ILTA Honors Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund’s Brands With President’s Award
September 17, 2009
The Illinois Land Title Association (ILTA) recently honored Michael Brandt, vice president - Claims and Legislation for Attorneys` Title Guaranty Fund, Inc.(ATG), as a recipient of its 2009 President`s Award.
ILTA President Kirk Sterling presented the award at the organization`s annual meeting July 10, 2009, in East Peoria, Ill. Founded more than 100 years ago, non-profit ILTA is the state trade association representing title agents, abstractors and underwriters in all 102 Illinois counties.
ILTA`s President's Award is a special recognition given to individuals who took on additional work during the year to help the association achieve its goals.
"Mike co-chaired our legislative committee, which bears the enormous burden of reviewing all bills from both the Illinois Senate and the House that could impact the title business in Illinois," explained Kirk Sterling, who recently became the immediate past president of ILTA and is vice president/division manager with Old Republic National Title Insurance Company. "Mike's commitment to continue volunteering his extra time even after serving in the capacity as president of the ILTA shows that he is truly dedicated to our business and to our association."
Brandt is both a past president of the ILTA and 2005 winner of the organization`s President`s Award.
Sterling added, "Through Mike's efforts along with the rest of the Legislative Committee we were successful in introducing a `Good Funds` Bill that will benefit all title companies doing business in Illinois."
The Good Funds Bill would provide protection for Illinois title insurance companies with respect to escrow transactions. If passed, it would require that all funds over a certain dollar amount originating from a single party to a real estate transaction be wired funds as opposed to personal or cashier`s checks, thereby guaranteeing the transfer of funds without delay. It is also a fraud-protection measure. The funds would be unconditionally held in the escrow account for the closing agent to draw upon for disbursement at the appropriate time.
Working from ATG`s Champaign, IL office, Brandt oversees title insurance claims and legislative matters for ATG. In addition to his current responsibilities, Brandt has extensive experience in title underwriting. He started with ATG in 1984 after four years as a private practitioner in LaSalle-Peru, Illinois.
Brandt earned his B.A. in 1975 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and later received his J.D. (Magna Cum Laude, Order of the Coif) in 1979 from the school`s College of Law.
Contact ALTA at 202-296-3671 or [email protected].