November 3-4, 2024 | Cleveland, OH
Speakers
Click on their photos below to learn more about our speakers. Check back for updates as our roster continues to grow.
Keynote Speaker
Women in Business Author, Podcaster, Tech Savvy Women Founder, & Together We Seek Retreat Leader
JJ DiGeronimo
Award-winning author, former tech industry leader, and keynote speaker JJ DiGeronimo empowers women in business to amplify their impact and claim their rightful place at the table. JJ shares transformative strategies, mindfulness tools, and practical techniques, providing the actions and mindset they need to achieve their goals. Featured in Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and Thrive Global, JJ’s impactful message resonates with women at all career stages. Her work encompasses books, podcasts, online communities, and immersive experiences, inspiring women to navigate the next level of impact and leadership.
Perla Aparicio
Vice President of Strategic Partnerships
Payments.io
Perla Aparicio
Vice President of Strategic Partnerships
Payments.io
Perla Aparicio is a passionate and forward-thinking leader who blends her deep commitment to people with a strategic approach in fintech and real estate technology. She began her career as a social worker, driven by a passion to help others, which evolved as she transitioned into the non-profit foundation space, where she learned how to create real impact from a business perspective. Her entrepreneurial spirit eventually led her to the title industry, where she discovered a true passion for fostering community and making a tangible difference. Perla has a proven track record of driving growth by optimizing processes, improving efficiency, and meeting deadlines without compromising quality. A natural collaborator, she excels at cultivating strong relationships with clients, cross-functional teams, and leadership, ensuring strategic alignment and impactful outcomes. Perla’s ability to lead with purpose and build meaningful connections is the cornerstone of her success.
Liz Casselman
Chief Operating Officer
Birmingham Title Agency
Liz Casselman
Chief Operating Officer
Birmingham Title Agency
Liz Halabu Casselman is a real estate attorney and the owner of LC Consulting, Birmingham Title Agency, Birmingham Exchange Company, and American Title Agency of Lenawee. In 2023, Liz earned her designation as a Certified Land Title Professional through the Michigan Land Title Association and Certified Exchange Specialist through the Federation of Exchange Accommodators. In 2024, she earned her designation as a National Title Producer through the American Land Title Association. She is also a partner at her family’s real estate law firm, Halabu P.C and the Vice President of Gandol Inc., a construction and commercial door company.
Liz earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from Oakland University in 2012, her Juris Doctor from Wayne State University Law School in 2015, and her Executive Master of Business Administration from Oakland University in 2020.
In 2023, Liz published her first book, “Not Just a Title: A Journey of Growth in the Title Industry”.
Alyssa Cazee
Senior Account Lead
Bowe Digital
Alyssa Cazee
Senior Account Lead
Bowe Digital
Alyssa Cazee is the Senior Account Lead at Bowe Digital, a marketing agency that offers custom services to small businesses and has hundreds of clients throughout the United States.
Bowe Digital works with businesses of all shapes and sizes on website creation, email marketing, social media, video, design and much more.
Alyssa enjoys building strong relationships with Bowe Digital partners and learning their unique stories to ensure their brand stands out in a crowded marketplace and that their shifting needs are always met. Not only is Alyssa the main point of contact for several Bowe Digital partners, but she also leads the Account Lead team and helped start the company’s first mentorship program.
When she isn’t doing marketing for Bowe Digital, you can find her trying new restaurants in Charlotte, NC where she and her husband reside, exploring new cities, reading or somewhere in nature.
Kelly Davids
President
The Appraisal Foundation
Kelly Davids
President
The Appraisal Foundation
Ms. Davids leads The Appraisal Foundation in fulfilling its mission to uphold public trust in the appraisal profession. She was previously the Foundation’s Senior Vice President and has been with the organization for over a decade. Prior to joining the Foundation, Davids was Superintendent of the Ohio Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing, the chief regulator for Ohio’s appraisers. Her experience includes working in senior-level positions for two Ohio Governors and serving multiple terms in elected office. Davids holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Management from The Ohio State University.
Erin Faulkner
Executive Vice President of Legal and Compliance
Amrock
Erin Faulkner
Vice President of Legal and Compliance
Amrock
Erin Faulkner is Amrock’s Executive Vice President of Legal and Compliance. She leads the teams that are responsible for maintaining a comprehensive compliance program along with our in-house counsel.
Erin is a graduate of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Prior to joining Amrock in 2007, she spent several years in the mortgage and banking industry. She has experience in a variety of business areas, including underwriting, technology and closing operations, and spent many years leading Amrock teams in title and escrow operations. Erin also proudly holds a Lean Six Sigma certification.
Always the optimist, Erin is well known around Amrock for her cheerful, friendly demeanor. Outside of work hours, you can find her supporting her son and daughter’s athletics.
Valerie Jahn-Grandin
Executive Vice President and Chief Underwriting Counsel
Doma Title Insurance, Inc.
Valerie Jahn-Grandin
Executive Vice President and Chief Underwriting Counsel
Doma Title Insurance, Inc.
Valerie Jahn-Grandin is Executive Vice President and Chief Underwriting Counsel at Doma Title Insurance, Inc. Ms. Grandin has over 40 years of legal experience and has been a part of the Doma Senior Management Team since 2014. She is responsible for leading the Doma national underwriting team. Valerie also has primary responsibility for premium rate manual development as well as forms development efforts for all affiliated companies; reinsurance; and leads the education and communication efforts to Doma independent agents for the Underwriting Counsel. Since her tenure at Doma began, she has led expansion efforts taking the company from 14 states to 49 and the District of Columbia.
Prior to joining Doma, Ms. Grandin was a Senior Underwriting Counsel for Commercial Services at Attorneys Title Fund Services, a division of Old Republic Title Insurance Company. Before becoming a title insurance underwriting counsel, Ms. Grandin practiced in the areas of commercial real estate, bankruptcy and commercial litigation with the firms Shutts & Bowen, Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP and Graham, Builder, Jones, Pratt and Marks, n/k/a Burr Forman. She also serves on the advisory board for the University of Miami School of Law’s Robert Traurig, Greenberg Traurig, LL.M. graduate program in Real Property Development and lectures in that program on Title Insurance. A member of the Florida Bar and a Board-Certified Real Estate Lawyer, Ms. Grandin is active in many state land title associations, the Florida Bar and has served on several committees of the Florida Bar and the American Land Title Association (ALTA) including Reinsurance, Government Affairs, and NAIC Liaison. She also has been an active member of Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Network since 2007.
Shawna Hernandez
Chief Operating Officer
Endpoint
Shawna Hernandez
Chief Operating Officer
Endpoint
Shawna has been in the settlement industry for over 20 years, working in almost every facet of the industry. From closing escrows in downtown Seattle to managing at the state and national level to working in the tech department of a national underwriter to later becoming a founding member of a tech-enabled title startup, Shawna has done it all. What she loves most about the industry are the people and the opportunity to bring ease to a complex process. During the course of her career, she has obsessed over how the synergy of process and people can drive outstanding tech products and platforms. She joined Endpoint in 2020, drawn to its culture, people and mission. Shawna earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Humboldt State University. Shawna is the proud mom of a college age son and lives the empty-nester life in Seattle, Washington with her wife and rescue dogs.
Susie Langford
Real Estate Advisor
LIV Sotheby’s International Realty
Susie Langford
Real Estate Advisor
LIV Sotheby’s International Realty
Susie has been assisting clients with real estate transactions since 1994. She has gained the devotion of past clients through discrete and respectful professionalism, all the while building a history of strong results for her clients. Her long-time client relationships and referrals are the foundation of her business. She does not achieve this success alone, and has a team of support with Marketing and Transaction assistants. In addition to being recognized as a top real estate Broker in the US she brings other specialized training with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing Management, a Certification in Interior Design from the Art Institute of Colorado, and an Associate’s Degree in Theology. She has also successfully navigated Corporate Advertising Sales for Mountain Living Magazine, DEX Digital, and Gannet (Tegna). Successfully leading her clients through the marketing and negotiations of one of their biggest investments is her passion and is only second to being a Mom. With one daughter a graduate of Fordham University and another, a graduate of Colorado State University. Susie spends her spare time involved in charity organizations and her hobbies include art, pickleball, tennis, alpine sports, hiking, golf, and cooking. She also stays current with real estate trends in technology and strategies including being a Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE), and a certified agent in cypto currency & the Metaverse. Over the course of her career she has helped both first-time home buyers and seasoned clients buying and selling investments and multi-million dollar properties. MOST RECENT AWARDS • Excellence Award, Titanium Status, Denver Metro Realtors 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 • Top Real Estate Professional, 5280 Magazine, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 • Top Producing Agent, Denver Real Producers, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 • Real Trends Top 1.5% of Brokers in the U.S. Experienced in selling everything from City Condos to Luxury Homes and Ranches.
Kim Langley, M.Ed.
LifeBalance Enterprises, Inc.
Kim Langley
LifeBalance Enterprises, Inc.
Kim Langley, M.Ed. assists organizations in leveraging emotional intelligence research to make positive changes in their cultures. She has more than 20 years of experience as a trainer and coach. Clients have included The Cleveland Indians, PolyOne, Medical Mutual, Swagelok, University Hospitals and the Cleveland Clinic.
She’s an emotional intelligence navigator for managers, emerging leaders, and high potential talent. A sought-after speaker, Kim has facilitated 100 plus keynotes and trainings annually.
Kim delivers workshops on topics including Working with Emotional Intelligence, Hiring for Emotional Intelligence, The Science of Optimism, Happiness Research and Positive Psychology, Managing Difficult Conversations, Managing Four Generations for a Respectful Workplace, Conflict Management, and Difficult People Skills.
Before starting her own speaking and training business, Kim supervised 80 people, then took the coward’s way out, and started her own company. (Which was much easier!)
Kim has published a book on grief, called Send My Roots Rain: A Companion on the Grief Journey, which is in it’s 3rd printing by Paraclete Press. It is a resource for both individual grievers as well as social workers, counselors, and pastoral care providers.
She is gratefully married “lo, these many years” to Bill, recently retired from St. Edward High School, and they have raised two good and decent adults who will still watch a movie with them, a software designer son and a library science daughter.
Erica Meyer
CEO and Publisher
October Research, LLC
Erica Meyer
CEO and Publisher
October Research, LLC
Erica Meyer is Owner and Publisher of October Research, LLC. October Research is dedicated to educating and empowering professionals in the real estate transaction to strengthen their business and enhance their position in the marketplace, ensuring the integrity of home ownership. The company provides education through their five B2B publications, annual conferences, webinars, websites, email newsletters, marketing and advertising services, social media and custom publishing.
Prior to purchasing October Research in 2011, Ms. Meyer worked in the online business unit at Sears Holdings Corporation and spent 10+ years with UPS in sales management, technology, revenue management and marketing.
Ms. Meyer earned her BA from the University of Dayton and MBA from National-Louis University. She has been a member of Specialized Information Publishers Association (SIPA), Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), serves on the Talent and PR Committees for the American Land Title Association (ALTA) and works closely with numerous industry associations. She has completed the Aileron Course for Presidents, spoken at the Kent State 2019 Spirit of Women in Business conference and other industry conferences.
In 2019, Ms. Meyer was recognized by Crain’s as a Notable Woman in Entrepreneurship and in 2014 a Women of Influence in Housing by HousingWire Magazine. In her free time, she has tutored high school students for the ACT, fundraised and coordinated numerous community service events, ran half marathons but her favorite pastime is spending time with her husband and kids.
Ashley Pleiman
President
Logan Services
Ashley Pleiman
President
Logan Services
As the President of a thriving residential HVAC and Plumbing company, Ashley is a seasoned leader with a deep commitment to business growth, customer excellence, and cultivating a people-first culture. She fosters an environment where psychological safety, open communication, and collaboration thrive, empowering both her team and the business to reach their full potential.
Understanding that her team’s success is vital to business growth, Ashley prioritizes creating career advancement opportunities and cultivating purpose within her team. Her leadership programs, including Monthly Women in Leadership Meetings, Apprentice Programs, and Quarterly Manager Roundtables, provide intentional space for professional and personal development.
Ashley’s approach and genuine dedication to customer excellence ensure that the company not only meets but exceeds customer expectations. If employees don’t love who they work for, neither will your customers. Investing time and resources in creating internal programs isn’t easy, and Ashley will provide valuable insight into ways you can fuel your team for long-term success through these types of programs.
Mary Schuster
Chief Knowledge Officer
October Research, LLC
Mary Schuster
Chief Knowledge Officer
October Research, LLC
Mary Schuster serves as Chief Knowledge Officer at October Research, LLC.
Her unique career spans more than 25 years in the industry as a Closing Officer and Agency Manager, Corporate Marketing Director, Software Specialist and regulatory expert. She is a nationally recognized speaker to groups of title & settlement providers, lenders, realtors and attorneys.
While she didn’t set out to become a regulatory nerd, RESPA Reform and later TRID provided an opportunity to blend her talents in industry, software and education, when Mary helped lead title and settlement companies through learning and implementing those changes.
She recently moved to Galena IL, where she lives with her partner Dan and their two doggies, Grace and Shelby.
Doug Whittington
Partner
Sandler Training by The Ruby Group
Doug Whittington
Partner
Sandler Training by The Ruby Group
Doug Whittington is a partner at Sandler Training by The Ruby Group, headquartered in Fairlawn, Ohio. As a successful sales leader in the transportation industry and a former Sandler client, Doug understands the importance of building sustainable relationships with both clients and colleagues. His hands-on experience brings a unique enthusiasm and authenticity to training and development programs.
Doug graduated from East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science. He has participated in various continuing education programs from the Center for Creative Leadership, Mahler Leadership Company, and Harvard Corporate Leadership Training. Outside of his professional pursuits, Doug is actively involved in his community. He co-chairs the Akron Canton Regional Foodbank’s Taste of the Pro Football Hall of Fame event and serves as a Board member and Trustee Chair for the First Christian Church of Medina. Additionally, he is a Leadership supporter of the United Way of Summit & Medina Counties.
Doug and his wife, Barrie, celebrated their 36th wedding anniversary this year. They have two children, Mallie and David, who are completing their college educations and beginning their professional careers. The family resides in Medina, Ohio, where they enjoy traveling, golfing, outdoor activities, and spending time with family and friends.
Aubri Williams
Director of Customer Success
Qualia
Aubri Williams
Director of Customer Success
Qualia
Aubri Williams has 25 years of experience working in Title & Escrow. Prior to Qualia, Aubri was an owner and executive leader of several title & escrow companies and has also worked as a real estate sales associate. Her technical expertise includes project management, system design, strategic partnership management, and development of vertically integrated organizations.
Aubri serves as an executive coach to female title professionals who are transitioning to leadership or going through career transitions. Through her coaching, Aubri’s clients learn how to identify purpose in their careers, create healthy boundaries, and maintain a work-life balance.
Personally, Aubri is a mother of five grown daughters and grandmother of four little ones. She enjoys various outdoor activities and lives on the southeastern coast of North Carolina where she is a self-proclaimed “beach bum.
Leslie Wyatt
Director of Regulatory Compliance
SoftPro
Leslie Wyatt
Director of Regulatory Compliance
SoftPro
Leslie Wyatt is the Director of Regulatory Compliance at SoftPro. She began her career in the real estate industry over 20 years ago, and joined SoftPro in 2002. She currently oversees the Compliance Department with her primary focus being on regulatory issues at the Federal, state and county levels.
Leslie is a member of the ALTA Implementation Task Force, the Title Action Network Steering Committee, the ALTA Government Affairs Committee, the ALTA Membership Committee, the ALTA Education Committee and the TLTA Federal Issues Committee. She has represented ALTA at a congressional briefing regarding the CFPB and the TRID changes. Leslie travels though out country speaking on our industry’s hot topics with a focus on regulatory and compliance. Leslie continuous to work with the CFPB on various projects regarding TRID, UCD, MISMO and other industry hot topics.
