Business News

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

SUDBURY, Ontario, Feb. 3, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — In an era marked by rising stress, disconnection, and declining happiness, author and former investment management chairman Jonathan J. Woolverton offers a timely and practical guide to reclaiming joy and purpose in his new book, “Self-Worth: The Path to Happiness” (ISBN: 978-1834181714 released November 7, 2025 by Tellwell Publishing).

TORRANCE, Calif., Feb. 3, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — DocMagic, Inc. announced today that it has once again been named to HousingWire’s Tech100 Mortgage list, earning recognition every year since the program’s inception. The annual award recognizes the most innovative technology companies transforming the mortgage industry.

LOS ANGELES, Calif., Feb. 2, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — PDFgear announces the launch of TextaVoice (TextaVoice.com), a completely free text-to-speech tool that turns text into natural-sounding audio in seconds. It provides online text to speech services with no sign-up, no ads, and no usage limits. TextaVoice is built by the team behind PDFgear, a widely recognized free alternative to Adobe Acrobat.

OWENSBORO, Ky., Jan. 30, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn has been recognized as one of America’s five most iconic buffets in a recent Fox News feature highlighting the nation’s premier all-you-can-eat dining destinations. The family-owned restaurant joins an elite group that includes renowned establishments from Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, Louisiana and Rhode Island.

LOS ANGELES, Calif., Jan. 30, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The American Handwriting Analysis Foundation (AHAF) announced today that its annual Cursive Is Cool® handwriting contest is now open to students in Kindergarten through Grade 7, encouraging young writers to express themselves creatively through cursive handwriting.

SAN DIEGO, Calif., Jan. 30, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The Mortgage Collaborative (TMC), the nation’s leading independent cooperative network for mortgage lenders, today released results from the latest Pulse of the Network survey, along with an analysis examining how mortgage lenders are prioritizing technology, operational efficiency, and growth strategies amid continued market pressure.

HOUSTON, Texas, Jan. 30, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — NotaryCam®, a Stewart-owned company and leading remote online notarization (RON) provider for real estate and legal transactions, announced a standout year in 2025, having reached more than 2 million successful notarizations to date, including more than 238,000 notarizations completed this year. The company also doubled both its credit card transaction volume and the number of servicers using loss mitigation-related RON transactions through its real estate vertical, exemplifying growing industry adoption of digital solutions.

TROY, Mich., Jan. 29, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Class Valuation, a leading real estate appraisal management company (AMC), announced today that Chris Flynn has been appointed chief operating officer. Flynn joined Class Valuation in April 2025 as chief data officer and has since played a central role in advancing the company’s strategic, operational and product initiatives.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 29, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — “Love, Life and Mother Nature: Picture Book of Poems” (ISBN: 978-1834182124 released September, 2025 by Tellwell Publishing) by James C. Glassford is a poetry collection that explores the natural world as a source of reflection, learning, and emotional grounding. Paired with original photography, the book presents nature as both a physical environment and a place for personal contemplation.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Jan. 28, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Professor Scott B. Fulton distills five decades of functional aging research into a new practical self‑assessment framework that helps midlife adults see, and improve, their true healthspan trajectory. Fulton’s latest book, ‘FUNCTION’ is a hands‑on guide organizing 44 simple self‑assessments into a five‑part functional portfolio

PANAMA CITY, Fla., Jan. 28, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — George Gadson Studios proudly announces the unveiling of Legacy in Motion, a sculpture created for the newly rebuilt Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Center in Panama City, Florida. Unveiled in conjunction with the Center’s grand opening on January 16, 2026, the artwork stands tall at 17 ft as a genuine reflection of history, resilience, and intentional progress within the Glenwood Community.

LOS ANGELES, Calif., Jan. 28, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — In his searing new book, “Addicted to Failure: Why the Rehab System Doesn’t Work and What Must Change” (ISBN: 978-1968339876 paperback; 978-1968339883 ebook, Legacy Launch Pad Publishing), author and addiction reform advocate Jimmie Applegate takes aim at a $16 billion industry that profits from relapse and exposes why traditional rehab models fail to deliver real recovery.