Top Ten Ways to Prevent Fraud During Real Estate Closings

Anthony P. Palaigos brings decades of experience across real estate, business, corporate, and estate law. He is joining Lakeside Law LLC in 2025 as “Of Counsel” after over 20 years as a partner at a major Baltimore law firm.

His real estate practice includes negotiating and drafting contracts, leases, and financing agreements. He also serves as general counsel to a range of corporations, LLCs, and partnerships, advising on business formation, acquisitions, and loan structuring. Anthony has helped numerous small businesses achieve MBE/DBE certification through the Maryland Department of Transportation.

In estate planning, he prepares wills, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and trusts. He has also taught real estate principles at the University of Baltimore and Loyola College.

Anthony is a lifelong Marylander, born in Annapolis and now residing in Catonsville with his wife, Linda. Above all, he takes pride in his family, including his children’s careers in public service, veterinary medicine, and healthcare, and the enduring relationships he’s built with clients and colleagues alike.

Neely was raised in the Annapolis area and now calls Ocean City, Maryland home. She began her career after graduating from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, serving six years in the U.S. Army as a Combat Photographer and Videographer. Her time in the military provided invaluable experience and a strong foundation in discipline, creativity, and storytelling.

Following her service, Neely pursued a Master of Journalism at the University of Maryland, College Park, where she honed her skills in media production. She went on to thrive in Baltimore’s creative video production scene before a unique opportunity led her in a new direction.

When the chance to purchase a local restaurant arose, Neely and her husband took a leap of faith, launching Mother’s Cantina, a Tex-Mex restaurant in Ocean City. Over the past two decades, the business has grown into a thriving community staple, earning a loyal following and establishing Neely as a dedicated entrepreneur.

Her success in hospitality eventually led to a passion for real estate, through both personal investment and business ventures. This passion brought her to Lakeside Title, where she combines her diverse background with a client-first approach. Neely’s extensive experience in customer service, business ownership, and real estate enables her to manage transactions with confidence and clear communication —ensuring a smooth and professional settlement process from start to finish.

A proud graduate of the University of Baltimore and a member of the Maryland State Bar Association since 1966, Lee has made significant contributions to the real estate and title industry. He formed Fidelity Title Company, Inc. in 1974, growing it into one of Maryland’s largest title companies with multiple locations. His innovative approach to real property settlements, both residential and commercial, set the standard for excellence in the field.

In 1995, Lee co-founded and served as President of the Maryland Land Title Association, demonstrating his commitment to advancing industry standards. His impressive career also includes managing high-value transactions, such as a $30 million 1031 exchange involving properties in both Maryland and California, and teaching continuing education courses for GBBR and other organizations.

With over 20 years of experience in multiple aspects of the real estate industry, Brian Resnick has built a career around leadership, service, and helping people achieve their homeownership goals. A graduate of the University of Maryland, Brian began by launching a property rehabilitation business before transitioning into IT and then finding his long-term home in the title insurance industry. For over two decades, he managed multiple title company branch offices and specifically builder operations. He developed a reputation for both operational excellence and having strong client relationships.

For the past three years, Brian has continued his commitment to exceptional service as a mortgage originator—helping guide clients through the home-buying process and celebrating with them as they received the keys to their new homes. For him, it doesn’t get much better than being part of the milestone of homeownership.

Beyond the office, Brian is deeply involved in the industry and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Maryland Building Industry Association (MBIA). He’s also a dedicated family man with two daughters—one attending University of Maryland and the other attending River Hill High School. When not working, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, golfing, playing racquetball, and rooting for Baltimore sports teams. Go Terps!

Director of Builder & Commercial Operations

Leslie began her career in the real estate title industry in December of 1986, starting as a receptionist. Over the course of her 38 years in the real estate industry, she has worn many hats including title abstractor, post-closer, processor, recorder, mortgage lender, underwriter, and funder. All of this experience gives her the unique ability to be the problem solver that you need when choosing a Settlement Officer. She’s a problem solver with outstanding people skills and work ethic that you and your clients can rely on.

Residing in Wilmington, NC, Leslie shares her life with her husband of 25 years, Harry Lutz, and their English Lab/Swiss Mountain Dog, Scarlett. The proud mother of five children and two grandchildren, she expresses her deep passion for her clients and career by commuting between NC and MD every week for the past almost 5 years!

Leslie is fun loving and finds joy in beach activities and attending live music events whenever she possibly can.

Settlement Officer (Habla Espanola)

Settlement Officer

Previously a real estate agent, Angie’s experience dates to her first job in the industry as a Post Closer in 1998 in Baltimore. Shortly after, she became a licensed Settlement Officer. Her experience includes purchases (residential and commercial), refinances, 1031 exchanges, short sales and she has worked all over Maryland with builders, investors, and numerous agents and lenders over the years.

She moved back to Ocean City, MD in 2017 after previously living there for 15 years in the 80’s & 90’s and joined The Lakeside Team in October of 2022 shortly after the Ocean Pines office opened. Her motivation and knowledge of the industry is a positive force, and her reputation still lives on in the metro regions. Becoming an active member in the Ocean City and Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce has given her the opportunity to be involved in community service which has always been her passion.

Angie enjoys beach living with and caring for her 91-year young mother and two adopted dogs. They spend their time driving onto the beach at Assateague Island, pony watching and soaking up nature. She enjoys her time with her teenage granddaughter, anything related to the water, traveling, projects around her home, live music, concerts and spending time with friends and family.

Settlement Officer

Settlement Officer

Diana grew up in Prince George’s County, Maryland in a very active family, always trying to keep up with her three older siblings. She graduated from University of Maryland Dental School and spent many years providing healthcare on the eastern and western shores. Diana has a heart for the underserved population and was active in providing healthcare through Mission of Mercy and church outreach programs in Central America. Diana passed the Maryland Real Estate exam at 19 years old and eagerly transitioned back into the real estate field after moving to live locally in Ocean City, Maryland five years ago. She is a licensed Title Insurance Producer and as a local Ocean City resident, she is excited to welcome and serve homebuyers and sellers on the shore. She has a passion for her faith, family, community, and fitness. Diana is an active member at her local church, an affiliate member of Coastal Association of Realtors, and both local Chambers of Commerce in Ocean City and Ocean Pines. When she’s not jumping into the ocean for a sunrise swim or taking a run on the boardwalk, you can find her spending time with her family, competing in triathlons and trail races, visiting her son in Santa Barbara, CA, or tucked away in nature to unwind!

Settlement Officer

Ana has over 16 years of experience in various roles within the real estate industry. She has served customers as a Spanish speaking account representative for a title company, government agency, and most recently in the real estate and lending markets. Ana’s well-rounded knowledge of the ever-changing real estate market provides her with the insight and vision to make the settlement experience positive and painless in both English or Spanish! She puts her clients at ease and her goal is to build long-lasting relationships within the community she serves. Ana’s Spanish speaking clients can count on her to spend all the time they require being their resource from contract to closing and beyond. She and another bi-lingual member of Lakeside’s processing team work together to give clients the opportunity to communicate throughout the entire transaction in writing, by phone, or in person in Spanish. She considers it an honor to serve her clients and measures her success by always trying to exceed their expectations.

Ana tiene más de 16 años de experiencia en varios roles dentro de la industria de bienes raíces. Ha prestado servicios a clientes como representante de cuentas de habla hispana para una compañía de títulos, una agencia gubernamental y, más recientemente, en los mercados de bienes raíces y préstamos. ¡El conocimiento completo de Ana sobre el Mercado inmobiliario en constante cambio le brinda la perspectiva y la visión para hacer que la experiencia de liquidación sea positiva y sin dolor, tanto en inglés como en español! Ella tranquiliza a sus clientes y su objetivo es construir conexiones duraderas dentro de la comunidad a la que sirve. Los agentes inmobiliarios y los prestamistas que refieren a clientes de habla hispana pueden contar con Ana para dedicar todo el tiempo necesario a ser un recurso para ellos y sus compradores, vendedores y prestamistas desde el contrato hasta el cierre y más allá de la transacción. Ella y otro membro bilingüe del equipo de procesamiento de Lakeside trabajaran juntas para brindarles a los clientes la oportunidad de comunicarse durante toda la transacción por escrito, por teléfono o en persona en español. Ana considera un honor servir a sus clientes y mide su éxito tratando siempre de superar sus expectativas.

Director of Builder Services & Settlement Officer

Rose Kalinock is a Maryland licensed settlement officer and business producer with over 25 years of experience in the title insurance industry. Her many years of working in the industry have given her and in-depth understanding of the many diverse and critical aspects of the title insurance business. This knowledge has enabled her to guide clients through the detailed and sometimes complex settlement process for both commercial, and residential transactions dealing with land acquisition and development, construction and delivery of the final product.

Rose attended Howard Community College and New Mexico State University. She is a member of the Maryland Building Industry Association and Serves on the Board of Directors for Blossoms of Hope. She is fluent in Spanish, having lived in Spain prior to moving to Columbia, and loves the multicultural community that she was raised in. Her favorite times are those spent with family and friends doing things she loves to do; such as dining, traveling, road biking, paddle boarding, attending sporting events and spending time out-doors.

Director, Commercial Division & Underwriting Counsel

Lisa Eidelberg is a seasoned real estate attorney who has been in the title industry for over 40 years. Lisa began her career as a settlement attorney for one of the largest title companies in the Delmarva area. Several years later Lisa, along with a colleague, opened their own title company which ran successfully for over 13 years before merging with the largest title company on the east coast, where Lisa was employed as in-house counsel.

She is a real estate title junkie and well respected in the title industry for her wealth of knowledge in all aspects of real estate law from ground rents to residential and commercial tranctions to government contracts. Lisa’s strengths are in identifying and resolving any title issue discovered by her or presented to her by colleagues, other attorneys or clients, and she has earned respect in the title industry attributed to both her knowledge of title and her finesse in handling complex title issues seamlessly.

Lisa has been active in the MLTA and has testified before the Maryland General Assembly on behalf of the MLTA and was instrumental in revising the MLTA Producer’s Licensing Test.

Commercial Processor/Settlement Officer

Kelly J. Peterson, Commercial Processor, has worked in the title industry for the last 17 years. She began her career in December of 2000 with Jerry S. Sopher, Esq. She has an array of experience and knowledge in our industry. She spent the first 15 years of her career in residential processing and for the last 2 years she has been working in Commercial. Kelly has expertise in processing purchases, refinances, new construction, foreclosures, REO’s and short sales. Kelly currently resides in Baltimore County and has been married for 19 years. She has two beautiful children and enjoys spending her off time at the Lake in Dover, Pennsylvania.

Underwriting Attorney

John-Paul was born and raised in New York City. He attended the University at Buffalo where he graduated with a B.S. in Philosophy and then the University at Buffalo Law School where he earned his Juris Doctor.

John-Paul has been in the title industry for over ten years. He has experience with both commercial and residential transactions in DC, MD and VA. He also has worked in a Foreclosure law firm where he gained extensive experience with foreclosure procedures and creditor’s rights issues.

In his spare time, John-Paul enjoys watching the Yankees, playing sports and spending time with his family.

John-Paul is licensed to practice in the District of Columbia, Maryland and the District of Maryland Federal Court.

Title Underwriter/Business Development

Cailin Quinn is an experienced and tenured title professional that that has conducted commercial real estate settlements for over 30 years. Before joining Lakeside Title, Cailin worked for prominent national organizations such as First American Title Insurance Company, Commonwealth Title Insurance Company/Landamerica and Lawyers Title Insurance Corporation. At Lakeside Title, Cailin executes business development strategies and handles commercial underwriting and escrow activities throughout Maryland. Cailin graduated from Loyola university and currently resides in Towson. In her spare time Cailin enjoys playing tennis and platform tennis with friends.

Settlement Officer

Settlement Officer

Victoria “Vicki” comes to us with over 22 years of title & escrow experience in the Maryland, DC & Virginia region. She is a licensed title producer, a member of the MLTA and ALTA as well as an affiliate member of PGCAR, AACAR, GCAR, and SMAR. Vicki grew up in Southern Maryland and was raised in the title industry as part of Jarboe Title Inc., which was founded in 1980 by her grandmother, Marie Jarboe. Vicki then served as President/ Manager of a local affiliated title company. She spent these past four years at a title company in Crofton where she not only generated her own book of business, but she oversaw operations and all of the settlement officers and sales staff.

Settlement Officer

Victoria “Vickee” Brawner was key to Lakeside opening our first Virginia office in 2018. With 20 years of experience in the title industry, she has conquered every role within a title company including post closer, settlement processor, settlement officer, marketing director, and manager. Vickee takes great pride in her work in the title industry. She truly cares about the community she does business in and her connections run deep. She volunteers her time in support of the YMCA, the local Sheriff’s Department, and Bright Beginnings which is a charity that supports many needs of underprivileged children. She is an active member of the King George Chamber of Commerce and the Fredericksburg Area Association of Realtors. Vickee’s real pride comes from her faith and her family. She lives in King George with her husband, three beautiful daughters, her 81 years young mother, and her newfound furry family member Roscoe “Maximus” Brawner. He is a full bread beagle and is so cute, cuddly, loving, and is getting spoiled by his new family home.

Settlement Officer

Toné Compito is a licensed title insurance a producer for Maryland and DC whose focus is settlements and business development. Her career in Title Insurance began in 1985 in Lancaster, PA where she learned all aspects of the business from the ground up. She managed a successful Title Agency there until 2002 when she relocated to Maryland and continued utilizing her title industry expertise in management, administrative, client relations and conducting closings.

Compito’s extensive experience, along with her calm and friendly demeanor, gives her an intuitive ability to extend a warmth and personal attention that assures confidence at the settlement table and put clients at ease. She is an approved electronic Notary with the State of Maryland conducting Remote Online Notary (RON) closings. Tech savvy and proficient in cloud-based systems, she navigates the industry’s transition into the digital technology with ease.

Compito is a NYC native who is a multi-instrumentalist musician and private music educator. With her skills in administration, organization, and event production, Compito volunteers her time to various music camps and events around the US. In her spare time, Compito can be found studying and teaching music, spending time with her daughter and grandson, her three cats and tackling home projects.

Settlement Officer

Teresa Boisseau joined the real estate industry in 1992 as a New Home Representative selling new construction homes. She acquired her Title Producer’s license and became a Settlement officer in 1997 and since then has been conducting settlements in Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Anne Arundel, Howard, Carroll, Montgomery, and Frederick Counties. Teresa enjoys working with and being in front of people and has knowledge and experience conducting all types of real estate settlements including residential purchases and refinances, commercial, investor, wholesale, and builder transactions. You can count on Teresa to conduct a professional and efficient closing. She extremely flexible and accommodating and has the reputation of going the extra mile for her co-workers and clients.

Settlement Champion

A Maryland native, seanWRAY graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland. As a settlement officer at Lakeside Title Company, seanWRAY has conducted over 6,500 residential and commercial real estate transactions. With over two decades of experience at Lakeside Title, he consistently exceeds expectations for the client settlement service experience through clear and thoughtful explanations. He supports his industry partners with solutions, as well as, providing chances for education and industry enrichment. As a former Terrapins student-athlete, he coaches local youth sports and is an avid sports fan who sees challenges as opportunities. Creating team goals with positive outcomes comes naturally to him. He resides with his wife and three children.

Settlement Officer

Ryan graduated from the University of Wyoming in 1999 and immediately joined the United States Air Force. While in the Air Force, he personally supported Presidents Clinton, Bush, Obama and Donald Trump, as well as various high-level Department of Defense Officials and Heads of State. He rose through the ranks and was promoted to the top 1% of the United States Air Force as a Chief Master Sergeant. Additionally, Ryan is a Service Medal Veteran having deployed numerous times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and most recently, Operation Inherent Resolve.

Ryan is newly retired after nearly 23 years on Active Duty and joined our team in February of 2022. He looks forward to serving his customers with the same level of excellence, attention to detail, task management and communication he provided to our world leaders.

He enjoys Glamping, the beach and travelling with his Family and is active in his local church. Ryan is married with 3 children and is excited to continue to serve the great people of the United States in this new capacity. For all your military concerns, he is your man.

Settlement Officer

As an experienced, licensed settlement officer, Robin’s ability to prepare and bring all parties to the table for successful settlements has earned her a reputation within the local real estate industry as being one of the best in the business. Robin leverages her background in business management and marketing to establish strategic partnerships and strengthen relationships within the industry and community. She has been able to provide clients with an array of accurate and timely services from start to finish that have resulted in a high level of client satisfaction. Her knowledge, experience, and understanding of the entire settlement process has brought praise from clients that have acknowledged her professionalism and attention to detail. When she is not in the office, Robin likes to spend time with her family and friends, attending concerts and traveling to beautiful beaches. Her friends will tell you she is a creative interior decorator and event planner.

Settlement Officer

Originally from upstate New York, McNaughton received her Bachelor of Science degree from Harpur College of Arts and Sciences at Binghamton State University of New York.

She has been involved with the real estate industry in Howard County for 29 years. She joined Lakeside Title Company in 2005 as a licensed settlement officer. Her experience in both the mortgage banking and title industry enable her to fully understand and appreciate the important details of each real estate settlement and refinance transaction. She is a member of the Women’s Council of Realtors in Howard County. Rebecca recently moved to Edgewater, Maryland with her husband Pat and her Labrador retriever, Emma. She takes pride in her work and credits the entire Lakeside team for her success. Her joy is spending time with her daughter Megan.

Settlement Officer

Nicole has been a Maryland Title Insurance Producer since 2003 and is currently licensed in DC, MD, PA and VA. In her seven years with Lakeside Title Company, Nicole has advanced from her role as a Settlement Assistant to a full-time Settlement Officer, using her exemplary communication skills to service and build client relationships throughout Maryland and Southern Pennsylvania.

She is a graduate of McDaniel College and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in History with a minor in Secondary Education as well as a 2 year Paralegal Degree from Stevenson University. She is a member of RAYAC and enjoys getting together with the community for various events and strives to make a positive impact in her hometown of Hanover, PA.

Settlement Officer

Megan graduated from Towson University with a degree in Mass Communications and spent a few years in project management before moving to Southern Maryland in 2002. Here, she began selling real estate, but decided she preferred being at the closing table as a Settlement Officer instead. Having spent that time as an agent, Megan understands the challenges of that aspect of the industry as well, and works hard to ensure timely closings for her clients. Megan travels between the Southern Maryland offices for closings and lives locally with her husband and two children.

Settlement Officer

Maria has been a licensed settlement officer in Maryland for over 20 years. She is currently licensed in Maryland, Virginia , Washington DC and Florida. Although she is licensed in Florida, her main focus is the Maryland, Virginia and DC areas. Maria is also a certified Remote Online Notary (RON) and can conduct certain real estate closings online through the use of two secure remote online notary companies, Notarize and ENotary Log.

In 2018, Maria and her husband moved to Fernandina Beach, Florida. Maria travels back to Maryland monthly to conduct closings and meet with her clients. Although she is not physically in Maryland at all times, technology has allowed her to stay in constant contact with her clients. Maria has recently teamed up with Settlement Officer Emily Roof. Together, they are able to offer their clients a high-end level of service.

Maria is a member of the Southern Maryland Association of Realtors and is a past president of the University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center Foundation. She spent many years as an active member of the community. Maria enjoys CrossFit, playing golf and spending time with her husband Mark and their 3 adult daughters. In November 2021, she welcomed her first Granddaughter Naveya and absolutely loves being a Lola!

Settlement Officer

As a licensed real estate settlement officer with over 44 years of experience in closing real estate transactions, Lori is committed to excellent service, honesty and friendliness. Lori educates homebuyers/borrowers at the settlement table, making them feel comfortable and pleased with the last phase of their real estate transaction. In her personal life, family is her treasure, which includes her two children and two grandboys. She feels that every day is a gift and that you should always treat others with kindness, care and compassion.

Settlement Officer

Hansen joined the team at Lakeside Title shortly after graduating from the University of Maryland College Park in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in Economics. He has built a solid foundation of knowledge of the title process from start to finish through his experience in many different roles at Lakeside. He has been with Lakeside his entire career and continues to move up. He currently resides in Elkridge, Maryland with his wife and two sons.

Settlement Officer

Emily has lived in Charles County her entire life, she graduated from Lackey High School and earned her Associates Degree with The College of Southern Maryland.

Emily entered the workforce at a young age and has held many positions that have allowed her to perfect her customer service skills and strong work ethic. Emily is dependable, self-motivated and responsive. Prior to joining Lakeside Title, Emily worked for a local lender. She joined Lakeside Title as an assistant processor and through learning, training and motivation, she received her Maryland Title Insurance Producer license and holds appointments with First American Title Insurance Company, Old Republic Title Insurance Company and Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company.

Emily’s main focus will be on our Southern Maryland Division, however, she can conduct business anywhere in Maryland, parts of Virginia and DC.

Settlement Officer

Doris Hall-Scheeler’s career in real estate began when she joined The Fountainhead Title Group in 1982. She rapidly increased the market share for Fountainhead and was appointed as Vice President in 1987. During her tenure with Fountainhead, Scheeler was appointed Sr. Vice President and tasked with the responsibility of Regional Manager in the Baltimore Metropolitan area. With more than 32 years of experience in the real title industry, Scheeler is proficient in title examination and underwriting, management, marketing and sales, and is a Maryland licensed title producer. She has been the recipient of the GBBR Affiliate of the Year Award and the GBBR Community Service Award in 2013. Scheeler currently resides in Baltimore County, Maryland with her husband with whom she shares three children.

Settlement Officer

A Carroll County native, Ms. Armacost has been a staple in the title insurance industry for 35 years. She has performed virtually every role in the title industry including marketing representative, settlement officer, title reviewer, administrator, branch and sales manager, and regional vice-president of a national title insurance provider. Diana has served on countless boards and committees devoted to serving the local community and the local board of realtors. Prior to her commencement in title-work, Diana attended Western Maryland College and spent three years as a real estate appraiser with a Baltimore-based firm. She resides in Carroll County with her husband and two children.

Settlement Officer

As a licensed settlement officer for more than 30 years, Craig brings a wide range of expertise and attention to detail to each of her settlements at Lakeside Title. Over the years, Craig has held management positions within abstract and titles companies that provided her with a broad and comprehensive understanding of client needs. Craig lives in Southern Maryland with her husband, a builder who specializes in residential property development, and together they share four sons and 13 grandchildren.

Settlement Officer

Cindy began her career in real estate in 1984, serving as Marketing Director of a Baltimore based real estate firm from 1984 to 1991. Subsequently, she served as Vice President of Marketing for one of Maryland’s largest credit unions. In 2003 she returned to real estate with Yerman, Witman Gaines & Conklin, which later became The Strata Group and held the position of Director of Business Development & Events. In 2012, Cindy transitioned from real estate to the title industry, assisting in the opening of Homesale Settlement Services. As a licensed Settlement Officer/Title Producer she is dedicated to providing real estate agents, lenders and consumers the highest level of service and customer care required in such an important transaction. Cindy has been a licensed title producer since 2011. She is a member of the National Association of Realtors and the Greater Baltimore Board of Realtors where she serves on the Special Events Committee. She serves as President of the Gavin Reece Jacobs Fund, Ltd. a registered non-profit (501c3) organization created in 2009. “Gavin’s Fund” donates to the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center to assist children and their families being treated for cancer. Cindy is married and lives in Timonium, Maryland.

Settlement Officer

After graduating from Villa Julie College in 1995 with a bachelor’s in Paralegal Studies, Christine worked at Susquehanna Bank for 10 years in the Commercial Real Estate Department where she developed her knowledge of both residential and commercial real estate transactions. Christine is a licensed settlement officer currently handling residential purchases for two of Lakeside’s commercial clients. In addition, Christine focuses on her paralegal expertise handling short sale negotiations for Lakeside Law Firm, LLC, the law firm created to support the clients of Lakeside Title. Christine currently lives in Carroll County and enjoys yoga, running, hiking and spending time with her family and friends.

Settlement Officer

Beth Malakoff is a licensed settlement officer. She originally came into the title industry as a tech support person 18 years ago. She has worked in pre and post closing and has a comprehensive knowledge of the process. Beth is committed to providing homebuyers with a warm, friendly experience where they receive answers to their questions and feel comfortable in the knowledge that they understand their transaction.

Beth is a lifelong Maryland resident. She graduated from Bowie High School and has a BA in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland at College Park.

She loves to read and enjoys all types of music. She lives in Gaithersburg with her husband, 3 children and her dog. She enjoys riding her bike and likes to go to the gym on weekends.

Settlement Officer

Ashley was born in Washington DC and currently lives in Waldorf, MD. Having grown up surrounded by a family of real estate entrepreneurs, she always gravitated to all aspects surrounding the industry of Real Estate. In 2020, Ashley decided to take her passion for real estate and join the Lakeside Title team as a Settlement Officer. Licensed in MD, VA, and DC, she has specialized her client-based business to focus on Residential, Commercial, and Investor transactions. Ashley’s greatest attributes are her inter-personal skills, persistence, attention to detail, and her ability to overcome unforeseen challenges, often faced in the fast-paced world of Real Estate!

Settlement Officer

A native of Carroll County, Aimee is a licensed settlement officer with 30 years of title industry experience in both Maryland and Pennsylvania. She is a summa cum laude graduate of the University of Maryland Baltimore County with a degree in English and a minor in history. As manager of Lakeside’s Carroll County branch, Aimee is well versed in every aspect of the settlement profession, including marketing, processing and closing both residential and commercial transactions. Additionally, she maintains an active role in the Carroll County Association of Realtors, Inc. and in the community. Aimee resides in Carroll County with her husband and enjoys the outdoors and spending time with her family.

Settlement Attorney

Gregory C. Reynolds received an Honorable Discharge from the United States Army in 1989, after serving four years as a paratrooper and Spanish linguist in the 313th Military Intelligence Battalion in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland in 1991 (with honors – Magna cum Laude). From there he attended the University of Baltimore School of Law where he served as an editor of the prestigious Law Review and was awarded a Juris Doctorate Degree in 1997 (with honors – Magna cum Laude).

Greg has worked as a title and settlement attorney for over 20 years and has personally conducted or overseen over 10,000 real estate transactions throughout his lengthy career. He still enjoys “hitting the road,” conducting closings and ensuring that his clients enjoy his personal touch, which has earned him business in a myriad of counties in Maryland throughout the years.

Greg spent the majority of his childhood and adult life as a resident of Severna Park, Maryland, but now calls Elkridge home. He is an avid golfer and waterman and loves spending time in the great outdoors when he has a chance to unwind.

Settlement & Underwriting Attorney

A native of Carroll County, Maryland, Chris earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Western Maryland College (now McDaniel) in 1988. Immediately after, she went to the University Of Baltimore School Of Law and was admitted to the Maryland Bar in December of 1991. In 1992, Sadler began working for Hickory Ridge Title in Columbia and became a part owner within a few years. During that time, Chris handled all aspects of running the business as well as the settlements from start to finish. She joined Lakeside Title in May of 2014 as a review attorney for the Carroll County branch. She also supports Lakeside as corporate counsel handling many ancillary real estate related legal matters through Lakeside Law Firm, LLC. Outside of work, Chris enjoys running and raising and competing Labrador Retrievers.

Director of Training and Education

Beau R. Pichon, Esq. is a partner with Lakeside Law Firm and a managing attorney with Lakeside Title Company. He concentrates his practice in the areas of real estate law, contracts, estate planning, and business formation. In addition to conducting residential and commercial real estate settlements, Beau drafts and reviews contracts and other real estate related documents and assists clients with complex real estate matters such as tax-deferred exchanges and mortgage debt forgiveness (“short sales”). Beau has also previously practiced law in the areas of bankruptcy, welfare and pension plan representation, and civil litigation. Beau regularly writes and lectures on real estate related topics for many local organizations, including the Maryland Land Title Association (MLTA), the Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors® (GCAAR), the Frederick County Association of Realtors® (FCAR), and the Howard County Association of Realtors® (HCAR).

Beau earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Louisiana State University in 1999 and his Juris Doctorate degree in 2002 from the Washington College of Law at American University. He is admitted to practice law before all District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia state courts, as well as the United States District Courts and the United States Bankruptcy Courts for the District of Maryland and the Southern District of West Virginia. He is a member of the DC, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia Bar Associations, as well as the Bar Associations of Frederick County and Howard County. Beau lives in Ellicott City with his wife, daughter, dogs, and new baby boy!

Attorney

Roger Pedersen has been practicing law since 1975. He was a 1963 graduate of Clarkson College of Technology where he earned a Master of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He worked as an engineer for ten years. After graduating from the University of Maryland Law School, he began his law practice in the Laurel office of Stanley Katz. In 1977, he became a partner in the firm of Goldman, Kovelant and Pedersen, concentrating on real estate matters. With the partners of that firm, he formed Old Line Title Company in 1980. In 1984, he left the firm to start Marathon Title Company, Inc., and maintained offices in Laurel and Columbia. In 2005, Marathon Title merged with Columbia based Lakeside Title Company, where Mr. Pedersen concentrates on commercial matters and provides counsel to the company’s settlement staff. In addition to his activities with Lakeside Title, Mr. Pedersen has an active law practice specializing in transactional real estate related matters. He has developed a specialty in structuring property exchanges under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Service Code, and his solely owned company, 1031 Exchange Resource, LLC serves as a Qualified Intermediary. He circulates a newsletter to the real estate community. He has personally conducted more than ten thousand residential and commercial settlements. Mr. Pedersen is a frequent speaker at seminars and meetings for local real estate boards, brokers, and the Maryland Land Title Association. He spends a good deal of time educating real estate agents and mortgage bankers about new laws, their impact on realtor conduct, the contract of sale, and the settlement process. He is a member of the Maryland State and Prince Georges County Bar Associations, and the Maryland Land Title Association. He has served on the Board of Directors of the ARC of Howard County, and on the Advisory Board of Howard Community College’s annual Columbia Classic. He has been a Howard County resident for thirty years.

Settlement Attorney

Marc T. Malakoff was born in Washington DC and grew up in Maryland. He attended Winston Churchill High School. He received his BA from the University of Maryland in 1983 in Criminal Justice. He is a 1986 graduate of the American University Washington College of Law. He opened his real estate practice in 1987 and incorporated the practice under the name Lakeforest Title in 2002. On October 1, 2016 he merged his practice with Lakeside Title Company.

Marc is a well respected Title Attorney with a wealth of experience. He has closed over 25,000 residential and commercial transactions over a period of 29 years. Marc is admitted to practice before the Court of Appeals of Maryland, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, and the Supreme Court of the United States of America. Marc is admitted to the Bar Associations of Maryland and Distinct of Columbia. He has been invited to lecture on numerous occasions in Washington DC and Maryland on behalf of HUD on such matters as settlement procedures and RESPA. Mr. Malakoff has been involved in REO Transactions with many different lenders.

Marc loves sports and is a devout Ravens fan. He’s an avid bodybuilder and has been lifting weights since he was 13. In college he was 5 pounds behind the world record for the bench press in his weight class. On weekends when he is not doing settlements you can find Marc playing competitive basketball in a adult league or out riding his bike on long distance road trips. He is married, has 3 children and a dog, and lives in Gaithersburg Maryland.

Underwriting Attorney

Jaclyn (“Jackie”) Kurz earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina in 1999, and her Juris Doctorate from The Dickinson School of Law in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in 2002. Jackie is admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., and is also a Licensed Title Insurance Producer in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia. She is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Washington, D.C. Bar Association, and the Maryland Land Title Association Education Committee.

Prior to joining Lakeside Title Company as an Exam Attorney in 2018, Jackie was a general practice attorney in Carlisle, PA specializing in real estate law, before moving to the Washington, D.C. area to become a real estate settlement attorney. Jackie lives in Clarksville, Maryland with her husband and daughter, and enjoys traveling with her family.

Corporate Counsel

Kathleen “KC” Gibison received her Bachelor of Science in Finance before earning her Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Maryland School of Law. Prior to being admitted to the Maryland Bar in 2001, she advanced her tax law education at the University of Miami School of Law. KC began her career under the tutelage of Jerry S. Sopher, Esq. at Continental Title where she continued to work until joining Lakeside Title Company in October 2016. KC is a transactional attorney who serves her clients in their real estate transactions ranging from the expected to the most complex. She handles both residential and commercial settlements in addition to 1031 tax deferred exchanges and business law matters. KC enjoys her volunteer work as a sustainer member of Junior League of Baltimore and serving on the board of Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart in Towson. KC resides in Lutherville with her family and always looks forward to summers at her Lewes, Delaware home with daughter Coco Flynn.

Underwriting Attorney

Susan Coakley received her A.A. from Villa Julie College (now Stevenson University) and her B.S. from University of Baltimore before earning her law degree from University of Baltimore School of Law and being admitted to the Maryland Bar in June, 2000. Susan has experience in foreclosures, bankruptcy, eviction, loss mitigation, settlements and underwriting. She joined Lakeside Title in July of 2021 as an Underwriting Attorney in the Annapolis office. She also supports Lakeside Title by handling a variety of legal matters as counsel with Lakeside Law Firm, LLC.

Director of Corporate Properties & Business Development

Steve is a lifetime resident of Maryland, and after graduating from the University of Maryland with a Business and Marketing degree, he began a career in Real Estate. Steve is a successful real estate veteran with over 25 years in Residential and Commercial sales, homebuilding, investing, and flipping homes and businesses. In 2019, Steve joined Lakeside in the diverse Business Development role, to help lend the “realtor’s perspective,” expand Lakeside Title’s footprint, sharpen brand marketing, focus on sales hiring and sales management, and overall growth promotion. Steve is a diehard sports fan (Ravens, O’s and Caps!), and a lifelong music lover having seen hundreds of concerts!

Director of Operations

Marylyn Strickland is the Director of Operations and Resware Administrator. Her career in the title industry started under the tutelage of Roger Pedersen at Marathon Title Company in 1998 opening settlement files. Quickly learning the particulars and nuances of title, she accepted the role of Settlement Processor. Lakeside Title Company then became her home during the Marathon/Lakeside merger in 2005, where she eventually joined the Management Team. While leading Lakeside’s Operations Team, Marylyn’s goal is to ensure our processes, procedures, and standards are not only aligned with the industry’s best practices, but that they also promote great customer service so that our clients have a great buying and/or selling experience.

Marylyn sits on the ALTA Accounting Committee and holds a title insurance license in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia. As a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Marylyn is dedicated to public service and community involvement. She has two children and a grandson.

Director of Residential Title Underwriting

Ibironke “Ronke” Sobande, Esquire has a varied background and experiences of over 19 years in the foreclosure and real estate industry that is of great value in her service to the company’s clients. She was licensed as an attorney in Nigeria in 1991, in the State of New York in 2002 and in Maryland in 2005. She has vast experience as a trustee in foreclosure cases, handled mediation, eviction, deed in lieu and loss mitigation. As the Director of Residential Title Underwriting, Ronke handles and manages title reviews, title curatives, REO transactions, residential settlements and provides title trainings. Ronke received her degree from Ogun State University, now known as Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, Nigeria (LL.B Hons. 1990), her Juris Doctorate from The Nigerian Law School (B.L Hons. 1991) and her masters from Queen Mary & Westfield College, London, United Kingdom (LL.M Hons. 1998). Ronke lives in Montgomery County with her family and works from the Rockville and Gaithersburg office locations.

Vice President, Chief Operating Officer

Raina M. Rath received her B.A .from the University of Maryland, College Park and her J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law and was admitted to the Maryland Bar in 1999. Prior to joining Lakeside Title Company she co-owned and operated Chesapeake Home Title, Inc.. She also practiced family law alongside her mother at a small law firm in Calvert County. Raina heads up the newest expansion office of Lakeside Title Company in Annapolis which serves Anne Arundel County, the Eastern Shore and Southern Maryland. Raina lives in Ellicott City and serves on her community HOA and architectural review board to protect and maintain the historic district of Oella.

President/Chief Executive Officer

Yvonne Deardorff is an attorney, Lakeside Title’s sole owner, and CEO. She graduated from Villa Julie College with an AA degree in Paralegal Studies before obtaining a BA in Jurisprudence from the University of Baltimore and then her law degree from University of Maryland School of Law in 1995. After spending several years in a law practice focused on real estate matters, she opened Avalon Title Corporation in 1998. She joined Lakeside in 2006 and established the second branch office of the company in Carroll County which she managed until 2009 when she was promoted to Director of Sales & Marketing in support of all of Lakeside’s business development. In 2011 she was promoted to Chief Operating Officer and in that role grew Lakeside’s footprint to 16 locations and over 90 employees until becoming the sole owner of Lakeside in March 2019.

As CEO/President, Yvonne is actively involved in the management and growth of the company. She now supports a team of over 80 title professionals that handle over 4,000 real estate transactions each year. She is quick to point out that her Lakeside team compensates for her weaknesses and compliments her strengths. She is grateful and proud to lead them and attributes Lakeside’s growth and success to the team that surrounds her. Owning Lakeside is a dream come true for her and she is extremely proud of the company she continues to build. She is grateful for the many long-term relationships she has with individual Lakeside team members and clients. Yvonne’s mantra is to always work hard and be nice to people.

Yvonne is a Carroll County native that now loves living on the Magothy River in Pasadena and relaxing at her home away from home on the bay in Ocean City, Maryland. She enjoys spending time on the water with her husband, Scott, and their three Labrador retrievers (one of each color), fishing, stand-up paddleboarding, and boating.

Corporate Office Greeter

Flounder has been Yvonne’s right-hand man Since July 2016. He’s worked his way up from office trash can inspector to Corporate Office Greeter. He works part-time due to his love of daytime naps, swimming and fishing on the Magothy River, and playtime with his brothers Parker & Brigs. Stop by for a visit, follow him on Instagram @flounderthelab or catch him sleeping in the background on your next zoom call with Yvonne. Treats are welcome and you should expect to leave with a few strands of Labrador dog hair sparkle.