The Title Report
TitleVest Adds 7 To Staff, Several From Defunct TitleServ
Manhattan-based title agent TitleVest, known for its technology-driven approach, announced the addition of seven prominent title industry professionals to its business development and national title insurance divisions. TitleVest was also able to capitalize on the demise of TitleServ, which officially went out of business in April, by hiring some of its top talent.
“We are delighted to welcome such accomplished and seasoned title professionals,” said Bill Baron, TitleVest’s president and chief executive officer. “Our model of offering industry-best service and technology has not only fueled our phenomenal client growth but has also made us such an attractive choice for title industry professionals.”
Christine Gagliardi was named a managing director of business development. She joins TitleVest after working at First American Title Insurance Co. of New York, where she became senior vice president of sales. Most recently she worked as a principal and top sales executive for Benchmark Title Agency.
Joining Gagliardi in business development will be Maria Fogliano. She is also a veteran of First American Title Insurance Co. of New York, and she spent the past 19 years procuring a large roster of institutional real estate clients.
Eric McLendon was hired as a sales executive. McLendon has a diverse background, spending most of his career in the news and entertainment industry as a sportscaster for WNBC, a producer for ABC News, a host on The Food Network, and an actor. He finally entered the mortgage and real estate world as a broker with Corcoran and recently as a sales executive with PDE Title.
John W. Cassese Jr. was added as senior vice president of national sales. Prior to joining TitleVest, Cassese was Titleserv’s senior vice president of national sales. As its top producer, Cassese substantially expanded the title agency’s national title business with many of the nation’s leading institutional mortgage lenders. Previously, he served as a senior loan officer with both JP Morgan Chase Bank and Washington Mutual Bank.
Daniel Bokol was also one of Titleserv’s top sales executives. He joins TitleVest as a national sales executive. Previously he also worked at Countrywide Home Loans and Washington Mutual Bank.
Toni Ridzy-Hall was hired as vice president and market manager of South Florida. Ridzy-Hall has more than 17 years in the title and mortgage industries and also previously worked at TitleServ where she serviced the firm’s Florida institutional lender accounts. Prior to that, she held positions with Fidelity National Title Insurance Co.and Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.
Matthew Kornfeld was hired as director of national title & settlement services. Kornfeld worked at TitleServ for nine years as its national closing manager and had additional responsibilities in staff recruitment, training and vendor management.
TitleVest is a policy-issuing agent for six of the nation’s largest title insurance underwriters: First American Title Insurance Co., Chicago Title Insurance Co., Fidelity National Title Insurance Co., Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Co., Stewart Title Insurance Co., and Old Republic National Title Insurance Co.