HomeMy WebLinkAboutUniversity Title Co.
HISTORIC
B~;AZOS COUNTY
An Illustrated History
by Robert Borden
Commissioned by the Brazos Heritage Society
Historical Publishing Network
A division of Lammert Incorporated
San Antonio, Texas
UNIVERSITY
TITLE COMPANY
.~.
The Goody family ((rom le(~ ~o right):
Julie, Sara Phyllis, Phillip, Celia, Sara
June, and Mnrry Goode.
University Title Company started as a "mom-
and-pop" business in 1973 as an aid to the law
practice of Phillip B. Goode. He and his wife,
Sara June Goode, who also worked as his
secretary, formed the title company to handle
real estate transactions related to. his law firm.
In those days, most real estate. transactions
were funded by the local savings and loan
association with a handshake and signatures
on three documents. That all changed in
1977, when mortgage companies moved into
the community and, coincidentally, Celia
Goode-Haddock, the Goodes youngest child,
became manager.
Most loans generated by mortgage companies
were sold in the secondary market and the
buyer and lender no longer had a personal
relationship. That meant more 'documentation
and University Title Company capitalized on
that change by forming strong working
relationships with these new lenders.
Phillip and Sara June Goode taught their
work ethic to their daughter and to their
employees. They believed in putting in the time
and effort required to get the job done and to do
it correctly the first time.
They also demonstrated the value, both from a
business standpoint as well as a personal one, of
treating customers and employees well. Many days
when the office was closed and the employees
were off, Phillip and Sara June were inside the
office meeting deadlines to serve the customers.
In 1984, Phillip and Sara June sold the
company. The current stakeholders are Celia
Goode-Haddock, Mike Hoelscher and Cully
Lipsey. Mike and Cully •aren't involved in the
day-to-day operation of the company, although
their support is vital to its success.
Celia, majority stockholder, director and
president/CEO, continues to run the company
based on the philosophy espoused by her
parents. Through the years, the company has
developed a reputation for treating customers
well and completing transactions in a timely and
accurate manner. Title insurance is regulated
and all premiums are the same, so the only
difference between companies is service.
The management team consists of Celia
Goode-Haddock, Joe Poteet, Karen McCarroll and
Tiffany Alford. They operate as team leaders and
teach new employees the basic principles and
philosophy of the company from their very first
108 • HISTORIC BRAZOS COUNTY
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. In me ry of Phillip 0. Goode
. In honor of Snrn Juno Goodi t ~YI
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day. All employees take the Myers Briggs Type
Indicator instrument to determine their personal
preferences and then participate in a four-hour
training session in the basics of personality types,
customer relations and marketing.
The management at University Title
Company has created an atmosphere where the
employee feels comfortable; enabling them to
do more work more efficiently and without fear
of failure. Much of the company's success is due
to its reliance on employees to come up with
ideas on how to be more efficient.
The management philosophy at the company
is the golden rule demonstrated through
customer service, respect for fellow co-workers
and support of community organizations.
Although University Title Company is in the
business of making a profit; the company also is
concerned with helping others. It does this by
emphasizing the value of the employee, who, in
turn, values the customer.
Transactions range from multi-million-dollar
commercial closings to residential properties to
free title searches for nonprofits. University Title
Company believes that every transaction is
special to the individual involved and believes it
is the responsibility of the staff to make sure
every customer has a good experience.
That attitude has contributed greatly to their
success and their efforts have been honored
many times over through the following awards:
• Better Business Bureau Torch Award for
Marketplace Ethics, 2002.
• Anco Insurance Award for Lifetime Business
Achievement, 2002, sponsored by the Bryan
Rotary Club and the Bryan-College Station
Chamber of Commerce.
• United Way of the Brazos Valley Spirit of
Giving Award, 2001.
• Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding
Service to Bryan-College Station Regional
Association of Realtors, 2001.
In addition, Celia Goode-Haddock received the
"Citizen of the Year" Award in 2001 from the
Bryan-College Station Chamber of Commerce. The
efforts of staff, management, owners and,
especially, Phillip and Sara June Goode, have
turned this "mom-and-pop" operation of two
employees and $40,000 in annual income into an
organization of more than 50 employees and $4
million in income each year.
.;.
Below: Celia Goode-Haddock Qc(t),
majority owner, president/CEO, and
Sara June Goode (right), f ormer
owner at a presentation o~ the Anco
Insurance Award for Li(elime Business
Achievement sponsored by The Bryan
Rotary Club and Brazos County
Chamber of Commerce.
Sharing the Heritage • 109