ATG Appoints New COO, Announces Leadership Changes
March 30, 2017
Illinois-based Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund recently announced several leadership changes and promotions including a new chief operating officer and two vice presidents.
Christine Sparks was named senior vice president and chief operating officer, while Arden Miner was named vice president of underwriting, support and development in Chicago, and Tania Stori was named vice president of claims and litigation in Champaign, Ill.
“One of ATG's biggest strengths is the loyalty and longevity of its staff and member agents,” said Peter Birnbaum, ATG’s president and chief executive officer. “Our seasoned management team carries a breadth of knowledge and experience, so when retirements and other changes occur — the gates open for opportunity and change. Christine, Arden, and Tania are all talented lawyers who have come up through the ranks at ATG. We are proud to promote from within as we foster our longstanding culture of opportunity and camaraderie, which we view as essential tools in providing impeccable service. They possess in-depth experience in many aspects of our business and are uniquely qualified to lead us to future successes.”
Previously at ATG, Sparks served as vice president and managing attorney, where she assessed the insurability of real estate transactions as they relate to claims analysis and investigated and resolved title insurance claims. She also provided direction and support to the Training and Procedures Department personnel in resolving member compliance issues. Prior to joining ATG in 2003 as a staff attorney, she was an associate at the law firm of Jump & Associates PC
Sparks is a past president of the Illinois Land Title Association and has also chaired various committee roles there, including the Title Counsel Committee. She has obtained the designation of Illinois Title Professional from the Illinois Land Title Association and the designation of National Title Professional from the American Land Title Association. She is a member of the Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association, Illinois State Bar Association and the Chicago Bar Association.
Miner returns to ATG after having spent the last five years in the top position at ATG subsidiary ATG LegalServe, where she oversaw the management of day-to-day operations, defined the overall corporate mission, and developed new directions for the business. In the late 1990s she was an independent closer for ATG and joined the staff in 2002 as an attorney in the underwriting department, which she later managed along with the escrow department.
Miner served on the board of directors of the Illinois Land Title Association, is a member of the Illinois State and Chicago Bar Associations, and is a licensed private detective. Arden is also a past chairperson for the CBA Real Property Law Committee and vice chair of the UPL and Multi-Disciplinary Law Committees.
Stori most recently served as senior managing attorney at ATG, learning all aspects of claims analysis, settlement, and litigation from Michael Brandt, who retired in 2017 after more than 35 years of service. Due to her own long-term service at ATG—having started as a law clerk in 1996—and extensive service in the underwriting and claims departments, Stori is well versed in all aspects of the real estate transaction, insurability and risk assessment, and the regulatory environment. Stori serves on the Illinois Land Title Association Board of Directors and is a past chair of its Title Counsel Committee.
Contact ALTA at 202-296-3671 or [email protected].