‘Pick Up the Megaphone’
October 13, 2026
During his opening address at ALTA ONE 2026, ALTA president David Townsend Esq., NTP challenged title professionals to become stronger advocates for the industry, arguing that the future of title insurance depends on thousands of professionals telling the industry's story—not just association leaders or lobbyists.
Calling himself the industry's "biggest cheerleader" over the past year, Townsend used his remarks during the opening Omni Session, sponsored by FNF Family of Companies, to encourage members to become more active voices in educating consumers, engaging policymakers and promoting the value of title insurance.
"One cheerleader isn't enough. One advocate isn't enough. One voice isn't enough," Townsend said. "If our industry is going to thrive in the years ahead, every one of us needs to pick up the megaphone."
A Shared Responsibility
Throughout his speech, Townsend emphasized that advocacy is not reserved for elected leaders, association volunteers or industry veterans. Instead, he argued that every title professional has a role to play in shaping public understanding of title insurance and property rights.
"The future of title insurance won't be secured by a handful of leaders in Washington," Townsend said. "It won't be protected by a few volunteers, committee members or industry veterans. It will be secured by thousands of title professionals who are willing to tell our story."
Townsend framed the challenge through lessons from some of the most successful coaches in sports history, including UCLA basketball legend John Wooden, Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi and Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summitt.
Drawing on Wooden's definition of success, Townsend said the industry's goal should not simply be preserving what it has built but doing everything possible to educate consumers, protect property rights and strengthen the future of title insurance.
"The score isn't final yet," he said. "The game is still being played. And every one of us has a role."
Telling the Industry's Story
Townsend pointed to several issues facing the title industry, including evolving fraud schemes, advances in artificial intelligence and continued efforts by policymakers to reduce transaction costs.
At the same time, he said many consumers still do not fully understand the role title insurance plays in protecting property ownership.
"We know the value we provide," Townsend said. "The question is whether we're communicating it."
He warned that if title professionals fail to explain the industry's role, others will define it for them.
"Because if we don't tell our story, someone else will," he said. "And they won't tell it nearly as well."
Townsend encouraged members to share examples of how title professionals protect consumers every day, whether by identifying title defects before closing, preventing fraud or reducing transaction risk.
"When consumers learn how a title defect was discovered before closing, it matters," he said. "When a Realtor understands how a missed lien could have derailed a transaction, it matters. When you share a fraud prevention message online, it matters."
Advocacy in Action
As evidence that member engagement can influence policy discussions, Townsend highlighted a recent Title Action Network campaign related to FinCEN's Residential Real Estate Rule. Earlier this year, ALTA asked members to contact lawmakers and encourage them to sign a bipartisan Congressional Real Estate Caucus letter to FinCEN outlining concerns about the rule. According to Townsend, 583 TAN members participated in the effort, generating 594 messages to 228 members of Congress.
The result was a bipartisan letter from the Congressional Real Estate Caucus urging FinCEN to address concerns raised by the real estate industry.
"That's what advocacy looks like," Townsend said. "Not one president. Not one lobbyist. Not one association executive. Hundreds of title professionals speaking with one voice."
He said the response demonstrated the industry's ability to influence discussions when members become actively involved.
"That's the power we have when we show up," Townsend said. "That's the power we have when we engage."
More Than an Association
Townsend repeatedly returned to the idea that the title industry's strength comes from collective action rather than individual accomplishments. Quoting Lombardi's observation that organizational success is the result of combined effort, Townsend said every conversation, every volunteer and every member contributes to the industry's success.
He also highlighted the everyday accomplishments of title professionals, including protecting property rights, resolving title defects and preventing fraud.
"Millions of transactions completed. Countless defects resolved. Countless fraud attempts stopped," Townsend said. "Not because of a few extraordinary individuals. But because thousands of dedicated professionals show up every day and do extraordinary work together."
Looking Ahead
As he concluded his year as ALTA president, Townsend encouraged attendees to continue advocating for the industry long after ALTA ONE ends. Whether through state association involvement, committee service, mentoring, legislative outreach or consumer education, he urged members to use their voices.
"Tell our story," Townsend said. Because the future of title insurance, he added, is not someone else's responsibility. "It's ours," he said.
Townsend closed with a quote from Summitt that he said captures the spirit of both teamwork and advocacy:
"Responsibility equals accountability equals ownership. And a sense of ownership is the most powerful weapon a team or organization can have."
His final message to members was simple, "Pick up the megaphone and make sure the world hears us."
Contact ALTA at 202-296-3671 or [email protected].