FirstClose Appoints New Chief Technology Officer

FirstClose Inc., a fintech provider of data and workflow solutions for mortgage and home-equity lenders, said Wednesday  that Dan Kellett has joined the company as chief technology officer (CTO). 

Kellett has more than 10 years of experience as a software engineer and leader of development teams in SaaS [software as a service] organizations.

As CTO, Kellett will be responsible for overseeing the company's information technology and strategy spanning applications, data, cybersecurity, and infrastructure, FirstClose said.

With many lenders looking to capitalize on the nearly $28 trillion home-equity market, Kellett will play a pivotal role in delivering FirstClose's suite of solutions, including FirstClose Equity for lenders and FirstClose Gateway for settlement services providers, as well as the buildout of future solutions, the company said.

Before joining FirstClose, Kellett was head of technology and architecture at Blink UX,a research and design firm based in Seattle, where he was responsible for designing software systems, collaborating with senior leadership on strategic initiatives, and providing technical guidance to the product development teams. Previously, he served as CTO of MarcomCentral, a marketing software firm.  

"We're pleased to welcome Dan to the FirstClose team," said FirstClose CEO Tedd Smith. “His skillset and knowledge of the latest technology trends will be invaluable as we continue to innovate, grow, and expand our product suite. Dan has been charged with raising the bar on quality, scalability, performance and security and we are delighted to have him on board."

Kellett received his Bachelor's Degree in Computer Engineering from San Diego State University. He is also a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and holds a certification with the International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC²).

"It's exciting to join FirstClose at this time of immense change, challenges and innovation in the mortgage industry," Kellett said. "FirstClose's focus on providing a true digital home equity experience makes this a unique opportunity, and by expanding the ecosystem leveraging our platforms and provider network, we'll increase our speed of adoption which will keep us at the forefront of mortgage innovation."

Based in Austin, FirstClose Inc. provides fintech solutions to HELOC and mortgage lenders nationwide.