Advertising Industry Newswire

Advertising NEWS: -- Down Payment Resource (DPR),the housing industry's leading technology for connecting homebuyers with homeownership programs, today announced that Melinda Harris, vice president of marketing and communications, has been named a 2026 HW Marketing Leader by HousingWire. Each year, HousingWire's HW Marketing Leaders program recognizes the executives shaping how housing finance companies communicate, compete and grow. Harris is among 70 honorees selected.

Advertising NEWS: -- Class Valuation, a leading real estate appraisal management company (AMC), announced today that Holly Shipley, head of marketing, has been named a 2026 HW Marketing Leader by HousingWire. The HW Marketing Leaders award recognizes the people behind the strategies, campaigns and brand decisions shaping housing finance. Shipley is one of 70 honorees named to the 2026 class.

Advertising NEWS: -- FirstClose™, a leading fintech provider of data and workflow solutions for mortgage and home equity lenders nationwide, announced today that David Bolin, vice president of marketing, has been named a 2026 HousingWire Marketing Leader, recognizing his strategic vision, measurable business impact and ability to translate complex lending technology into compelling market narratives.

Advertising NEWS: -- Dark Matter Technologies (Dark Matter®), an innovative leader in mortgage technology, today announced that Wes Horbatuck, senior vice president of marketing, has been named a 2026 HW Marketing Leader by HousingWire. The award recognizes marketing executives across the housing finance industry who have demonstrated measurable impact, strategic leadership and excellence in execution over the past 12 months.

Product Launches: -- SnapFresh from Ningbo Winbay Technology Co., Ltd. unveiled its 2026 40V 17-inch Brushless Cordless Lawn Mower as part of the brand's latest outdoor power equipment lineup, offering homeowners a gas-free lawn maintenance solution with cutting performance comparable to a traditional 150cc gas mower. The mower is currently available on Amazon.

Product Launches: -- OptiFunder today announced the launch of OptiExchange, a partner network designed to connect mortgage lenders with a curated ecosystem of technology providers, warehouse and capital partners, and service solutions across mortgage lending.

Advertising NEWS: -- At the LeadingAge California conference for aging services leaders, Cynthia Thurlow, CEO and President of 3rd3rd Marketing, and Shirley Turner, Director of Sales and Marketing at Hillcrest, share real-world marketing insights, results and actionable strategies in two sessions: "No Re-Branding Required to Win Residents" on May 20 and "Inclusive Storytelling: Strengthening Trust in Aging" on May 22, 2026.

Advertising NEWS: -- Fahe, a regional nonprofit network and Community Development Financial Institution dedicated to building thriving communities across Appalachia, today announced the launch of a digital advertising campaign introducing Housing Can't Wait(r) to donors, investors, philanthropic advisors, donor-advised fund professionals, and private wealth advisors seeking measurable, place-based impact.

Product Launches: -- Samba Recovery Atlanta today announced it will officially open its Jonesboro facility to patients on May 18, 2026, expanding access to medically supervised detox and structured residential addiction treatment in Clayton County. Local leaders and community members previously gathered on April 13, 2026, for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house to mark the completion of the facility.

Product Launches: -- The UPSHOT League will launch its inaugural 2026 season with one of the most comprehensive media distribution strategies ever assembled for a startup women's sports league, combining the national Scripps Sports Network FAST channel, global streaming with YouTube and local over-the-air television distribution, including in all four Upshot League markets (Greensboro, Savannah, Charlotte and Jacksonville).

Product Launches: -- The Mortgage Collaborative (TMC), the nation's largest independent cooperative network for mortgage lenders, announced the formation of the Mortgage AI Council, a standing committee under TMC's lender member board of directors. The council will give community banks, credit unions and independent mortgage bankers the governance frameworks, peer intelligence and collective voice needed to adopt artificial intelligence responsibly as the technology reshapes how lenders originate loans, assess risk and serve borrowers.

Product Launches: -- Web Scribble, a leading provider of career center technology for associations and mission-driven organizations, today announced the launch of Career Center technology for colleges and universities. The new offering helps institutions connect students earlier to employers, mentors, alumni, professional communities, career fairs, and long-term career pathways in one student-centered experience.

Product Launches: -- Released by Tellwell Publishing, "What Remains After" by Pauline J. Grabia (ISBN: 978-1834384511) is a literary psychological suspense novel that examines the lasting impact of childhood trauma, the fragility of memory, and the difficult path toward forgiveness and survival.

Product Launches: -- FirstClose, a leading fintech provider of data and workflow solutions for mortgage and home equity lenders nationwide, today announced SmartDocs, a new disclosure intelligence capability available through its XpressEquity point-of-sale platform. SmartDocs functions as the intelligence layer that determines when disclosure obligations begin and initiates the appropriate workflow based on lender-configured rules, helping standardize timing and delivery across programs and jurisdictions.

Advertising NEWS: -- Art Unlimited, a full-service marketing agency, today announced it is officially rebranding as A-Squared Marketing, effective immediately. The new name reflects a sharpened strategic focus and an expanded suite of services - including cutting-edge AI-enabled search optimization - while honoring the agency's long-standing commitment to results-driven marketing.