mortgage Technology Magazine in 2012 with the Steve Fraser Award, “A lifetime achievement award that recognizes the accomplishments of an outstanding mortgage technology innovator, visionary or evangelizer.”

As “The eMortgage Evangelist,” he wrote a series of articles for Mortgage Banking Magazine covering many aspects of the early world of electronic mortgages and was recognized by MBA as an “eMortgage All-Star” in 2009 and three times as a “Tech All-Star,” most recently in 2022. Gardner was also named to Mortgage Professional America’s Hot 100 List in 2018, highlighting individuals who have made a significant impact on the mortgage industry.

Gardner earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Virginia.

Professional Affiliations

American Mortgage Conference, Chairman
2019 North Carolina eMortgage Closing Advisory Committee, Vice Chairman

Community Involvement

NC State Poole College of Management, Mentor
North Carolina Community College Buyer Education Initiative 2019

Background

I served as president of North State Bank Mortgage for nine years before transitioning into this role where I can focus my time on deepening North State Bank’s community connections and educational programs. Prior to joining the Bank, I was president of Affiliated Mortgage from 1995-2010.

Education

North Carolina State University

Hometown

Enfield, North Carolina

Outside the Office

I enjoy fishing, watching a good game (Go Pack!) and spending time with my grandchildren.

Jon Biggs oversees risk management functions related to Investors Title’s approved provider system. In this role, he oversees the approval process, develops educational seminars and communications-based initiatives involving approved providers and agents, and manages provider data and analysis related to the company's risk management efforts. Prior to joining Investors Title in 2012, he was partner at a firm in Durham, North Carolina where he practiced residential and commercial real estate law for more than 20 years. Mr. Biggs holds a bachelor’s degree from Duke University and a Juris Doctor from Wake Forest University School of Law.

Beth Eller joined Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Truliant Federal Credit Union 2019. Eller launched Truliant’s innovative eClosing program and worked in conjunction with the FHLB pilot eNote program. Truliant was the first Atlanta FHLB member to pledge an eNote for collateralization. Eller has more than three decades of mortgage lending experience. She is responsible for overall leadership, performance, growth, administration and strategic direction of Truliant Mortgage Services. She leads its mortgage lending operations, and develops new services to best meet member needs.

Peter Gwaltney has served as President & Chief Executive Officer of the North Carolina Bankers Association since January 2015. He is a former banker and previously served as CEO of the Louisiana Bankers Association.

Peter is a past member of the American Bankers Association Board of Directors and a past chair of the ABA Alliance of State Bankers Associations. He serves on Legislative Committee of the Independent Community Bankers of America, the Board of the North Carolina Small Business and Technology Development Center, the Board of Trustees at Mary Baldwin University, the Dean’s Advisory Council at School of Business at Louisiana State University, and is a Past Chairman of the Graduate School of Banking at LSU.

Peter and his wife, Ginny, have six children and eleven grandchildren. When he’s not working, he enjoys riding his motorcycle through the North Carolina countryside.

Tony Harrington is the Broker/Owner, Broker in Charge & Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser with The Property Shop International Realty in Wilmington, NC.

Tony has worked in all facets of the real estate industry from Local, State and National Levels. He is the current 2023 President-Elect for NC REALTORS®. One of the many areas of expertise at NCR that he has collaborated on has been with Economic Development and International awareness for NCR’S 55,000 members. Tony serves as a National Board of Director member and sits on advocacy fundraising committees.

In addition to his REALTOR® volunteerism he serves on the Executive Committee for the South Eastern Economic Development Commission and the NC Foreign Trade Promotion Council.

I have been a practicing real estate attorney since 2006. I started in foreclosures and transitioned over to more transactional real estate a few years later. I opened Arnette Law in 2010 and just celebrated our 13th anniversary. I have practiced through the height of foreclosures, the recession, refi boom and Covid and seen my share of ups and downs of real estate law. I firmly believe you have to love real estate law to stay in it, especially now, and I truly do. I tell my girls at home that I help others buy a home for their family and that gets me out the door every day.

Jaime Kosofsky is a visionary entrepreneur, industry leader at the forefront of the eClosing revolution, and a founding partner at the Charlotte based law firm of Brady & Kosofsky. With a profound understanding of the real estate closing landscape, the laws and closing traditions in some of the most technical jurisdictions in the country, and a relentless commitment to technological innovation, Jaime has become a thought leader in the national real estate closing industry.

Jaime's closing experience in the real estate industry led him to recognize the need for transformative change in the cumbersome and archaic closing processes. Drawing upon his background as real estate closing attorney licensed to practice law in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and West Virginia, he embarked on a mission to revolutionize this critical aspect of property transactions. After a year in which his office was gutted by fire, followed by the effects of the COVID Pandemic Jaime, and his team proved the value and utility of emerging technologies and security in the closing industry. Under his leadership, Digital Real Estate Practice, including eClosing has evolved from a novel concept to an evolving industry standard, streamlining the closing experience. Jaime was a driving force and major contributor to the North Carolina Emergency Video Notarization act, and a drafter and proponent of the North Carolina Remote Electronic Notarial Act.

As a pioneering force in the real estate closing industry Brady & Kosofsky has successfully implemented cutting-edge technologies and practices to simplify and expedite the closing process. Many of these innovations have redefined how real estate professionals, buyers, and sellers will interact during the final stages of a real property transaction. These innovations have forever changed the closing landscape by offering increased efficiency, reduced paperwork, enhanced security, monitored compliance and improved customer experiences.

Jaime is known for his ability to articulate complex concepts in a clear and accessible manner, sticking to his values, and his blunt straight-forward speaking style. He is often quoted in, or writes for industry publications across the country, and his provocative, no nonsense articles on social media have propelled Brady & Kosofsky to shape the industry and guide professionals toward a safe, efficient and customer-centric future.

Dan is a Founding Partner of Elite Digital Mortgage Consulting, LLC. Dan’s focus is guiding lenders through their Digital transformation. He works closely with lenders to understand where they are in their journey and helps them prepare for a successfully digital transformation. The process involves assistance with MERS eRegistry setup, meeting with all lender’s counterparties, as well as equipping his lender customer with knowledge and ‘Best practices” of how to move from a traditional paper based process to eClosing(all types). Over the last 10 years Dan has worked with over 100 lenders interested in making the jump to e.

Prior to EDMC Dan was COO and managed all Sales at Pavaso, an eClosing provider. Dan has over 30 years of experience in software consulting helping customers in Change Management, Project Management and helping customers with adoption both internally and externally of their new software.

Dan and EDMC specialize in determining ‘eReddiness” of Mortgage Originators and focuses on putting lenders and their team in position to succeed in the journey to e.

Esther is the Chief Operating Officer at Brady & Kosofsky, PA. Over the past 14 years Esther has proven herself as a thought innovator and leader in all aspects of the real estate closing, mortgage servicing, loss mitigation, title insurance and fintech industries. Esther is a hands-on leader which has enabled her to develop the unique perspective of an industry stakeholder who thoroughly understands the expressed and unexpressed needs of the various client types. This enables her to develop workflows and products which satisfy those needs. As a project manager, Esther has led countless projects within all sectors of the industry. Esther has built teams and assembled various workflows and the accompanying training manuals for mortgage servicers and their closing operations based across the United States and around the world. Esther’s extensive experience and hands on approach made it possible to marry Financial Technology and its efficiencies with production and its needs. She believes technology does not build and design products, better yet, technology enhances the efficiencies and allows humans to do what they do best: communicate and provide customer service. The Staff and Attorneys at Brady & Kosofsky are industry visionaries committed to assisting all parties in developing and implementing eMortgage closing operations.

Brian D. Pannell serves as Chief eServices Executive for DocMagic. In this role, he has managerial responsibility for all post-sales activities for customers who are adding eMortgage and eChattel capabilities (eSign, eNotary and eVault) as well as Post-Closing (e.g. MERS eRegistry) technologies and efficiencies to their business models.

With extensive experience in the evolution of eMortgage and eChattel solutions, Brian has initiated industry leading implementation processes for DocMagic’s entire suite of eSolutions.

Prior to joining the organization, Brian was VP of Client Services for eSignSystems. He also spent 17 years at Fannie Mae where he served as a Senior Manager responsible for the building and development of strategic third-party technology and business relationships. Brian attained his B.A. in Economics and Minor in Computer Science from Virginia Military Institute. He also has a M.B.A. in eBusiness from the University of Phoenix and acquired his Project Management Professional (PMP®) Certification from the Project Management Institute.

Madison Potter is a Business Solutions Officer for Carolina Small Business Development Fund, a statewide CDFI that helps small businesses have equal access to capital. Madison lives in Greensboro NC and is an alumnus of UNCG. She has beenin the financial industry for over a decade and loves helping small businesses be successful and owners become financially literate through support and education.

Professional Affiliations

Saunders Realty, LLC - Founder/CEO
Saunders Property Management, LLC - Founder/CEO
Real Estate Brokers Academy - Founder/CEO

Background

Mark is a full-time REALTOR® in Winston-Salem. He enjoys showing other REALTORS® how to grow their business using today's technology as well as teaching current CE topics.

Kyle Stephenson, Chief Customer Officer, is a dedicated customer-centric executive with a wealth of experience in introducing innovative SaaS solutions to the market. With over two decades in the fintech industry, Kyle has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of digital mortgage solutions. Notably, he was a founding member of NotaryCam, a pioneering force in remote online notarization.

Kyle is a graduate of North Carolina State University and currently resides in Huntersville, NC, with his wife, Blair, and their four children.

Brendon Weiss is CEO and Co-Founder of EscrowTab, Inc. EscrowTab is a productivity tool for title, settlement, and lenders, providing a software solution to close and sign loans electronically.

Prior to EscrowTab, Brendon was Chief Operating Officer at MERSCORP and Head of Business Development at ICE Mortgage Technology from 2016-2019. During that time he oversaw the system migration of MERS to ICE Data Centers and led initiatives to accelerate the industry’s transition to eMortgages, leading to the largest increase of eNote adoption since their inception.

Brendon is also the founder Acta Strategies, a capital markets and mortgage advisory firm; and Co-Founder of Axis Lending Academy, a non-profit created to educate, train and place candidates with a diverse background within the lending industry.

A Wisconsin native, Brendon began his career in government, working on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., and at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, before joining the New York Stock Exchange in 2010. He received his MBA from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, and his B.A. from Northern Michigan University.

Mayor Nancy Vaughan is a long-time Greensboro civic leader, dedicated to building stronger neighborhoods for the betterment of the community at large. Her emphasis in both her private and public lives has always been on economic development as a champion for communities with inadequate resources. As mayor her key focus areas are; public safety, neighborhood development, enhanced infrastructure, workforce development and jobs. Nancy serves on numerous Boards and commissions to better serve the people of Greensboro.