Conference: Wearing All The Hats
Your Land Title Association of Alabama hosted its second annual conference at the Grand Bohemian Mountain Brook August 24-25. Today’s Alabama Title Professional “Wears all the Hats.” We’re abstractors, examiners, closers, business owners and now fraud preventers. About 65 attendees enjoyed six hours of CLE/CE education led by industry authorities in each of the topics. Amy Steindorff and Edgar Black updated us on current AL case law and FinCen. Limestone County Probate Judge Woodroof and Doug Bachuss, FNF Area Counsel had a lively presentation entitled “Title and Probate: Lawyers and Judges Always Agree… Right?” Special Agents Patrick Glaze and Christopher Parrish with the U.S. Secret Service’s Birmingham Field Office updated us on “Emerging Fraud Trends” that affect our industry. Our keynote speaker was Jeremy Walker, the Chief Executive Officer of the Alabama Association of Realtors. He gave us housing statistics for the state this year compared to previous years and looks forward to continuing to strengthen his 14,000 member association relationship with our title association. We adjourned for the day to a wonderful reception with acoustic entertainment and a cocktail buffet. There may have also been a few pool sharks who enjoyed a friendly little competition in the billiard room. It was wonderful to see so many title agents from around the state networking and discussing current topics we all deal with daily.
Monday morning began with Will Hereford presenting “Alabama Tax Liens and Tax Sales.” Lots of notes were taken and questions asked as our attendees were updated on the latest changes in the law. Our attendees earned their 1 hour of ethics credit by hearing Theo Goodin explain the Alabama Department of Insurance’s procedures. Last but not least, Agent Joiner with the FBI tested everyone with some phishing questions to show how everyone can be at risk even when trying to avoid email hacks as she led the discussion on complex financial crimes. During lunch, President Spencer Huey thanked Mark Davis, Mark Murphy and Meagan Yarbrough for serving on the board. Based on the Board of Directors’ recommended slate of officers, the members voted the following as the new board of directors:
| President: | Lauren Baum Malbrough |
| Vice President: | Matt Harrison (Harrison Gammons, Huntsville) |
| Secretary/Treasurer: | Stephanie Martin |
| Immediate Past President: | Spencer Huey |
| Northwest Region Director: | Edgar Black |
| Northeast Region Director: | Jami Blanton (AL Closing & Title, Athens & Cullman) |
| West Region Director: | Tara Leiter |
| Southeast Region Director: | Chelsea Hester (Hester Law, Andalusia) |
| Southwest Region Director: | Coleman Bryars |
| Plains Region Director: | Stephanie Burton (River Regions Title, Dadeville) |
| Central East Region Director: | Jeff Parmer |
| Underwriter Position #1: | Sean Culhane |
| Underwriter Position #2: | David Higginbotham |
Lauren Malbrough, the newly elected President, presented a thank you award to Spencer Huey, our inaugural president who served three years to help this organization get off the ground. Lauren gave a forward-looking speech about continuing our vital relationship with the Alabama Probate Judges Association and the Alabama Association of Realtors. She is very optimistic about our industry and the future of our association. Planning starts now for our February Mid-Winter Conference. Details will be forthcoming!
