North American Title Agency is expanding its New Jersey and Northeast operations by opening new offices and adding new people. To handle both residential transactions and large, multistate commercial transactions in this area, the company elevated Gina Passamondi to vice president of business development for the Northeast division.
Passamondi has been with the company for nearly five years in a sales role and has more than 15 years’ experience in the title insurance industry.
“Gina has proven herself as a tenacious and creative sales leader in the North American Title organization over the past five years,” said Vince Daino, vice president, Northeast division sales manager, North American Title Agency. “I am excited to have her on my team as we expand our Northeast operations. We anticipate continued growth and are excited for what’s to come with both Gina Passamondi and NAT Northeast.”
As part of this expansion, the agency opened a new office in Hudson County – one of three new branches opening in the state to drive additional business. This location is the fourth-most populous county in the state and sixth-most densely populated county in the country. It has access to New York City’s employment centers, the county has a commercial and industrial focus and also serves as a residential hub. Dianne Palumbo will serve as a sales representative at the Hudson County office.
The company already opened an office in Monmouth County in late April, which is strategically located in the Central New Jersey market and will able to serve adjacent Ocean County. It is among the top 1.2 percent of U.S. counties by wealth, with fewer effects from Hurricane Sandy, so the housing market bounced backed with very few foreclosures. They opened another in Mercer County in early July. Irene Papasavvas will serve as branch manager of the newest location.
“Irene brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position, and as a New Jersey licensed attorney, we feel that she is ideally suited to help lead our growth into the North Jersey and New York marketplaces,” Daino said.
In other North American news the title group appointed a new controller, Mark Leszczynski.
He most recently served as state manager for Fidelity National Title, where he handled direct operations in Indiana and northern Ohio. Before that, he served as the controller and treasurer for a large title insurance agency that ultimately was acquired by Fidelity in 2008. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Bryant University and simultaneously was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Army Airborne School. He is a CPA and worked for Deloitte before moving into the title industry.
“The industry is only at the beginning of what will be some major changes in the competitive and regulatory landscape,” Leszczynski said. “North American Title Group, with its agent and underwriting operations and its affiliation to one of the nation’s largest homebuilders, is uniquely positioned to navigate these changes. I’m looking forward to doing my part.”