eSTART Coalition Honors Policy Leadership and Industry Innovation in 2026 Awards Program

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The eSTART Coalition today announced the recipients of its 2026 Awards Program, recognizing leaders advancing vehicle title and registration modernization through policy reform, industry collaboration, and innovation.

This year’s honorees are Walter R. “Bud” Craddock, Administrator of the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles, recipient of the Advocacy and Policy Leadership Award, and Lee Perine, Vice President of Sales and Partnerships at YASSI, recipient of the Progress and Partnership Award. The coalition is also recognizing, in memoriam, former Massachusetts state Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante for her contributions to electronic title and signature reforms.

The Advocacy and Policy Leadership Award recognizes leaders who champion legislative and regulatory reforms that modernize vehicle transactions. Craddock was selected for his leadership in advancing policies that support the modernization of Rhode Island’s vehicle title and registration system, including the state’s Electronic Registration and Titling Act. The legislation establishes a framework for electronic titling, registration processing, liens, and signatures, helping reduce reliance on paper-based processes. 

Craddock also served as Chair of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) International Board when AAMVA introduced the first transaction sets for state-to-state electronic title transfers, helping lay the groundwork for future interstate e-titling.

“I’m extremely honored to have been nominated to receive this recognition from the eSTART Coalition. But this is a shared honor. It is an example of exceptional collaboration over two legislative sessions to ensure that the legislation provided the framework for efficient modernization of titling and registering vehicles,” said Craddock. “This legislation laid the groundwork not only to improve efficiencies but also to ensure the system is secure and protects sensitive information while meeting the needs of all stakeholders.”

The Progress and Partnership Award recognizes leaders who advance modernization through implementation, operational leadership, and cross-sector collaboration. Perine was selected for his work simplifying DMV record and title processing and bringing stakeholders across the automotive, lending, and insurance industries together. As Vice President of Sales and Partnerships at YASSI, he has helped translate industry feedback into practical solutions, including customized DMV record retrieval tools and RapidRepo Title capabilities.

“I'm super honored and grateful to the eSTART Coalition for everything it does to move this industry forward. None of this happens in a silo. Dealers, lenders, insurers, and state agencies all have a role, and our job is simply to support that work, listen to what the industry needs, and help turn good ideas into reality,” said Perine. “Reliable data is what makes modernization possible, and I'm proud to contribute to that. Thank you to eSTART for bringing everyone to the table.”

The eSTART Coalition is also recognizing, in memoriam, former Massachusetts state Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante for her leadership in advancing electronic signature and electronic title reforms. Ferrante championed these efforts in Massachusetts, including carrying House budget amendments that helped lay the groundwork for more modern, digital vehicle title and registration processes.

About eSTART Coalition

The Electronic Secure Title and Registration Transformation (eSTART) Coalition is a united group of leading automotive organizations committed to modernizing and streamlining automotive title and registration processes. eSTART focuses on advocating for the implementation of efficient technology solutions to replace the paper-dependent systems currently used by DMVs. Through collective advocacy and action at the local and national levels, the coalition aims to drive significant improvements in automotive industry processes in ways that benefit all customers, DMVs, and industry participants.

For more information, please visit www.estartcoalition.org.