October 2022

In This Month's Edition
  • TLTA Leadership Attends ALTA ONE in San Diego
  • TLTAPAC Team Continues Strengthening Relationships With Lawmakers Who Oversee Our Regulated Industry
  • Early Voting for General Election Starts This Monday, Oct. 24
  • TLTA President Paul R. Rodriguez Representing Our Industry
  • American Land Title Association Installs Jack Rattikin III as President
  • In Memoriam: Walter Fortney

TLTA Leadership Attends ALTA ONE in San Diego

TLTA leadership and members attended ALTA ONE in San Diego Oct. 11-14, where they had the opportunity to celebrate the installation of several Texans on ALTA's Board of Governors, including Jack Rattikin III, Tara Smith and Joe Grealish. Alongside more than 1000 title professionals from across the country, TLTA's delegation at ALTA ONE attended programming on current regulations affecting our industry, real estate wire fraud, the economy, as well as recruiting and retention challenges for industry employers.
 

Leslie Midgley, TLTA Past President Mike Savas, TLTA President Paul R. Rodriguez, and TLTA member Marilyn de Luna represent TLTA at ALTA ONE
 

TLTA Past President Jack Rattikin III is sworn in as ALTA's President for 2022-23 along with the other new members of ALTA's Board
  
The theme for this year’s ALTA ONE program was New Horizons, and the event included meetings with other state land title associations, a keynote from world-renowned economist and financial expert Marci Rossell on the future of the U.S. economy, and numerous updates on federal issues impacting the title industry.

TLTAPAC Team Continues Strengthening Relationships With Lawmakers Who Oversee Our Regulated Industry

The TLTAPAC team, including our Local Legislative Liaisons and the TLTAPAC Board of Trustees, remain busy during the legislative interim, working with our legislative allies to recognize good work done last session on behalf of our real estate marketplace, as well as preparing for legislative work ahead.
 
Recently, Galveston-area title professionals, including TLTA Local Legislative Liaison Carolyn Sunseri, delivered a PAC check to state Rep. Mayes Middleton. Middleton is the state Senator-elect for District 11, after winning the Republican primary earlier this year and drawing no Democrat competitor for the upcoming General Election Nov. 8.
 

Rep. Mayes Middleton receives a TLTAPAC check from South Land Title's Shari Curtis-Brown, Senior VP of Escrow, Carolyn Sunseri, VP of Administration and Brandon Linscomb, Senior VP and Chief Title Officer.
  
And earlier this month, TLTA Board of Directors member and Local Legislative Liaison, Claire Hartman of First Community Title, delivered a TLTAPAC check to state Rep. Brad Buckley.
 

TLTA Board member Claire Hartman delivers a TLTAPAC check to state Rep. Brad Buckley
  
As reported in TLTA's 2021 Legislative Report, our industry and our role in Texas' real estate marketplace were celebrated and supported by lawmakers during the 87th Regular Session, which concluded last May. The next legislative session begins January 2023.    
 
Thank you to all our TLTAPAC contributors. Your continued financial support equips us to protect and strengthen our successful title insurance system in Texas. If you haven't made your 2022 contribution, invest in your career by contributing to your TLTAPAC now.     
 

Early Voting for General Election Starts This Monday, Oct. 24

Early voting for the upcoming General Election (i.e., the midterms) begins this Monday, Oct. 24 and runs through Nov. 4. Election Day is Nov. 8. 
 
All U.S. representatives, state senators, and state representatives are up for election after the redrawing of political districts last year based on the 2020 census.  
    
As always, if you would like to discuss any of the candidates on your ballot or the impact of this election on our regulated industry, please contact TLTA's Government Affairs Director, Aaron Day.    
     
Early Voting: Oct. 24 - Nov. 4     
General Election: Nov. 8   
 
Who's on the ballot, where to vote and more » 
 
Voter turnout in Texas is the among the lowest in the nation, so please make a plan to vote early, and be sure to remind your family, friends, neighbors and coworkers that voting is one of our nation's most cherished liberties.  
 

TLTA President Paul R. Rodriguez Representing Our Industry

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce recently announced that TLTA President Paul R. Rodriguez will be awarded the chamber's Man of the Year designation. Since 1955, the McAllen Chamber of Commerce has selected two outstanding pillars of the community to be recognized for their contributions to the City of McAllen, and TLTA is proud to celebrate Paul's honor alongside his local community. The 67th Annual “Man & Woman of the Year” Awards will take place from 6:30-10:00 p.m. on November 3rd, 2022, at Embassy Suites by Hilton McAllen.
 

TLTA President Paul R. Rodriguez delivers an update on the state of our industry in Texas during a meeting of the Land Title Association of Colorado.
  
In addition to representing our industry with distinction in his local community, Paul recently represented TLTA and our state's title industry at a Land Title Association of Colorado convention.  We thank Paul for his commitment to our association, recognize his industry expertise and leadership, and celebrate his continued achievements.
 

American Land Title Association Installs Jack Rattikin III as President; Other Texans Also Join ALTA's Board of Governors

The American Land Title Association (ALTA) announced that Texas-native and past TLTA president, Jack Rattikin III, has been installed as president for the 2022-2023 year. Rattikin is a third generation ALTA president, following his father’s presidency in 1984-1985 and his grandfather’s presidency in 1939-1940.
 

Jack Rattikin III
 
“I am humbled to follow in both my father’s and grandfather’s footsteps in taking on the role of ALTA president,” said Rattikin, president and CEO of Rattikin Title Company in Fort Worth, Texas. “The ALTA presidency gives me the opportunity to collaborate with more than 6,500 of ALTA member companies and thousands of my title insurance industry colleagues and peers who are dedicated to helping their communities grow. I am honored to represent the profession that generations of my family have given their lives to, and I look forward accomplishing great things with the Board of Governors, staff and membership in the year ahead.”
 
Other Texans sworn in as members of ALTA's Board of Governors 2022-23 include Tara Smith and Joe Grealish. 
 
Read ALTA's Press Release »
 

In Memoriam: Walter Fortney

FEBRUARY 11, 1939 - SEPTEMBER 26, 2022

It is with great sadness we report that Walter Scott Fortney III passed away on Monday, September 26, 2022.
 
Walter was an attorney with over fifty years of experience practicing primarily in real estate and land-title litigation with the firm of Law, Snakard, and Gambill. He was board-certified in civil trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He has served as President of the Tarrant County Bar Association, River Crest Country Club, and the Legal Aid Foundation of Tarrant County where he volunteered his time to give free legal advice to veterans.
 
Walter was a TLTA member for many years, and his firm was awarded "Associate Member of the Year". He taught at the TLTA Land Title School for several years and delivered speeches to the American Land Title Association on several occasions at venues around the country. Walter will be remembered as an outstanding supporter of TLTA, and we will greatly miss his friendship and leadership.
 
Read Walter's Obituary »