In this month’s CREW Tampa Bay Annual Sponsor/Member Spotlight series, we are highlighting one of our Diamond level sponsors, Stewart Title Guaranty Company (NYSE: STC), and we are putting three of their “sparkling” Tampa Bay area team members at center stage. Founded in Texas in 1893, Stewart Title has grown into one of the largest global title insurance companies and underwriters in the industry. The company specializes in title insurance and related services required for settlement by the real estate and mortgage industries. Focusing on strong and solid growth allows the company to continue innovating and investing in key initiatives which are helping to propel Stewart Title to the forefront of the real estate space.
Introducing our CREW members at the center of the spotlight:
Ashley McRae, Esq., is an attorney who has been specializing within the commercial real estate realm for more than 20 years. Ashley started her career as a staff attorney for Judge Warner at the Fourth District Court of Appeals and later transitioned into private practice where she became a partner at a Tampa law firm. Subsequent to private practice, Ashley served as Director, Senior Real Estate Counsel for Bloomin’ Brands, Inc., and as a commercial underwriter for Old Republic Title. Currently, she is a senior underwriting attorney for Stewart Title with extensive knowledge in commercial real estate transactions. Ashley regularly speaks on various continuing education topics for both Stewart’s agents, Florida Bar, and local Bar associations.
Ashley grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, and then earned her juris doctor degree from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale. Ashley has been happily married for 22 years, and in her spare time she enjoys reading, gardening, sewing, and spending time with her husband and three dogs—a Doberman Pinscher and two Dachshunds. Ashley has a passion for aviation and recently joined Women in Aviation International—a nonprofit organization dedicated to the encouragement and advancement of women in all aviation career fields and interests. She is planning to get her pilot’s license in the not-too-distant future.
Continually active in CREW Tampa Bay since 2012, Ashley has served on various boards, was the CREW Tampa Bay President in 2019, Chaired the Economic Summit, is on the Executive Council, and she is currently enjoying serving in a supporting role for the organization.
Daylene Huff has been a Commercial Escrow Officer with Stewart Title for nearly four years. She began her career in the title industry in Las Vegas back in 1996, and she has enjoyed over 27 years working in the commercial real estate industry as a Commercial Escrow Officer as well as an Accounting Manager. She has extensive experience in processing various transactions and closings for properties throughout the country. Daylene genuinely loves her career and the “big family atmosphere” at Stewart Title. She has learned that outstanding customer service is the key to excellent client relationships, which in turn leads to repeat business. Daylene whole-heartedly believes if you are a good person, good things will happen to you. Growing up in Waterville, Maine, Daylene found that fall was her favorite season due to the beautiful colors and the absence of bugs! The cold winters along with a challenging job offer prompted her to move to Florida. In her spare time, Daylene likes to do jigsaw puzzles, play word games, and take her two Chihuahuas, Samson and Delilah, for walks. She also likes to travel throughout the country and to various places around the world. A trip she especially enjoyed was to Tanzania, Africa, in 2007, where she and her husband, who she has been married to for nearly 35 years, took a 10-day tour across the Serengeti Plains.
Daylene joined CREW Tampa Bay in 2020. She is a member of the City in Pink Committee, a Chair on the Membership Committee, and she is also an Executive Council member.
Amber Montero is currently the Florida Agency Services Manager for Stewart Title. She received her BA from the University of West Florida and started her title career working as a business development officer for a title agency in St. Petersburg. She joined Stewart Title in 2003 in the title plant and agency services departments prior to assuming her current position in 2006. She is responsible for promoting Stewart’s products and services among new and existing title agency accounts while developing new relationships across Southwest Florida.
Amber recently joined CREW Tampa Bay and is planning to become more involved.
Although these three amazing women work in various capacities within Stewart Title, they bring their extensive knowledge, experience, and mutual support to their Stewart Title team as well as to fellow members of CREW Tampa Bay.