2026 Summer Conference: Under The Big Top – Where Title Agents Take Center Stage
Our attendees recently met at the Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook August 23-24, 2026 for our third annual Summer Conference. Click on the link to see the schedule of events, bios, speaker handouts and attendee list. Summer Conference 2026 – Land Title Association of Alabama
Our theme this year was “Under the Big Top Where Title Agents Take Center Stage.” As evidenced by the evaluations, it was a great success with around 75 attendees which included about 40 individual agents and abstractors. Many thanks to our eleven wonderful sponsors who helped make this event so successful. Our sponsors were Norman-Spencer Insurance, Fidelity National Financial, Rynoh, CertifID/CloseSimple, Trellis, Trustmark Bank, Sain Surveyors, Customers Bank, TitleWave, ATGF, and Generes & Associates. In addition, Softpro provided the lanyards and name tags.
Attendees enjoyed a gourmet hot dog lunch as well as circus snacks like peanuts, cracker jacks, animal crackers and other themed items in a nice LTAAL branded tote bag.
Lauren Baum Malbrough, our President, welcomed everyone and introduced Shelby County Probate Judge Allison Boyd and her Chief Clerk, Kim Melton to the group. Judge Boyd gave updates in Shelby County including a new service where property owners can request an email notification whenever anything is recorded on their property. Judge Boyd was praised by Lauren for running an efficient and quality probate office. LTAAL is very grateful for Judge Boyd taking the time to meet with our group. She expressed appreciation for our association sponsoring the Alabama Probate Judges Association conferences and is excited that we’ll continue to grow our personal relationships with the various probate judges throughout the state.
Edgar Black, Black & Hughston, introduced the panel educating everyone regarding the Alabama Property Protection Act which is effective October 1, 2026. Jeremy Walker, CEO, Alabama Association of Realtors, Price Evans, Old Republic National Title Insurance Company, Beau Brown, Counsel, Alabama Securities Commission and Edgar discussed how the act became law and how it will affect our industry. An email was sent to our membership by request of the Alabama Securities Commission asking for comments regarding the proposed regulations of the Act. Please email Battena@ctt.com as soon as possible if you have comments.
Our next panel was AI and Tech: Taking it to the Next Level with Patrick Curry, Abound AI/Allegiance Title, Billy Roehrenbeck and Scott Roehrenbeck, Pulaski County Title, Thomas Bailey, ADM Title, and Paul Stine, CEO, CloseSimple. Lots of serious note-taking was in play after hearing all the new ways that title agents are using AI and other tech-related innovations to make their offices more efficient.
At the end of the day, Lauren introduced our Keynote Speaker, the legendary sportscaster, ELI GOLD. Eli entertained us all with his memories and stories of how he became a sportscaster. Most of all, our attendees loved hearing that famous voice once again – this time in person!
Sunday night ended with a laid-back enjoyable time with live music, fabulous food and drink at a reception which included time to catch-up with old friends as well as make connections with new ones.
After a nice breakfast, the morning began with Jim Robertson with CertifID educating us on Ethical Ways to Combat Fraud. No matter how many times we have heard fraud presentations, we always learn about new schemes when experts like Jim inform us. The bottom line is that it is an ethical responsibility of every title agent to have systems in place with educated employees to properly protect their escrow account and the consumer from fraud.
Sylvion Moss, Law Works, LLC educated our group on Quiet Title Actions. Attendees had lots of questions and were interested in hearing more from Sylvion. Unfortunately, something unprecedented at LTAAL conferences happened during her presentation when a fire alarm alerted us all to depart the building. After 15 minutes or so outside watching fire trucks arrive, the emergency was soon handled, and we returned to the room. Everyone left wanting to hear more from Sylvion.
Our last presentation was a panel on ALTA Surveys and Title with Michael Thomas, Sain Associates, Spencer Huey, Magic City Title, and Hayes Ellett, Fidelity National Financial. Michael gave an overview of surveying standards, finishing with Spencer, Hayes and Michael going over an actual survey read.
Lauren presided over the LTAAL annual business meeting quickly summarizing the year’s activities for the attendees. February 2026 LTAAL hosted a Mid-Winter Conference in Florence. The liaison committee sponsored an APJA conference, Alabama Mortgage Professional luncheons as well as Alabama Association of Realtors Capital Day. Plans are underway to sponsor the AAR conference in October as well as future Mortgage Bankers of Alabama conferences. Our legislative committee was active in providing comments to help guide legislators in passing the Alabama Property Protection Act. Our abstractor apprenticeship committee sponsored two career fairs in high schools promoting our industry and was able to place our very first abstractor apprentice with Title Services in Huntsville. It was a positive experience for both the apprentice as well as Title Services.
Our membership has grown this year. It stands at 156 total members: 87 agent members, 18 agent staff members, 14 abstractors, 10 associates (vendors), 20 underwriters and 7 Probate Judges/Chief Clerks. In general, it was a busy and successful year!
Our By-laws call for 3 year terms for treasurer and each board member so we had 4 people rolling off the board. Many thanks go to Stephanie Martin, Treasurer as well as Directors: Edgar Black, Northwest Region, Tara Leiter, West Region, and Underwriter Position #1: Sean Culhane. LTAAL greatly appreciates their contribution and service the past three years.
The membership voted the following slate of officers and directors for the 2026-2027 year:
| President: | Lauren Baum Malbrough, David P. Condon, P.C., Birmingham |
| Vice President: | Matt Harrison, Harrison Gammons, Huntsville |
| Secretary/Treasurer: | April Smith, Smith Closing & Title, Birmingham |
| Immediate Past President: | Spencer Huey, Magic City Title, Birmingham |
| Southeast Region Director: | Chelsea Hester, Hester Law, Andalusia |
| Northeast Region Director: | Jami Blanton, AL Closing & Title, Athens & Cullman |
| Plains Region Director: | Stephanie Burton, River Region Title, Dadeville |
| West Region Director: | Marc Brakefield, West Alabama Insured Titles, LLC, Northport |
| Northwest Region Director: | Rebecca Keene, Keene & Scott, Florence & Muscle Shoals |
| Southwest Region: | Coleman Bryars, Alabama Land Title Company, Bay Minette and Daphne |
| Central East Region: | Jeff Parmer, Law Offices of Jeff W. Parmer, LLC, Birmingham |
| Underwriter Position #1: | Wyatt Huggins, Old Republic Title Insurance Company, Birmingham |
| Underwriter Position #2: | David Higginbotham, Westcor Land Title Insurance Company, Birmingham |
The meeting was adjourned before a nice lunch while the membership said goodbye until FEBRUARY 2027 for our Mid-Winter Conference to be held at the Embassy Suites in Gulf Shores! SEE YOU THEN!
