January 2021
- Why Inclusive Leaders Are Good for Organizations, and How to Become One
- Evan Smith Headlines Next TLTA Town Hall – Feb. 2 - RSVP NOW
- Straight From the Source: TDI Licensing Requirements and More Featuring TDI Staff – Jan. 28
- National Investors Announces Leadership Changes
- In Memoriam
- A Warm Welcome to Our Newest TLTA Members
- Upcoming Webinars
Why Inclusive Leaders Are Good for Organizations, and How to Become One
Harvard Business Review | Mar. 29, 2019
Companies increasingly rely on diverse, multidisciplinary teams that combine the collective capabilities of women and men, people of different cultural heritage, and younger and older workers. But simply throwing a mix of people together doesn’t guarantee high performance; it requires inclusive leadership — leadership that assures that all team members feel they are treated respectfully and fairly, are valued and sense that they belong, and are confident and inspired.
Inclusiveness isn’t just nice to have on teams. Our research shows that it directly enhances performance. Teams with inclusive leaders are 17% more likely to report that they are high performing, 20% more likely to say they make high-quality decisions, and 29% more likely to report behaving collaboratively. What’s more, we found that a 10% improvement in perceptions of inclusion increases work attendance by almost 1 day a year per employee, reducing the cost of absenteeism.
What specific actions can leaders take to be more inclusive? To answer this question, we surveyed more than 4,100 employees about inclusion, interviewed those identified by followers as highly inclusive, and reviewed the academic literature on leadership. From this research, we identified 17 discrete sets of behaviors, which we grouped into six categories (or “traits”), all of which are equally important and mutually reinforcing. We then built a 360-degree assessment tool for use by followers to rate the presence of these traits among leaders. The tool has now been used by over 3,500 raters to evaluate over 450 leaders. The results are illuminating.
Read More »
Evan Smith Headlines Next TLTA Town Hall – Feb. 2 - RSVP NOW
This is one you won’t want to miss! Evan Smith, CEO and co-founder of the Texas Tribune, is a perennial favorite at our annual conference, and he has agreed to share his insights with us on the 87th Session of the Texas Legislature, which is currently underway in Austin. He’ll give us his take on the current state of what he calls, Pandemic Politics, and how that will affect you, your business and all Texans.
Making Sense of the 87th Texas Legislature
w/ special guest Evan Smith, CEO and co-founder, Texas Tribune
Join us as we discuss politics and policy in a year like no other. With extended Q&A so you can ask Evan Smith your questions directly.
Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021 – 2 p.m.
RSVP for This Complimentary Virtual Event »
Presubmit a Question for Evan Smith »
Your team at TLTA receive questions year-round about Texas politics and what's happening with the legislators in Austin who govern our regulated industry. In a year like no other, tracking politics and policy is tricky business, and Evan Smith will be on hand Feb. 2 to share his insights on the Texas Legislature and answer your questions during a special, extended Q&A.
TLTA town halls have traditionally been a roadshow with our current association president (and TLTA staff in tow) traveling the state to gather member feedback, make new connections and more. Because we can’t be in your community due to the pandemic, TLTA President John Bruce and your team at TLTA are doing something new instead. We look forward to seeing you at this special presentation with Evan Smith.
All virtual Town Hall sessions are available to
all TLTA members free of charge
Straight From the Source: TDI Licensing Requirements and More Featuring TDI Staff – Jan. 28
Randall Evans, TDI Associate Commissioner of Customer Operations, and Arturo Bustamante, TDI Director of Title Examinations, will provide an in-depth look at license compliance for escrow officers and agents with this new TLTA webinar, Straight From the Source: TDI Licensing Requirements and More.
Do you know when your license expires? Do you know if you are appointed or unappointed? Do you know how to change your information with TDI? Want to know the most common audit violations? Get answers to these questions and so much more straight from the source!
This timely webinar features the latest TDI requirements you need to know:
Escrow officer expirations, renewals and applications
Escrow officer appointments and correct forms
Procedures for changing escrow officer and/or title agent information
Exceptions and extensions allowed due to COVID-19
How audits are carried out during COVID-19
And more
Straight From the Source: TDI Licensing Requirements and More Featuring TDI Staff
Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021 | 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. CT
Register Now »
National Investors Announces Leadership Changes
National Investors Title Insurance Company announced the following leadership changes effective Jan. 1, 2021:
Patrick Opela, Senior Vice President - National Markets and Texas Operations
Prior to his promotion, Patrick served as vice president-National Markets & Texas agency manager for NITIC for the last three years. In this new role, Patrick will provide primary leadership and management support to all sales, marketing, operational, and administrative functions for Texas. Additionally, Patrick will work with the National Markets leadership team in the identification and development of national agency relationships on behalf of National Investors and Investors Title Insurance Company.
Teresa Frost, Vice President - Agency Services Project Manager
Prior to accepting this new role, Teresa served as president – Texas market for NITIC for the past five years and as Texas agency manager for NITIC prior to that role. In this new position, Teresa will oversee process improvements for agent licensing, collaborate with the Texas agency manager on agent education initiatives, and work with corporate leadership on due diligence projects related to expansion of NITIC operations regionally. Teresa is a longtime instructor at the Texas Land Title School and is a frequent presenter at industry events.
Brandi Abercrombie, Texas Agency Manager
In her new role, Brandi will continue to expand responsibilities and oversee the Texas independent agencies for National Investors. Brandi brings nearly 20 years of management, sales, and title insurance experience to the role. She holds both the Certified Escrow Settlement Professional (CESP) and Certified Title Insurance Professional (CTIP) designations from the Texas Land Title Association (TLTA). She is also a longtime Land Title School instructor and committee member and is the current school committee chair.
In Memoriam
Maria del Carmen Peña
Maria worked for Title Examinations at the Texas Department of Insurance, where she started in May 2014. She was TDI's South Texas Auditor.
Read Maria's Obituary »
Robert Terry Rork
In 1994, Bob joined Alamo Title as President and Chief Operating Officer, serving in that capacity until 1998.
Read Bob's Obituary »
Marianne Merritt
Marianne was a title examiner for First Security Title. In 1996, she accepted a position as Branch Manager for First American Title.
Read Marianne's Obituary »
Russell L. Abraham
Russell ran Chicago Title and Trust Company operations in Houston and served multiple years as an officer of the Texas Land Title Association.
Read Russell's Obituary »
A Warm Welcome to Our Newest TLTA Members
Agent Members
Sutton Land of Texas, LLC
Contact: Kevin Rosenberg
2121 Sage Rd., Ste. 270
Houston, TX 77056
281.462.5950
[email protected]
www.suttonlandtexas.com
Associate Members
Innergex Renewable Energy USA, LLC
Contact: Paula Ostroot
7000 N. Mopac Expy., Ste. 2107
Austin, TX 78731
737.255.2879
[email protected]
In addition to the live webinars listed below, you have access to our library of more than 80 On-Demand webinars and videos covering the title industry topics you need to earn continuing education credits and stay ahead of the curve on the latest industry trends!