The Carl R. Ernst Founders Award was established by the PRIA Board of Directors on June 1, 2005, to be presented in recognition of proven, unique leadership and achievement in resolving issues in the property records industry. This prestigious award is bestowed in accordance with the Award Selection Process, Award Script, and Judging Criteria & Scoring.
Carl R. Ernst was a founding member of PRIA and a talented visionary in the property recording industry. In 1989, he founded Ernst Publishing Co., a leading provider of technology and closing cost data for the real estate and home finance industries.
During his career, Carl worked for IBM, First Albany Corporation and Simon and Schuster’s InfoSearch. Carl was also instrumental in drafting legislation concerning the Uniform Commercial Code – most notably Revised Article 9. The Carl R. Ernst Founders Award and the now retired Black Knight Carl Ernst Scholarship Award were established in his memory.
| 2025 |  | Diane Swoboda Peterson Woodbury Co., IA Diane serves as Deputy Recorder in Woodbury Co., IA. She is a former board member and serves on PRIA's Council of Advisors. She's also actively involved in planning the Annual Conference and Winter Symposium. |
| 2024 |  | Carolyn Ableman PRIA Local Coordinator Carolyn has served as the PRIA Local Coordinator since 2010. She has been a member of the PRIA Board of Directors for eight years beginning in 2000. |
| 2023 |  | Larry Burtness Figure Technologies, Retired A recorder for Washoe Co., NV, for five years, Larry transitioned to the business community, working for Figure Technologies from 2018 until his retirement in 2024. Larry served as PRIA president from 2018-2020. |
| 2022 |  | Marc Aronson Pennsylvania Association of Notaries President of the Pennsylvania Association of Notaries since 1983-- Marc has been a tireless volunteer, member of the Council of Advisors, and former board member. |
| 2022 |  | Stevie Kernick PRIA As the chief staff officer for PRIA for 16 years and, although officially retired, Stevie continues to work and support PRIA’s work groups. Due to the COVID epidemic of 2020, Stevie received the 2020 award in 2022. |
| 2021 |  | Jim Harper Kofile Technologies, Retired Prior to retirement, Jim was the president of PFA Inc., a business member and PRIA’s archiving expert serving on multiple committees and work groups. |
| 2019 |  | Mark Ladd ICE Mortgage Technology, Retired Originally the register of deeds in Racine Co., WI, Mark became PRIA’s technology consultant before taking a position with Simplifile and now ICE Mortgage Technology. He served as PRIA President for five years and also on the Council of Advisors. |
| 2016 |  | Carol Foglesong Orange Co., FL, Retired Served as PRIA president, a member of the Council of Advisors, and provided in-kind services to PRIA for five years following her retirement. |
| 2011 |  | Bettie Johnson Boone Co., MO, Retired Served on the first PRIA board for five years as vice president and two years as secretary. |
| 2009 |  | Ardis R. Schmitt PRIA Administrator, Retired The former clerk in El Paso Co., CO, who went on to become PRIA’s first administrator. |
| 2007 |  | Mark A. Monacelli St. Louis Co., MN, Retired Served three consecutive terms as the first PRIA president. |
| 2005 | | Carl R. Ernst Ernst Publishing An original founding member of PRIA and the one for whom this award is named. |