2008 Board of Directors Biographies

Rande Johnsen
Rande Johnsen is the President, Director and Co-founder of Trustee Corps a division of MTC Financial Inc., based in Irvine, California. He represents many of the top mortgage company, credit unions, law firms and investors throughout the United States.

After graduating from college, Rande entered into the real estate field achieving nationwide recognition as one of the top 20 sales broker for Century 21. In addition to his real estate career, he has been an REO Manager, partner of a Southern California escrow company, title company consultant, along with managing several real estate and mortgage companies.

After entering into the default and foreclosure industry in 1985, he established an independent trustee company and became the in-house trustee for a major title insurance company. As an independent trustee, his company pioneered many of the timesaving and default methods still used today in many operations.

Since 1996, he has been part of the Freddie Mac Designated Counsel Program in the state of California. In the year 2000, along with his partner law firm, was appointed to represent Freddie Mac in the state of Nevada. Also, in the past, he has been called upon to serve as the foreclosure trustee to the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Presently, he manages his company’s overall operations which include services in California, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Utah Alaska, Hawaii and Texas.

As a lecturer and seminar provider, he conducts seminars to the largest banks and mortgage companies throughout the United States. On many occasions he has been called upon as an expert witness in the fields of foreclosure, default, loss mitigation, Real Estate Owned (REO) and collections.

In addition, he operates Credit Loan Servicing, a niche loan servicing company, providing loan collection services to the mortgage and investor based industry.

 

Phillip M. Adleson, Esq.
Mr. Adleson has been a real estate attorney since 1976. He is the senior shareholder in the law firm of Adleson, Hess & Kelly, P.C. Mr. Adleson is a past President and Legislative Chairman for the California Trustees Association (now "UTA") and currently serves as corporate counsel and as a state director of UTA. Mr. Adleson has represented numerous lenders, trustees, purchasers, title companies and others in trials, arbitrations, DRE licensee administrative hearings, appeals, amicus curiae briefs, class actions, unfair business practices action and in many other areas involving real estate, lending and foreclosure. Mr. Adleson is a past instructor of real estate and foreclosure classes at DeAnza Community College and San Jose State University and has taught numerous DRE and CLE approved continuing education classes throughout the world. He has also presented legal update programs for UTA, California Mortgage Association ("CMA"), the National Business Institute, local CTA chapters and bar associations and has been a speaker for CMBA, REOMAC, as well as for numerous other groups. Mr. Adleson is a former attorney for the California Court of Appeal and has testified before the judiciary committees of both the California Assembly and California Senate, in addition to drafting proposed legislation that has ultimately become law in California. Mr. Adleson has frequently been called upon to testify as an expert witness throughout California.

 

Michael Belote
Michael Belote has over twenty-five years experience in representing a variety of clients before the Legislature and state regulators. Before joining California Advocates, Mike worked as a legislative advocate for the California Society of Certified Public Accountants followed by the California Association of Realtors. He has also served as Vice President and Legislative Counsel for the California Land Title Association. In the latter capacities, he gained valuable knowledge in land use and development issues.

Mike's activities in the legislative process have spanned a broad array of issues, including financial services, real estate, health care, the judiciary, and local government. He has been involved in such diverse endeavors as creating new occupational licensing laws, fostering economic development, shaping state tax policy and influencing the budget process.

Mike is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and the McGeorge School of Law. He is admitted to practice before the state and federal courts in California.

 

Richard Meyers
Richard Meyers is the Executive Director of the United Trustees Association. He is the founder of Association Growth Management (AGM), an Association Management firm. He has fifteen years of association management experience. Prior to forming AGM, he was the Executive Director of the Alliance Business Centers Network (ABCN), a network of executive suite companies, with over 500 member locations in 32 countries. He has also served as the Director of Government Relations & Communications for the National Nutritional Foods Association, a 401c3 association comprised of 8000 dietary supplement and health food manufacturers, distributors and retailers. Richard also worked for two years with IHOP Corp, serving as a liaison between the franchisees and the franchisor company. Prior to that, his experiences on Capitol Hill included work as a Legislative Director to a Member of Congress and as a lobbyist for a lobbying firm specializing in health care appropriations for non-profit associations, including the Association of Minority Health Professions Schools. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

 

Felita Kealing
Felita Kealing is employed by Lender Processing Services Agency Sales & Posting. LPS-ASAP provides comprehensive posting, serving, publishing, and auctioneer services throughout the nation. Her principle responsibilities are Marketing and Sales; working with trustee and attorney clients; to make certain their service needs are being met. During her tenure with the company she participated in the developmental stages of ASAP’s Web-Based Services, ASAPWise. She has been with LPS Agency Sales & Posting for eight years.

Felita began her career in the Posting and Publishing Industry in 1981. She’s worked at various capacities including dealing newspaper publication companies, posting properties, conducting trustee sales, operations, business development, training, and client relations; she has the knowledge and experience that makes her an expert in this field.

She has been a member of the United Trustee’s Association (UTA) and California Trustee’s Association (CTA) since 1988. She served two consecutive three year terms as a Board of Director with the Orange County Chapter CTA and a two year term with Los Angeles Chapter CTA. She has worked on various committees within the association and has been a speaker and presenter at several UTA Workshops and Seminars. Felita is the 2008 UTA Dorothy Schick Recipient.

She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Speech Communications at California State University, Los Angeles.

 

Ron Roup
Ron Roup has been a member of the California State Bar since 1980 and is the principal of Roup & Associates located in Lake Forest, California. For over twenty years, his practice has emphasized a full spectrum of legal services for loss mitigation and asset management for secured creditors and title companies, including judicial and non-judicial foreclosure services, and legal representation for loan default work-outs, bankruptcy, eviction, title matters, and lender defense.

Mr. Roup has been involved in two published bankruptcy decisions affecting secured creditors rights, In re Ellis, 60 B.R.432 (9th Cir B.A.P. 1985) and In re Teresi, 134 B.R. 392 (E.D. Cal. 1991), and the published foreclosure decision affecting title after a foreclosure sale was deemed void, Dimock v. Emerald Properties LLC, et al, 81 Cal. App. 4th 868 (2000). Mr. Roup was previously the President of the Orange County Chapter of the California Trustees Association and he is currently on the Board of Directors and Vice President of the United Trustees= Association and the 2005 Chairperson of the Legislative Committee. He is also a member of the Orange County Bar Association Real Property section as well as the Orange County Bankruptcy Forum.

Ron has been a speaker for the California Trustee Association annual conference, the Arizona Trustee Association annual conference, and a frequent speaker for the National Business Institute seminars on California Foreclosure and Related Bankruptcy and Title Issues.



Margaret A. Padilla
Margaret A. Padilla is the President of Cal-Western Reconveyance Corporation and is responsible for overseeing all aspects of Cal-Western's operations.  She has been employed with Cal-Western since 1984.

Her professional activities include the following:  United Trustees Association (UTA) Political Action Committee Chairperson (2001-Present); CTA State President (1998-2001); State Seminar/Education Chairperson (1995-1998); Legislative Chairperson, San Diego Chapter – (1993-1998, 2004); President, San Diego Chapter (1993-1996); Member, Arizona Trustee's Association; Member, Mortgage Banker's Association of America; Member, California Mortgage Banker's Association.

Ms. Padilla received a Bachelor of Arts degree from San Diego State University in 1986.

 

Vickie Adams
Vickie Adams is currently an independent consultant in the Real Estate Default Servicing, Title, Trustee, Legal and Mortgage Servicing industry.

Vickie recently held the position of Assistant Vice President of Lender Services and Manager of the TSG/Litigation Division with Orange Coast Title Company. Vickie has been in the Title, Lending, Banking, Mortgage Servicing, Real Estate and Trustee Industry since 1975.

Vickie was one of the founders of the Orange County Chapter of the California Trustee's Association and has served as the Chapter's President as well as State Board Director for many years.

 

Martin McGuinn
Martin McGuinn is a real estate and creditors’ rights litigator who focuses his practice in the representation of lenders, loan servicers, receivers and trustees in complex bankruptcy, foreclosure and lender liability litigation, including class action suits.

Mr. McGuinn received a Juris Doctor degree from California Western School of Law in 1978, where he was elected to membership in Phi Delta Phi. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northwestern University in 1975. He has written several amicus briefs on behalf of trade associations involving foreclosure and lenders rights.

Mr. McGuinn is admitted to practice before the courts of California; the U.S. District Court for the Southern, Central, Eastern and Northern Districts of California; the U.S. District Court of Arizona; and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He is a member of the San Diego County Bar Association; State Bar of California Real Property Section; United Trustees Association fka California Trustees Association; Mortgage Bankers Association of America; American Bankruptcy Institute; California Mortgage Association; REO Managers Association; and the California Mortgage Bankers Association.

His professional activities include: Member, Bankruptcy Law Section, San Diego County Bar Association; Member, Board of Directors, 1989-2005, Amicus Brief Chair 1998 to present and State Legislative Chairman, 1989-1992, President, San Diego Chapter 2003-4, Chairperson Legal Resources Committee, United Trustees Association fka the California Trustees Association; Member, Legal Issues Committee, Mortgage Bankers Association; Member, Legal Resource Panel, California Mortgage Association; and Member, Loan Servicing Committee, California Mortgage Bankers Association.

Mr. McGuinn has authored many legal articles for real estate-related publications and is a frequent speaker throughout the United States on matters relating to creditors’ rights, including the February 2003 and 2005 Mortgage Bankers Association Loan Servicing Conference speaking on Avoiding Risk and Responding to a Crisis in the Servicing of Defaulted Real Estate Loans and New Product Lines: Reverse Mortgages and Interest Only Loans. Mr. McGuinn co-authored for National Business Institute California Foreclosure and Repossession in 1995 and 1999. He authored the amicus brief filed on behalf of UTA and other trade organizations in Nguyen v Calhoun (2003) 105 Cal. App. 4th 706 and Bank of America vs. La Jolla Group (2005) 129 Cal. App. 4th 706.

Most recently, Mr. McGuinn has authored the following articles for the United Trustees Quarterly: Anolik vs. EMC Mortgage, Court Clarifies Language which Describes Breaches in the Notice of Default (2005); Using RESPA to Attack the Validity of Foreclosure Sales, the Saga of Wanger vs. EMC Mortgage (2003); “Avoiding Sanctions for Violation of the Automatic Stay While Defending or Prosecuting State Court Litigation” (2001); “Six Angels v. Stuart-Wright Mortgage, Inc. The End of Relief in Mistaken Bid Cases? (2001); “Holding the Lines of Defense in Foreclosure Litigation” (1998).”

 

Julie Randall
Julie Randall has been with Union Bank, N.A. for twenty-six years.  She is Vice President, Servicing Manager for the Foreclosure Department, the REO Department and the Reconveyance Department.  She has held leadership positions with UTA's predecessor the California Trustee's Association and with the Real Estate Owned Managers Association (REOMAC)

 

Chris Rebhuhn
Chris Rebhuhn is the President of Regional Trustee Services Corporation and has worked in and supervised every aspect of its development for the past 18 years. Chris is a graduate of the University of Washington's MBA Management Program. He regularly travels and participates in seminars to help educate his customers in various parts of the country.

Chris was recently appointed Chief Financial Officer for the United Trustees Association and holds memberships with the American Legal and Financial Network, Mortgage Bankers Association and Arizona Trustees Association and is a strong supporter of multiple members of the National Association of Professional Mortgage Women.

 

Jeremy Harmon
Jeremy Harmon is Vice President of Sales & Marketing for First American National Default Title Services. Jeremy has been employed at First American Title since 1994 and has worked several different departments of the Title industry. He has started the customer service department, been a title examiner and title officer and has been a Senior Sales Executive for the last 8 years. Jeremy sells and markets to Trustees, Attorneys, Loan Servicers and Loan Originators. His specialty is the default servicing network, selling a complete line of default title services for loss mitigation, foreclosure and REO.

Jeremy is currently the President of the SCMBA, Board member of the UTA and attends the various conferences for the CMBA, MBA, USFN, AFN, CAI and REOMAC. Jeremy has completed and been certified in the basic certification course. Jeremy received his Bachelor of Science at Ball State University in 1994 and enjoys his family and the sunny Southern California lifestyle.

 

Gary Wisham
Gary Wisham is the President of Allied Trustee Services, a company that specializes in the collection of delinquent homeowner’s association assessments. Prior to his involvement with Allied, Gary was the Onsite Regional Manager for First American National Default Title Services based out of Orange County, California. Gary has been with First American in the default division for over five years. Before taking a position with First American, he has worked with other trustee services including Northwest Trustee Services and Cal-Western Reconveyance Corporation

In addition, Gary is currently the Education/Conference Chair for the United Trustee’s Association and is also a director on the State Board. His positions with UTA have not only included the past five years as Education/Conference chair, but he has also served as PAC Chair, Secretary and acted as President of the San Diego Chapter of the organization. Gary has also completed and been certified in the Basic Certification Course.

 

Marsha Townsend
Marsha Townsend is Vice President of ForeclosureLink, Inc. and it's subsidiary Sunrise Assessment Services located in Fair Oaks, CA. ForeclosureLink specializes in national default servicing, pertaining to foreclosure, bankruptcy, loss mitigation, including mixed-collateral, agricultural and residential properties. Sunrise handles homeowner assessment collections in California. Marsha has been an active member of the United Trustees Association formerly California Trustees Association and served as the Chief Financial Officer for the Capital Region Chapter from 1986 - 2004.

 

Deborah Brignac
Deborah Brignac is currently Vice President and Site Manager of California Reconveyance Company, where she is responsible for overseeing the operation. She joined California Reconveyance Company, in-house trustee for Washington Mutual Bank, in October of 1992. California Reconveyance Company conducts foreclosures in Arizona, California and Nevada, whose primary clients are Washington Mutual Bank, (WaMu) and Long Beach Mortgage. California Reconveyance Company also services foreclosures on behalf of numerous lenders when WaMu or Long Beach Mortgage service transfers a loan. Deborah has been a member of the United Trustees Association, formerly California Trustees Association, since 1985. Deborah has completed and been certified in the basic CA and AZ certification courses.

 

Jane Myrick
Jane has over twenty years' experience in the trustee sale industry. She started in the industry as a certified legal assistant with a valley law firm that specialized in foreclosure, eviction and bankruptcy. She joined Security Title Agency in 1988 and has enjoyed management of its Default Services Division since 1990. Jane is an active member of the ATA, UTA, ALMA and NAPMW, and currently serves on the legislative committees for ATA and UTA. She has always recognized the importance of a professional trustee organization. Jane keeps industry participants apprised of important revisions in Arizona law through bulletins and newsletters with a nationwide distribution. She also offers seminars on trustee sales. Jane is a contributing author and editor of the United Trustee Association's Arizona Trustee Sale Certification course.

 

Jim DeLoach
Jim DeLoach is the Executive Vice President / Managing Attorney, Legal, for Butler & Hosch, P.A.  Butler & Hosch is a preeminent provider of legal services to the mortgage banking industry and provides default services to its clients in 8 states.  Jim is licensed to practice law in Texas and in Mississippi.  His experience includes over 25 years in mortgage banking, including managing the default division of a major mortgage banking operation and managing the default operation of a major law firm.  He is a member of the American Bar Association, Texas Bar Association, and the Mississippi Bar Association.

 

Michael R. Brooks, Esq.
Michael R. Brooks is a Partner with the law firm Brooks Bauer, based in Las Vegas. He is a graduate of California State University, Long Beach, cum laude, and the University of Southern California Law Center.  He was a judicial extern to the Honorable John E. Ryan, United States Bankruptcy Judge in the Central District of California.  He is licensed by the states of California (1993) and Nevada (2000). 

Mr. Brooks has practiced in the mortgage servicing industry continuously since being admitted to practice in 1993.  His experience includes: mortgage banking industry litigation, including, foreclosure litigation, breach of correspondent lending agreements, enforcement of servicing agreements, and consumer class action defense. In addition, Brooks & Associates also provides assistance with bankruptcy relief from stay and eviction matters.

Mr. Brooks has been a guest speaker for the Orange County Bankruptcy Forum, California Mortgage Bankers Association, and various private organizations on issues involving foreclosure litigation and mitigating risks in foreclosure.  In addition, Mr. Brooks has written articles for the CTA and other trade journals affecting the foreclosure industry.


Elizabeth Knight
Elizabeth M. Knight is President of PLM Lender Services, Inc., an independent trustee service which specializes in foreclosures, private investor loan servicing, loan documentation, bulk assignments, reconveyances and REO disposal.  Elizabeth has been in the foreclosure and loan servicing field since 1981.  She has been in the real estate field (with emphasis on escrow prior to 1981) since 1977.  She currently holds the position of Director on the board of the California Mortgage Association as well as Director on the board the United Trustees Association.  Elizabeth is a graduate of St. Mary's College with her Bachelor's degree in Business Management.  She is a court qualified expert in the field of foreclosure and is a licensed California Real Estate Broker.  She is a frequent giver of seminars in foreclosure and loan servicing.

 

Robert Finlay
Robert Finlay graduated from the University of Southern California School of Law in 1993.  Mr. Finlay’s entire legal career has been dedicated to representing members of the mortgage industry.  In 2001, Robert co-founded Wright, Finlay & Zak, specializing in representing lenders, loan servicers, foreclosure trustees and title companies in all aspects of real estate and mortgage-related litigation. 

Mr. Finlay is a regular contributor to the industry periodicals, having recently authored the following articles: 

At What Point is a Property Vacant to Exclude Insurance Coverage? 
Borrower's Willful Demolition of Property - Is It An Insurable Loss?
The TRO is Back
With the Fires Out:  Who Gets the Insurance Proceeds?
Foreclosure Purchasers Who Back Out and Wrongfully Stop Payment Can be
Liable for Lost Profits and For Fraud
The Mitchell Roth Chronicles

Mr. Finlay has presented on mortgage panels for the UTA, AFN and CMBA.  He is also an annual guest lecturer at the USC Law Center for Professor Lefcoe’s Real Estate Transactions Class.  His published opinions include Bostanian v. Liberty Saving Bank, (1997) 52 Cal.App.4th.   

In 2008, he served as the co-chair for the Legal Issues Committee.  In 2009, he was elected to the UTA as a board member. 

Wright, Finlay & Zak is a proud member of the UTA, CMBA, AFN and MBA, and was recently selected by Fannie Mae to be a member of its newly organized Retained Attorney Network. 

 

Chris Perry
Christopher R. Perry is the managing partner of Perry & Shapiro, LLP, located in Phoenix, Arizona. He has committed his twenty-four year legal career to representing mortgage lenders and servicers, specializing in non-judicial and judicial foreclosures, evictions, receiverships/rent collection, defense of trustees/trustee's sales and title/legal description disputes. 

Mr. Perry has lectured extensively on topics related to areas of his practice. He earned his B.A. from Colorado College and his J.D. from Gonzaga University School of Law. Mr. Perry is a member of the Maricopa County Bar Association, the State Bar of Arizona, the Arizona Trustee Association (member, former member of the Board of Directors and two time President and eighteen year chairman of the Legislative Committee), the United Trustee Association, Mortgage Bankers Association of America, REOMAC, National Association of Asset Servicers and was one of the initial members of the American Legal and Financial Network.

 

Lorrie Womack
Lorrie Womack is a Trustee Sale Manager at Cal-Western Reconveyance Corporation.  Her main focus is on “out of state” non-judicial foreclosures.  She currently manages teams processing in, Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Texas.  One of Lorrie’s functions is to research and develop the nonjudicial process to add new states to Cal-Western’s already diverse resume. 

Lorrie started in the foreclosure industry in 1979.  She was an active member of CTA (since early 1984) prior to being an active member in UTA.  Along with being a chapter board member Lorrie also served several terms as the San Diego Education Chairperson helping to develop the industry training and educational programs.

 

Margaret A. Padilla
Margaret A. Padilla is the Vice President of Cal-Western Reconveyance Corporation and is responsible for overseeing all aspects of Cal-Western’s operations.

Additionally, Ms. Padilla has lectured to numerous industry organizations related to matters including Mobile Home Foreclosures, The Pitfalls of Trustee Sales and The Basics of Real Property Secured Transactions.

Her professional activities include the following:  United Trustees Association (UTA) President (2005 - 2006); Political Action Committee Chairperson (2001 – 2005); CTA State President (1998 – 2001); State Seminar/Education Chairperson (1995 – 1998); Legislative Chairperson, San Diego Chapter (1993 – 1998, 2004); President, San Diego Chapter (1993 – 1996): Member, Arizona Trustee’s Association; Member, Mortgage Banker’s Association of America; Member, California Mortgage Banker’s Association; Member REOMAC; UTA Boardmember

Ms. Padilla is a graduate of San Diego State University.

 

Holly Chisa
Holly Chisa is a contract lobbyist in Washington State. A partner of Tower Ltd., she and Brad Tower work together to advocate on behalf of several corporate clients and business associations in the Washington State Legislature. She has over 15 years of political experience, including campaign work and individual work as staff with Members of the Washington Legislature and the U.S. Congress.

 

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“I only use trustees who are UTA members.” - Gloria Rocha, Carrington Mortgage