The Board of Directors are your leaders for the Arizona State Escrow Association.
As your ASEA President, Kerri Coveney leads the Board and Leadership Team
Kerri Coveney, CSEO, CEI
PRESIDENT
Kerri is a branch manager at Grand Canyon Title Agency in Fountain Hills, AZ. She began her career in escrow in 1984, progressing through various roles until becoming a branch manager in the early 1990’s.
Kerri is an active member of the Arizona State Escrow Association where she is vice president and holds both Certified Senior Escrow Officer and Certified Escrow Instructor designations.
Throughout her career, Kerri has contributed to the field by moderating panels at partners conference, instructing educational classes on topics such as FIRPTA, how to read and work a title commitment, assisted with Escrow 1 and contributed to the ASEA published escrow books.
Kerri has built and runs an escrow desk that has earned her the DPK of Excellence award while at First American Title and has ranked her in the top 5% and 10% nationwide in escrow driven revenue for Fidelity National Title from 2019 to the present.
She lives in Fountain Hills along with her husband and two dogs, Ozzie and Ollie. In her free time, Kerri enjoys outdoor activities, particularly going to any beach and she loves to cooking and entertaining.
Melissa Fanelli
VICE PRESIDENT
Melissa began her title and escrow career in Colorado in the early 90’s. She worked as an escrow closer for over 10 years before moving on to the next 15 years of her career as a licensed Colorado real estate broker. She and her husband co-founded a successful real estate brokerage firm which they managed along with their personal real estate business until relocating to Arizona in 2012. She has worked in the title and escrow industry in Arizona since relocating, with the last 9 years at Stewart Title. She oversees all Escrow Operations for the Phoenix division and is the Vice President of the Arizona State Escrow Association.
Jeanine Wilson
SECOND VICE PRESIDENT
Jeanine Wilson is a seasoned professional Escrow Officer dedicated to transforming the dream of homeownership into a seamless reality. With over 24 years of industry expertise, Jeanine has become a trusted ally for clients embarking on their real estate journeys. Her passion lies in offering impartial guidance, instilling confidence, and ensuring utmost comfort throughout every transaction.
Throughout her career, Jeanine has forged enduring partnerships with an array of real estate industry professionals. By harmonizing their needs and aspirations, she orchestrates real estate transactions with finesse, enabling her clients to achieve their personal and professional milestones.
An avid learner, Jeanine remains at the forefront of industry trends and advancements. Actively engaged in various real estate professional groups and escrow associations, she continually expands her knowledge base to navigate the ever-evolving real estate and technology landscapes. Currently serving as the Affiliate Director of WeServ West Valley, Jeanine demonstrates leadership and dedication within her community.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Jeanine is a proud Arizona native who finds solace in the great outdoors. Whether camping or engaging in other adventures with her loved ones and four legged companions, she cherishes every moment spent amidst nature’s embrace.
Danielle Foley
SECRETARY
Danielle Foley was introduced to the world of title and escrow back in 1998. Being unsure of what she wanted to do after high school, she signed up with a temp agency to get a little taste of various opportunities. Her first assignment was at a title company in Fountain Hills and, well, the rest was history.
Danielle is currently an Escrow Advisor for First American Title, Arizona Direct Operation. She provides guidance and advisory support for all things escrow as well as monitors for compliance with federal, state and company policies, regulations, and practices.
Danielle is very passionate about what she does and loves the fact that there is something new to learn every day in this industry. She finds great enjoyment in being able to share her escrow knowledge and helping to develop and strengthen the future escrow practitioners. This is a primary reason she has been a member of the ASEA 15 years and has been a member of the Education Committee for over 8 years, of which 1 year serving as Chair and 3 years serving as Co-Chair.
She has been married to her husband, Eric, for over 20 years and together have a teenage daughter, Bella, who is beautiful, smart, and kind. When not working or volunteering with the ASEA, she enjoys taking road trips, getting outside to nature, and spending every possible minute available with her family.
Heather LeBlanc, CAEO
TREASURER
I chose this photo for my bio because I could not be in this space, in this place, at this moment, without amazing people like these. It is so important for all of us to honor and surround ourselves with the people in our life that have made a difference in ours! The mentorship that these ladies and more have given me has shaped my career into what it is today. Without people like these, where would I be, more importantly, where would you be?
My introduction to the Arizona State Escrow Association began in the summer of 2009 when a young lady asked me to raise my hand and become a Director for the 2009-2010 fiscal year. That was just the beginning…
Since then, I have been actively involved in many committees, in ASEA along with the American Escrow Association where I have held many offices including AEA Director, 3rd Vice President, 1st Vice President, President-Elect, and President. This year the member states voted me in as the AEA Treasurer, of which, I am happy and grateful to have a voice!
Are you proud of your career, do you want to improve your craft, do you have a voice as a member of the Arizona State Escrow Association? If you do, CONGRATULATIONS! Keep going! If not, what are you waiting for?
Be a part of something BIGGER! Be invested in YOU! Join ASEA and start the next chapter in your career today! The passion and dedication that I hold for this Association is something that cannot be duplicated or passed along to others. For each of you has to feel the passion and experience this Association, with all its many facets, to become captivated and an inspiration to others to join and be a part of something bigger!!
I promise to uphold the vision and core values of the Arizona State Escrow Association. To safeguard our funds, to be conscientious of our spending, to help guide and mentor others who want to play a more active role, and most especially to be diligent in our accountability to you, our members!
Kristin Guadagno, CSEO, CEI
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Kristin Guadagno, is Executive Vice President of Commercial Operations for Magnus Title Agency. Having been in the title and escrow industry for 27 years, she has a wealth of experience having held positions in human resources, branch management, and escrow administration.
Kristin is a passionate and dedicated advocate of the escrow practitioner. She is an active board member for the Arizona State Escrow Association, serving on various committees over the years. She previously chaired the Education Committee and the Professional Designation Committee at the state level. For the past three years she has served as the Director and Alternate Director representing Arizona in the American Escrow Association and currently serves as the Education Committee chair at the national level.
Kristin holds designations as Certified Senior Escrow Officer and Certified Escrow Instructor. She graduated, with honors, with a degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix. She spends most of her free time with her family and her two dogs.
Tiffannie Hobgood, SASIP, CEI, CSEO, ALTP
AEA DIRECTOR
Tiffannie is the Vice President of Escrow Operations for Landmark Title Agency of Arizona. Actively engaged in the escrow industry since 1993, Tiffannie Hobgood’s success is marked by her business integrity and her industry dedication. Educating the next generation of escrow professionals is of paramount importance to her. She is also a true believer in continuing education for yourself as well, having achieved her professional designations as a Certified Senior Escrow Officer, Certified Escrow Instructor, Senior American Settlement Industry Professional and Arizona Land Title Professional.
Tiffannie’s dedication to excellence in the settlement industry shows in her active involvement in the State and National Associations. At the state level, Tiffannie is a Past President but serves as Technology and Conference Chair for the Arizona State Escrow Association and as the State Director to the national association, the American Escrow Association (AEA). She has served for eight years on the Executive Board, now a Past President for AEA, she continues to represent her state proudly.
Combined with her escrow experience and her passion for sharing her expertise, Tiffannie skillfully demonstrates a profound commitment to the culture and standards of our industry.
When not dedicating her extra time to the industry she enjoys spending time with her husband and 4 fur children. If you know you know, Tiffannie loves anything that Sparkles.
Leslie Banes, CSEO, CEI, SASIP, ALTP
AEA ALTERNATE DIRECTOR
A 45-year plus veteran in the escrow industry, Leslie Banes is a Certified Senior Escrow Officer, Certified Escrow Instructor, Senior American Settlement Industry Professional and Land Title Professional Designation and currently serves as Senior Escrow Advisor for Stewart Title. In 2021, Leslie was honored to be the first recipient of the Leadership Award from American escrow Association.
Well known for her dedication to the industry, Ms. Banes has been actively involved in industry associations at both the national and state level. She is a past first vice president, second vice president and treasurer for the American Escrow Association and currently serves on the Closing Instructions Development Workgroup, Remote Online Notary Workgroup and Title Insurance Section Workgroup for MISMO (Mortgage Industry Standards Organization). She is an active member of the Arizona State Escrow Association’s education and industry liaison committees chaired the committee that produced the ASEA Escrow II book and the 2016 AEA Annual Conference. Often called upon to present classes to fellow escrow officers, lenders and realtors, Ms. Banes has also chaired the Industry Partners Conference and planned the educational sessions for three ASEA annual escrow conferences and the 2014 AEA annual conference. Ms. Banes has three children and two grandchildren and lives in Gilbert, Arizona with her husband Phil. An Arizona native, she graduated from Northern Arizona University with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism. She can be contacted at 602-621-3542 or leslie.banes@stewart.com.