CRFS moves to Chase site in January

Photo by Tom Rivers – The former JP Morgan Chase site in Albion has been repainted in preparation for the first wave of CRFS employees, who will move in next month, shifting from a site in Medina.

ALBION – Less than a year ago Claims Recovery Financial Services announced it had outgrown its Albion facility. CRFS said it would move some of its operations to Medina in renovated space in the Olde Pickle Factory.

The company has continued to grow, and a much larger building became available in Albion in September, when JP Morgan Chase closed its Albion site at 231 East Ave.

CRFS saw that big building as a a chance for all of its employees to work under the same roof. The building also was purchased by Roger Hungerford, who owns the Olde Pickle Factory.

He worked out a deal with CRFS for the company to move its Medina and Albion employees into the same building.

Next month, CRFS will relocate 230 Medina employees to the Chase site. Another 227 in Albion are scheduled to make the move in March.

The company forecasts 750 employees in Orleans County. They could all easily fit in the former Chase site, which once housed more than 900 employees for Chase and its predecessor, Washington Mutual.

CRFS is looking to hire about 150 workers as part of its expansion into the former Chase building.

To help with its expansion, CRFS also has hired a new president and chief strategist. The company, which is led by CEO and founder Jodi Gaines, has hired Cecelia Raine to help lead the company with Gaines.

Gaines has worked in mortgage banking for more 28 years. Prior to joining CRFS, she was a senior vice president for Strategy and Business Development in the Office of the Enterprise for Lender Processing Services, Inc.

She managed the company’s relationship with Fannie Mae and Ginnie Mae, and Raines also built a servicing and default consulting practice. That business specialized in process re-engineering – making the most of people, €¨process and technology for her client base.

Other career experience includes 11 years with Fannie Mae, managing due diligence teams related to portfolio acquisitions, and several leadership positions in various servicing organizations.

Beyond her work experience, Raine has been recognized for her achievements as a “Woman of Influence” by Buffalo Business First, and was given the Chairman’s Award at Fannie Mae for her volunteer work with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.