ALTA Installs New President During 2009 Convention

October 26, 2009

Mark Winter was officially named president of the American Land Title Association, taking the reins from Mike Pryor. Read on to see who will serve on the association’s board of governors for the next year.

The American Land Title Association named Mark Winter its 2009-2010 president as well as officers for its Board of Governor’s as the association concluded its Annual Convention on Saturday at the Breakers in Palm Beach, Fla.

Winter, who is executive vice president of public policy for Stewart Title, succeeds Mike Pryor, CEO of Lenders Title Co., who will now serve on the Board of Governors as Immediate Past President.

“I realize I’m following a very special person,” said Winter. “His passion, wisdom and commitment resonated from sea to shining sea this year. It’s an honor to follow in his footsteps. It’s an honor and a privilege to serve this association. I would thank the past presidents for sharing their moral compass and I would like to thank the leaders of this association for sharing their confidence.”

Winter brings 25 years of industry and policy experience to the position. In addition, to being a long-time member of the board of governors of the ALTA, Winter is chairman of the association’s International Development Committee, immediate past Chairman of the Underwriters Section, a member of the Government Relations Committee and the Title Industry Political Action Committee Board of Trustees. Prior to joining Stewart, Winter was Director of Government Affairs at ALTA.

Since 2005, Winter has served as executive vice president of public policy for Stewart’s Washington, D.C. office, and is responsible for the development and coordination of both commercial and residential real estate business and for the procurement of international land titling projects funded by independent federal agencies. Winter represents Stewart before Congress, various regulatory agencies, and government-sponsored enterprises such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. In addition, Winter served on the boards of Stewart Information International, Stewart Title Guaranty Company Political Action Committee, the International Land Registration Association and the International Real Estate Roundtable. Prior to joining Stewart, Winter, a graduate of Georgetown University, was a special assistant to the U.S. ambassador to Jamaica and a member of the professional staff of U.S. Reps. Bill Bray (R-Ind.) and Frances Bolton (R-Ohio).

To introduce Winter, three of his sons, Tim, Sean and Patrick, offered a personal speech about how their father impacted their lives.

“He instilled in us a love of sports,” said Patrick Winter. “We come from Maryland and when it comes to baseball, the Baltimore Orioles were the only game in town. And if you were a Baltimore fan, you were a fan of Cal Ripken, who was known as the Iron Man. Well, our dad was the Iran Fan. He cheered, filmed and coached each of us. If he brings a tenth of the loving dedication that he embodies as a father to this organization, this is one lucky organization.”

Pryor said serving as ALTA’s president was the highest professional honor of his life and that he would forever be grateful for the opportunity.

“I am here anytime you need to call on me anywhere, anytime, anyplace for this association,” Pryor told attendees.

Anne Anastasi, president of Genesis Abstract Co., was named President-Elect. Rounding out the Board of Governors is Treasurer: John Hollenbeck, senior executive vice president for First American Title Insurance Co.; Chair of Finance Committee: Diane Evans, Vice President Regulatory/Legislative Affairs for Land Title Guarantee Co.; Agents Section Chair: Frank Pellegrini, president of Prairie Title Inc.; Agents Section Representative: Herschel Beard, owner of Marshall County Abstract Co.; Agents Section Representative: Jack Rattikin III, president and CEO of Rattikin Title Co.; Underwriter Section Chair: Chris Abbinante, president of Eastern Operations of Fidelity National Title Group; Underwriters Section Representative: Robert Chapman, vice president and CIO of Old Republic Title; Underwriters Section Representative: Peter Birnbaum, president of Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund Inc.

Gary Kermott, vice chairman of First American; Ted Rogers, president and CEO of The Security Title Guaranty Corp. of Baltimore; Mark Bilbrey, SVP and COO, Central Title Group of Old Republic National Title Insurance Co.; and Mike Nichols, president of The Jones Abstract & Title Co., all left the board.

For more on Winter’s vision for the next year for ALTA, see the coming November edition of TitleNews.


Contact ALTA at 202-296-3671 or communications@alta.org.