This year, the Pennsylvania Land Title Association (PLTA) celebrates its 100th year of protecting property rights of Pennsylvanians through its member title agents and agencies, title insurance underwriters, real estate attorneys and other real estate professionals. The group currently includes Executive Director Robin Kelsh and three staff members, as well as members who volunteer their professional skills for various committees and initiatives, including President Lisa McEntee, Esq., CLTP, vice president and senior underwriting counsel at Fidelity National Title Insurance Co.
“It is humbling to sit at the helm of this organization during its centennial year,” McEntee said in a release. “This association was borne with a mission to advocate for title insurance and real estate professionals, and we’re still working toward that end every day. Our members are competitors but leave that competition at the door and pool our talent, time, and resources to ensure that our voices are heard by local, state and national government officials.”
On Nov. 15, 1921, a group of Pennsylvania title professionals gathered to form the advocacy group. The PLTA’s first president and architect was John E. Potter, who was also the president of Potter Title & Trust Co. Potter was recognized on the national level as “…one of the title industry's recognized authorities,” by what is now the American Land Title Association (ALTA).
Potter set a high standard, which the PLTA continues to follow, evidenced by 36 of its presidents (including McEntee) earning the right to be called Certified Title Professionals. The designation is earned by those members who have the required experience, education, and professional participation to be considered the most distinguished title professionals in Pennsylvania.
The PLTA was incorporated as the Pennsylvania Title Association. It would change to its current name to align with that of the national organization and better depict its purpose and membership.
The 32 original member companies of the association included the Real Estate Title Insurance and Trust Co., which issued the first title insurance policy in the world in 1876.
Five of PLTA’s past presidents have also led ALTA, including Anne Anastasi, the first woman to lead PLTA in 1998-99 and the second woman to serve as president of the national association (2010-11).
Today, PLTA is made up of more than 500 member companies and their employees, totaling 2,500 professionals, from all facets of the homebuying process.
“Over the last century, PLTA has been a consistent source of information, advocacy, and innovation for the title industry,” Kelsh said. “I am grateful to be part of this association as we celebrate this monumental milestone, honor the dedication of our members, and celebrate the resiliency of the title industry professionals, especially through the challenges of the past year.”