SettlementOne’s Leadership Team

Michael Lord leads SettlementOne with a vision for making mortgage technology more intelligent, integrated, and intuitive. With nearly 30 years in financial services technology, Michael has guided SettlementOne’s evolution from a regional credit reporting agency to a comprehensive national platform serving leading financial institutions nationwide.

Under his leadership, SettlementOne has pioneered innovations including intelligent cascade verification, automated workflow solutions, and most recently, the exclusive partnership to bring the FICO Score Mortgage Simulator to market. Michael’s commitment to partnership over vendorship has shaped the company’s client-first culture.

Prior to joining SettlementOne in 2020, Michael held executive and senior leadership roles at CoreLogic, First American, First Advantage, and Rels, a Wells Fargo joint venture. Throughout his career, he has built and led high-performing teams across sales, operations, information technology, marketing, product development, vendor management, and compliance.

A decorated U.S. Navy combat veteran, Michael served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, additional undergraduate degrees in Management and Electronics Technology, and is a graduate of the Mortgage Bankers Association’s School of Mortgage Banking.

Cheryl brings over 30 years of Tier-1 Sales and Account Management experience, cultivated at SettlementOne and Kroll Factual Data. She draws on her extensive knowledge of credit reporting and verification services to deliver strategic, consultative support to SettlementOne’s top-tier clients, including several of the nation’s top 20 mortgage lenders. Cheryl is a founding member of the New England Mortgage Advisory Board and an active member of the local Mortgage Bankers Association.

Margot is a skilled Finance executive with over two decades of leadership experience across industries such as professional services, telecommunications, and consumer goods. She has a strong background in full-cycle accounting, managing multi-million-dollar P&Ls, and driving business reorganizations. Known for delivering financial strategies that fuel long-term growth, Margot excels at leading teams through complex transformations – implementing new systems, streamlining processes, and introducing innovative solutions that drive efficiency. Her expertise in budgeting, forecasting, and financial decision-making makes her a trusted partner in supporting SettlementOne’s success.

Aaron serves as the Director of Financial Planning & Analysis at SettlementOne and joined the team in 2022. Prior to joining SettlementOne, Aaron most recently served as Business Operations Manager at BBS Automation, where he managed as a right-hand to the President, and as a Financial Analyst at Universal Gaming Group, where among other duties, he assisted in the financial due diligence preparation for the sale of the company to a private equity firm. Aaron earned an MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management.

Annette specializes in operational efficiency and process improvement, both for SettlementOne and its clients. A results-driven leader, she brings over 15 years of experience in banking, mortgage servicing, and credit reporting. Before joining SettlementOne, Annette held key roles in the mortgage departments of J.P. Morgan Chase and Bank of America. She has successfully restructured multiple operations teams, uniting them into cohesive, high-performing units – consistently delivering a competitive edge to the organizations she serves.

Cynthia brings nearly 13 years of mortgage-industry experience to her role at SettlementOne, with a strong background in data analysis and the development of training programs that improve compliance accuracy and reduce regulatory risk. Before joining SettlementOne, she led key initiatives at Bay Equity, LLC, including quarterly and annual audit preparation, process automation, and policy development. Well-versed in FCRA, GLBA, ECOA, and HMDA regulatory requirements, Cynthia is committed to upholding accurate, ethical, and consumer-focused standards in financial services. Her expertise continues to strengthen SettlementOne’s dedication to its clients and the consumers they serve.

Steve has over 20 years of experience in residential real estate lending, successfully leading multiple companies to industry prominence by building strong relationships with customers, service partners, and technology providers. From 2021 to 2024, Steve served as CEO of SettlementOne, where he achieved 40% growth despite challenging conditions in the post-COVID mortgage market.

Prior to SettlementOne, Steve was Chief Operating Officer at AppraiserVendor, a national appraisal management solutions provider, where he doubled the company’s size over a five-year period. He also held the role of Executive Vice President at Nations Valuation Services, managing operations, P&L, sales, compliance, strategic partnerships, and process improvements – all while driving similar growth.

Known for his strong business acumen, innovative thinking, and ability to build high-performing teams, Steve has held leadership roles across various organizations. In addition to serving as Executive Director and Board Member at SettlementOne, he is currently the CEO of VerifyToday.