Proper Title, LLC, the Palatine, Ill.-based title insurance agency serving the residential and commercial real estate industries, has added four new hires in key areas at two of its seven closing locations.

“In just five years of business, we’ve become the second-largest title company in Illinois and attracted some of the best and brightest professionals in the industry,” said David Garside, executive vice president of title and escrow operations at Proper Title. “These four new hires further confirm that our founding principal of providing exceptional service is appreciated not only by clients, but also by top talent.”

Based in the downtown Chicago office, Kathy Kwak has joined Proper Title as director of title, bringing more than a decade of legal and real estate experience to the role. The Palatine office expands with the addition of Steve Connors as director of business development, a top-generating sales manager and founding agent from @properties; Laura Bendikas as closing director, with 20 years of experience in title and technology; and Joseph Allegretti as attorney business development manager, overseeing growth of the firm’s attorney client network.

“Each of these new hires comes to Proper Title with extensive experience in different aspects of the real estate transaction, including agent relations, legal counsel, attorney relations and technology,” said Garside. “Their contributions and expertise will support our service-oriented approach and strengthen our commitment to bringing clients peace of mind in every transaction we handle.”

Launched with just 27 employees in 2013, Proper Title has doubled its size and increased its transaction volume every year to become a major player in the title insurance business. It recently earned the 2016 Award for Excellence from Fidelity National Title Group, Inc., a member of the Fidelity National Financial (NYSE: FNF) family of companies and the nation’s largest group of title companies and title insurance underwriters. The award is given for meeting and exceeding specific title underwriting and settlement services criteria.

About Proper Title, LLC:

Palatine, Ill.-based Proper Title, LLC, is a full-service title insurance agency serving the residential and commercial real estate industries. Since its founding in 2013, Proper Title has substantially grown its transaction volume in just a few years with its commitment to servicing the needs of its clients and is the second-largest title insurance agency in Illinois, and earned the 2014, 2015 and 2016 “Rising Star / Excellence in Action” awards by Fidelity Investments. With seven closing locations in Cook, Lake and DuPage counties, Proper Title is able to deliver an exceptional title experience throughout the Chicago area and the Midwest. For more information, visit propertitle.com.

Kathy Kwak joins Proper Title, LLC, as director of title. ©Charles Cherney Photography

Laura Bendikas joins Proper Title, LLC, as closing director.

Steve Connors joins Proper Title, LLC, as director of business development.

Joseph Allegretti joins Proper Title, LLC, as attorney business development manager.