Summer camp for mortgage professionals voted a big hit.

The National Association of Professional Mortgage Women (NAPMW)-New Jersey/New York Metro Chapter, a leadership community of men and women professionals in the real estate/ mortgage industry, held their first "Summer Camp for Realtors: Speed Learning Symposium" program this past July.

The program was held at the Wilshire Grand Hotel in West Orange. "This speed-learning program was designed to educate men and women who work in the mortgage and real estate industries on topics to enhance their professional and business skills and to offer them the opportunity to meet new contacts within the industry," said Linda Percoco, president of Max Title Agency in Florham park and local NAPMW chapter leader."

This event was kicked off with a meet-and-greet cocktail party, which was sponsored by Pillar to Post Inspections and Stewart Title Agency. The event also included a buffet and "Coffee Talk," sponsored by Citimortgage and REMN Mortgage.

One hundred realtors attended the Summer Camp for Realtors free of charge due to the generous support of the program's sponsors. "The objective of the seminar was to educate realtors in the industry on subject matter that may not be easily taught or learned," Percoco.

Participants in the program were given the opportunity to sit at a "learning table" for a one-on-one discussion with a property inspection company, an appraiser and a reverse mortgage specialist. A computer technology specialist taught use of the newest computer technology.

The Summer Camp featured key industry players who were available for open discussions. Robert Solotist, president of R.A.S. Associates, conducted a panel on real estate appraisal and residential value; Diane Lombardi, CEO of Mindbulge, spoke on how to maximize use of new computer technology both personally and in the office to better serve clients, and a new 1031 Exchange program from DBSI Group to benefit sellers.

Learning sessions on the new 1031 exchange program as a security product, as well as on identity theft were also available to participants at the Summer Camp.