What NTP Means to Me...

I certainly haven't had the longest career and I don't have the most compelling resume in the title insurance industry. I've spent the majority of my 17 year career working on the agency side, most of that time spent working for a very small agency that still feels like home when I visit. I've entered orders, searched, examined, closed, funded, recorded, later dated, typed policies and remitted. Not to mention sales, making payroll and reconciling accounts. I don't think my story is very different from many of yours. Nobody sits in their third grade class and dreams about the day that they grow up and work at a title company. That said, we all found ourselves here, and I can honestly say that there is nothing I would rather do.

I've spent much of my career sitting in closing rooms, helping borrowers refinance or buy, sellers move on, and yes, sometimes listening to attorneys argue while realtors and bankers looked on while crossing their fingers. One thing though about this scene has always rubbed me the wrong way. Why is the person who handles all the documentation, funds and non-public private information the only professional at the table without a certification or designation? Think about it... The banker, realtor, attorney, heck, even the appraiser and termite inspector have certifications. To me, this is all about value.

I am important; I play an exceedingly critical role in protecting a sector of our economy that make up an 18% share of our nation's Gross Domestic Product, not to mention the single largest purchase most American's will make in their lifetimes. I would argue that there is nobody at that closing table who should be certified or designated more than the Title Professional. If we don't claim our value, who will?

Becoming an American Land Title Association (ALTA) designated National Title Professional (NTP) is one of the greatest accomplishments of my professional life. That said, the NTP doesn't make me valuable. Exactly the opposite. I AM VALUABLE, THEREFORE I NEEDED TO GET MY NTP. It is my duty to the industry that I love and hold near and dear to my heart to do whatever I can to preserve its place and secure its future. Getting my NTP designation is a declaration that I am valuable... Now it's your turn.

Illinois Land Title Association Annual Convention Wrapup

That’s it, it’s over, it’s all over.  Another ILTA Annual Convention is in the books.  Each and every year the outstanding staff of the association keeps finding ways to outdo themselves.  Michael and Darlene Lane along with Susan Tolley put in countless hours of work to ensure that the ILTA offers new and exciting venues and programs.  This year’s Convention at the iHotel & Conference Center in Champaign, IL was no exception.

The Convention began with the 4^th Annual “Agent’s Only” dinner.  Though this event is young, it’s hard to imagine a convention without the camaraderie that this dinner inspires.  We find ourselves in a challenging environment, but optimism was heard and a vision for the future is beginning to take shape.  Our industry and indeed our nation is best served with a strong and vibrant agency model and events like the “Agent’s Only” dinner show our memberships commitment to these great businesses. 

The following day began with Committee Meetings and the Board Meeting, after which the convention moved seamlessly into a panel discussion featuring two of our own. Frank Pellegrini, past ILTA President and past ALTA President and Dan Mennenoh, past ILTA President and current Chair of the ALTA Agents and Abstractors Section joined Leslie Wyatt of Softpro for a lively discussion of the regulatory environment, upcoming changes and the new realities of our industry. 

Later in the evening after wonderful PAC and Underwriter Receptions the convention transitioned into the Installation Banquet.  As the crowd thanked now Past President Walt Adams for his thoughtful leadership over the past year, we also congratulated incoming President Paul Presney, Jr and the others installed as leaders.  Always a special event, this Installation Banquet took on even greater significance as the association recognized 40 members in attendance who had completed either their ITP (Illinois Title Professional), IEP (Illinois Escrow Professional) or both.  The celebratory mood lingered long into the evening.

The final day of the convention kicked off with reports from Wisconsin, Missouri and Iowa as well as a report from ALTA and the DFI update.  I believe the highlight of the day was a mortgage fraud report delivered by Brad Geary of Housing and Urban Development and Lyle Evans of the FBI and moderated by Linda Grahovec.  This was a humbling look inside the criminal world of mortgage fraud.  This fraud is still happening and it is getting more complex.  It’s quite clear that we as an industry must remain vigilant against this ever present danger.  After lunch the convention concluded on a high note with a very informative and positive financial markets update from John Chapman of BSC Private Wealth Management.

On a personal note, I have made no secret of the fact that the ILTA Convention is a highlight of my calendar.  For me this event has always been about friendship and fellowship.  Coming together as friends to celebrate our commonalities instead of our differences for a few days is truly special.  I’ve made dozens of wonderful friends at these events and each year I add a few more to the list.  I hope to see many of you at the quarterly committee meetings in October as we begin to build the bridge to next year’s annual convention.