Attendees at the 17th annual National Settlement Services Summit (NS3) from Aug. 31-Sept. 2 will be welcomed back to the in-person conference by HomeServices of America President and CEO Gino Blefari, who will deliver the keynote address on opening day.
Blefari said he is looking forward to attending and participating in NS3.
“The National Settlement Services Summit addresses topics important to members of the entire closing process. Because it draws executives and participants from mortgage, title, and escrow, along with their supporting cast, it is a great place to network and exchange ideas,” he told The Title Report.
“After a long period of meeting virtually, having an opportunity to meet in person allows us to experience those interactions we need to have a full exchange of ideas and find tools to solve our problems,” he added.
In addition to being CEO of HomeServices of America, Blefari is chairman of HSF Affiliates LLC, which operates the franchise networks of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and Real Living Real Estate. He came to HomeServices of America from Intero Real Estate Services, Inc., which he founded in 2002. He served as its Intero’s president and CEO through mid-2014.
The keynote address will be followed by Westcor Land Title Chief Underwriting Counsel Richard Bramhall and American Escrow Association President Carlye Buxton, who will present “Cannabis: It’s all gooood…” The panel will review the challenges surrounding the buying, leasing, and obtaining credit financing for real estate for cannabis activities.
“The cannabis industry is growing by leaps and bounds, particularly as more states have either approved medical permission or increased the level of authorization unlimited use by adults,” Bramhall said. “As of June 22, 2021, 18 states and the District of Columbia have enacted legislation permitting adult use of cannabis, while 36 states allow for the medical use of cannabis products.”
Federally, however, cannabis is still considered a controlled substance, “creating a tension between federal law and that of 36 states, leaving the cannabis industry in a dilemma where it can operate legally in over 70 percent of the states, yet cannot legally use federally insured banks to do business,” he said.
At the next session, Title Alliance CEO Jim Campbell and Stephen-Michael Washington, vice president, CRA market manager of Trustmark, will present, “Referral Secrets Unveiled,” sharing their experience with turning partnerships with real estate agents and lenders into referrals.
“Do you have relationships and don’t know how to leverage them?” Washington asked. “Master the generosity game and learn how to build a powerful referral-based business.”
Finally, Susan Apel, senior deputy attorney general with the office of the Pennsylvania attorney general, will join Florida Department of Financial Services Director Simon Blank, Virginia Bureau of Insurance RESA Investigations Section Supervisor Chuck Myers, and North Carolina Department of Insurance Chief Deputy Commissioner Michelle Osborne in presenting the “State Regulator Update.” The panel will discuss regulatory trends around the country and their priorities for 2021-22.
Apel said she is looking forward to participating in her third NS3 state regulatory panel.
“This panel is great because it is not just one regulator speech after another, but instead it is a conversation among the panel and with the audience,” she said. “It is an opportunity for us to share what is ‘top of mind’ in our offices, and to respond to questions from participants.”
For more information on the 2021 NS3, including the agenda and a list of speakers for all three days, click here. You can register for NS3 online or click here to get information on how to register via mail, fax or phone.