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Compliance, Network News, Press Releases

Florida Agency Network’s Closing Manager Featured in TitleNews

Did you hear the news?

Today, Florida Agency Network (FAN) announced its launch of The Closing Manager. Partnering with Premier Data Services, the secure collaboration portal combines wire fraud security best practices with the benefits of a consumer-friendly closing experience.

“The Closing Manager minimizes the cyber footprint of a transaction and extends industry best practices through to the consumers at a time when it is needed most,” said Chief Technology Officer of Premier Data Services, Jay Roberts.

To see the full feature on ALTA’s website, click HERE.

To see the original announcement, click HERE.

 

 

For more information on how the Closing Manager can help your agency, contact Jay Roberts at jay.roberts@premierdataservices.com. 

 

 

Network News, Press Releases

Florida Agency Network Announces New Collaboration Portal

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Tampa, Fla. – January 18, 2018 – The Florida Agency Network announces the completion of its Closing Manager collaboration portal with the help of their IT partner Premier Data Services.  The Closing Manager has features that bridge wire fraud security best practices with the benefits of a consumer-friendly closing experience. Consumers, real-estate agents, and other parties to the transaction can minimize their email exposure when utilizing the Closing Manager.

“We surveyed and gathered data on Florida Agency Network’s clients to see if portal sentiment in the real-estate community had shifted. With the recent spike in wire fraud activity, we received overwhelming support from both directing and non-directing agents,” says Jay Roberts, Chief Technology Officer for Premier Data Services. “In fact, the percentage of those in favor continually increased each quarter over the past year. The Closing Manager minimizes the cyber footprint of a transaction and extends industry best practices through to the consumers at a time when it is needed most.”

Traditionally, collaboration portals have struggled to gain adoption by real estate agents who direct most transactions and have become the primary target of cyber-crime. However, with the rampant escalation in business email compromise (BEC), the security features associated with the Closing Manager provide clients with a safe-haven to conduct business and protect all components of the transaction. These features include:

  • Secured Chat allows parties to discuss sensitive, transaction-specific items without the exposure of traditional email.
  • Multifactor Authentication strengthens all parties’ control of information. This is currently a standard in the state of New York and its adoption is anticipated industry-wide.
  • Infosheets allow buyers and sellers to submit information requested by title insurance companies without the need for traditional email.
  • Two-way Document Sharing provides all parties associated to the transaction the ability to upload or receive documents without email delivery.

With fraud and cyber-crime increasingly impacting the real estate industry on a national level, the market has welcomed the adoption of collaboration portals with security tools like those offered by the Closing Manager.

Mike LaRosa, Chief Operating Officer for Florida Agency Network says, “With cyber fraud rampant in the title insurance industry over the past few years, the only responsible reaction appears to be securing transactions at the individual level. Compromised email attacks and social engineering have become highly sophisticated, and we in the industry have too much to risk. We deal with non-public personal information (NPPI) and significant amounts of escrowed funds on a daily basis. The move to individually-secured, portal-based communications seems like the most logical step in countering the current barrage of daily cyber-attack attempts.”

 

 

 

PREMIER DATA SERVICES is an IT/Managed Service Provider that remotely manages a customer’s IT infrastructure and end-user systems with the highest level of security. Its intelligent remote monitoring and security tools provide expert, cost-effective IT management ensuring a company’s system operations are not only healthy, but also optimized for performance. For more information, please visit http://www.pds-1.com.
Press Releases

Hillsborough Title Family of Companies Proudly Announces New President

Tampa, Fla. – Hillsborough Title Family of Companies (HTFC) is pleased to announce the promotion of Amy Gregory to President of the organization. HTFC consists of Hillsborough Title, Paramount Title, Tampa Bay Title, Cornerstone Title and Stronghold Title. HTFC is the founding title conglomerate of the Florida Agency Network (FAN). Amy brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the position and has been with Hillsborough Title for 10 years.

“This is a natural fit and progression for Amy. There has never been a more committed or deserving person for this opportunity. She has been my right hand since the day she started, and has been the anchor for this organization for many years. There is no other person I would trust taking over the reins of our family business than Amy,” says Aaron M. Davis, former President of HTFC and current CEO of the Florida Agency Network.

In her new role as President, Amy will work in evaluating and improving overall operation effectiveness as well as implementing the organization’s culture, vision, mission and values. Her knowledge and leadership will help HTFC’s organic growth in an effective and successful manner.

As a licensed title agent in the State of Florida, with established proficiency in leadership and company policies and procedures, Amy has the experience, and expertise necessary to ensure all operations and compliance regulations are met within the companies. Entering the title world in 1995, she worked her way through the ranks to become the General Manager for Hillsborough Title, later transitioning to Operations Manager for HTFC and FAN’s Title Support Services.

“I am honored for this opportunity to lead such a talented group of people in this new role. Since starting almost a decade ago, I knew Aaron had an excellent vision for the company’s future and I felt it would be a great fit for my career goals. Amy remarked, “This company is truly a family to me. We have the most amazing team members and I am excited for what the future holds for all of us.”

Network News, Press Releases

Florida Agency Network Completes SOC 1, Type 2 Assessment Report

November 3, 2016 — TAMPA, FL  — Florida Agency Network (FAN), the largest network of title agencies in Florida, has completed a rigorous third-party examination of its policies and procedures under the Service Organization Controls (SOC) 1 Type 2 standards, demonstrating its commitment to data security and privacy at all levels of its operations.

The demanding third-party examinations were administered by the professional IT assurance and compliance staff at 360 Advanced, a respected national Qualified Security Assessor, HITRUST CSF Assessor and Certified Public Accountant firm based in Tampa, FL.

Developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“AICPA”), the Trusted Service Principles (TSP) Framework is based on criteria geared towards technology and cloud-based computing systems, and the TSP Framework is comprised of five standards by which a practitioner is required to examine and report on when analyzing the security of a candidate’s system.

Companies who complete annual SOC 1 assessments are able to demonstrate a substantially higher level of security assurance and operational visibility as compared to those companies who have not yet received their assessment. The assessment focuses on the internal controls impacting customers and the protection of their non-public personal information (NPPI).

Through its partnership with Premier Data Services, FAN is able to avail itself of a SOC 2, Type 2-assessed hosted environment with co-location backup and the most rigorous security controls in the industry. Premier Data Services is able to provide security measures as they relate to non-financial controls of an organization such as its IT network and processes, as well as protection of confidential data. As an IT/MSP, Premier Data Services specializes in compliance and security, overseeing its clients’ infrastructure and network solutions, and ensuring their software systems are not only healthy, but also optimized for performance.

“We are proud of this accomplishment and we feel our company has made a statement to our lender and real estate partners about how serious we take protecting and safeguarding our clients’ information. We value and protect NPPI as though it were money. Our goal is to become a vault for our clients,” said Aaron M. Davis, CEO of FAN.

“Having the SOC 1 Type 2 assessment completed puts us in the top one percent of agencies to reach this standard in our industry,” said Andrea Somers, Compliance Officer for FAN. She added that, “successfully completing the rigorous assessments provides FAN with a competitive advantage.  Lenders are asking more frequently for standards of protection for consumers’ NPPI.”

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ABOUT FLORIDA AGENCY NETWORK

The FLORIDA AGENCY NETWORK (FAN) is made up of a network of title agencies that have formed a strategic alliance to provide shared back office services, pooled resources, and greater geographic coverage throughout the State of Florida. Resources of FAN include multiple on-staff attorneys, access to private title plant and ancillary services, IT company, centralized processes & post-closing, agency administration, compliance management and financial oversight. Powered by multiple national underwriters, FAN offers residential, commercial, builder, lender and investor services, experienced escrow staff, personalized customer service, offices throughout the State of Florida, and much more. For more information, please visit https://flagency.net.

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ABOUT 360 ADVANCED

Known for its responsiveness, experience and professionalism, 360 Advanced has clients in more than 35 states that are major service providers in various industries, including cloud and SaaS based organizations.  360 Advanced is one of only a few specialized firms in the U.S. that assist service providers as their independent IT assurance and compliance assessor in maintaining and communicating security and compliance to their clients.

360 Advanced’s services are provided, but not limited to, the following industries: Title Services, Hosted and Managed IT, Data Center and Colocation, Software as a Service (SaaS), Healthcare, Financial Services, Insurance, HR | Payroll | PEO, Legal and Collections, Bulk Mail Printing and Distribution, Background Screening, Business Process Outsourcing and Marketing.

Services provided by 360 Advanced include SOC 1 (SSAE 16), SOC 2, SOC 3, PCI DSS, HIPAA Security/HITECH, Microsoft Vendor Policy and other security and compliance services.

Contact:         Eric Ratcliffe

eratcliffe@360advanced.com

866.418.1708 ext.710

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Network News, Press Releases

Florida Agency Network and SETCO Services, LLC Join Forces to Bring Statewide Solutions

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Florida’s premier network of independent title agencies joins forces with the largest independent agency in North Florida to bring settlement services to real estate professionals throughout the state.

Tampa, Fla. – August 12, 2016 – Florida Agency Network (FAN), Florida’s largest network of independent title insurance agencies, announces that it is joining forces with SETCO Services, LLC,
headquartered in Destin, FL. This latest venture marks a new initiative by FAN to grow the Network through the creation of strategic relationships in certain key Florida markets where FAN is currently under-represented. As opposed to other FAN locations established through organic growth or formalized partnerships, the SETCO announcement represents FAN’s first non-equity relationship where the entities will support one another and avail themselves of each other’s locations, client relationships,
marketing, and other ancillary services.

Through these new relationships the network benefits by adding additional locations to its statewide footprint, and better service for its clients through additional brick and mortar offices with local
knowledge and expertise, while the new FAN agent partners gain access to vast resources and a robust menu of products and services.

“We are incredibly excited to announce the formation of this strategic partnership with SETCO Services, LLC, which is a first of this kind for us. It represents a new approach to true partnership amongst independent agents in Florida,” says Aaron M. Davis, CEO of the Florida Agency Network. “We are able to significantly expand our territory through additional brick and mortar locations while keeping that ‘boots on the ground’ local knowledge to better serve our client base. At the same time, both of our companies share the same vision and commitment to industry compliance through the completion of our SOC 1 and SOC 2 certifications. We plan to focus our combined energies and expertise on serving a broader range of customers and delivering more efficient solutions across the state.”

SETCO Services, LLC will utilize the back-office solutions provided by FAN. Centralizing the non-core title services will allow SETCO Services, LLC to better focus on providing exceptional service for every real estate professional while maintaining top-notch security and protection of NPPI via FAN’s compliance controls.

“The relationship with Florida Agency Network will allow SETCO to offer more diverse yet streamlined services which will only further improve the customer service to our clientele,” says George T. Brannon, Jr., Chief Operating Officer of SETCO Services, LLC. “The Leadership and goals of our companies are like-minded and this opportunity will provide all organizations partnered with Florida Agency Network to grow more efficiently and effectively in the markets they choose to lead.”

FAN’s tight security controls consist of SSAE 16 SOC 1 and SOC 2, ALTA Best Practices Certification (pillars 1-7 via 3rd Party), and support through its I.T. affiliate, Premier Data Services (PDS). PDS is a Managed Service Provider that offers solutions for unmet needs within the real estate and settlement services industry.

Paramount Title, Press Releases

Paramount Title, a Florida Agency Network Company, Opens New Office in Central Florida

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Ocala, Fla. – Jan. 4, 2016 – Paramount Title, one of Florida’s leading independent title agencies and member of the Florida Agency Network, is expanding its statewide reach by opening a new office in Ocala. Office manager Sandie Rizzo will lead the office, located at 8444 SW 103rd Street Road. Joining Sandie will be Teri Armstrong, Linda Webb and Dawn Creager.

With current offices on Florida’s West Coast, the new office gives Paramount Title an opportunity to bring its expert service to clients in Marion County and surrounding areas.

“We are excited to be part of the expanding Paramount Title team throughout the state. Paramount Title’s resources and reputation sets the standard in the industry, and this team is ready to help clients take their business to the next level,” says Rizzo.

In 2015, Paramount Title saw tremendous growth and change within the company, as well as the title industry. As a member of the Florida Agency Network, Florida’s largest network of independent title agencies, Paramount Title has access to resources including, private title plant and ancillary services, compliance management, SSAE 16 SOC 1 & SOC 2 certifications and powerful partnerships throughout the state.

“The growth of Paramount Title within Florida has been exciting. With this additional location, we’re able to better serve our clients by providing a strategically located office in Marion County to both serve existing clients, and provide coverage for several of our growing builder accounts,” says Aaron M. Davis, CEO of the Florida Agency Network and its multiple brands, which include Paramount Title, Hillsborough Title, Trident Title, Tampa Bay Title, Cornerstone Title, Homeplus Title, Performance Title & Escrow, StrongHold Title, Progressive Title Solutions, Hometown Title Network, BPM Solutions and Premier Data Services.

Press Releases

Florida Agency Network Appoints Compliance Officer

Tampa, Fla. – November 23, 2015 – The Florida Agency Network (FAN), Florida’s largest network of independent title agencies, is proud to introduce Andrea Somers as its Compliance Officer, helping to guide the Florida Agency Network and its embodying agencies smoothly through the current era of heightened compliance expectations and requirements.

“With all of the growth and expansion, as well as changes to our industry, it only makes sense to have a dedicated compliance officer on hand. Andrea is well versed in the underlying regulations within our industry. She will be a great asset to our team.” says Aaron M. Davis, CEO of the Florida Agency Network and its multiple brands. FAN includes Hillsborough Title, Trident Title, Paramount Title, Tampa Bay Title, Cornerstone Title, Homeplus Title, Uptown Title, Bella Title, Performance Title & Escrow, Stronghold Title and Progressive Title Solutions.

As a licensed title agent in the State of Florida for over 14 years, with established proficiency in creating, and training in, corporate policies and procedures, Andrea brings the knowledge, experience, and expertise necessary to ensure all compliance regulations are met within the Network. Entering the title world in 2001, she worked her way through the ranks to become National Vendor Manager at TransContinental Title Company. In that role, she managed third-party vendors nationwide, including all notary signing agents and title abstractors. In 2010, Andrea began managing several different departments within New House Title, LLC, including Contracts, Processing, Closing, Funding, and Post Closing.

“I am so thrilled and honored to be working with such a talented group of people at the Florida Agency Network,” Andrea remarked, “It’s amazing to see the dedication everyone has towards being the industry leader in the State of Florida. I’m proud to be a part of the FAN Family!”

As the Florida Agency Network’s Compliance Officer, she will monitor the application of compliance requirements throughout the FAN Network agencies, ensuring all employees and vendors adhere to established procedures in order to safeguard the Non-Public Private Information (NPPI) of all clients and partners.

Press Releases

Florida Agency Network to Expand, Open New Headquarters in Plant City

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FAN-Mockup_02

Plant City, Fla. – Nov. 9, 2015 – Florida Agency Network, Florida’s largest network of independent agencies providing title services in 30 locations across the state, today announced that it will expand its headquarter operations in Plant City, relocating up to 30 employees and hiring up to 100 additional staff in the next 3 to 5 years. The new positions will fill a variety of roles including executive management, accounting, human resources, data processing, and information technology.

“This is an exciting time to expand our business in Plant City,” said Aaron Davis, CEO of the Florida Agency Network and its multiple brands, which include Hillsborough Title, Trident Title, Paramount Title, Tampa Bay Title, Cornerstone Title, HomePlus Title, Bella Title, Performance Title & Escrow, StrongHold Title, Progressive Title Solutions, Hometown Title Network, BPM Solutions, and Premier Data Services. “We saw the private sector and the city coming together to strengthen support for growing companies like ours with the establishment of Plant City Economic Development Corporation. We’re looking forward to the new opportunities this organization will bring for our business, as well as the entire community.”

Florida Agency Network will invest $5,175,000 in the project through the acquisition of additional office space at its current location in the Alexander Oaks Office Park at 1507 South Alexander Street in Plant City, the purchase of land on an adjacent parcel, and the building of a new 12,000 square foot headquarter office. The acquisition plus the new build will result in over 50,000 square feet of total space at Alexander Oaks, half of which the company will occupy for its operations.

“We are excited to retain and assist Aaron’s company in their tremendous growth,” said Rick Lott, Mayor of Plant City. “Our homegrown businesses making a choice to stay and invest here is a sure sign of more great things to come.”

To attract and retain the young, educated talent the Florida Agency Network will rely on to grow its operations, the company is designing its new space with an open plan format, which will encourage creativity and collaboration.

“This is a major win for Plant City and all of Hillsborough County,” said J.P. DuBuque, interim president and CEO of the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation. “We are committed to working in partnership with the newly formed Plant City Economic Development Corporation to provide the permitting, workforce training, and other business assistance services that help companies like Florida Agency Network thrive here by staying focused on their core business.”

The Florida Agency Network has planted deep roots in the Plant City community, Davis is currently engaged in the Plant City Chamber of Commerce and the founding of the new economic development corporation. He has actively managed Hillsborough Title, the founding company of the Florida Agency Network, since 2002. In 2008 he purchased the company from his mother, Gail Calhoun. The company, which has grown by expansion and acquisition, originally started as Hillsborough Title in 1984 in Plant City. It now boasts multiple statewide locations and utilizes its shared back office services, pooled resources, and I.T. infrastructure to allow for continued expansion. Resources and services include multiple on-staff attorneys, access to private title plant and ancillary services, I.T. company, centralized processes & post-closing, agency administration, compliance management and financial oversight.

“The world is waking up to the exceptional opportunities Plant City affords to grow a company, raise a family, and take advantage of an excellent location that is convenient to all of Central Florida, Port of Tampa, Tampa Airport, and major interstates,” said Randy Larson, Chairman of the Plant City Economic Development Corporation. “We know that Florida Agency Network had the opportunity to locate its headquarters anywhere else in the state, but it chose Plant City and Hillsborough County. We look forward to their continued success and supporting them as they expand.”

Florida Agency Network joins an impressive roster of companies that have recently decided to locate or expand their operations in Plant City and Hillsborough County, including James Hardie, Dart Container, Cody Talbert Distribution and Fitlife Foods.

Individuals interested in open job listings may refer to the company’s website at www.flagency.net.

Compliance, Press Releases

Florida Agency Network Completes SOC 1 (SSAE 16) TYPE 1 Examination

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Tampa, Florida – October 1, 2015 – The Florida Agency Network (FAN), Florida’s largest network of independent title agencies, is proud to announce it has completed a SOC 1 (Statement on Standards for Attestation Engagements No. 16 [“SSAE 16”]) Type 1 examination. The examination was performed by 360 Advanced, P.A., a full-service audit and consulting firm that specializes in integrated compliance solutions, including conducting SOC 1 examinations.

SSAE 16, developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“AICPA”), is the most widely recognized authoritative guidance that provides service organizations a uniform method for disclosing independently assessed information about the design and operation of internal controls related to their services. Companies who complete an annual SOC 1 examination are able to demonstrate a substantially higher level of assurance and operationally visibility than those companies who do not.

Securing SOC 1 Type 1 examination reinforces FAN’s, and its embodying agencies, commitment to security, confidentiality, availability, privacy and processing integrity by ensuring the highest quality and security of services provided to their customers. As the implementation of the TILA/RESPA reform is set to happen on October 3, 2015, many title companies have yet to complete the SOC 1 examination, leaving their stakeholders in a position to risk the exposure of non-public personal information (NPPI).

“We are proud to announce the completion of this major accomplishment. Very few in our industry can boast having a SOC 1 (SSAE 16). I think this portrays our level of commitment to the protection of data and NPPI (Non Public Private Information) to our real estate partners, and more importantly, to the consumer. Having gone through this rigorous assessment, we can provide certification and proof to our lenders and banks that the Florida Agency Network and its affiliates have taken its systems, procedures and control levels above and beyond what the industry has supplied in its Best Practices. Best Practices is simply the start, to get the industry moving in the right direction. SSAE 16 compliance is the next step, putting us on the same level as our banking and lending partners when it comes to compliance and protection.” says Aaron M. Davis, CEO of the Florida Agency Network and its multiple brands, which include Hillsborough Title, Trident Title, Paramount Title, Tampa Bay Title, Cornerstone Title, HomePlus Title, Uptown Title, Bella Title, Performance Title & Escrow, StrongHold Title and Progressive Title Solutions.

The FLORIDA AGENCY NETWORK (FAN) is the largest network of independent title agencies in the State of Florida. We have formed a strategic alliance to better serve our clients, allowing us to provide more services throughout the state. FAN offers convenient locations and many services that most title agencies do not provide, such as in-house legal counsel, in-house title plant, HOA estoppel ordering, dedicated REO department and much more.

Flagency.net

Press Releases

Florida Agency Network Announces Mike LaRosa As Chief Operating Officer

TAMPA, FLA. – April 6, 2015 – Florida Agency Network, Florida’s largest network of independent title agencies, is proud to introduce Mike LaRosa, Esq., as the new Chief Operating Officer for the company.

“There have certainly been some milestones in our company and network that have been game changing. Having the caliber of person and operator like Mike LaRosa join us was never something we could have imagined years ago. Mike brings 16 years  of industry experience and the operational expertise of running one of the largest title insurance underwriters to the Florida Agency Network. We are thrilled to have Mike join our growing family,” says Aaron M. Davis, CEO of the Florida Agency Network and its multiple brands, which include Hillsborough Title, Trident Title, Paramount Title, Tampa Bay Title, Cornerstone Title, HomePlus Title, Uptown Title, Bella Title, Performance Title & Escrow, and Progressive Title Solutions.

LaRosa graduated from the University of Florida with both his Bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctor degree in 1998. In 1999, LaRosa began his title insurance career with First American Title as Associate Counsel at the company’s divisional headquarters in Tallahassee. By 2000 he moved to Tampa to work with the Partnership Division, where he was promoted to Vice President and Counsel. He spent six years in the Partnership Division establishing affiliated business arrangement title agencies with mortgage, builder/developer, and real estate professionals throughout the Southeast.

In 2007 LaRosa was named Tampa Bay Agency Manager, and his territory was eventually expanded to include the entire southwest region of Florida. Ultimately he was promoted to Florida State Agency Manager where he has spent the past three and a half years. Throughout his career within First American he had the opportunity to speak at various industry functions, and he enjoyed the privilege of being selected to participate in the company’s specialized leadership training program geared at developing its internal leaders.

The Florida Agency Network is excited to have LaRosa onboard to help grow its statewide footprint while maintaining a strong, customer-service brand commitment to the community.

 

To read the full feature, click here.