With more than three decades of distinguished service to the Notary community, Ozie Stallworth is widely regarded as one of the nation’s foremost authorities on electronic notarization policy, procedures and implementation.
His pioneering work developing North Carolina’s electronic mortgage closing system — now considered a benchmark model for other states — has helped shape how governments and industries across the country approach eNotarization.
For this achievement and his strong, impactful leadership of the Notary Public Office, we are pleased to announce that Ozie H. Stallworth, Director of Electronic Notarization and Notary Enforcement for the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, has been named as the National Notary Association’s (NNA) 2026 recipient of the prestigious March Fong Eu Achievement Award.
“I am extremely honored to be numbered with these individuals who have done so much for the office of Notary Public over the years. It’s very humbling,” Stallworth said.
Established in 1979 and named for its inaugural recipient, March Fong Eu, this award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to advancing the standards, professionalism, and public image of the office of Notary Public.
Who is Ozie Stallworth?
Stallworth’s career has been defined by innovation in electronic commerce and notarization. He first served as an expert in Notary education and technology at the NNA, supervising the Notary Hotline and helping to launch the Association’s programs for Notary Signing Agents, for which he was honored as the NNA’s Leader of the Quarter in Spring of 2002.
After leaving the NNA, he was recruited to help develop policies and standards for North Carolina’s statewide electronic notarization initiative, becoming the first person assigned to a state government role specifically dedicated to implementing eNotarization.
Pioneering electronic notarization in North Carolina
Among his many accomplishments, Stallworth directed the nation’s first state-sponsored electronic mortgage closing pilot program. He oversaw North Carolina’s first electronic mortgage closing and the country’s first electronic recording of a plat map. His leadership in developing rules for electronic notarization and electronic recording helped expand access to electronic recording services to nearly 90 percent of North Carolina’s residents.
“One of the biggest challenges that we have faced is the introduction of electronic tools to the office of Notary Public,” Stallworth said. “Showing the public and multimillion-dollar industries like the mortgage industry that there is a way of doing things utilizing different tools can be a bit daunting. But I think the rewards are going to continue to be very fruitful for Notaries and consumers in North Carolina and beyond.”
His work also extends to other countries. Stallworth helped organize the first international conference on electronic notarization and electronic apostilles in collaboration with the Hague Conference on Private International Law, the International Union of Latin Notaries and the National Notary Association, bringing together global experts to discuss the future of secure digital authentication.
“It was the NNA's loss when Ozie went to work for the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, but a huge win for North Carolina Notaries and the North Carolina general public,” said Bill Anderson, NNA Vice President of Government Affairs.
Educating the next generation of Notaries
In addition to his technology leadership, Stallworth oversees North Carolina’s statewide Notary education and training program. His responsibilities include certifying Notary instructors, developing course curricula and authoring training manuals used by Notaries throughout the state.
He also launched the Secretary of State’s Continuing Legal Education Series, which provides courses for attorneys and legal professionals on electronic commerce and Notary-related laws.
Beyond government service, Stallworth shares his expertise as an instructor at both North Carolina State University and Wake Technical Community College, teaching courses on traditional and electronic notarization.
Stallworth has also contributed to broader government technology initiatives, serving on the North Carolina Office of the State Controller’s Digital Signature Higher Assurance Work Group, which helped procure the enterprise eSignature solution DocuSign for use by state and local agencies.
Strengthening Notary enforcement and fraud protection
As Director of Electronic Notarization and Notary Enforcement, Stallworth oversees one of the largest and most sophisticated Notary enforcement divisions in the country, ensuring that North Carolina Notaries maintain the high standards required to protect the public.
His office investigates allegations of Notary misconduct across the state and frequently collaborates with law enforcement agencies when Notary violations are connected with broader criminal activity. He has also served as an expert witness in state and federal cases involving Notary practices.
“Our society as we know it would be very different if we didn’t have Notaries, and not in a good way,” he said. “Without Notaries to ensure document signers are who they claim to be, everything would be vulnerable to fraud and up for grabs: property, vehicles, business agreements, you name it.”
A career of influence and recognition
Stallworth’s impact on the profession has been recognized repeatedly throughout his career. In 2007, the National Notary Association named him one of the 50 most influential individuals in the field of notarization over the past half-century.
A commissioned North Carolina Notary and registered eNotary himself, Stallworth continues to play a key role in shaping the future of notarization. Most recently, he has helped lead the implementation of North Carolina’s comprehensive overhaul of Notary regulations during 2025–2026.
He has also received the 2020 North Carolina Governor’s Award for Excellence in Innovation and Efficiency and was named Secretary of State Employee of the Year in 2019.
Stallworth earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and public relations from Howard University in Washington, D.C.
The NNA congratulates Ozie Stallworth on this well-deserved honor and thanks him for his decades of leadership, innovation and dedication to advancing the Notary profession.
David Thun is the Editorial Manager at the National Notary Association. Susi Sivkov is the Audience Engagement Manager at the National Notary Association.,