Business News

Business News – including employment, HR, workforce, career moves, retail and franchise, new locations and growth, reports and studies, and related business news from the Send2Press Newswire Service.


FirstClose and TruStage form partnership to accelerate dynamic credit union lending documentation

AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 19, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — FirstClose™, Inc., a leading fintech provider of data and workflow solutions for mortgage and home equity lenders nationwide, today announced a strategic partnership with TruStage to embed TruStage’s dynamic document engine within the FirstClose platform.

Fahe Launches Multi-State Housing Can’t Wait Campaign to Confront the Economic and Workforce Impact of Housing Shortages

BEREA, Ky., Feb. 19, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Fahe today announced the expansion of its Housing Can’t Wait® initiative through a coordinated, multi-state advocacy campaign designed to elevate housing as a central economic and workforce priority across Appalachia. Across Appalachia, housing shortages are not accidental.

Independent Service Center Becomes Vanderhall Owners’ Fix-It Hub After OEM Falls Short

PLAINFIELD, Ill., Feb. 18, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Premiere Motorsports announces the official launch of the nation’s first dedicated Vanderhall service center – Premiere Service & Performance – positioning itself as the go-to resource for Vanderhall owners seeking expert solutions to known manufacturer defects and design limitations.

Jenner’s Pond Introduces Spacious, Newly Designed Cottages Designed for How Older Adults Want to Live: Connected, Independent, and at Ease

WEST GROVE, Pa., Feb. 18, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Jenner’s Pond in Chester County, one of Simpson’s Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs), offers spacious cottages with new finishes, designed for today’s active, modern elders looking for alternatives or to upsize to a forever home. With up to 3,600 square feet of thoughtfully designed living space, the cottages provide an option to skip the condo phase and settle directly into a 62+ Life Plan Community.

Secured Signing Reaches a Major Milestone: Now SOC 2® Type 2 Compliant

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Feb. 18, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Secured Signing, a leader in Digital Signatures and Remote Online Notarization (RON) solutions, is proud to announce that it has officially achieved SOC 2® Type 2 compliance. This isn’t just another certificate on the wall. Following a grueling, comprehensive audit by the experts at Sensiba LLP, this achievement serves as a formal, third-party validation of our unwavering commitment to protecting your most sensitive information.

ACES Q3 2025 Mortgage QC Industry Trends Report shows concentrated rise in critical defects as income and compliance findings increase

DENVER, Colo., Feb. 18, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — ACES Quality Management® (ACES), the leading provider of enterprise quality management and control software for the financial services industry, today announced the release of its quarterly ACES Mortgage QC Industry Trends Report covering Q3 2025. The report analyzes post-closing quality control data derived from the ACES Quality Management & Control® software.

Tratta Releases 2026 Reality Check Debt Collection Industry Report

BRAINERD, Minn., Feb. 18, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Tratta announces the release of “The 2026 Reality Check: The Widening Gap Between Digital Ambition and Maturity,” a new industry survey report examining how debt collection agencies, legal recovery firms, and original creditors are progressing in their digital transformation efforts.

BEAM Collaborative and Murphy Business Sales Announce Strategic Partnership to Strengthen Local Businesses and Keep Them Local

PITTSBURGH, Pa., Feb. 17, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — BEAM Collaborative, a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening local businesses and keeping them locally owned, today announced a strategic partnership with Murphy Business Sales – West Pittsburgh, a leading full-service business brokerage firm serving Western Pennsylvania.

3rd3rd Marketing and AgingIN Tackle Senior Living’s Workforce Crisis

SEATTLE, Wash., Feb. 17, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — As senior living communities continue to navigate workforce challenges that directly impact care quality and operations, 3rd3rd Marketing and AgingIN are partnering to present a timely webinar: “Workforce That Stays: Creative Strategies to Attract, Inspire, & Retain a Mission-Driven Team” on Friday, February 27, geared toward senior living executives, HR professionals, and community leaders looking to build a sustainable workforce.

Finding Humor in the Hardest Moments: Jane Rogers Shares a Hilariously Honest Memoir About Life with Epilepsy

OTTAWA, Ontario, Canada, Feb. 17, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — What happens when your brain becomes your most unpredictable sidekick? In “Laughing Through the Storm: Life with Epilepsy: Unpredictable, and Unexpectedly Funny” (ISBN: 978-1834189024; paper) released January 2026 by Tellwell publishing. Author Jane Rogers brings raw honesty, unexpected hilarity, and deeply human insight to the epilepsy journey-one seizure, one hospital visit, and one awkward moment at a time.

Southeastern Cave Conservancy, Inc., Purchases Mill Hole Cave and Surrounding Lands

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., Feb. 14, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The Southeastern Cave Conservancy, Inc. (SCCi) announced today the successful acquisition of Mill Hole Cave, along with 76 acres of surrounding land. Located in Jackson County, Alabama, the Mill Hole Preserve adjoins the Skyline Wildlife Management Area, marking SCCi’s 39th preserve.

ACES Quality Management Earns 2026 HousingWire TECH100 Company Recognition

DENVER, Colo., Feb 13, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — ACES Quality Management® (ACES), a leading provider of enterprise quality management and control software for the financial services industry, today announced HousingWire has named ACES a 2026 TECH100 winner for the twelfth consecutive year.

Virtual Staging Struggles to Sell Real Estate

NAPA, Calif., Feb. 12, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The Staging Collective, a growing organization of more than 45 leading staging companies in North America, sees the challenges that virtual staging creates for consumers in purchasing homes every day. Though there is growing investment in virtual and AI design tools, particularly at Zillow, this group of business owners know that virtually staged homes take longer to sell than homes being traditionally staged after lingering on the market virtually staged.

January 2026 Surges with a 22% Increase in New Industrial Projects Erasing December’s Decline of 20%

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla., Feb. 12, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Industrial SalesLeads released its January 2026 New Planned Capital Project Spending Report for the Industrial Manufacturing sector, highlighting a strong rebound in project activity. The Firm monitors planned industrial capital investments across North America, including plant expansions, new facility construction, and major equipment modernization initiatives.

BEAM Collaborative and SMB.co Partner to Strengthen Local Businesses and Keep Main Street Local

PITTSBURGH, Pa., Feb. 10, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — BEAM Collaborative today announced a strategic partnership with SMB.co, an AI-powered marketplace for buying and selling small businesses. Together, the organizations will strengthen local businesses and keep them locally owned by making business succession simpler, more accessible, and more sustainable for buyers, sellers, and communities.

Bernard F. Walsh Recognized as 2026 Lead Counsel Verified by LawInfo in Florida Personal Injury Law

SARASOTA, Fla., Feb. 10, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Bernard F. Walsh, a senior partner at Goldman Babboni Fernandez Murphy & Walsh, has been named Lead Counsel Verified for 2026 in Florida Personal Injury law. This independent designation is issued by LawInfo, a premier national lawyer directory and legal resource that has served consumers for nearly three decades.

By Light To Acquire Digitas Technologies

MCLEAN, Va., Feb. 10, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — By Light Professional IT Services LLC (By Light), a leading provider of Modeling & Simulation and Cyber products and solutions and a portfolio company of Sagewind Capital LLC (Sagewind), today announced that it has acquired Dignitas Technologies (Dignitas), a leading provider of Modeling, Simulation, & Training (MS&T) products and solutions. Financial terms of the transaction were not announced.

New Food and Beverage Planned Projects Return to May 2025 Levels

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla., Feb. 10, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Industrial SalesLeads announced today the Food & Beverage new planned capital project spending report for January 2026. The Firm tracks North American planned industrial capital project activity; including facility expansions, new plant construction and significant equipment modernization projects. January 2026 recorded 48 new planned projects, a decline that returns activity to the previous year’s lowest level, last seen in May 2025.

Optimal Blue report: Sub-6% rates spark refinance surge early in 2026

PLANO, Texas, Feb. 10, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Optimal Blue today released its January 2026 Market Advantage mortgage data report, showing a strong start to the year as falling rates drove a sharp increase in refinance activity. Total rate-lock volume rose 16% month over month (MoM) and finished January 36% higher year over year (YoY), led by a surge in rate-and-term refinances, which climbed 50% from December and more than 400% compared with January 2025.

‘Matthew’s Journey: The Return Home’ by William Joseph Birrell Explores Love, War, and the Long Road Back

WELLAND, Ontario, Canada, Feb. 9, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Author and longtime educator William Joseph Birrell releases his latest novel, “Matthew’s Journey: The Return Home” (ISBN: 978-1834182674 released by Tellwell Publishing), an historical fiction story centered on love, separation, and survival during wartime.

The Mortgage Collaborative and Mortgage Bankers Association announce partnership agreement

SAN DIEGO, Calif., Feb. 9, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The Mortgage Collaborative (TMC), the nation’s largest independent cooperative network for mortgage lenders and the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), the national association representing the real estate finance industry, announced today that they have entered into a strategic partnership to expand advocacy, education and engagement opportunities for their members.

HitPaw API is Integrated by Comfy for Professional AI Image and Video Enhancement to Global Creators

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Feb. 7, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — HitPaw, a leader in AI-powered visual enhancement solutions, announced Comfy, a global content creation platform, is integrating its image and video enhancement API. The HitPaw and Comfy integration embeds HitPaw API into Comfy’s workflow, letting creators achieve pro-level visual enhancement in-platform. Blending HitPaw’s AI visual processing expertise with Comfy’s creator ecosystem, the partnership streamlines workflows and meets rising demand for high-quality digital visuals across digital platforms.

Pearls, Moonstone, and Opal: The ‘Cloud Dancer’ Gems to Know for Valentine’s Day

LAS VEGAS, Nev., Feb. 6, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — On the heels of Pantone’s 2026 Color of the Year, Cloud Dancer, the American Gem Society is sharing Valentine’s Day inspiration featuring luminous white gemstones like pearls, moonstone, and white opal, timeless pieces that feel modern, romantic, and easy to wear long after February 14.

New Mexico Public Education Department Selects Synergy Education Platform by Edupoint as Statewide Student Information System

SANTA FE, N.M., Feb. 5, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Edupoint® Educational Systems today announced that the New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) has selected the Synergy Education Platform, including Edupoint’s Synergy for States solution, as the state’s first statewide student information system. The initiative marks a major step forward in New Mexico’s efforts to modernize its K-12 data infrastructure while improving data access, consistency, and decision-making at both the state and local levels.

University of Los Angeles College of Divinity Announces the Retirement of Coach Michael Miller

LOS ANGELES, Calif., Feb. 4, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — With the 2025-26 college basketball season underway, long-time university, junior college and high school coach Michael Miller has formally retired from coaching, concluding a distinguished career spanning more than three decades and more than 750 victories, the University of Los Angeles College of Divinity announced today.

iEmergent earns third HousingWire Tech100 recognition for mortgage forecasting and market intelligence

DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 4, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, has been named to HousingWire’s 2026 Tech100 Mortgage list, marking the third time the company has earned the industry’s top technology distinction. iEmergent was selected for its continued expansion of data-driven tools that help lenders identify where mortgage demand is emerging and how to act on it.

Argyle earns third HousingWire Tech100 recognition for income, employment and asset verification solutions

NEW YORK CITY, N.Y., Feb. 4, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Argyle, the leading provider of direct-source income, employment and asset verifications, has been named to HousingWire’s 2026 Tech100 Mortgage list, marking the third time the company has earned the industry’s top technology distinction. The recognition reflects Argyle’s continued product innovation and measurable impact across the mortgage industry.

Down Payment Resource makes HousingWire’s 2026 Mortgage Tech100 list for expanding access to homeownership

ATLANTA, Ga., Feb. 4, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Down Payment Resource (DPR), the housing industry’s leading technology for connecting homebuyers with down payment programs, has been named to HousingWire’s 2026 Mortgage Tech100 list. DPR first appeared on the HousingWire Tech100 list in 2017.

Dark Matter Technologies named to HousingWire’s 2026 Mortgage Tech100 list for AI-supported, scalable mortgage platforms

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Feb. 4, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Dark Matter Technologies (Dark Matter®), an innovative leader in mortgage technology, today announced it has been named to HousingWire’s 2026 Mortgage Tech100 list, recognizing companies whose technology solutions are shaping the future of the mortgage industry. This marks the company’s third appearance on the Tech100 list.

Vinyl Craft Opens Second Location in Fresno, Bringing Premium Vinyl Products and Customer Service to Central California

FRESNO, Calif., Feb. 3, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Vinyl Craft is an established, trusted vinyl fence material company that has operated out of its headquarters in Oxnard, California since 1997. In an effort to make its vinyl fencing and gate products more readily available to Central Californians, the team has expanded to a second location in Fresno.

Argyle secures long-term U.S. GSA Multiple Award Schedule contract for income, employment and asset verifications

NEW YORK CITY, N.Y., Feb. 3, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Argyle, the leading provider of direct-source income, employment and asset verifications, today announced it has secured a contract on the United States General Services Administration’s (GSA) Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) under contract number 47QTCA26D002N.

Black Chamber of Arizona Launches Black History Month Business Series

PHOENIX, Ariz., Feb. 3, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The Black Chamber of Arizona announced today the launch of Black History in Business: Fireside Chats Across Arizona, a four-part, in-person Black History Month business series held every Thursday in February from 7-9 p.m. The weekly events will spotlight Black-owned businesses and employer firms, highlighting their role in job creation, economic growth and community legacy across the state.

Friday Harbor named to HousingWire’s 2026 Tech100 Mortgage list for advancing AI pre-underwriting

SEATTLE, Wash., Feb. 3, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Friday Harbor has been named to HousingWire’s 2026 Tech100 Mortgage list, an award that recognizes the most innovative technology companies shaping the future of mortgage lending. Friday Harbor was selected for advancing the use of artificial intelligence to bring underwriting insight earlier in the loan lifecycle, helping lenders surface and resolve potential issues before files reach final underwriting. Friday Harbor’s approach has been adopted by approximately 25 lenders, including two of the top 10 independent mortgage banks.

Informative Research earns HousingWire Mortgage Tech100 recognition for simplifying credit and verification workflows

GARDEN GROVE, Calif., Feb. 3, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Informative Research (IR), a leading technology provider of data-driven credit and verification solutions for the lending industry, today announced that it has been honored on the annual HousingWire Mortgage Tech100 list. The award honors the technology providers driving meaningful change in the mortgage industry.

NotaryCam receives HousingWire Mortgage Tech100 award for 8th consecutive year

HOUSTON, Texas, Feb. 3, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — NotaryCam®, a Stewart-owned company and a pioneering provider of remote online notarization (RON) and identity verification/authentication technology for real estate and legal transactions, today announced it has been recognized among the 2026 HousingWire Mortgage Tech100. The award spotlights the fintech organizations impactfully innovating mortgage operations and processes.

Class Valuation named to HousingWire’s 2026 Mortgage Tech100 list for advancing appraisal technology and service innovation

TROY, Mich., Feb. 3, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Class Valuation, a leading real estate appraisal management company (AMC), has been named to HousingWire’s 2026 Mortgage Tech100 list, recognizing the most innovative and impactful technology organizations serving the mortgage industry. Class Valuation has earned multiple Tech100 honors over the years, reflecting its sustained leadership in appraisal modernization through advanced technology, scale and data-driven workflows.

FirstClose Named a 2026 HousingWire TECH100 Winner

AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 3, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — FirstClose™, a leading fintech provider of data and workflow solutions for mortgage and home equity lenders nationwide, has been named a 2026 HousingWire TECH100 winner. HousingWire selected FirstClose for its end-to-end lending platform that combines real-time property intelligence with automated workflows to help lenders accelerate decisioning, reduce operational friction and close loans faster.

Floify named to HousingWire’s 2026 Mortgage Tech100 list for AI-powered point-of-sale innovation

BOULDER, Colo., Feb. 3, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Floify, the mortgage industry’s leading point-of-sale (POS) solution, has been named to HousingWire’s 2026 Mortgage Tech100 list, which recognizes the most innovative and impactful technology organizations serving the mortgage and housing finance ecosystem.

Vertyx caps a year of accelerated growth and mortgage servicing technology market expansion

NEW YORK, N.Y., Feb. 3, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Vertyx, a provider of intelligent mortgage servicing technology built for enhanced portfolio performance, today announced the completion of a milestone year marked by significant market expansion, increased platform adoption and continued innovation across compliance, security and community engagement.

Dovenmuehle maintains FHA Tier 1 rating from HUD’s Tier Ranking System (TRS) II Scorecard throughout 2025

LAKE ZURICH, Ill., Feb. 3, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Dovenmuehle Mortgage, Inc. (DMI), a leading mortgage subservicing company, announced today that it maintained a Tier 1 Rating from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) throughout 2025. This quarterly rating was awarded for Dovenmuehle’s Federal Housing Administration (FHA) servicing performance under HUD’s Tier Ranking System II (TRS II).