To accommodate its expansion into Arkansas, Colorado, Oklahoma and Tennessee, First National Title Insurance Co. (FNTI) has added underwriting counsels, an agency representative and a director of compliance to its team.
FNTI said Rustin Khavari was hired as vice president/claims and underwriting counsel. Khavari has experience in both the agency sector of the title industry and private practice. He most recently served as in-house counsel with a title agency.
“Rustin will be a great asset to our staff,” FNTI President and CEO Chris Phillips said in a release. “The number of agents representing First National Title Insurance continues to grow daily along with the demand on our existing underwriting staff. This is a tremendous opportunity to improve our outstanding service levels by adding a young, experienced lawyer to the underwriting and claims teams.”
FNTI said Tara Caballero was hired as an agency representative. She has worked in title industry since 2016 and recently served as a client relations manager with a large Texas title company.
“Tara’s experience and dedication give her that unique ability to anticipate our agent’s needs and then deliver the solutions,” Phillips said. “She is a high energy, multi-talented member of the sales team and has already created positive results for our existing agents.”
The company said David Dickard was hired as vice president/ western regional underwriting counsel. Dickard has worked for national underwriters in both Colorado and Arizona as underwriting counsel and claims counsel, as well as serving as president of a direct operation in Colorado Springs.
“When our search for the best underwriter in Colorado and Arizona narrowed, all the arrows pointed to David,” Phillips said. “He understands the complex problems and finds solutions. He knows how the independent agent survives in this highly competitive market and is the independent agent’s biggest advocate.”
Additionally, FNTI said it hired Lori Gardner as director of licensing and compliance. She has more than 20 years of experience in the insurance industry.
“Lori’s vast experience and knowledge has allowed us to dramatically reduce the time frame for our expansion plans. Her ability to identify the critical components and unique traits of the various state insurance regulations is invaluable,” Phillips said. “We are lucky to have her on the team.”