VIRGINIA LAND TITLE ASSOCIATION

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1 VIRGINIA LAND TITLE ASSOCIATION Protecting you in the present. Preparing you for the future STRATEGIC PLAN Mission Vision Goals Partnership Opportunities Representing Virginia s Land Title Industry since 1974

2 2015 Strategic Plan Virginia Land Title Association (VLTA) has developed its 2015 Strategic Plan to better engage its membership in the important and meaningful work we accomplish on behalf of the land title industry. This Plan will serve to guide our Board of Directors and volunteers through the challenges of offering Virginia s best land title education, hosting our industry s most important events, relaying important industry information to our members, and communicating the message of our industry to stakeholders on both a local and national level. Kevin T. Pogoda, Esq., VCTE, VCTSA First Vice President Glenda Brooks, VCTE, VCTSA Second Vice President Myrna Keplinger President Joy T. Herndon, VCTE, VCTSA, NTP Treasurer Colleen Taylor Secretary

3 What is VLTA? Virginia Land Title Association represents Virginia s land title professionals through education, advocacy, networking, and more Strategic Goals At-A-Glance Consumer and partner education Relationship development Founded in 1974, the Virginia Land Title Association stands as a sentinel over Virginia s title and settlement industry. VLTA s singular purpose is to facilitate the safe and efficient transfer of real property in Virginia. To that end, VLTA sponsors valuable education, encourages new legislation, promotes high professional standards and creates valuable networking opportunities for its members. VLTA members include title agents, settlement agents, abstractors, examiners, underwriters, attorneys and ancillary service providers. Pro-active legislative initiatives Industry advocacy Small business representation Expanded educational offerings (CE/CLE/CCE) TAN development Improved Association capacity and infrastructure VLTA works for YOU VLTA s 2015 Strategic Goals address critical needs both for the Land Title Industry and for the consumer. GUIDING FOCUS: Promote and Prepare VLTA s 2015 Strategic Plan outlines specific Association goals aimed at promoting the interests of our members and preparing them for upcoming changes within the industry. Virginia s industry is unique, and the interests of VLTA s members deserve representation as national changes are beginning to affect our statewide industry. Virginia is home to a variety of business models, but our most prominent model is the small business. VLTA will champion the needs of Virginia s small businesses through legislative initiatives and timely education at a time when these efforts are needed more than ever. With an eye on the long-term health of the Association, VLTA s Strategic Goals maintain focus on the Association s relationships with its members, its role in the larger industry, and its financial obligations. Each of these goals is designed to have a real and measurable impact on both the industry and the consumer. Virginia Land Title Association

4 INCREASE MEMBERSHIP In 2015, VLTA will work to increase its membership by 15%. Over 3 years, VLTA will grow its ranks by at least 25%. The greater the number of land title professionals represented by the Association, the greater the influence of the Association. ENCOURAGE TAN PARTICIPATION The Title Action Network (TAN) is a FREE resource for ANY and ALL land title professionals, regardless of their membership in VLTA or in ALTA. VLTA will work to increase TAN membership by at least 10% with the ultimate goal of 100% Association enrollment within 5 years. TAN keeps us all connected to laws affecting the industry! PARTNER RELATIONSHIPS In 2015, VLTA will build relationships with partners to expand the value of VLTA membership. These partners will offer a variety of benefits to members including access to information, leads, discounts, influence, and more ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT SERVICES Virginia Land Title Association (VLTA) aims to represent the land title industry through the delivery of high-quality education, the exploration and support of key legislation, and the facilitation of member and affiliate networking. MEMBERSHIP WHERE IT ALL BEGINS Virginia Land Title Association is strongest when its membership numbers are high. For this reason, VLTA has made membership a central goal of its 2015 Strategic Plan. VLTA plans to increase membership through the development of valuable member resources and benefits including: A comprehensive printed and online membership directory The Virginia Courthouse Guide The Virginia Implementation Guide for ALTA s Best Practices A convenient and comprehensive education catalog Small business and Virginia industry protection through legislative initiatives Development of an enewsletter with Virginia-specific industry news Relevant, affordable, and accessible education Small-business focused member discounts from important partners Networking and collaboration NEW IN 2015 VLTA will offer free membership to any company referring a new member to VLTA. Our each one, reach one program will offer all existing members the opportunity to earn a free membership for 2015!* Remember: for every member joining VLTA, all memberships are strengthened. We speak louder with a voice united. *Agent, Examiner, Associate, and Individual members only VIRGINIA LAND TITLE ASSOCIATION

5 MEMBERSHIP Membership is a primary goal of any association because it drives all of the other goals of the association. For VLTA, membership is a major focus of our 2015 Strategic Plan because it is instrumental to our efforts to provide education to Virginia s land title professionals, essential to our legislative goals, and paramount in our efforts to provide industry leadership. In 2015, VLTA will approach membership growth in a variety of ways, with the goal of increasing membership by 15% in each year. By 2020, we expect to represent the vast majority of title professionals across the Commonwealth. Join VLTA in its ambitious membership drive! Katherine Crawford, Esq. of First American Title Insurance Company is VLTA s newest Director of Member Resources. Katherine is committed to increasing VLTA s membership to support its Strategic Goals. HOW YOU CAN HELP Refer a friend or colleague Talk about VLTA with others in your industry Share VLTA news with others Forward VLTA newsletters and the Examiner magazine Beat the pavement with VLTA in our search for new members Keep VLTA information in your office and on your company website Mention us in your social media posts and share our news with your circle each one, reach one In 2015, each member company referring a new member to VLTA MEMBERSHIP GROWTH AND GOALS will receive one year of FREE membership to the Association!* * Agent, Examiner, Individual, and Associate memberships only.

6 EDUCATION Education is VLTA s star program. From certification programs for title examiners (VCTE) and settlement agents (VCTSA), to live and online CE/CLE, VLTA is Virginia s leading land title industry education provider. As always, we are striving to meet the need for more educational offerings. In 2015, VLTA plans to seek out input from underwriters, agents, examiners, and associate members to develop additional educational offerings for CE, CLE, and CCE. Our goal is to help land title professionals provide a higher-quality product to protect the consumer and reduce claims. As you can see from the graph below, we hope to double our educational offerings across the board by the end of VLTA recruits experienced professionals to provide education on today s most pressing issues. You won t want to miss what s coming! Join VLTA s Education Committee to help develop new industry education! HOW YOU CAN HELP Suggest an education topic Become a VLTA CE/CLE/CCE instructor Take a class through VLTA and offer meaningful feedback to us! Recruit topics and instructors Write an article for the VLTA EXAMINER magazine Elizabeth Jamerson, VCTE, is an independent title examiner, the first to serve on VLTA s Board of Directors. Elizabeth is working hard to expand VLTA s live and online education offerings to meet the current demand! GOALS FOR EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS Online Education In 2015, VLTA will begin to convert ALL live classes to an online format! Earn credits from the convenience of your home or office! C E / C L E O N L I NE C E / C L E L IV E T O T A L C E / C L E C C E L I V E C C E O N L I NE T O T A L C C E

7 MEMBER EDUCATION In 2015, VLTA will roll out its CCE program Certification Continuing Education! Certification holders (VCTE & VCTSA) will be able to check credits online, and participate in live and online CCE classes. VLTA will also continue to expand its online offerings for CE & CLE. CONSUMER EDUCATION Through both direct consumer advertising and social media, VLTA will launch a consumer awareness campaign targeted at improving awareness of the benefits of title insurance. PARTNER EDUCATION VLTA will work with key partners such as the Virginia Bureau of Insurance, the Virginia Association of Realtors, and the Virginia Clerk s Association to increase understanding of the title insurance industry and its unique characteristics; and to expand awareness of the importance of the VCTE and VCTSA programs. ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT SERVICES Virginia Land Title Association (VLTA) is the leading provider of land title industry education in the Commonwealth. We provide the highest quality education to our members, affiliates, and to the industry as a whole on current, relevant industry topics. EDUCATION A PRIMARY GOAL Virginia Land Title Association is the only state land title association nationwide to offer a certification program both for Title Examiners and for Settlement Agents. VLTA launched these programs to improve education and to benefit the consumer. VLTA also provides face-to-face and online education for title insurance agents and land title attorneys aimed at increasing knowledge of pressing topics (such as CFPB), and reducing risk for the consumer. In 2015, VLTA plans to improve education through the following initiatives: Finalize development of the VCTE & VCTSA continuing education programs with an emphasis on online training Transition of all face-to-face courses to an online format to reduce cost to the student and improve access for all professionals in the industry Inclusion of stakeholders in course retooling and CCE development to ensure the input of all members is heard in the development of educational programs Development of a user-friendly course catalog to improve access to VLTA s courses Development of advanced certification courses & mentorship programs Increase offerings at live events to include concurrent sessions, marketing sessions, and tons of for-credit and not-for-credit options! VIRGINIA LAND TITLE ASSOCIATION

8 COMMUNICATION IS KEY In 2015, VLTA will make use of all available resources to keep members informed of important legislation and regulation; VLTA will use social media, publications, and direct contact with members and non-members to raise awareness of industry practices and goals; and VLTA will initiate pro-active legislative goals aimed at protecting the consumer and the professional. Keep in touch with us through our VLTA Examiner magazine, our Facebook page, our Twitter account, our website, and more! Be sure to sign up to receive our monthly newsletter! BROAD INDUSTRY AWARENESS Is it difficult to explain the value of your industry? VLTA is the source of the source. In 2015, VLTA aims to develop our consumer and affiliate education online to help you in your everyday business. Keep checking VLTA s website for resources you can use to educate the consumer, talk about your industry, and find valuable information about everything land title related! ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT SERVICES Virginia Land Title Association (VLTA) strives to serve its members through broad and comprehensive efforts with legislators and other government officials. COMMUNICATIONS AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS Virginia Land Title Association is the hub of statewide industry advocacy. While you can write letters to your representatives, or speak to your local clerk, NO ONE in the state represents you better than VLTA on new regulations and statewide issues, and NO ONE will speak with a louder voice than your professional Association. In fact, that s why we re here. With our united voice, we can accomplish so much more together! VLTA has a strong track record of both pro-active and re-active legislative initiatives, and 2015 will be one of our strongest years. In the wake of a budgetary shortfall, the land title industry cannot be ignored. Our industry has always protected the consumer, and helped everyday Americans create lasting wealth for their families. The Legislative agenda for 2015 will focus on relationship development, grassroots base expansion, and the development of Association resources to empower VLTA to be an influential voice on behalf of its members at both a State and Federal level. To accomplish this, VLTA s Legislative committee will: Actively build relationships with key partners within the State & Federal Legislatures Open dialogue on important issues with state regulators Address the gap(s) in existing and forthcoming regulations and recommendations which may neglect the needs of small businesses and VA s unique land title industry environment Publish documents to help guide lender vetting, etc. with a focus on VA (such as the VA Industry Guide to ALTA s Best Practices) Build a grassroots base of legislative participants for legislative affairs in Virginia VIRGINIA LAND TITLE ASSOCIATION

9 LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS The work of the legislative committee may be VLTA s most important contribution to its members. While our members might be able to glean industry information and trends from a variety of other sources, when it comes to the representation of our industry, VLTA is your ONLY partner. Norbert Prigge, Esq., of Chicago Title Insurance Company, is VLTA s Director of Legislative Affairs. Norbert s focus for 2015 is on relationship development and Association influence. VLTA has the active relationships with the Virginia Housing Commission, the VA Bureau of Insurance, ALTA, PRIA, and other related agencies, and carefully cultivates them on an ongoing basis so that we are able to keep our members informed as to what is happening around the Commonwealth and the country. In 2015, VLTA s legislative focus is on the needs of small businesses across Virginia, and the representation of Virginia s unique industry climate on a national scale. We protect Virginia s land title professionals! HOW YOU CAN HELP Join the legislative committee Sign up for TAN Add your home address to your VLTA online account as a constituent Offer your input about upcoming, existing, or potential legislation Share VLTA s legislative news with colleagues Judy Blackwell, of Fidelity National Title Insurance Company is VLTA s Title Action Network (TAN) director this year. The Virginia Implementation Guide for ALTA s Best Practices In an effort to prepare the land title industry to respond to the requirements of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau s (CFPB) new requirements for financial institutions and related businesses, American Land Title Association has drafted and presented its Best Practices as a guide for both land title professionals and outside organizations, such as lenders, to vet the quality of individual businesses with respect to their response to CFPB s requirements. The Best Practices serve as a general template to guide the industry in its efforts to ensure the protection of the consumer in real property transactions, however their application within individual states must be supplemented by state-specific knowledge and practices. Virginia Land Title Association has prepared a Virginia-specific guide for American Land Title Association, lenders, and other organizations wishing to establish a minimum standard of consumer protection valid within the Commonwealth of Virginia.

10 COMMUNICATIONS VLTA s communications committee is the link between the Association and members, partners, and the general public. The committee helps to relay important information about VLTA s legislative efforts and educational opportunities. The committee s 2015 Strategic Goals include: Retooling VLTA s website to feature legislative initiatives Developing printed materials as member resources and reference tools Expanding social media postings to share important information about VLTA s educational opportunities, legislative efforts, and events Working with partners (such as Clerks of Court, ALTA, and the BOI) to share information more effectively with both members and non-members Conducting member surveys to keep member input at the forefront of all strategic planning Developing consumer education materials for publication on VLTA s website and social media Skip Sacks, Esq., of Stewart Title Insurance Company is VLTA s Director of Communications. EVENTS VLTA s Events committee is poised to partner with the Board to support the educational goals of the Association. To support the Association s 2015 Strategic Goals, the Events committee will: Seek ways to increase attendance at events (variety of education, lowered cost, giveaways, valuable dialogue with vendors, etc.) Partner with the Education Committee to offer education to prepare members for regulatory changes; and education to support development of online courses Seek ways to involve Legislative Affairs in events to facilitate face-time between members and legislators & regulators Matt Reass, of Reliant Title, is VLTA s Director of Events. VLTA EXAMINER MAGAZINE With over 5500 readers, the VLTA Examiner magazine is an invaluable resource of the Association for its ability to treat important topics in depth. To support the overall goals of the Association, in 2015, the magazine will support VLTA s focus on preparing members for upcoming regulatory changes by publishing relevant articles on these changes, and will communicate VLTA s legislative initiatives to members to encourage ongoing involvement. HOW YOU CAN HELP Join a committee Share social media posts Attend VLTA s many events Write an article for the VLTA EXAMINER magazine Heather Meahl, of Reliant Title, is VLTA s Director of the VLTA Examiner magazine

11 HOW YOU CAN HELP To support these strategic goals, VLTA is seeking strategic partners for This is your opportunity to help VLTA grow into the nation s finest and most effective land title association. VLTA is already on the cutting edge. With our focus on the product and process from cradle to grave, we lead the industry in a comprehensive view of our field. This year, we plan to expand our impact in Virginia. As a strategic partner, you will be asked to support VLTA across its many projects over the course of a full year, rather than being asked at the onset of every new undertaking. In a sense, this is one-stop shopping. Strategic sponsors will be recognized through advertising, event hosting, and more. Please consider adding a strategic partnership with your membership dues in Sign up on the membership renewal form, available in November VIRGINIA LAND TITLE ASSOCIATION Protecting you in the present. Preparing you for the future. VLTA C Saint Germain Drive Suite 822 Centreville, VA phone fax Questions? Contact VLTA s Executive Director, Kathleen Herndon at !