Board of Directors
Leadership Team
Paul Ryan
Former Speaker of the House, U.S House of Representatives
Paul Ryan was the 54th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, where he was the youngest Speaker of the House in nearly 150 years. During his tenure, Paul spearheaded efforts to reform our nation’s tax code, rebuild our national defense, expand domestic energy production, combat the opioid epidemic, reform our criminal justice system, and promote economic opportunity.
As chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, he worked to protect health care choices, advance free trade and strengthen the economy. Paul also served as chairman of the House Budget Committee. In 2012, he was selected to serve as his party’s vice-presidential nominee.
Paul was elected to Congress at age 28 and represented Wisconsin’s First District for two decades. He was named a professor-of-the-practice at the University of Notre Dame for the 2019-2020 academic year. He holds a degree in economics and political science from Miami University in Ohio and was awarded an honorary doctorate by the university.
John Dalton
Former Secretary of the Navy
John Dalton served as the 70th Secretary of the Navy and was recognized by the National Security Caucus as an International Security Leadership Award recipient, an award whose past recipients include Presidents George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan and former Secretaries of Defense William Perry and Caspar Weinberger. Secretary Dalton most recently served as the President of the Housing Policy Council of the Financial Services Roundtable for over 12 years.
The Housing Policy Council is comprised of 33 companies that are among the nation’s leaders in mortgage finance, and its member companies originate over 70% of the mortgages for America’s homebuyers. Earlier in his career, Dalton served as President of the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), and was later nominated to the Federal Home Loan Bank Board, where he served as a member and Chairman. He began his career in government as a naval officer and in the private sector at Goldman Sachs. Dalton is a graduate of the US Naval Academy and received his MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Steve Ozonian
President & CEO Williston Financial Group
Steve Ozonian is the President and CEO of Williston Financial Group where he is leveraging his innovative background in all facets of the real estate industry to digitally transform transactions. Previously, Steve was part of Lending Tree’s launch as a public entity and became Chief Executive Officer of their wholly-owned subsidiary, RealEstate.com. He serves as Lead Director of Lending Tree, Inc.
Steve’s other public company service includes realtor.com (Move Inc.) where he secured top positioning for this industry-changing Web portal as CEO. He was the national executive for residential at Bank of America, Chairman, and CEO of Prudential’s residential and corporate services companies, and prior to that was EVP of Coldwell Banker. His private company tenure includes CRO of Carrington Capital and Chairman and CEO of Global Mobility Solutions.
Steve is a board member of Attom Data and Inside Real Estate. He earned his M.B.A. from the Loyola University of Chicago and his Bachelor of Arts from Northeastern Illinois University.
Robert Belke
President & CEO Williston Financial Group
Bob Belke is a Managing Partner of Lovell Minnick Partners and chairs its Investment Committee. He joined the firm in 2000. Prior to joining LMP, Bob was an Associate in the Direct Private Equity Group at TIAA-CREF, a leading provider of retirement services to the academic, research, and medical fields. Prior to joining TIAA-CREF, Bob was a Senior Analyst at Wilshire Associates Inc., an investment consulting firm based in Los Angeles.
Bob is a member of the Boards of Directors of Keane Holdings LLC and TortoiseEcofin. Prior board positions include Duff & Phelps Corporation, First Allied Holdings Inc., J.S. Held Holdings LLC, PlanMember Financial Corporation, and Worldwide Facilities, LLC. Bob earned a B.B.A. degree in Finance and Accounting from the University of Wisconsin, and an M.B.A. with honors in Finance and Accounting from the University of Chicago.
Jason Barg
Partner Lovell Minnick Partners
Jason Barg is a partner of Lovell Minnick Partners. He joined the firm in 2010. Prior to LMP, Jason was a part of Goldman Sachs’ Financial Institutions Group, where he focused on M&A and capital raising transactions for the firm’s investment banking clients. Prior to Goldman Sachs, Jason was a Senior Associate in PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Forensics group, where he conducted investigations into corporate accounting irregularities on behalf of clients.
He is a member of the Boards of Directors of ATTOM Data Solutions, CenterSquare Investment Management, LLC, Charles Taylor, Foreside Financial Group, and Inside Real Estate, and previously served on the boards of J.S. Held Holdings LLC and Kanaly Holdings LLC. Jason received his M.B.A., with honors, from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, with high distinction, from the Schreyer Honors College at the Pennsylvania State University.
Jason Klein
Principal Lovell Minnick Partners
Jason Klein is a principal at Lovell Minnick Partners. He first joined LMP as an Associate in July 2011, rejoined the firm in February 2021 as a Vice President, and was named Principal in 2022. Prior to his return to LMP, Jason was a Vice President on the financial services investment team with Pine Brook Partners, a private equity firm. Prior to Pine Brook Partners, Jason was an Investment Analyst at Kynikos Associates, where he focused on publicly traded financial services and related technology companies. Previously, Jason was an Analyst in the Financial Institutions Group at Citigroup. He holds a BS from Penn State University and an MBA from Columbia University.
Perry Steiner
Chairman & CEO Xactus
Perry Steiner serves as Chairman and CEO of Xactus. His career has spanned executive leadership, private equity investing, and numerous entrepreneurial ventures. Perry has been on the board of directors of approximately 20 companies, and has served in the capacity of Chairman and Lead Director of businesses across multiple industries. Previously Perry spent 15 years as a Managing Partner of Arlington Capital Partners, a private equity firm with $8 billion of capital under management and top decile industry returns. Earlier Perry was President of the e-commerce outsourcing pioneer Digital River, a business that he joined and invested in with less than 100 employees and $10 million of revenues. He led Digital River’s IPO, consolidated the industry with the acquisition of eight competitors, and at the time of its sale was the market leader in its vertical with revenues in excess of $400 million and 1,600 employees. Perry began his career in investment banking with Goldman Sachs, later working with Wasserstein Perella Ventures, and initially starting in private equity with TCW Capital.
Perry is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Public Radio Foundation (NPR). He holds a BA from the University of Michigan, and an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Shelly Leonard
President Xactus
Shelley Leonard serves as President of Xactus, and a member of the Board of Directors. With over two decades of experience developing and delivering technology solutions to the country’s top mortgage lenders and servicers, Shelley is steering the company to drive the transformation of the mortgage verifications industry with its innovative credit and data solutions and digital technologies.
Prior to joining Xactus, Shelley served as an executive at Black Knight and its predecessor businesses, where she managed multiple, complex initiatives. Most recently, she was the Chief Product and Digital Officer and she led the Servicing Technologies business including the MSP loan servicing solution, a business with over $800 million of revenues. She also held multiple other senior-level positions where she managed large portfolios of end-to-end mortgage, home equity and consumer lending product offerings, envisioned and executed against strategic growth initiatives while working closely with customers and business partners throughout our industry.
By successfully leading in these roles, Shelley has gained a unique perspective and significant experience in product development, sales, operations and technology. She has consistently driven exceptional growth and performance, increased market share, launched new products, expanded into adjacent markets, embarked on new partnerships and M&A activity.
Shelley has received numerous mortgage industry recognition honors including Progress in Lending’s Most Powerful Women in Fintech; MReport’s Top 25 Leaders and Influencers; HousingWire’s Vanguard Award; and more. She holds a B.S. degree in Business Administration from the University of Tulsa and an M.B.A. from Jacksonville University.
Perry Steiner
Chairman & CEO Xactus
Perry Steiner serves as Chairman and CEO of Xactus. His career has spanned executive leadership, private equity investing, and numerous entrepreneurial ventures. Perry has been on the board of directors of approximately 20 companies, and has served in the capacity of Chairman and Lead Director of businesses across multiple industries. Previously Perry spent 15 years as a Managing Partner of Arlington Capital Partners, a private equity firm with $8 billion of capital under management and top decile industry returns. Earlier Perry was President of the e-commerce outsourcing pioneer Digital River, a business that he joined and invested in with less than 100 employees and $10 million of revenues. He led Digital River’s IPO, consolidated the industry with the acquisition of eight competitors, and at the time of its sale was the market leader in its vertical with revenues in excess of $400 million and 1,600 employees. Perry began his career in investment banking with Goldman Sachs, later working with Wasserstein Perella Ventures, and initially starting in private equity with TCW Capital.
Perry is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Public Radio Foundation (NPR). He holds a BA from the University of Michigan, and an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Shelly Leonard
President Xactus
Shelley Leonard serves as President of Xactus, and a member of the Board of Directors. With over two decades of experience developing and delivering technology solutions to the country’s top mortgage lenders and servicers, Shelley is steering the company to drive the transformation of the mortgage verifications industry with its innovative credit and data solutions and digital technologies.
Prior to joining Xactus, Shelley served as an executive at Black Knight and its predecessor businesses, where she managed multiple, complex initiatives. Most recently, she was the Chief Product and Digital Officer and she led the Servicing Technologies business including the MSP loan servicing solution, a business with over $800 million of revenues. She also held multiple other senior-level positions where she managed large portfolios of end-to-end mortgage, home equity and consumer lending product offerings, envisioned and executed against strategic growth initiatives while working closely with customers and business partners throughout our industry.
By successfully leading in these roles, Shelley has gained a unique perspective and significant experience in product development, sales, operations and technology. She has consistently driven exceptional growth and performance, increased market share, launched new products, expanded into adjacent markets, embarked on new partnerships and M&A activity.
Shelley has received numerous mortgage industry recognition honors including Progress in Lending’s Most Powerful Women in Fintech; MReport’s Top 25 Leaders and Influencers; HousingWire’s Vanguard Award; and more. She holds a B.S. degree in Business Administration from the University of Tulsa and an M.B.A. from Jacksonville University.
Greg Holmes
Chief Revenue Officer
Greg Holmes has more than 25 years of mortgage industry experience and joined the company over 15 years ago. He has served in several roles at the company, most recently as CEO of Credit Plus before its merger with Xactus. He was previously Managing Partner, and a National Director of Sales and Marketing. Throughout his tenure, his focus has been on inspiring his team to transform the business through innovation, and to achieve the position it enjoys today ─ as a leader in mortgage and business data information services.
He accomplished this by being tenacious about building relationships with employees and customers and expanding the company’s product line which contributed to its consistent and significant year-over-year growth. Greg’s impressive leadership abilities and high-energy management style have helped the company achieve a 400% increase in revenue during his tenure.
Our customers’ best interests are Greg’s number one priority. To that end, he is consistently encouraging his team to go the extra mile and exceed expectations by developing solutions that comply with the ever-changing regulations and promote better lending and business decisions.
Greg has been featured as an expert in numerous mortgage industry articles and recognized as one of the 40 under 40 Most Influential Mortgage Professionals by National Mortgage Professional. He is an active member of the Mortgage Bankers Association and National Association of Mortgage Brokers. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing from Kennesaw State University.
Michael Crockett
Chief Operation Officer
Michael Crockett, Chief Operating Officer at Xactus, directs the company’s operations and manages several departments, including credit, verifications, tenant screening, and more. Providing the strategic direction around Xactus’ operations and data strategies, Michael also leads the company’s Quality Assurance/Quality Control initiatives. He spearheads Xactus’ internal and external customer experience strategies, where he focuses on improving its service quality, delivery, and technical support. Michael has more than 25 years of experience developing products for the mortgage industry to help lenders mitigate risk.
James Owens
Chief Technology Officer
James Owens serves as the Chief Technology Officer for Xactus. Over his nearly 30-year career, James has used technology to solve complex business problems, applying innovation to provide businesses with strategic differentiation and building high performing technology teams. For Xactus, James is responsible for all technology operations, strategy, engineering, and innovation.
Prior to joining Xactus, James was the Chief Technology Officer and then Chief Architect for OneMain Financial, the leading consumer finance company in the United States. James was responsible for technology strategy alignment to the long-term business strategy, enterprise architecture and led the engineering team that launched the BrightWay de novo credit card business. Before OneMain, James held a number of senior executive consulting, sales and product roles at Black Knight Financial Services and the first ten years of his career included engineering, technology leadership and transformation consulting roles.
James holds a degree in International Relations from George Mason University, is a Certified Mortgage Technologist from the Mortgage Bankers Association, and as an industry thought leader has been published on numerous technology related topics.
Jay Birong
Chief Information Security Officer
As the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Xactus, Jay Birong is responsible for overseeing and implementing the company’s information security strategy. With a career spanning nearly two decades in the information technology sector, Jay has a proven track record of safeguarding organizational assets and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
Prior to joining Xactus, Jay held key leadership roles including Chief Information Officer and SVP, Information Technology where he developed and executed robust IT and information security strategies, aligning technology initiatives with business goals, and driving digital transformation. His experience also includes delivering SaaS platforms that host sensitive data for the legal solutions industry.
Jay’s approach has been instrumental in building resilient information technology and security programs while fostering a culture of continuous improvement. In his role at Xactus, he continues to drive initiatives that support the company’s mission of delivering reliable and secure solutions.
Michael Deleporta
Chief Architect
Michael Delaporta serves as Chief Architect for Xactus, managing all aspects of the Xactus360 industry-leading verifications and credit technology platform. Michael began his career with the Credit Bureau of Connecticut and sister company Avantus in 1993, and has served as the chief technology platform architect since 1995.
Over the last 25 years, he has guided the development of the company’s technology as the company initially grew from a small regional credit bureau to a leading verification solutions provider in the U.S. Throughout his career, Michael has brought a passion for finding innovative ways to use technology to empower customers and help them achieve their goals.
Thomas Llyod
Chief Strategy Officer
As Chief Strategy Officer at Xactus, Thomas Lloyd is responsible for managing strategic vendor relationships, driving business development and partnership initiatives, and supporting overall corporate strategy development.
Prior to joining Xactus, Thomas served for over 13 years in a number of strategy-related roles at Black Knight where he led strategic initiatives, competitive intelligence, and market analysis for different aspects of the company.
Thomas holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Florida State University and an M.B.A. from Jacksonville University.
Joseph Peterson
Chief Financial Officer
Joseph (Joe) Peterson is Xactus’ Chief Financial Officer, responsible for overseeing the company’s financial operations, including managing the strategic direction of Xactus’ accounting and finance functions, developing policies, procedures and financial controls, overseeing financial systems, ensuring the accuracy of internal and external reporting, identifying investment opportunities, securing funding and managing risk.
Previously Joe served as EVP & CFO for Sagent Lending, a leader in the mortgage servicing technology space and backed by Warburg Pincus. During his four years at Sagent, Joe was responsible for all aspects of finance and helped the company achieve 40%+ revenue growth and double-digit margin expansion over his tenure. Prior to Sagent, Joe was EVP & CFO for National Response Corp (NRCG) where he led global Finance, Human Resources and Technology for a 2,000-employee public company. He also spent time in various CFO roles in both mid-sized private equity fintech companies and larger public financial services companies including close to 14 years at American Express.
Joe began his 30-year career in public accounting at Ernst & Young. He holds a B.S. in accounting from the State University of New York at Binghamton and an MBA in Finance from the Stern School of Business at NYU.
Ross Gloudeman
General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer
Ross Gloudeman is Xactus’ General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer. He has over 15 years’ of legal and compliance experience on both the tech services and lending services side, helping companies overcome unique regulatory challenges. He’s using that specialty to strengthen Xactus’ regulatory compliance framework and manage its legal and compliance initiatives.
Prior to joining Xactus, Gloudeman was General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for Azimuth GRC, a RegTech company specializing in regulatory compliance and testing solutions. He also held executive roles in legal, risk and compliance at Home Point Financial Corporation, a multi-channel mortgage originator and servicer. Gloudeman also served as Executive Risk and Compliance Officer for Walter Investment Management Corporation and Chief Compliance and Regulatory Counsel for Black Knight, Inc.
Ross’ holistic view of financial services, and especially mortgage, is helping Xactus modernize its compliance strategies for the quickly evolving mortgage landscape where Fintechs like Xactus are transforming the industry and traditional approaches are falling behind. To that end, he is implementing improvements and administering changes as regulatory developments for the mortgage and credit industries require them.
As a member of Xactus’ executive leadership team, Ross is key to Xactus’ ability to engage with regulators as it seeks to transform the mortgage process in ways that benefit lenders, their customers, and the wider industry.
Gloudeman received his bachelor’s degree and law degree from the University of Wisconsin.
Sasha Stair, CMB
Chief Marketing Officer
With over 20 years of experience in marketing, sales, customer success, technology, and operations, Sasha Stair is the CMO at Xactus and a powerhouse in fintech. She is a dedicated advisor, coach, and speaker, with a passion for helping companies and leaders evolve and thrive in today’s dynamic landscape.
As Xactus’ CMO, the forward-thinking leader is responsible for shaping the company’s marketing strategy to drive long-term success in alignment with key business objectives. Sasha’s focus includes increasing brand awareness, building thought leadership, driving strategic business development initiatives and fostering a culture of innovation and growth. As the head of marketing, she leads the fintech company’s internal and external communications, bringing the brand’s vision to life and deepening its connection with clients and partners, while supporting its overall mission of advancing the modern mortgage.
With leadership experience in business, technology, and operations, Sasha most recently served as a fractional CMO and consultant. She also held executive roles at leading mortgage industry firms including Snapdocs and Black Knight. A recognized expert in mortgage technology, her strategic mindset bridges the gap between lenders and technology, enabling organizations to grow revenue, solve complex challenges, and scale in volatile markets.
Sasha is also a #1 international best-selling author, and a 2023 HousingWire Women of Influence award winner. She recently earned her Certified Mortgage Banker (CMB) designation, deepening her expertise in real estate finance and enabling her to apply this knowledge to her current role. A graduate of San Diego State University, she is often called upon to share her industry insights and perspectives as a thought leader and speaker.
Mike Brown
Chief Product Officer
Mike Brown serves as Chief Product Officer of Xactus. Previously he served as Chief Executive Officer of CIS Credit Solutions, having joined as President in 2014. With nearly 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, Mike has spent his career focused on the credit reporting industry and related mortgage and financial products. Prior to CIS, Mike was the General Manager of both the Mortgage Credit Reporting and Financial Investigative Services divisions of EGS (formally NCO).
Mike is a board member of the National Consumer Reporting Association (NCRA) , having previously served as Vice President, Treasurer and was President in 2015. Mike is a graduate of Robert Gordon’s University in Aberdeen Scotland, where he resided before moving to the United States.
Nancy Grycewicz
Vice President, Human Resources
Nancy Grycewicz serves as the Vice President of Human Resources for Xactus. She has over 25 years of comprehensive Human Resources experience in diverse settings; including financial services, manufacturing, hospitality, retail, and engineering. Nancy has experience with growing companies, and especially with enhancing Human Resources departments, implementing best practices, and providing strategic human resource guidance. She has led initiatives around organizational change management, talent development, and employee engagement. She received her undergraduate degree from Temple University and her master’s degree in Human Resources from Widener University. Nancy also maintains her SHRM-SCP and SPHR designations.
Bill Merryman
Executive Vice President, Sales
Bill Merryman serves as Executive Vice President of Sales of Xactus, having originally joined Universal Credit Services in 2014 as President. Bill brings with him approximately 40 years of sales and management experience in the mortgage, credit bureau, and financial services industries. During his time with Xactus, Bill has been an instrumental leader of the company’s growth to become one of the country’s largest verifications solutions providers in the mortgage industry.
Prior to Xactus, Bill held several executive level positions with First American, Experian, First Advantage, CoreLogic, and CBA Information Services. Bill has received numerous sales and leadership awards, including two Circle of Excellence honors. Mr. Merryman has also served on several advisory boards for the mortgage industry.
Julie Wink-Davis
Executive Vice President, Marketing and Strategic Sales
Julie Wink-Davis serves as Executive Vice President, Marketing and Strategic Sales of Xactus. Julie initially joined Xactus through the acquisition of DataFacts Lending Solutions, where she served as President of DataFacts. Julie joined DataFacts in 1995 and led the expansion to nine states and the completion of two acquisitions. She also served as the President of My Credit My Future after spending a year developing this educational resource to bring financial literacy to her staff, customers, and community. Throughout her career, Julie has been a recognized leader in the mortgage industry, speaking at various events for Realtors, the Mortgage Bankers Association, and the National Association of Professional Mortgage Women among others. As an advocate for the industries she has served, Julie has had roles on the board of directors for Tennessee Mortgage Bankers Association, Nashville Mortgage Bankers Association, and National Consumer Reporting Association where she served as President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Ex Officio. Julie is currently on the Advisory Board for Collegiate Funding Advisors. Julie holds a BA in Business, Sales, and Marketing from the University of Memphis. When she’s not working, Julie enjoys spending time with her family, running, and volunteering at local non-profit organizations.
Mike Allen
Executive Vice President, Sales
Mike Allen serves as Executive Vice President of Sales of Xactus. Mike has served in a sales and leadership capacity at Xactus and its predecessor companies for close to 20 years. He currently oversees a team of sales representatives in the Western U.S. Prior to Xactus, Mike founded and ran his own business providing services to mortgage lenders.
With over 25 years of experience in the mortgage industry, Mike is a technical industry specialist in verifications, inclusive of credit score and score optimization. He often provides training to mortgage industry professionals and works closely with clients on industry best practices and regulatory issues impacting the mortgage industry. Mike has a Bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Utah.
Jordan Goldberg
Executive Vice President, Sales
Jordan Goldberg serves as Executive Vice President of Sales of Xactus. Jordan has served in sales at Xactus and its predecessor companies for 15 years; and as EVP of Sales since January of 2023. He currently oversees a team of sales representatives in the Eastern U.S.; and takes pride in inspiring and motivating his team to achieve their full potential. He firmly believes that success in sales is achieved through building strong relationships, providing exceptional customer service, and continuously improving one’s skills and knowledge. His ability to develop and implement effective sales strategies and his commitment to excellence have earned him a reputation as a highly effectively and respected sales leader.
With more than 25 years of mortgage industry experience, Jordan is passionate about sharing his expertise and insights with others in the industry. He frequently conducts training sessions for customers and speaks at customer and industry events, sharing best practices and strategies for success in the highly competitive mortgage industry.
Before joining Xactus, Jordan worked as a regional manager at a wholesale lender and as a regional manager of sales at a national credit report provider.
Jordan has a Bachelor’s degree in finance from Florida State University.
Tom Gallucci
Executive Vice President, Strategic Sales
As Executive Vice President, Strategic Sales for Xactus, Tom Gallucci oversees Xactus’ team of subject matter experts who are focused on growing market share for the company’s non-credit related products. By taking a consultative and collaborative approach, Tom and his team are enhancing lenders’ operations with innovative and bundled solutions. They are also driving new business by sourcing significant partnership opportunities and enhancing relationships with key accounts for improved retention.
With nearly 20 years of experience in financial services and the mortgage industry, Tom is especially adept at fostering business relationships and leading sales efforts. Before joining Xactus, Tom served as SVP, Business Development at The Mortgage Collaborative (TMC) where he was responsible for business development and partnership strategy. During his tenure, he led a team that supported 70+ third-party vendor relationships and grew partnership revenue by six times. Prior to that, Tom served in business development, operation, and training roles with several lenders.