Underwriter Expands Florida Operations

December 2, 2010

Title industry veteran Gene Rebadow has been named senior vice president, state agency manager, Florida for title insurer WFG National Title Insurance Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Portland, Ore.-based Williston Financial Group.

Rebadow and six other experienced industry professionals come to WFG National Title with a focus on growing the insurer’s title agency relationships across Florida. He is joined by Pat Neu, CLC, CLS, vice president, agency production; Tracy Stape Atkinson, Esq., vice president and area manager, West Florida; Rhonda Utecht, vice president, South Florida agency manager; Joey Elizabeth Grampa, agency representative, South Florida; Jennifer Giles, agency representative, Central Florida; Shannon Gott, Florida agency administrator.

Rebadow joins WFG National Title with 32 years of experience, eight in mortgage banking and the past 24 in title insurance. The majority of his experience is in agency management, having served lengthy tenures with two of the nation’s largest underwriters previously. With WFG National Title, he will be charged with overseeing and growing the entire Florida agency business.

“This is a great opportunity to participate in a truly agent-centric organization,” Rebadow said. “With the combined experience WFG National Title has assembled here in Florida, we look forward to serving as a go-to resource for our agents for years to come.”

Atkinson comes to WFG National Title having spent 15 years in the title insurance industry. She will be responsible for sales, business development and underwriting services for agents in the western Florida region, including Hillsborough, Pinellas, Sarasota, Lee and Collier counties. She has served with three of the nation’s largest underwriters, and received her J.D., with Honors, at the University of Florida.

Utecht joins the company with 35 years of industry experience with two of the industry’s largest title insurance companies. She will be responsible for managing and overseeing the addition of new agencies and the maintenance of existing agency relationships in the south Florida region.

Neu has 35 years of title experience, all with one of the nation’s largest title insurers. She will manage all title production operations for WFG National Title’s Florida agencies, and will also assist WFG National Title on production at the national level.

Grampa has six years of industry experience with two of the top five largest underwriters, and will serve as a resource for title agencies in the south Florida region, including Miami-Dade.

Giles brings with her seven years of title experience, having served most recently with one of the largest national underwriters. She will serve as a liaison and resource for agencies in the central Florida region, including Lake, Seminole, Volusia, Orange, Brevard and Osceola counties.

Gott has seven years of industry experience, all in customer service and business development roles with two of the industry’s largest national underwriters. She will serve as an internal and external resource, facilitating customer service and agency growth.

“There is no substitute for experience in the title industry, and WFG National Title has added several powerful resources for its Florida agencies with these appointments,” said Joseph Drum, Esq., Executive Vice President. “Gene and his team understand the complexities of the market, and will do an excellent job bringing the WFG approach of communication, collaboration and co-existence to our customers in Florida.”


Contact ALTA at 202-296-3671 or communications@alta.org.