Voices of Women

  • Regina L. Fiegel
    Senior Vice President, National Business Development, Manager, Stewart Title Guaranty Co., National Title Services

Regina Fiegel has more than 25 years experience in the title insurance business. She joined Stewart Title Guaranty’s National Title Services in 1994 as a National Business Development officer and also serves as Manager of the Charlotte, N.C. office. She is responsible for developing and maintaining national commercial accounts across the country.

 

Regina has served on numerous professional and civic committees and has received many honors and awards for her commitment. She is an active member of the Mortgage Bankers Association (CREF) and the National Multi Housing Council®.

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How do you handle the work/life balance that is demanded from such a high-level position?

I am divorced with no children and two cats. I am active in my church, which is really good for me. The best thing about Charlotte is that it’s a place where people get to know each other. My clients are also my friends: I go to their children’s recitals, I recently saw a client’s child receive his Eagle Scout award. It is a family-oriented town and Stewart Title is a family-oriented company that is involved in the community.

What is your unique contribution to your company?

I am an aggressive businesswoman who knows the company’s direction and how to get business. I have done well by Stewart Title and it has done well by me.

Have you had any mentors who have helped guide your career?

My current boss, NTS Director and Executive Vice President Paul Sands, sets an example by being an open, honest person. I had people at Safeco and Ticor who pushed me and made me stretch. I also had a boss at Home Federal who told me that I really was not good at doing loans because I hated to turn people down! He said I needed to get into sales and into the title business. It wasn’t long after that I got the job offer from Safeco (Title).

As a female leader, is there anything you struggle with?

Women are still struggling in the financial industry. Everything I do every day is something so that future generations won’t have that struggle. Every accomplishment is to benefit my three nieces and others who come up in the business. As for me, my pay is equal to my male peers and I believe the pay scale in the real estate industry will equalize out for women.

Regina, what is your role as Senior Vice President for Stewart Title Guaranty?

I manage the Charlotte, N.C., operation for the National Title Services (NTS) group, which handles national accounts for Stewart Title Guaranty. I do business development, close transactions and handle other management functions for the eight-person Charlotte office.

When did you begin your career in real estate?

My career began in 1975 with Home Federal Savings & Loan out of San Diego. I was sent to Northern California to open a branch and make loans and started calling on title companies to handle our business. I was complaining about the service we were receiving and an executive with Safeco Title offered me a job with the company to fix those problems! I worked in San Francisco and Los Angeles with Safeco, then moved to Ticor Title and worked in L.A., Chicago and New York. I moved to Stewart Title in 1994 and worked in Houston before they moved me to Charlotte to head up the NTS operation here.

Do you have any words of wisdom for women in any industry who are trying to succeed?

Don’t play politics. Just do your job and continue to ask for more challenges. Make sure they think of you as a business associate, not as a woman.

What three words would you choose to describe yourself?

Forthright, honest, and a good person. I strive to help people, not for the accolades, but for my own peace with the Lord. Helping other people is the way my Mom and Dad lived their lives.

What are the principles that guide you in running your office?

Honesty and clear moral values. If you can’t live by those principles, then you get yourself into the kinds of situations we have seen recently on Wall Street.

Tell me about your family life growing up.

My dad was a general contractor and my mom was a mother and housewife. I’m the third of the six kids and my siblings are all professional people, either in real estate, insurance or travel. While my family didn’t always have an easy time, my parents were very strong on family values. My dad especially instilled a strong work ethic in us.

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