INNOVATION AND TECH TRACK: AI, AVMs and Model Management from the Regulators’ Perspective

Seever Sulaiman

Chief Technology Officer, Optimal Blue, LLC

Seever Sulaiman is chief technology officer (CTO) at Optimal Blue. In this role, Seever leads Optimal Blue’s technology and development strategies, with a focus on engineering solutions that anticipate future needs of the industry. Seever joined Optimal Blue in 2018 following the company’s acquisition of Resitrader, where Seever served as the co-founder and chief information officer. A long-time technology executive, Seever served as CTO for Equator Business Solutions, a division of Altisource, CTO for the Applied Analytics division of LPS (the predecessor of Black Knight/ICE), and CTO for Interthinx, a division of First American. Seever holds a master’s degree in business administration from Webster University in Saint Louis, and a bachelor's degree in computer engineering from the University of Baghdad. Outside of work, he enjoys playing golf and traveling with his wife and daughter.

Courtenay R. Dunn

Senior Director of Government Affairs, ICE Mortgage Technology

Courtenay R. Dunn is Director of Government Affairs for Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE: ICE), a leading global provider of data, technology, and market infrastructure, and ICE Mortgage Technology TM. In this role, Dunn oversees the companies’ government relations, regulatory and legal affairs initiatives. Dunn was honored as a 2022 Housing Wire Woman of Influence for her work with ICE. In 2022, Dunn was also invited to serve on the Mortgage Bankers Association Affordable Homeownership Advisory Council. Previously, Dunn served as Counsel for ICE, and oversaw litigation and corporate law and governance matters for MERS. Dunn has been in the mortgage industry for over 15 years and presents frequently on matters involving mortgage, technology, and privacy. Prior to joining ICE, she worked as an attorney in private practice in Philadelphia handling all aspects of mortgage litigation. Dunn actively volunteers in her professional and local communities, where she has dedicated her efforts domestically and internationally to human rights and legal and social equality. She is an American Bar Foundation Fellow and an active member of the Mortgage Bankers Association and MISMO. Dunn is a prior recipient of the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division “On the Rise” award, which recognizes high achievement, innovation, vision, leadership, and legal and community service, and the Lawyer on the Fast Track award, a peer-nominated and industry voted award for professional, personal, and civic work to improve the legal landscape among others. She earned a J.D. from Villanova University School of Law, and graduated summa cum laude from West Chester University of Pennsylvania, where she earned a B.A. in Political Science, and minors in English and French.

Sherry-Maria Safchuk

Partner, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP

Sherry-Maria Safchuk represents clients in regulatory and compliance matters and provides support for government examinations and investigations involving the mortgage, consumer and commercial lending industries. She also assists clients on privacy and cybersecurity issues, including those related to the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and state privacy laws such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). Prior to joining Orrick, Sherry was a partner at Buckley LLP. Sherry’s clients include banks, mortgage originators and servicers, mortgage brokers, commercial lenders, bank holding companies, private equity firms, investment advisors, investment managers, finance companies, fintechs, consumer reporting agencies, debt collection companies and related service providers.

Tracy Stephan

Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA)

Stephan, a 25-year veteran in mortgage technology, serves as the Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer at the Federal Housing Finance Agency. In this role, she is responsible for managing AI risk, promoting AI innovation, and leading effective AI governance. Stephan additionally leads the Office of Financial Technology, a team responsible for supporting the Agency’s efforts to identify technology-driven development in housing finance, understand the associated risks, and facilitate the development of responsible innovation in FHFA’s regulated entities, which include Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) and the Federal Home Loan Bank System, and Common Securitization Solutions. Tracy started with FHFA in 2023 after spending over 20 years with Fannie Mae in a variety of executive positions overseeing Enterprise Innovation, Data, Software Engineering, and Product Management, and Innovation. In this role she led complex digital transformation initiatives, oversaw mission-critical technology operations, and driven innovation at scale. Tracy is passionate about the responsible use of technology to solve problems and increase efficiency, particularly in housing finance. Tracy holds a bachelor’s degree in Decision Science and Information Systems from George Mason University.

Kevin Stevens

Senior Manager, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

Kevin Stevens is a Senior Manager for Mortgage Markets at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), where he focuses on monitoring market activities and developments in mortgage originations. Kevin joined CFPB in October 2022. Prior to CFPB, Kevin was the Acting Director for the Office of Single Program Development for the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) in the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) since August 2019 where he led the development and implementation of FHA’s origination policies. Prior to serving as acting office director, Kevin was the Director of the Home Mortgage Insurance Division within the office since 2014 and the Deputy Division Director since 2011. Kevin first joined HUD in 2008 serving in the RESPA and SAFE Act offices. Prior to his government service, Kevin began his career in the mortgage industry in 1992 holding several origination positions for different regional mortgage lenders including seven years as a Regional Manager/Account Executive with American Mortgage Express. Kevin holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Roanoke College.