First Nationwide Title Agency (FNTA) has seen quite a bit of growth in the past two months, hiring five new key employees.
In January, Allison Luskoff joined the agency as senior underwriting counsel responsible for analyzing, overseeing and resolving all title issues relating to clients’ commercial real estate transactions.
Prior to joining FNTA, Luskoff was a senior associate at the law firm Jaspan Schlesinger LLP. Luskoff was also underwriting counsel with First American Title Insurance Co.
“With more than a decade of experience in the commercial real estate/title insurance industry, Allison has dealt with just about every conceivable issue that can and does arise in the process of conveying property from one owner to another,” said Steven Napolitano, president and chief executive officer of FNTA. “She is a talented, consummate professional, exceedingly knowledgeable about every aspect of the commercial real estate transactional process and I am thrilled to welcome her as a member of our team.”
Luskoff earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brooklyn College and a Juris Doctorate from New York Law School, graduating cum laude in 2001, and started the practice of law as an associate at the New York-based law firm Duval & Stachenfeld LLP.
In early February, Ilya Soybelman and Timothy Bolles joined FNTA to support its existing national and New York underwriting divisions.
“As the economy continues to recover and more and more commercial real estate acquisitions/dispositions are being transacted, the demand for our services has significantly risen,” Napolitano said. “Consequently, we are fortifying our ranks with experienced professionals in order to provide clients with the best underwriting experts in the business. We are delighted to welcome Ilya and Tim to the fold.”
Prior to joining FNTA, Soybelman was a commercial title officer with Fidelity National focusing on multi-site/multi-state portfolios. Before that, he was a commercial underwriter for First American Title Insurance Co., where he focused on commercial transactions nationally and escrow/settlement. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Stony Brook University, is currently working on his Master of Business Administration from Bernard Baruch Zicklin School of Business, and among his professional affiliations are Young Jewish Professionals and National Notary Associations.
Bolles joined FNTA from First American Title Insurance Co., where he served as a commercial underwriter, focusing on multi-site/multi-state portfolios, energy related transactions and the issuance of title insurance policies nationally. Before that, he served as title company administrator and commercial underwriter for Pierce Atwood L.L.P, located in Portland, Maine, where he oversaw the title insurance needs of clients in northern New England. Prior to that, he was a paralegal and commercial underwriter with Hopkinson & Abbondanza, P.A. and Atlantic Title Co., in addition to acquiring banking experience as a mortgage loan processor with Maine Bank & Trust Co. Bolles earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in economics/business from the University of Maine.
FNTA also announced the hiring of Elizabeth Joyce as executive vice president. She recently served as a lead executive with First American Title Insurance Co.
“Elizabeth is a consummate professional, a results-oriented, talented and respected industry veteran who is committed to helping grow our agency,” Napolitano said. “We welcome her aboard and wish her continued success.”
Among her many professional affiliations, Joyce is on the board of directors of the Institute of Real Estate at Hofstra; an associate board director for the Association for a Better Long Island; on the board of directors of the Long Island Real Estate Group; a member of Commercial Industrial Brokers; and a member of the Energeia Partnership Class of 2008.
In March, Douglas Giles joined FNTA as vice president. Having spent more than a decade in the title industry, the majority of which was focused on sales, Giles came to FNTA directly from First American Title Insurance Co. where he has developed his business relationships within the underserved market of minority and women-owned businesses of the commercial real estate community. Also as an affordable housing advocate, he has been involved in several developmental and refinancing transactions covering the spectrum from multi-family to health care services.
“Douglas is respected and known in the industry,” Napolitano said. “He is a great fit for our culture, a talented and results-oriented professional and a good friend; we are delighted to welcome him aboard.”
Among his many professional affiliations, Giles is a board member and executive vice president for the African American Real Estate Professionals of New York; a board trustee for the Northside Charter School in Williamsburg, Brooklyn; a board member of the Brownsville Development Group; and a member of the New York State Association for Affordable Housing.
Giles earned a Bachelor of Arts in pre-law, with a minor in business management and administration from the City College of New York.