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- Thought Leadership
From Paper to Digital: Lessons Learned on the eClosing Journey
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eClosings and eNotes promise greater efficiency, scalability, and a better borrower experience. Yet many lenders are still asking the same questions: Where do we start? What's slowing adoption? How are others overcoming the challenges?
Join us on September 10 for an interactive fireside chat with our panel featuring speakers from Altra Federal Credit Union, DocMagic, and FHLBank Chicago to hear more on how members have successfully navigated the transition from paper to digital. Hear firsthand what worked, what didn't, and the lessons learned along the way. We'll tackle the challenges that continue to shape lenders transition from paper to digital.
Whether you're just beginning your eClosing journey or looking to expand your existing program, you'll leave with practical insights from peers and industry partners who have been there.
Featured Speakers
Kelly Harter
Real Estate Post Closing Supervisor, Altra Federal Credit Union
Kelly Harter is the Real Estate Post Closing Supervisor at Altra Federal Credit Union, where she leads a high-performing team responsible for construction draws, post-closing loan audits, investor loan sales, and the processing of loan modifications and curtailments. With 13 years of experience in the mortgage and title industries, including nine years with Altra, Kelly brings extensive knowledge of post-closing operations and mortgage servicing processes.
Since stepping into her leadership role, Kelly has successfully restructured the Post Closing department, creating significant operational efficiencies while enhancing employee engagement and team performance. She is a graduate of Altra's Servant Leadership program and has completed specialized training through the American Land Title Association's National Title Professional (NTP) program, as well as coursework focused on the MERS system.
Outside of work, Kelly is passionate about community involvement, volunteering with organizations such as the United Way and Salvation Army and participating in local river and trail cleanup initiatives. An avid outdoor enthusiast, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, canoeing, boating, and spending time on the Mississippi River. Kelly is driven by her passion for developing people, building strong teams, and helping others reach their full potential.
Leah Sommerville
Director of Sales, DocMagic
Leah Sommerville is DocMagic’s Director of Sales, responsible for leading our sales team with nearly a decade of experience in the eMortgage industry. She is a thought leader and frequent speaker on managing digital mortgage transformation, sharing her passion about empowering the mortgage industry towards the future of lending.
Leah has been honored with numerous industry awards, including Mortgage Professional America’s 50 Elite Women in Mortgage, Mortgage Professional Association’s Elite Women Award, National Mortgage Professional’s 40 Under 40 Influential Mortgage Professionals, Progress in Lending Association’s NextGen Leader Award, Progress in Lending’s Trailblazer Award, and the HousingWire Rising Star Award.
Prior to DocMagic, she held sales executive and director of marketing positions in the mortgage technology industry. Leah holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Brian D. Pannell
Chief eServices Executive, DocMagic
Brian D. Pannell is the Chief eServices Executive at DocMagic, responsible for eClosing, eVaulting, and eNote strategies. Brian is a recognized leader in mortgage technology. A 2023 HousingWire Vanguard Award winner, Brian is a frequent speaker on transformative technology issues.
Prior to joining DocMagic in 2014, Brian held key positions at Fannie Mae and eSign Systems. During his 18-year tenure at Fannie Mae, he played a pivotal role in advancing the adoption of digital solutions across the mortgage industry. His expertise in closing operations enables him to identify and resolve process inefficiencies, helping clients move beyond paper-based systems to fully digital solutions. As a recognized thought leader, frequent speaker, and member of several industry and ‘e-focused’ advisory boards, Brian is uniquely qualified to advise clients across multiple financial business channels and recommend e-business solutions that exceed the expectations of business partners and consumers alike.
Brian received his BA in Economics from the Virginia Military Institute and an MBA from University of Phoenix. He is also a Certified MISMO Standards Professional (CMSP®).