Knight Barry Title Expands Minnesota Reach
July 6, 2021
Knight Barry Title recently expanded once again in the Minnesota market with the acquisition of St. Cloud-based Heartland Title LLC.
“We’re excited to show more Minnesota customers what Knight Barry Title can do for them with the help of such people who already know the business and the St. Cloud community so well,” said Craig Haskins, Knight Barry Title’s chief operating officer. “This expansion to the west of Minneapolis-St. Paul makes geographical sense, too. It strengthens our presence all over the state.”
During discussions with Haskins, Heartland Title owners Dave and Lynette Erickson said they were both impressed with how the company conducts its business and values its team members and customers alike. Much like the company it’s now joining, Heartland Title has always prided itself on staff expertise and being an independent company.
“If we were going to sell, we wanted to sell to a company that would recognize the value of our employees. Our employee's length of service and their relationships within the community are a tremendous asset,” Dave Erickson said. “I believe Knight Barry Title will take this office to a new level in customer service, bring in great technological resources and keep being a good community business citizen.”
Each of the St. Cloud office’s four full-time employees have 20 years or more in the title industry. All team members—including the two owners and a part-time employee—have chosen to continue as part of the Knight Barry Title family.
“We could really tell Knight Barry Title has a good business model focused on building quality relationships and know this change will be good for our customers and our staff alike,” she said.
Dave Erickson started working for the company in 1991 and bought it with Lynette four years later. Despite sharing the same last name, the pair did not know each until then. They are thankful for their company’s longtime role in strengthening and supporting the St. Cloud community and excited to continue to do so as part of Knight Barry Title.
“Although we have somewhat of a large population, the St. Cloud community still has the local feel,” Lynette Erickson said. “Maintaining our relationships and being visible at various events and in organizations has always been important to us.”
This marks the second acquisition in Minnesota this year for Wisconsin-based Knight Barry. In January, the company acquired a six-office operation in the Twin Cities area. Knight Barry now has 13 offices in Minnesota.
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