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Hi fellow humans. In the blink of an eye it is fall again, my favorite time of year. It is time to enjoy crisp mornings and pull out boots and sweaters. If you spend time in the mountains like I do, it’s also time for fireplace gatherings and hot toddies. For me, the last quarter of the year is also about reflection of what I had planned for the year, and what I still have outstanding to complete. And my favorite, I get to start thinking about what my goals are for next year.

It is also time for CEA Conference! If you have not yet registered, I encourage you to do that today! This is an opportunity for you to enhance your knowledge of industry related topics and to spend time with, at current count, 343 of your fellow escrow extraordinaires right here in Orange County.

CEA Conference is at the Costa Mesa Hilton from October 10th through the 12th. Since it is local, there is really no reason not to be there! CEA’s conference committee worked hard and succeeded again in getting some amazing speakers. This year we will have three California regulators on the same stage - DOI, DRE and DBO - I can’t wait to hear that session! In addition and as a first for CEA, an IRS withholding specialist will be presenting as well. So be sure to sign up if you haven’t done so already.

 Mickey Vandenberg

September’s dinner meeting was a lot of fun and a great educational event. Josette Loaiza from Old Republic National Title Insurance Company shared Tips and Tools to help organize your escrow desk. And what great tips and tools she had! I am a time management and organizational freak and loved getting some new nuggets and suggestions from Josette in her presentation. Thank you Josette!

We also had our annual fund raiser with auctioneer Luke Savage, who entertained the crowd as he auctioned off items generously donated by our sponsors and others. It was a phenomenal fundraising effort. A big thank you to Ray Moody at City National Bank for sponsoring Luke. And of course, a heartfelt thank you to the donors:

  • Rosie Mares
  • Ellie Tipton-Ortiz, Laguna Legal
  • Robin Alvarez, Pacific Escrow
  • Mary Hernandez, Citizens Business Bank
  • City National Bank
  • Mechanics Bank
  • Margie Coenraad-Martinez, Bank of Hope
  • Becky Proctor, EWB
  • Sherry Mossalei, EWB
  • Hilda Avila, RBJ Software
  • Hershorin & Henry
  • George McManus, Umpqua Bank
  • Debi Peters, Coast Cities Escrow
  • Dane McCalin
  • BBS Notary
  • Larry O’Brien
  • Kacy Troncale, SMS
  • Steve Stosen, Notaries Express

We so appreciate your generosity!

Last but certainly not least, another big thank you to our meeting sponsors:

  • City National Bank
  • Notaries Express
  • RBJ Software
  • East West Bank
  • Mechanics Bank

Please mark your calendar and plan to join us for education, camaraderie and escrow chicken at our last 2019 General Membership Meeting on Wednesday November 20, 2019, where Lisa Tyler will entertain and educate us.

Watch your email for our meeting notices and reservation information -- and bring a colleague or client with you! We look forward to seeing you then! 

If you haven’t already done so, please “like” us on FaceBook, and visit the OCEA website where, among other useful bits of information, there’s a list of all of our 2019 Silver Sponsors. All sponsor logos link to their websites. Without our generous sponsors, we would not be able to provide you the educational opportunities we bring throughout the year.

I thank you for the opportunity to represent you as OCEA’s 2019 president and look forward to seeing you at our November 2019 meeting!

Sincerely,

Mickey Vandenberg
2019 OCEA President