Episode Description:

Is the mortgage industry built on solid data foundations or shiftingsands?

In this episode of MISMO Mic’d Up, MISMO President Brian Vieauxsits down with Mark Dangelo, Co-Founder of AXTent, Professor at CaseWestern Reserve University, and regular contributor to MBA Newslink and ThomsonReuters, for a deep dive into the evolving architecture of regulatory data inmortgage banking.

As artificial intelligence accelerates across financial services, theindustry is confronting a hard truth: regulatory reporting may be digital, butit is not necessarily consistent, interoperable, or machine-ready. What oncefelt like “bedrock” data infrastructure is rapidly liquefying under thepressure of AI, cross-agency reporting, and real-time analytics.

This conversation explores:

Mark explains how emerging architectures like data meshes and datafabrics allow institutions to integrate information across systems withoutduplicating or fragmenting data. Rather than lifting and shifting data into newsilos, modern architectures preserve system-of-record integrity while enablingreal-time governance, auditability, and cross-domain visibility.

For leaders of independent mortgage bankers (IMBs), this episode deliverspractical guidance:

The discussion also highlights how forward-thinking fintech founders areleveraging MISMO’s 26-year foundation of data standards to accelerate productinnovation — proving that standards do not limit innovation; they enable it.

If you are a mortgage executive, CIO, CTO, compliance leader, dataarchitect, or fintech innovator, this episode provides a roadmap for navigatingthe intersection of AI, regulatory modernization, and structured datagovernance.

Because in today’s mortgage market, competitive advantage will not comefrom faster processes alone — it will come from stronger data foundations.

Learn more about MISMO’s AI Community of Practice at mismo.org and jointhe conversation shaping the future of mortgage data standards.

In this episode of MISMO Mic’d Up, Brian Vieaux sits down with Paul Gigliotti, CEO of the California MBA, for a wide-ranging conversation on advocacy, innovation, and why being in the room early can fundamentally change how mortgage businesses compete and grow.

Brian and Paul begin by reflecting on their parallel journeys—both stepping into leadership roles at major industry organizations within days of each other—and how shared backgrounds in lending and technology shape their approach to leadership today. From there, the conversation dives into the mission and impact of California MBA, with Paul breaking down its three core pillars: advocacy, education, and networking, and why advocacy should be viewed not as politics—but as business strategy.

A major theme of the episode is California’s outsized influence on the national mortgage ecosystem. With California accounting for up to 40% of annual mortgage originations and serving as a legislative bellwether for other states and federal policy, Paul explains why lenders—especially multi-state operators—cannot afford to treat California policy in isolation. What happens in California rarely stays in California.

The discussion then turns to a powerful insight: membership isn’t just about support—it’s about foresight. Paul and Brian explore how lenders and technology providers that actively participate in associations gain early visibility into regulatory and legislative shifts, enabling them to adapt faster, innovate sooner, and sometimes even shape outcomes. Real-world examples highlight how being engaged—not just enrolled—can create lasting competitive advantage.

The episode also spotlights the newly announced partnership between MISMO and California MBA, including MISMO hosting two workshops at the upcoming Mortgage Innovators Conference (MIC) in Huntington Beach. Brian outlines what attendees can expect from the workshops, including deep dives into the Mortgage Compliance Dataset (MCD) and MISMO’s work on responsible AI frameworks for mortgage lending—two of MISMO’s top priorities heading into 2026.

Paul shares why MIC has become a must-attend, national-caliber event for mortgage innovation, emphasizing its focus on practical implementation, not just shiny new tools. The conversation also previews California MBA’s broader event lineup—from legislative advocacy days to capital markets and compliance conferences—and hints at future opportunities for deeper collaboration between the two organizations.

The episode closes with a candid look at how lobbying and standards work actually gets done: staying in your lane, leaning on subject-matter experts, and building trust with policymakers through education—not confrontation. It’s a reminder that sustainable progress in mortgage lending happens when advocacy, standards, and innovation move together.

Whether you’re a lender, fintech, compliance leader, or industry executive, this episode delivers a clear message: the future belongs to those who show up early, engage deeply, and help shape what’s next.

🎧 Tune in—and make sure you’re in the room.

The mortgage industry is racing toward an AI-powered future — but as every builder knows, innovation only scales when the foundation is solid.

In this episode of MISMO Mic’d Up, Brian Vieaux sits down with Ben Sherman, CEO of Viant Eye, and Chris Trujillo, Director of Product Strategy, to unpack the launch of MISMO Link — a major new capability designed to transform how the industry creates, explores, and implements MISMO standards.

This conversation goes beyond the announcement. Together, they explore:

Why centralizing MISMO standards is critical to faster innovation

How MISMO Link dramatically improves accessibility to the MISMO Reference Model

What this means for fintech builders, AI startups, and lenders entering the ecosystem

The role of SmartDocs and eNotes in driving real, measurable economic value

Why standards are the quiet force multiplier behind automation, AI, and loan quality

Chris shares the vision behind MISMO Link’s phased rollout — from Model Explorer to dataset management and future API and AI-driven integrations — while Ben connects the dots between standards, tooling, and interoperability across the housing finance ecosystem.

The episode also tackles a big idea:

As AI accelerates into mortgage, all roads lead back to MISMO — and MISMO Link is rapidly becoming the on-ramp.

If you care about scalability, data integrity, AI readiness, or simply making mortgage technology work better, this episode is required listening.

What happens when the mortgage industry rushes headlong into AI… without first agreeing on what things actually mean?

In this episode of MISMO Mic’d Up, I’m joined by Greg Alvord for a conversation that goes well beyond buzzwords and vendor decks. We dig into the foundational question most AI discussions skip entirely: How do we know what we’re measuring, and why should we trust the conclusions?

Greg brings decades of experience at the intersection of data, modeling, and mortgage technology, and he doesn’t shy away from challenging comfortable assumptions. We explore how two of the primary mathematical tools behind modern AI—linear regression and neural networks—can both mislead when variables are poorly defined, inconsistently labeled, or chosen simply because they’re easy to capture rather than meaningful to outcomes.

A key theme throughout the discussion is ontology: the disciplined practice of defining concepts, relationships, and meaning before attempting automation or intelligence. Without shared definitions, AI systems can surface patterns that look impressive but are statistically fragile—or worse, entirely coincidental. More data doesn’t automatically mean better insight, and more variables don’t guarantee better predictions. In fact, they often increase the likelihood of false confidence.

Greg walks through why this matters so deeply in mortgage lending, where decisions impact real people, real money, and real regulatory obligations. We talk about how “ghost signals” can emerge in neural networks, why explainability is not optional in a regulated industry, and how inconsistent data definitions quietly undermine even the most advanced tools.

From there, the conversation turns constructive. We discuss how industry standards—particularly those developed through MISMO—provide the scaffolding AI actually needs to scale responsibly. Shared data models, common definitions, and agreed-upon semantics aren’t a brake on innovation; they’re the runway. They enable lenders, vendors, regulators, and investors to move faster together without introducing unnecessary risk.

This episode also explores the human side of AI adoption. Technology doesn’t replace judgment—it amplifies it. That amplification can be powerful or dangerous depending on the integrity of the inputs. Greg offers a grounded perspective on how experimentation, hypothesis testing, and intellectual humility should guide AI development, rather than blind faith in algorithms.

If you’re a lender executive, technologist, compliance leader, or product builder trying to separate real AI progress from statistical noise, this conversation is for you. It’s a reminder that the future of mortgage technology won’t be built by models alone—but by models rooted in clarity, standards, and shared understanding.

Because before AI can be intelligent, the industry has to agree on the language it speaks.

🎙️ MISMO Mic’d Up — Episode Description

Guest: Chris Hazen, Chief Revenue Officer, FinLocker

Most lenders don’t meet a first-time homebuyer until they’re already stressed, confused, or half-disqualified.

That’s not a marketing problem.

It’s not a technology problem.

It’s a mindset problem.

In this episode of MISMO Mic’d Up, Brian Vieaux sits down with Chris Hazen, Chief Revenue Officer at FinLocker, to unpack why early-journey engagement—despite being talked about for more than a decade—remains largely unsolved at an enterprise level across the mortgage industry.

The conversation starts where it matters most: mindset. Chris explains why the industry’s historical focus on the transaction in front of us makes it hard to invest time, energy, and leadership attention into borrowers who may be 6, 12, or even 24 months away from applying. Yet those very borrowers represent one of the largest untapped growth opportunities for lenders—especially first-time homebuyers who need education, guidance, and confidence long before they need a rate quote.

From there, Brian and Chris explore what actually breaks when lenders try to solve early engagement at scale. Spoiler: it starts with people, quickly runs into process challenges, and only then becomes a technology conversation. Without clear objectives, defined outcomes, and leadership buy-in, even the best tools struggle to gain adoption.

A central theme of the episode is the shift from a “point of sale” mindset to a “point of thought” mindset—engaging consumers when they’re thinking about buying a home, not just when they’re ready to apply. Chris shares why “educate first” can feel uncomfortable for loan officers who are conditioned to convert leads quickly, and what changes when they instead focus on guiding, coaching, and providing value without pressure.

The result?

Stronger trust.

Longer-term relationships.

More repeat business and referrals.

And a healthier, more predictable pipeline over time.

The conversation then turns practical, with Chris walking through how FinLocker is designed specifically for the up-funnel moment—helping lenders and loan officers engage early without adding manual work, noise, or compliance risk. Through consumer-permissioned data, milestone-based alerts, and a native mobile experience, loan officers can stay present in a borrower’s journey while letting the technology handle the heavy lifting.

Brian and Chris also discuss what success looks like when lenders get this right at an enterprise level: improved borrower experience, more efficient loan officer workflows, and better economics driven by higher pull-through, stronger borrower quality, and long-term engagement that doesn’t end at closing.

Looking ahead, the episode closes with a forward-looking discussion on what will separate lenders who invest in early-journey engagement from those who don’t—and how industry standards, data portability, and collaboration through organizations like MISMO can help unlock a future where consumers are empowered, verified, and far less anxious as they move toward homeownership.

If you care about first-time homebuyers, sustainable growth, and building an ecosystem that works better for consumers and lenders alike, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

🎙️ MISMO Mic’d Up: Michael Sachdev, CEO of Snapdocs

From Digital Closings to Digital Assets: Why Quality, Connectivity, and Standards Matter

In this episode of MISMO Mic’d Up, Brian Vieaux sits down with Michael Sachdev, CEO of Snapdocs, to explore what it really takes to scale the digital mortgage—from hybrid closings to eNotes, RON, and AI-powered quality control.

Michael shares his unconventional journey into mortgage technology, including how his background in regulated, infrastructure-heavy industries shaped his approach to digitizing mortgage closings and collateral. Together, Brian and Michael unpack why connected digital workflows across lenders, settlement partners, and the secondary market create higher-quality, faster-moving loan assets—and why collateral quality is quickly becoming a competitive advantage.

The conversation dives into real-world ROI from digitization, including reduced dwell time, fewer defects, increased funding certainty, and improved secondary market execution. Michael also offers a candid look at how lenders are using AI today—particularly in QC and back-office operations—to increase capacity and profitability without increasing risk.

The episode closes with practical guidance for lenders at any stage of adoption and a spotlight on the MISMO e-Eligibility Engine, powered by Snapdocs, a critical tool helping lenders understand how “e-eligible” each loan can be across jurisdictions and investor requirements.

If you’re focused on lowering cost per loan, improving execution quality, and preparing for an AI-ready mortgage ecosystem, this episode is a must-listen.

Michael Sachdev discusses how his background in law and sustainable energy—both highly regulated, complex industries—prepared him to tackle mortgage’s fragmentation and scale challenges with a systems-first mindset.

When lenders, title companies, and the secondary market operate on shared digital workflows, every loan becomes a higher-quality asset. The discussion highlights how digitization reduces friction, errors, and uncertainty at every handoff.

Rather than chasing RON first, Michael explains why maximizing hybrid adoption is the foundation for scaling eNotes and RON—and how eligibility must come before acceleration.

Beyond headline savings, the episode explores how reduced dwell time, fewer defects, and faster investor delivery can unlock hundreds of dollars per loan—and why $1,000 per loan in savings is an achievable north star.

Quality isn’t just about compliance anymore—it’s about liquidity. High-fidelity digital collateral performs better downstream, reduces risk, and can even command better execution in the secondary market.

Michael shares how lenders are successfully applying AI to QC, document recognition, and workflow automation—starting in low-judgment, high-volume back-office processes to safely scale impact.

Executive alignment, clear success metrics, and ecosystem readiness are key. The most successful lenders treat digital mortgage adoption as an enterprise strategy—not a side project.

Brian highlights the e-Eligibility Engine available at MISMO.org, helping lenders quickly assess how “e” each loan can be and chart a practical path toward greater digitization.

Episode DescriptionEpisode Overview / Key Themes🔹 A Different Path into Mortgage🔹 The Network Effect of Digital Closings🔹 Hybrid → eNote → RON: The Right Adoption Path🔹 Real ROI: Speed, Certainty, and Cost Reduction🔹 Collateral Quality as a Competitive Advantage🔹 AI in Mortgage: Where Value Is Showing Up Today🔹 Where Lenders Should Start🔹 Tool Spotlight: MISMO e-Eligibility Engine, Powered by Snapdocs

🎧 Episode Description

In the first MISMO Mic’d Up episode of 2026, Brian Vieaux sits down with Karol Villavicencio, Director of Product Management and Product Operations at Asurity, for a practical, inside-the-room conversation on RegCheck, standards, and what it really takes to move mortgage compliance forward at scale.

Karol shares how Asurity’s RegCheck platform supports lenders of all sizes, why configurability matters across the loan lifecycle, and how deep participation in MISMO—especially the Mortgage Compliance Dataset—creates real-world value for both technology providers and the industry.

From early collaboration with state regulators to hands-on MCD testing opportunities for lenders, this episode connects the dots between standards, adoption, and smarter compliance workflows. If you care about efficiency, scalability, and not building the same dataset 50 different ways… this one’s for you.

🧠 Key Topics Covered

What Asurity does and how RegCheck supports loan-level compliance

Why configurable RegTech matters for LOs, ops, and compliance teams

How RegCheck integrates directly into LOS workflows using MISMO standards

The origin and evolution of the Mortgage Compliance Dataset (MCD)

Why regulators, lenders, and technologists being at the table early matters

Adoption at scale: turning standards into real ROI

Asurity’s offer to help lenders test MCD files in a real compliance environment

How standardized data frees teams to focus on real risk management (not spreadsheets)

🔑 Notable Takeaways

Standards ≠ constraints — they’re the foundation for innovation

Early participation in MISMO workgroups creates product, partnership, and market advantages

MCD isn’t about reducing people—it’s about redeploying talent to higher-value work

Adoption only happens when testing, tooling, and collaboration show up together

🎯 Who Should Listen

Lenders operating in multiple states

Compliance, risk, and operations leaders

RegTech and mortgage technology builders

Anyone curious how standards actually become usable tools

In this episode of MISMO Mic’d Up, host Brian Vieaux sits down with Bruno Lorenzelli, Founder and CEO of Scalata, to unpack why data interoperability—not hype—is the real unlock for AI in mortgage lending.

With more than 30 years in technology banking and credit markets across Europe and the U.S., Bruno brings a global perspective shaped by the subprime crisis, large-scale credit servicing, and hard-earned lessons from building (and rebuilding) complex platforms. Scalata, a spin-off of a profitable European fintech, is entering the U.S. mortgage market with a clear mission: reduce the cost and complexity of working with disparate, unstructured data.

Bruno explains how Scalata acts as a digital framework layer sitting on top of legacy systems—ingesting everything from MISMO XML files to PDFs and spreadsheets—while enabling schema mapping, agentic workflows, and AI-driven underwriting without introducing hallucination risk. The conversation explores why standards matter more than ever, how agentic AI changes mortgage manufacturing, and what an AI-enabled mortgage ecosystem could look like in the next 3–5 years.

If you care about AI, data standards, interoperability, and the future of mortgage workflows, this episode is required listening.

Guest:
Bruno Lorenzelli – Founder & CEO, Scalata

Key Topics Covered:

• Bruno’s background in global credit markets and fintech infrastructure

• Why Scalata was built—and why mortgage is the right industry, right now

• The hidden cost of “tape cracking” and unstructured mortgage data

• Scalata as a framework layer that sits on top of legacy systems

• Zero-cost ingestion of MISMO files, PDFs, spreadsheets, and APIs

• Why schema mapping and data normalization reduce AI hallucination

• How agentic AI enables parallel workflows across mortgage manufacturing

• Replacing manual underwriting steps with policy-driven AI agents

• MISMO’s role in enabling interoperability and trustworthy AI

• The future of AI-enabled mortgage lending and customer interaction

• Why interoperability—not hype—is Scalata’s core value proposition

Notable Quotes:

• “MISMO exists to reduce the cost and complexity around data—and that’s exactly where Scalata fits.”

• “If you don’t normalize and map the data, you leave AI too much room to interpret—and that’s where hallucination comes from.”

• “We’re the glue. We connect systems, standards, and workflows—and we make it cheap and easy.”

Learn More:
🌐 https://scalata.ai
🎤 Catch Scalata at the MISMO Winter Summit