ALTA Awards Five Honorary Memberships
October 22, 2024
ALTA recognized the efforts of five industry veterans with honorary memberships during ALTA ONE, which was held Oct. 15-18 in Orlando, Fla.
Eric Schneider NTP, Chuck Hoyum, Jerry Gorman, Ken Jannen and Gary Kent each received the honor, which is bestowed by ALTA’s Board of Governors for performance of distinguished and meritorious service to the association or to the land title industry.
Eric Schneider
As a member and chair of the Education Committee from 2008 to 2017), Schneider played an essential role in leading the group through several important projects that remain crucial to ALTA’s education value to members. Under his leadership, ALTA developed the National Title Professional (NTP) Designation Program and launched ALTA’s first commercial-focused course “Understanding Commercial Transactions.”
He oversaw several other online course updates during his leadership and led the way for Education Committee members to serve as hosts for education sessions at ALTA events. During Schneider’s tenure as chair of the Education Committee, the Workforce Development Subcommittee was established and was quickly elevated to become the standalone Talent Committee.
In addition to his service on the Education Committee, Schneider also served on the Abstracters and Agents Section Executive Committee (2014-2017), Homeowner Outreach Program (2016-2018), NTP Council (2012-2019) and Our Values Work Group (2020-2023). He retired from active work in the industry in 2023.
“Beyond curriculum development, Eric fostered a collaborative learning environment, encouraging member engagement and mentorship,” said Diane Tomb, ALTA’s CEO. “His passion for education extends beyond his formal role, as he continues to support ALTA's mission through volunteer work.
Chuck Hoyum
Hoyum served on ALTA’s Forms Committee from 2005 to 2021. He served as chair of the Conditions Subcommittee and Arbitration Subcommittee during development and drafting of the 2021 title policies.
He worked for Old Republic National Title Insurance Co. Hoyum retired from active work in the industry in 2021.
“A master of precision and clarity, Chuck’s contributions to ALTA’s Forms Committee were invaluable,” said ALTA Past President Cynthia Blair NTP. “As a key architect of the 2021 title policies, his keen eye for detail and expert understanding of insurance language transformed complex legal documents into clear and understandable contracts. Chuck’s dedication to the industry is further evidenced by his leadership role as past president of the Minnesota Land Title Association.”
Gorman served as a member of the Forms Committee from 1997 to 2020. As chair of the Schedules Subcommittee during development and drafting of the 2021 title policies, Gorman focused on Schedules A and B. He was also keenly interested in the boilerplate language – especially the common language which begins and concludes the endorsements.
Jerry Gorman
Gorman was a member of other ALTA engagement groups including the Education Committee, Technology Committee, Real Property Records Committee (where he served as chair) and the Title Counsel Work Group. He worked for Illinois-based Attorneys’ Title Guarantee Fund Inc. (now Advocus National Title). He retired from active work in the industry in 2020.
“A meticulous wordsmith and industry expert, Jerry played a pivotal role in shaping the clarity and consistency of ALTA’s title policy forms,” said ALTA Past President Steve Day NTP. “His deep understanding of the nuances of legal language ensured that policy documents were not only accurate but also easily comprehensible. As chair of the Schedules Subcommittee, Jerry’s commitment to customer understanding drove the development of clear and informative policy language that continues to serve as a model for the industry.”
Ken Jannen
Jannen served on the Forms Committee from 1997to 2022. As chair of the CPL Subcommittee, Commitments Subcommittee and countless Endorsement-specific subcommittees, he brought a collegial thoughtfulness to all his contributions and a holistic approach to development of the 2021 policy forms collection. In addition to serving on the Forms Committee, Jannen is a past president of Florida Land Title Association. He also was a member of other ALTA engagement groups including the Government Affairs Committee, Membership Committee, Native American Lands Work Group and SLRAC. He worked for First America Title Insurance Co. before retiring from active work in the industry in 2022.
“As a collaborative leader with a keen eye for detail, Ken’s extensive tenure on ALTA’s Forms Committee played a key role in shaping the industry’s standard policy forms,” said ALTA Past President Park Kennedy. “As chair of multiple subcommittees, he brought a comprehensive perspective to the development process, ensuring the final product met the needs of title professionals nationwide.”
Gary Kent
Kent served as a member and chair of the ALTA Land Survey Work Group (formerly the Liaison Committee with the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (ACSM) from 2003 to 2022.
One of his last work projects—post-retirement—was the development and delivery of survey training to HUD employees and, later, recording a modified version for the title and settlement industry audience. ALTA will launch that online course (with CE credits offered) in 2024. Kent also served as chair of the survey standard committee at NSPS (the National Society of Professional Surveyors, successor to the ACSM).
During his career, Kent worked for Schneider Engineering Corp. and Meridian Land Consulting LLC. He retired from active work in the industry in 2022.
“Gary dedicated nearly two decades to bridging the gap between surveyors and title professionals,” said ALTA Past President Don Kennedy. “As chair of the ALTA Land Survey Work Group, he was instrumental in developing essential industry standards and training programs. Gary’s tireless efforts to improve the accuracy and efficiency of land title processes have left an enduring legacy on the industry.”
Contact ALTA at 202-296-3671 or [email protected].