attorney

Heather Aislynn Johns

Work Experience:

United States Department of Housing and Urban Development 09/2011 - Present

Indianapolis, IN United States

Attorney-Advisor (This is a federal job)

Duties, Accomplishments and Related Skills:

Multi-family transactional closings, transfer of physical asset reviews, lease reviews, partial release/condemnation reviews, conflict-of-interest determinations, tax sale research, guidance to public housing, community planning and development, multi-family asset management, multi-family mortgage credit and front office.

United States Department of Housing and Urban Development 08/2009 - 09/2011

Indianapolis, IN

Community Planning and Development Specialist (This is a federal job)

Duties, Accomplishments and Related Skills:

In this role, I serve as a specialist representative for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) for grantees in Indiana. I provide guidance to grantees on NSP-1 and NSP-3 programs based on regulations, policy guidance and a fundamental real estate knowledge gained in my career. I also provide ordinary and innovative solutions and resolutions for challenges that arise for Indiana grantees and have opportunities to work on special assignments nationally at the request of the NSP Team at headquarters.

Currently, I am the direct NSP representative for the cities of Indianapolis, Kokomo, Gary and Evansville, but have also been directly responsible for all other Indiana NSP grantees throughout my time at HUD. I also serve in the capacity of NSP specialist to other CPD representatives in the Indianapolis Field Office for all other NSP grantees.

In addition to my CPD Specialist duties, I serve as the NSP-TA GTM for the Indiana NSP technical assistance (TA) grant and request TA on behalf of grantees and the field office. Additional duties include direct oversight at the field office level of TA work plans, needs assessment reports for all NSP-TA matters for Indiana and working directly with TA consultants throughout the engagement. I have worked on-site and one-on-one with grantees to accomplish goals and ensure compliance within the NSP program. My first NSP-TA endeavor required me to conduct a bi-weekly meeting at the local offices of a grantee. This involves organizing the meeting, providing agendas, reports and updates on all NSP activities occurring within the bi-weekly period. I also coordinate with staff at the Field Office, the headquarters NSP Team, the City staff and public officials regarding said meetings. The grantees I work with directly, in conjunction with NSP-TA consultants, have seen measurable progress and improvement in performance and compliance by reaching expenditure and obligation deadlines and successfully meeting the goals of the program in their communities. I currently conduct bi-weekly meetings with two (2) grantees that require specialized oversight and guidance. In conjunction with regular on-site visits, I consistently provide written documents, reports, and analysis on grantee programs in order to ensure compliance and further the capacity of the grantee through NSP-TA.

Regular duties as an NSP Specialist also include monitoring grantees for the compliance and progress in the NSP1 and NSP3 programs. As a part of that monitoring, I maintain a basic and working knowledge of CDBG, HOME, Section 3, Davis Bacon, ADA and Fair Housing requirements as it relates to the NSP program, as well as additional cross-cutting requirements such as environmental review and URA. I have identified compliance issues in these areas and communicate with appropriate individual(s) regarding said matters and provide all monitoring materials to appropriate division the Indianapolis Field Office for follow up.

Agents National Title Insurance Company 06/2008 - 06/2009

Indianapolis, IN

Indiana State Manager and Counsel

Duties, Accomplishments and Related Skills:

• Investigated title insurance claims in Missouri and Indiana.

• Determined coverage under the insuring provisions of the title insurance policy.

• Facilitated negotiations of covered claims.

• Maintained a working understanding of title insurance policy languages, changes in the title insurance/real estate/mortgage finance industries and with company policies.

• Managed litigation and outside counsel as required for administration of a title insurance claim.

• Managed reserve accounts and settlements.

• Answered and researched Indiana title policy underwriting matters.

• Wrote and taught title insurance and attorney continuing education classes.

• Resolved issues and facilitated relationships between Indiana title insurance agencies and the company.

Chicago Title Insurance Company 04/2006 - 06/2008

Crown Point, IN

Commercial Managing Attorney

Duties, Accomplishments and Related Skills:

• Underwrote all aspects of commercial real estate owners and loan title policies, including endorsements.

• Participated in residential property title insurance underwriting upon request.

• Searched and examined commercial real estate land titles and created title commitments, pro forma policies, final owners and loan title policies, along with endorsements to said policies.

• Explain and communicate with customers and outside counsel regarding title and real estate issues regarding the property in question.

• Advised customers and outside counsel through title clearance requirements and problems in order to see the transaction through to closing.

• Researched title issues and documents affecting title to best advise of insuring opportunities for customers and outside counsel.

• Presented guidance and solutions to title and property problems and actively pursue ordinary and innovative solutions to assist customers with said issues.

• Drew out legal descriptions on property in question and supporting documents to determine and advise customers and outside counsel of title issues/encumbrances.

• Maintained a working understanding of title insurance policy language, changes in the title insurance/real estate/mortgage lending industries and company policies.

• Drafted documents for closing and/or recording upon request and within my employment capacity.

• Reviewed documents for closing and recording and assisted customers and outside counsel concerning proper form to ensure all documents were approved for recording by the County.

• Managed employees and productivity of the commercial production department.

• Maintained employee records, managed work-flow and employee time, vacations, leave and overtime.

• Advised senior management of employee, corporate and internal issues that affected the department, our product and productivity.

• Conducted internal audits of employee work product to assist in achieving superior customer service and product.

• Prepared and presented employee reviews and quarterly productivity assessments.

• Created, initiated, organized and maintained an in-house education program focused on educating internal staff to industry and legal matters that affected their day-to-day jobs.

• Taught in-house educations classes, including topics of the ALTA 2006 policy forms, bankruptcy, dissolution of marriage (affect on title), life estates, guardianships, judgments, foreclosures and basic legal description concepts.

Fidelity National Financial 11/2005 - 04/2006

Jacksonville, FL

Claims Counsel

Duties, Accomplishments and Related Skills:

• Investigated title insurance claims in Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and New Mexico. Specifically assigned the compelling title insurance coverage matters involving (but not limited to) commercial property claims, boundary line disputes, easement issues, chain of title issues, condominium matters, tax title issues, foreclosure (both judicial and non-judicial) and title/mortgage fraud insuring matters.

• Determined coverage under the insuring provisions of the title insurance policy.

• Facilitated negotiations of covered claims.

• Maintained a working understanding of title insurance policy language, changes in the title insurance/real estate/mortgage lending industry and company policies.

• Managed litigation and outside counsel as required for the administration of a title insurance claim.

• Managed reserve accounts and settlements.

Stewart Title Guaranty Company 06/2003 - 11/2005

Indianapolis, IN

Claims Counsel

Duties, Accomplishments and Related Skills:

• Investigated title insurance claims in Indiana, Ohio, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine and Mississippi.

• Received initial title claim and acknowledged receipt to claimant.

• Gathered information from agent, claimant and insured to further investigate claim.

• Assessed nature of claim, potential loss, liability, defenses and recovery liability of claims made.

• Facilitated title insurance claim settlement for covered claims.

• Resolved title insurance issues in-house for matters that did not require outside litigation such as (but not limited to) judgment payoffs, amended recorded documents, deeds to be executed to extinguish outstanding interests and missing document requests.

• Managed litigation and outside counsel as needed.

• Coordinated with outside counsel regarding settlement agreements, defense limitations and objectives of litigation.

• Managed claim reserve accounts.

• Drafted assignments of judgment and mortgage, corrective deeds and other settlement documents.

• Drafted and issues letters of indemnity where appropriate.

Ruppert & Schaefer PC 07/2002 - 06/2003

Indianapolis, IN

Law Clerk

Duties, Accomplishments and Related Skills:

• Drafted pleadings and final dissolution of marriage documents and filed them with the court.

• Maintained files with file organization, clerical file-back and index pleadings.

• Drafted correspondence, Child Support Worksheets and office memoranda per dictation.

• Drafted discovery requests and responses.

• Collected information and documents from clients for response to discovery.

• Researched assigned legal issues and reported summary findings to requesting attorney.

• Interacted with clients to schedule appointments and consultations.

• Maintained schedule calendar of appointments, hearing dates, and response due dates for attorneys.

• Researched for, briefed cases and assembled a working Indiana family law research and resource manual of case law, experts, contacts and protocol for clerks and paralegals.

Indiana Secretary of State 05/2002 - 07/2002

Indianapolis, IN

Intern - Trademark Deputy

Duties, Accomplishments and Related Skills:

• Processed trademark applications.

• Determined eligibility of proposed trademarks.

• Answered telephone and email inquiries about trademarks in general and the application process.

• Compiled a resource manual about trademarks and qualifications under the Indiana Code.

• Researched and wrote memoranda on trademark and UCC topics as requested.

Columbia Land Title Company 06/1993 - 08/2001

Fort Wayne, IN

Summer Clerk

Duties, Accomplishments and Related Skills:

• Produced title insurance commitments, policy endorsements and final title insurance policies.

• Completed title insurance commitments and pro forma policies for commercial transactions.

• Assisted the company president and closing department manager for residential and commercial closings.

• Requested mortgage, judgment and tax lien payoff statements.

• Copied and organized closing packages.

• Explained title insurance commitment requirements and exceptions to customers and counsel.

• Supervised the completion of mail-away refinance transactions.

• Closed refinance, cash and new construction transactions.

Education:

Indiana University Indianapolis, IN United States

Professional 05/2004

Major: Law

Relevant Coursework, Licenses and Certifications:

Admitted to the Indiana Bar and maintain current license under Attorney Number 25644-49.

Saint Mary's College Notre Dame, IN United States

Bachelor's Degree 05/2001

GPA: 3.11 of a maximum 4.0

Credits Earned: 126 Semester hours

Major: English Writing

Relevant Coursework, Licenses and Certifications:

With Honors, in major and Senior Writing Project

Job Related Training:

Basically CDBG - January 2010

Building HOME - August 2011

NDC Rental Housing Finance Underwriting - August 2011

Office of Counsel - Closing School 2012 and 2013

ABA Affordable Housing Conference 2012

HUD Fair Housing Conference - Indiana - 2013

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