TEIAH K. HESTER

727-***-**** adz3uu@r.postjobfree.com

SUMMARY

Paralegal, office management, and escrow professional, with extensive general legal knowledge, excellent organization and communication skills, the ability to work in a fast-paced environment, and the ability to support attorneys and paralegals in an efficient, detail-oriented, and proactive manner. Excellent computer and clerical skills and knowledge of numerous computer programs. Understanding communication and teamwork is key. Licensed Colorado Title Producer and Notary.

“Collaborative, Imaginative, Goal Oriented, Proactive, Problem Solver, Strategic, Communicative” PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Torbet & Tuft, Colorado Springs, CO August, 2023 to present. Initial point of contact, client intakes, manage client communications and correspondence, including phone calls and emails, schedule appointments, general office tasks to include receivables, payables, deposits, assist bookkeeper with billing, handle mail, maintain supply needs for office, communicate with clients, draft initial Chapter 7 Petitions using Best Case and general Attorney support. Land Title Guarantee Company, Greenwood Village, CO June 2021 to April 2023. Excelled in customer care and legal compliance issues protecting the company from additional concerns and recouping losses. Closing Agent and Compliance Officer. Maintained residential, builder, and lender clients. Handled files from the deposit of escrow, through closing, to final preparation of file and scanning to Athena system and auditing of file. Post-closing compliance issues for the branch team and the builder department. I was released from the position due to economic cutbacks. Utilized Google Suites and Athena to maintain files. North American Title Company/States Title Company/WFG National Title Insurance Company, Colorado Springs, CO June 2018 to May 2021. (States bought North America and WFG took over States in Colorado) Branch Manager of the downtown location of North America Title Company and Escrow Officer, specializing in commercial property and residential transactions and compliance issues. Skillfully handled day-to-day requirements of the branch, employee issues and traveled to state branches to assist with education for company teams. When States acquired North America it consolidated the branches and I moved to the North branch as an Escrow Officer maintaining commercial, residential, and lender clients. Handled files from the deposit of escrow, through closing, to final preparation of file and scanning to ResWare system and auditing of file. States was acquired by WFG and I continued in my previous position.

Stewart Title Company, Colorado Springs, CO November 2015 to May 2018. Escrow Officer specializing in commercial property transactions, title-only transactions for financial institutions, relocations, and compliance issues. Cleared legal compliance issues protecting the company from possible losses. Handled files from the deposit of escrow, through closing, to final preparation of file and scanning to SureClose system, auditing of file and review of final policy and submission to parties,

Leavengood, Dauval & Boyle, St. Petersburg, FL November 2011 to October 2016. Developed an in-house real estate department allowing the firm to retain the income from the real estate transactions that had previously been outsourced to a title company. Continued to audit escrow accounts and create reports for approximately one year after relocating to Colorado. Doubled as Paralegal support to Attorneys and teams in litigation, bankruptcy, and probate matters. Assisting with document preparation and general office needs. Real Estate Paralegal/Real Property Department Head. Developed, launched, and administered a real estate department for a litigation firm, specializing in residential, commercial, and negotiation and closing distressed property transactions and management of title department. Doubled as Paralegal and Escrow Officer managing all aspects of the real estate/title department, including review and drafting of real estate contracts, collaboration with Attorneys to resolve title issues, start to finish closing transactions for both distressed and conventional residential and commercial properties, from preparation and review of title search and preparation of commitment through the closing of the transaction, disbursement of escrow and preparation of the final policy. Firm liaison to Attorneys Title Fund Services and representatives of Old Republic National Title Insurance Company. Susan Woodard, P.A., and V. John Brook, Jr., P.A. Chapter 7 Trustees, St. Petersburg, FL January 1994 to October 2015.

As paralegal to the bankruptcy trustees, duties included all aspects of file maintenance including maintaining calendaring systems, assisting with generating reports to meet the requirements of the U.S. Trustee’s office, including the Interim Reports, Final Accountings, Trustee’s Final Reports, drafting and preparation of legal pleadings, review of claims, preparation of objections to claims, orders, motions and any other documents required to support the Trustee’s practice. Further, through the utilization of the Court’s online services, TCMS and CM/ECF programs maintained online bankruptcy files, e-filed/docketed motions, and other documents with the Court, and e-filed orders with the appropriate Judges, communicated with the Bankruptcy Clerk and Trustee’s office concerning the debtors and the court files, uploaded information into the TCMS program through the online system and kept the computer systems up to date, assisted the Trustee in preparation for 341 meetings, entered claims and assets into the cases, assisted in account reconciliation, published specific documents utilizing certificateofservice.com and other general information as required by the Trustee.

Forlizzo Law Group, P.A., Safety Harbor, FL November 2007 to May 2009. Assisted with multi-state corporate transactional purchases involving coordination and preparation of corporate documents, preparation of documentation to support the acquisition of multi-million dollar transactions to include the development, lease, and/or sale of the various commercial properties for clients and, commercial closing transactions for Developer’s in-house legal department. Assisted with clearing title matters, including review of title search, title commitment, zoning matters, property inspections, appraisal reports, and surveys, summarizing for attorney review as to any possible encroachment issues or other matters, prepared and filed corporate documentation for annual reports with the Florida Department of State, preparation of corporate meeting minutes and other corporate documents to support the numerous corporate entities involved with the transactions, maintained organized calendaring systems to keep track of the numerous principals involved and to insure each job stayed on track and met all deadlines. Real Title Services, LLC, Brandon, FL April 2003 to October 2007. As a Florida Licensed Title Producer independently handled all aspects of commercial real estate transactions from title search through post-closing. Because of my extensive background and skill set, handled all commercial transactions for the company and any quiet title matters, which arose, along with residential real estate closing transactions. Assisted with day-to-day management functions of the title company and was in charge of reconciliations of the escrow account.

Jenkins & Kaiser, P.A., St. Petersburg, FL August 1978 to March 2003. Duties included handling all aspects of the real estate/corporate/collection practice, including residential and commercial transactions, quiet title matters, corporate/business documentation and transactions, landlord-tenant and foreclosure litigation, and commercial collections. Handled all aspects of the real estate closings from drafting the contract, title search, and preparation of the commitment, through closing, disbursement, and final search and preparation of final title policy. Further assisted other attorneys in the firm handling such areas as family law, criminal/juvenile, civil litigation, probate, and personal injury. This afforded a general knowledge of many aspects of legal practice, especially in the areas of real estate, pre-trial discovery, and litigation. During the last ten years at the firm, in addition to other duties, served as office manager and bookkeeper. In this extended position, duties included all aspects of the management of the office including preparation of checks and reconciliation for the operating and escrow accounts, payroll, receivables, payables, billing, employee relations, purchasing, leasing, and the day-to-day functions of the firm. PRIOR SKILLS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Committee member of EPIC Systems Trustee Liaison Program.

Founding President of the Pinellas County Legal Assistant Association. During this association, I was able to assist with the placement of many of the newly graduated legal assistants and give them guidance in their new roles. Also had the opportunity to work with the committees to set up regional and statewide conferences, including budgeting and obtaining the speakers for same.

Regional Ethics Director for the Southwest Chapter of the Florida Legal Assistant Association. This position allowed me to travel to different colleges in the area giving talks on ethics in the law practice.

Managing Director of the Pinellas County Youth Symphony. My five-year tenure gave me the opportunity to write grants to support the organization, handle fundraising programs, organize concert venues and schedules, and handle the musical needs of the 200+ students in the program. EDUCATION

Associates Degree in Paralegal Studies with honors, St. Petersburg College, St. Petersburg, Florida New Smyrna Beach Senior High School, New Smyrna Beach, Florida, Cum Laude