Tatiana Parker joined October Research in its start-up stage during 2001 and has served a lead role in the company’s dramatic rise from a single publication to a multi-line specialized publisher that today produces live events and groundbreaking industry research. Under her leadership the company was named a Top Ten Weatherhead 100 Company by Case Western Reserve University in 2005 and made the top 25 in 2006. She currently oversees the editorial and e-commerce operations for October Research, publishers of The Title Report, The Legal Description, Valuation Review, Real Estate Technology News, Broker Newswire, Real Law Central and RESPA News. Nominator Steve Massien of NorthPointe Communications says that Parker may well be the most influential person in the settlement services industry who does not actually work within it.
“Tatiana guides a diverse group of publishing professionals that provide solid industry intelligence and market analysis to the real estate services industry,” Massien said. “Her team generates more than 10,000 original words of insightful copy each week disseminated to tens of thousands of management and C-suite professionals in the origination, settlement services and real estate industries to help them more effectively manage their respective businesses.”
My first foray into the settlement services industry was joining October Research and The Title Report as a writer/reporter six years ago.
What challenge really jazzes you?
Organizing and coordinating. Although I started as a writer with October Research back in 2001, I really enjoy the organizational aspect of management. You have a project with a tight deadline and involvement from four departments. What’s the best way to step back, assess the situation, get buy-in and make it happen?
That and beating National Mortgage News or Inman with a breaking news story.
Always try to do the right thing so you can hold your head up high, in both your professional and personal life.
Just seeing how far we’ve come and the growth we’ve realized — from three to 30 employees. Oftentimes you’re so caught up in the day-to-day that you don’t take the time to appreciate what everyone’s accomplished. I remember when we first started, we sent out email news campaigns on dial-up. It took maybe 12-24 hours to send out, then it was time for the next one.
Also, I’ve gotten a lot of satisfaction out of how we have been received by the industry. Most of our brands have grown considerably, and it is a great feeling to go to a conference or a meeting and talk to people who are familiar with our products and newsletters. It is really great to talk with people in the trenches and learn about their business and what their concerns really are.
Well, I guess I’ll answer this from the perspective of the most unusual mistake. Last year I had a 50,000 direct mail piece designed and mailed out for RESPAnews.com to solicit subscriptions. I included our toll free number. When I got my sample in the mail, I dialed the 800 number just to double check. Turns out, we had transposed two numbers and I didn’t catch it. Instead of soliciting a subscription, recipients were being solicited for, uh, adult services. It was a number to an X-rated phone service.
It would probably be my maternal grandparents. They passed away before I was born. I’m first generation American and would have liked to know more about their history and thoughts about leaving Latvia during WWII.
I hiked down and up the Grand Canyon in one day.
Book – Thomas Hardy’s “Return of the Native.” Movie – “Lake Placid.”
Read, spend time with family and bargain hunt
Serving as a tutor for the Literacy Volunteers of America was very rewarding because I got the chance to help someone and make a difference in their life. In one case, I was dealing with a 30-year-old who had graduated from high school and never learned to read. Because he was affable and an athlete, his teachers passed him. At the age of 30, he couldn’t even write a check. Being able to help at that level was very rewarding.
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