Geno Paluso and Art Calhoun on Sagent’s servicing revolution and strategic partnerships

Mortgage servicing innovation doesn’t happen overnight; it takes disciplined leadership and the right ecosystem. In this conversation, HousingWire’s Diego Sanchez sits down with Sagent executives Geno Paluso and Art Calhoun to discuss how Sagent’s Dara platform and Partner Program are redefining what’s possible for servicers and homeowners. 

From rethinking legacy systems to strengthening partner networks, Paluso and Calhoun explain how collaboration and cutting-edge technology can finally close the gap between innovation and execution. Together, they paint a vision for the future: faster, smarter and more connected mortgage servicing. 

“Dara is our new servicing system,” Paluso said. “It’s real-time and built on an open API architecture. It’s bringing servicing systems into the 21st century. The old legacy code—the 1960s technology—we’re changing all that.”

Paluso explained that the Dara Core, the foundation of the platform, was completed in June. “We finished the core at the end of June, and now it’s in testing. We’re in contract talks with four customers to go straight into Dara. The other five modules that accompany it are already in production. So we’re very excited about it.”

For Calhoun, joining Sagent marks a shift from the servicing side to the technology front. “I’ve had a long background in servicing,” he said. “Twenty years ago, I had to learn all the codes to process something like a payoff. Now, it’s point and click—payoff, escrow, everything. It’s so much easier and more seamless to work with.”

As VP of Strategic Partnerships, Calhoun’s mission is to expand the partner ecosystem around Dara. “We’re building a secure list of partners that will be embedded directly into Dara,” he explained. “Once they’re integrated, they have real-time data access and can work with any of our customers. It’s a win-win—customers can choose who they work with, and partners can showcase their products across our network.”

Paluso emphasized why partnerships are central to Sagent’s strategy. “Every great team needs great teammates,” he said. “Dara is special, but you’ve got to have the right partners. Art’s background is unique—he’s been there, done that. What makes Sagent different is that Dara was designed by people who’ve lived the pain points—decades of servicing experience. That’s what sets us apart.”

Innovation in a regulated space isn’t easy, but Paluso says the team’s structure makes it possible. “We have servicing experts working side by side with developers,” he said. “They know what works and what doesn’t. The change management aspect is the game-changer here. In most systems, change takes two quarters. With Dara, we’re talking weeks, not months.”

The partner program, Calhoun added, is also about community. “We’re inviting our partners to our Ignite conference in May in Phoenix,” he said. “It’s a more intimate environment for partners and customers to connect, showcase their products, and build new relationships.”

Those partners aren’t just vendors, they’re influencing Sagent’s roadmap. “They give us real feedback on what’s working and what’s not,” Paluso said. “That’s why we call it strategic partnerships. This is the future of servicing.”

Ultimately, Paluso said, the goal is better outcomes for servicers and borrowers alike. “You’ve got to have the right partner,” he said. “That drives efficiency. Our customers will have a stable of trusted options to choose from, which helps them operate better—and that means a superior borrower experience.”

He paused and smiled. “At the end of the day, it’s simple: right partners, right teammates, right results. That’s the key.”