N.C.-based Underwriter Announces Promotions

April 20, 2010

Investors Title Insurance Co. announced a number of key promotions. Michael Aiken has been promoted to senior vice president, compliance officer, and senior counsel – national markets; Joanna Tillottson has been promoted to senior vice president – agency and branch operations; and Brandee Garren has been promoted to vice president – underwriting and operations support.

“We are excited about these promotions and for the opportunity to recognize each of these employee’s contributions,” said W. Morris Fine, president of Investors Title. “Their experience, talent and leadership skills prepare them well for these new and expanded roles.”

Aiken began his career with the company in 1998 at which time he relocated to the Triangle area and accepted the position of staff attorney in the underwriting support group. He has acted in a number of capacities since then including as title attorney and compliance officer. In these roles, Aiken has supported the company’s agency network with respect to underwriting and risk management functions and has served as the company’s primary resource for federal compliance issues. Aiken regularly conducts seminars on a variety of real estate matters, and is a contributing author to the real property section of North Carolina Lawyers Weekly. His focus, in addition to new management responsibilities, will continue to be on underwriting and compliance matters.

Aiken graduated in 1995 magna cum laude from Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz., with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma and Omicron Delta Epsilon Honor Societies. In 1998, he received his Juris Doctor degree cum laude from Creighton University School of Law in Omaha, Neb.

Joanna Tillottson joined the company as an underwriting support coordinator in 2003 and quickly rose to a leadership position as vice president – national markets operations. In her new role, Tillottson will oversee operations of the company’s agency network operating in 26 states and the District of Columbia, and the company’s branch offices. For 12 years prior to joining Investors, Tillottson had a career in operations management and customer relations in the real estate and insurance industry. She was vice president of customer relations for a large mortgage lender and Director of Tax Operations for a leading insurance company. Tillottson received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Criminal Justice from North Carolina State University in 1990.

Garren worked on a part-time basis with the company before graduating, at which time she joined the company’s management training program. Over her 14-year career with the company, she has performed as a team leader of the underwriting support group, training manager, operational representative for a number of market areas, and, more recently, as assistant vice president - underwriting and operations support.

Garren will assume expanded leadership and management responsibilities within the underwriting support group which provides operations and underwriting support to the company’s agency network. She will continue to act as an operational representative for a number of market areas in addition to her new role as vice president.


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