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American Land Title Association Names Abbinante President

"It is a privilege to represent an industry whose purpose is to protect consumers against legal challenges to their homeownership," Abbinante said. "I am honored to serve as president of a growing and vibrant association, now representing more than 4,000 member companies. The American Land Title Association is committed to constantly improving its representation and service to our industry."

The 11-member ALTA Board of Governors is responsible for creating association policy, managing the financial health of the association, and ensuring the overall welfare of the association.

Abbinante, formerly the president of Eastern Operations for Fidelity National Title Group, Inc., has been involved in the title industry for over 35 years. During that time, he has worked with agents and direct operations across the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean.

Abbinante started in the land title industry in 1975, working for a law firm in Chicago that also had a small title agency. In 1976, he joined Chicago Title, serving in many different capacities. In 2001, Chicago Title became part of the Fidelity National Financial Family of Title Companies. Abbinante now focuses on Fidelity's Canadian operations as well as with U.S.-based operations located primarily in the eastern and central parts of the country.

"Chris is the right person to lead our association through the challenges we currently face. His talents as a title insurance executive are well regarded throughout the industry and he inspires confidence as we work to better serve consumers," said Michelle Korsmo, chief executive officer of ALTA.

Abbinante graduated from Loyola University in 1972 with a bachelor's degree in History. He earned his JD and LLM from the John Marshall Law School, and in 1985 he earned an MBA from the University of Chicago. Abbinante and his wife, Katherine, have two children.

Members of ALTA's 2011-2012 Board of Governors are:

• Christopher Abbinante (Fidelity National Title Group, Jacksonville, FL)
• John M. Hollenbeck (senior executive and vice president, First American Title Insurance Co., Santa Ana, CA)
• J. Herschel Beard (owner, Marshall County Abstract Co., LLC, Madill, OK)
• Frank Pellegrini (chief executive officer, Prairie Title, Inc., Oak Park, IL)
• Rob Chapman (senior vice president and chief information officer, Old Republic National Title Insurance Co., Minneapolis, MN)
• Diane Evans (senior vice president, Land Title Insurance Corp., Denver, CO)
• William Burding (executive vice president, Orange Coast Title Family of Companies, Santa Ana, CA)
• Daniel Mennenoh (president, H.B. Wilkinson Title Co., Galena, IL)
• Peter J. Birnbaum (president, Attorneys' Title Guaranty Fund Inc., Chicago, IL)
• Michael B. Skalka (president, Stewart Title Guaranty Co., Houston, TX)
• Anne L. Anastasi (president, Genesis Abstract, LLC, Hatboro, PA)

About ALTA

The American Land Title Association, founded in 1907, is the national trade association representing more than 4,000 title insurance companies, title agents, independent abstracters, title searchers, and attorneys. With offices throughout the United States, ALTA members conduct title searches, examinations, closings, and issue title insurance that protects real property owners and mortgage lenders against losses from defects in titles.

American Land Title Association
Jeremy Yohe, 202-261-2938
Cell: 202-590-8361
jyohe@alta.org