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38 | Th e M Rep o RT Special Advertorial Section TITLE & ESCROW GUIDE CORPORATE PROFILE First Financial Title Insurance Agency of Minnesota is a full-service title and abstracting company affiliated with the law firm of Shapiro & Zielke, LLP. It provides a complement of title search, insurance, and closing services for clients. The company was founded in 1989 by Gerald Shapiro and has been headed by current president Lawrence P. Zielke since January 2006. Since then, the company has grown into a team of eight closing agents and assistants, along with 17 title examiners, production assistants, attorneys, and abstracters. First Financial Title's underwriters include Chicago Title, Fidelity, and First American. BusInEss LInEs/sERvICEs OFFEREd • Escrow and closing services • Title and abstract services • Title insurance • Name, assessment, and plat drawing searches • Deed-in-lieu COmPETITIvE AdvAnTAgE First Financial Title Agency of Minnesota has specialized in REO transactions for 25 years. In addition to the company's experienced and trained closers, examiners, and abstracters, First Financial Title Agency of Minnesota has access to 13 of the most experienced and capable default servicing attorneys in Minnesota through its affiliation with the default servicing firm of Shapiro & Zielke, LLP. The teamwork and side by side representation of GSEs and all of the major mortgage servicers has created a dynamic partnership in "cradle-to-grave" representation from Shapiro & Zielke, LLP and First Financial Title Agency of Minnesota, Inc. First Financial has a successful "title curative" process that is best in class, which in turn complements our experienced and results-driven closers. COmmunITy InvOLvEmEnT First Financial Title Agency has partnered with Shapiro & Zielke the past nine years in its annual "White Christmas" fund raiser for local charities. FFT and SZ have donated $35,000 over the past three years to a local nonprofit "360 Communities" in Burnsville, Minn. The proceeds have been utilized to support the local food shelf, a local women's and children's shelter, and a "school success" program aimed at intervention for at-risk youth. gOALs First Financial Title's goal for 2015 is to continue to provide the best possible REO title service, in addition to growth and expansion into traditional non-default real estate transactions. First Financial Title Agency of Minnesota is upgrading its software and technology to be paperless and better integrated with cutting-edge technologies. Additionally, FFT has also completed its initial production of the "Seven Pillars" of the "Best Practices" manual and will be ready for certification when it is available. AddITIOnAL InFO First Financial Title Agency of Minnesota is a member of the Better Business Bureau, Minnesota Land Title Association, American Land Title Association, Five Star Default Title Coalition, and the Burnsville Chamber of Commerce. TEsTImOnIAL "I have been working with First Financial Title for six years. I've had nothing but good experiences working with First Financial Title. I recommend them to all of my colleagues and clients. When a problem arises they handle the situation and do everything they can to get the property closed in a timely manner. Their professionalism is unmatched in the REO World of Minnesota." —Karissa White, RE/MAx Advantage Plus, Savage, Minnesota key personnel Melissa Schwan Closing Manager Tanya George Attorney/Examiner Tracy Halliday Attorney/Examiner Wayne Rotzien Abstracting Manager Lawrence P. Zielke President Diane Mach VP staffing 25 employees contact information 12550 W. Frontage Road, Suite 200 Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 Phone: 952.831.5010 Web: Firstfinancialtitleagency.com First Financial Title Agency of Minnesota, Inc.