Good Neighbor Podcast: Frisco

EP 290: Sealing Trust: How Laura Bennett Brings Notary Services to Your Fingertips

• Sophia Yvette

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What Makes Laura Bennett with Entheos Notary a Good Neighbor?

Ever wondered what happens when corporate expertise meets entrepreneurial spirit in an unexpected industry? Laura Bennett's journey to founding Entheos Notary reveals how discovering purpose in the details can transform both careers and communities.

Laura shares how she pivoted from an 18-year corporate career to build a mobile and remote online notary service designed around convenience and compassion. She breaks down the fascinating technology behind remote online notarization—a process allowing clients anywhere in the world to securely notarize documents through video technology, identity verification, and digital signatures. This service provides more than convenience; it offers superior security through comprehensive digital documentation of every transaction.

Beyond the technical aspects, Laura offers a refreshing perspective on notary work as deeply human-centered. Far from being just "a quick stamp," notaries guide people through life-changing moments—from parents authorizing university forms to seniors finalizing estates. Laura approaches each document understanding that real people with real concerns are behind every signature. Her community-centered approach extends beyond her business, with active involvement in local chambers, women's leagues, and dedicated support for Christ Haven, a nonprofit she's championed since 2011.

Whether you're a busy parent, a caregiver, a business owner, or someone navigating an important life transition, Laura's story illuminates how modern notary services blend technology with human connection.

To learn more about Entheos Notary  go to:

entheosnotary.com

Entheos Notary

  214-997-3182

Speaker 1:

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Sophia Yvette.

Speaker 2:

Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast. Are you in need of an online and in-person notary? Well, one may be closer than you think. Today I have the pleasure of introducing your good neighbor, Laura Bennett, with Enteos. Notary Laura, how are you?

Speaker 3:

today I am doing well, sophia, it's nice to hear from you.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and it's so nice to have you on Now, laura. Our listeners are so excited to learn all about you and your business. Can you start by telling us a little bit about your company?

Speaker 3:

I'd love to share more about Entheos Notary. We are a mobile, remote online notary service focused on convenience and peace of mind needed in documents documented without the stress, whether it's finalizing a will, authorizing a travel and consent form, or signing a power of attorney. I provide a professional, reliable and compassionate experience. I offer both in-person and online services. For those who aren't familiar with the remote online services, this is pretty easy and it's such a great convenience service.

Speaker 3:

The signer appears before me in the real lifetime with audio and video technology. I send them a link that access them to my platform. When they access that link, they answer two questions. They upload their driver's license that's one of their questions and then they answer a conventional authentication. So these questions that are sent to you are about who you are to. Did you live on this street before in the past? Was this your maiden name? So questions that we won't be able to answer as a notary.

Speaker 3:

Once they have passed through those questions, then it upsellotes them into my platform. Then I come in as a notary to verify who they are. I see their video, their image of themselves, and then I also verify them by their identity, which is their passport, their driver's license or a government ID, and then we proceed with signing the document digitally signing the document digitally, and once that is verified and signed and I witness their signature, then I place my electronic seal and a digital certificate is issued to them and that document is released to them. The best part about this and the clients love this is that the signer can be anywhere in the world, in any state, in any country, and I can legally notarize their document online.

Speaker 2:

Wow. And so, laura, how did you come up with the concept for this company in the first place?

Speaker 3:

Well, it was actually by accident. I just was kind of you know. One thing is, I kind of give a little bit of my background. I came from a corporate world of 18 years and I was drawn into the entrepreneurship and I wanted more, more flexibility, more purpose and freedom to creating something of my own. And I discovered the notary field, like I said, by accident. And the more I learned about it and the more I saw that it aligned with my values and they gave me the opportunity to help people during meaningful transitions. So I dove into it, got certified and I kept learning and that's how I built Enthea's Notary from the ground up.

Speaker 2:

Wow. Now Laura, what is the most common myth or misconception you come across on the day-to-day in your industry?

Speaker 3:

I could definitely give you the misconception big time on this. The most common misconception is that all notaries are the same thing. They all do the same thing. It's a one quick stamp and go, but in reality, there's a lot of responsibility involved. Notaries are often put in a very sensitive and emotional situation, like estate planning, legal affidavits, end of life documents. Another myth is that remote online notarization isn't a secured or valid process, but in actually, it's highly regulated and, in many cases, even more secured than in-person notarization. Everything is being recorded virtually verbally and electronically, creating a clear audio trail and, in additional, protecting all parties that are involved in this document.

Speaker 2:

And who are your typical clients? Getting into it a little bit deeper and in terms of marketing, how do you currently attract them? Is it with your app?

Speaker 3:

It can be with my app as well. I service all clients honestly. Busy parents, senior caregivers, small business owners, health care professionals, realtors anyone who needs a trustee and you know, a notary with convenience of them are going through life transitions and just need a process smooth and stress-free. I connect with people through referrals, word of mouth, local partnerships and being present in my community. I'm involved in the chamber, women's league and nonprofit organizations. When people see me out there, they can trust that I am who I am and I'm true to what my services is, and it just kind of comes naturally honestly by the referrals.

Speaker 2:

So, Laura, have you ever thought about having your very own podcast?

Speaker 3:

Yes, I actually did, and I have been kind of dabbling into thinking about starting my own podcast and if I did, I'd love to feature notaries to share their experience, especially around challenging and unique documents they have encountered and how the state-specific laws affect the notary process. I think, when it's including and highlighting the complex of our work will provide an insight of what notaries do and to the general public. So it would be more of an educational podcast for both sides.

Speaker 2:

Now, outside of work, what do you like to do for?

Speaker 3:

fun. Oh my goodness. I am a little bit of a competitive person, so I love playing tennis. I am a tennis fanatic, I'm on four teams. But another personal side of myself is that I love spending time with my family and friends. It could be, you know, a Sunday dinner, a birthday celebration or just, you know, catching up and, you know, seeing what everybody's doing because we're all so busy in our lives. Another thing that I love, love, love doing and that keeps me grounded and connected is supporting my local businesses around here and getting involved in nonprofit organization. That really feeds my soul.

Speaker 2:

Is there a certain cause that's near and dear to your heart?

Speaker 3:

Yes, it's Christ Haven. It's a local nonprofit organization here in Keller. I do find that a very passion and I've been supporting them since 2011. And when I had my other businesses before, it's been a great nonprofit organization to support organization to support.

Speaker 2:

That's amazing. Now, Laura, what is one thing you would like our listeners today to?

Speaker 3:

take away from Entheos Notary. I honestly the one thing I want people to really understand what notaries do, and especially my business, is that I'm not just notarizing a document. I'm helping someone secure their document and their private information and understand that I support their life change event here. Whether it's a mother sending or signing a school form for, you know, university letting go their little babies that they can't hold on to anymore at 18, to elderlies, you know, finalizing their estate, or businesses, you know, signing and protecting their assets, it all matters. I treat every appointment with care and respect, because every document is a real person and then it's. There's a sword behind that as well. So it's really important to take those, those documents, seriously as they do. Every client takes their documents so seriously, so they want it done right. They, they, they. Every client takes their document so seriously so they want it done right.

Speaker 2:

What is the number one thing you love about having this notary service?

Speaker 3:

That I do impact, you know, their lives and making them feel confident that this document is going to be legal and it's protected. It is not going to be fraudulent. That's a huge thing is that I'm here to prove for that. Wherever the document travels from them, from there on that, it's going to be a legal document and I have sealed it. It's not just a quick stamp, as I mentioned earlier. It is a much another level of protecting that document when it travels away.

Speaker 2:

And where can our listeners go to learn more about Entheos? Notary.

Speaker 3:

You can visit my website at entheosnotarycom to learn more or schedule an appointment. Whether it's in person or online, I've got you covered. You can also visit Facebook or Instagram for any updates on my business and another two other contact information. You can reach me by phone at 214-997-3182. Or you can email me personally directly, also at lbennett at entheosnotarycom for any questions or just. Documents can get a bit unclear, so if you ever have a question of like do I need this notarized? How do I know that I need to notarize this document? This person told me to notarize it, so is this how it's supposed to look? Because a lot of people don't know that if there's missing notarial act, I can't notarize it and I have to attach a notarial certificate to it. So I kind of help out clients in that situation. There's over a billion types of document out there, so I want them to know that I will guide them and direct in the right way if it even needs to be notarized.

Speaker 2:

Well, Laura, I really appreciate you being on the show and I wish you and your business the best moving forward.

Speaker 3:

Yes, thank you so much. Thank you for having me on there.

Speaker 1:

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to GNPFriscocom, to gnpfriscocom. That's gnpfriscocom, or call 469-221-9345.