Keynote Address: State of the Housing Market

Mark Sniderman of the Federal Reserve Bank will deliver the keynote address on the state of the housing market and will address the dramatic regulatory sea change we are experiencing.

Speaker:
Mark Sniderman, Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

The Changing Business Model: A Study of New Structures, Customer Relations and the Impact on Settlement Services

There is a growing movement among Realtors, mortgage companies and homebuilders to change their business structures by venturing into the title services realm. A lender, Realtor and homebuilder will talk about why they are seeking greater integration with the settlement services functions and how this could alter business models and relationships in the future. A title representative will lead the panel discussion, which will offer insight into the new business structures that are being created.

Concurrent Session A:
It's your de-fault! A lender, Realtor and appraiser discuss the problems that exist in today's default transactions

A title professional, lender, Realtor and appraiser representative will discuss short sales, foreclosures and REO services. What is the word on the street? Attendees will learn about these transactions from their customer's point of view, what the issues are with these transactions, what the default services landscape is shaping into, the role of the title agent and how to better assist the client lender and Realtor.

Speaker:
Richard (Rick) Borges, President-Elect, Appraisal Institute and Partner, Borges & Borges Real Estate Advisors

Concurrent Session B:
Affiliated business arrangements under assault

Recent legislative and regulatory changes and judicial decisions have put owners of affiliated business arrangements on edge. What new conundrums are impacting these arrangements, what does the future hold for AfBAs, what are the new opportunities and what kinds of arrangements are starting to emerge in the midst of controversy?

Speakers:
Marx Sterbcow, Managing Partner, Sterbcow Law Group LLC
Brian Levy, Of Counsel, Katten & Temple LLP

Concurrent Session A:
CFPB – Structure, oversight, current issues and future plans

With a director at the helm and a beefed up staff, the CFPB is charging forward as the new overseer of consumer protection matters. Speakers will discuss the relevant issues for settlement services and what the new regulatory environment looks like.

Speakers:
Jeff Arouh, Partner, McLaughlin & Stern

Mitch Kider, Managing Partner, Weiner, Brodsky, Sidman, Kider PC

Concurrent Session B:
Raising the Bar on Industry Standards: Building a Better Image

It is time for industry participants to actively address the consumer mistrust that developed during the boom and bust. Speakers will discuss what is expected of title professionals from policy holders and regulators, how to become transparent and techniques to use for reaching the consumer. Attendees will ultimately learn about specific ways to actively and aggressively implement changes that will ultimately build a more positive image in the marketplace.

Speaker:
Justin Ailes, Vice President, Government Affairs, American Land Title Association
Joe Bieniek, Senior Regulatory Services Advisor, National Association of Insurance Commissioners
Chris Crowell, Editor, The Title Report

RESPA reform 2012: New forms, new regulations and new compliance standards

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is under deadline to release a proposed rule for new mortgage disclosures. What will the new forms look like? Nationally renowned RESPA attorney Phil Schulman will offer a full training on the new forms and the latest expectations from the bureau regarding compliance.

Speakers:
Phil Schulman, Partner, K&L Gates

Sales development tools for the agent

How do you structure your sales office? Should agents stick to territories? How many people should you have on a sales staff? This session offers an in-depth view of the dynamics of a successful sales office. You will gain insight into tips for building your sales staff, which will provide a sounding board for gaining an expanded footprint.

Keynote Address: The Secret to Success – A Skill that Will Bolster Your Business

Doug Smith, a prominent leader and expert on organizational effectiveness, will deliver an upbeat, interesting keynote address on what it really means to achieve the kind of happiness that sustains us in times of adversity and challenge. He will discuss how the state of happiness drives us and offer insight into the skills required to achieve levels of happiness to ensure future success.

Speaker:
Doug Smith, Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Best Brands Corporation

Concurrent Session A:
Solving the defalcation problems: What are the options?

Underwriters are on alert with the rise in defalcations and are looking for solutions to prevent problems with escrow accounts that could jeopardize their existence. What are the solutions proposed by industry members and regulators and what are the problems with those solutions? How can technology help and where is the industry headed with the underwriter/agent relationship regarding escrow monitoring? This session will drill down on where the industry stands with resolving these issues.

Speaker:
Richard Reass, President and Founder, Reliant Title and President and Founder, Segin Software LLC
Pritam Advani, President and Chief Executive Officer, PCN Network

Concurrent Session B:
Workshop: I'm Terrified to Make My Move

This unique networking workshop is designed for the business leader who has a vision for change and would like coaching on how to bring ideas to fruition. Donna Martin, an executive coach and former executive in the real estate and title market, will be on hand to talk to business professionals who are contemplating making changes and need a fresh perspective on how to address those changes.

Speakers:
Donna Martin, Executive Coach, Change Engine LLC

Update from the CFPB

The newest federal agency has been moving forward quickly on many fronts. What are they focusing on as we head toward their first anniversary, and what's their top priority through the end of 2012?

Numbers are the Game Changer: Know Your Market

Knowing your market is key to building your business, and data trends in specific geographic regions can be used to determine where your next business prospects lie. Join us for this interesting marketing session in which data experts will dig deep into data points and inform attendees on what is happening in various regions. Numbers are essential when it comes to making your next move: Gain the insight you need to expand your market with clear direction.

'Coopetition' and Integration: The New Realities and the New Potentials

The new buzzword is coopetition and it is spreading through the settlement services industry at high speed. What is it? How do you integrate with your partners? What are the pathways to doing it right? How can it help you with your future business plans and how do you incorporate the concept into current plans? You will gain insight into answers to these questions and what it means to truly integrate in the title insurance industry.

Voice of the Independent Agent: It's Time to Speak Out

A panel of independent agents will speak about the unique challenges they face in the current market, identify key opportunities for growth, and detail what they would like to see from their underwriters and partners.