Employee Owned
Empowered.
Transnation Title
Transnation Title
Who We Are
Our great team connects with our customers and solves the problems you have. With more than 300 experts on our team, you can trust we will find the right solutions for you. No matter if you’re a Realtor, lender, developer or a property’s buyer/seller, we are the knowledgeable choice you want protecting your next residential, commercial or agricultural deal.
Transnation Title is an independent, employee-owned company that enjoys the flexibility of working with multiple underwriters. All that put together means offices have the autonomy needed to be a true local partner and the company support that allows them to handle any transaction that comes their way. If there is a way we can make something happen for you without sacrificing our character, we’re empowered to find the best option every time.
Our company has the technology, experience and people to deliver the peace of mind you deserve because we are all about your success. We want to be part of your journey because we see opportunity in the future for all of us.
Transnation Title
Leadership Team
Thomas U. Olson
CEO
Thomas U. Olson
Chief Executive Officer
Tom has worked in the title industry for over 45 years. Before being named the Chief Executive Officer of our Company on January 1, 2020, Tom served as Chief Operation Officer and Executive Vice President for more than 11 years. Tom was one of the founding members of Transnation Title Agency on July 2, 2008, when he and a group of employees bought the West Michigan operations from LandAmerica Title Insurance Company.
Tom is an annual contributor to the United Way of the Lakeshore, Every Woman’s Place, Child Abuse Council, Wings of Mercy, Michigan Radio and ALS. He is also a contributor to the American Land Title Association’s Title Insurance Political Action Committee. As part of Transnation Title’s commitment to our local communities, Tom encourages employees to become actively involved within their communities either by donating their time or making a financial contribution to one or more of their favorite charitable organizations.
Bill Van Hulle
CFO
Bill Van Hulle
Chief Financial Officer
Bill Van Hulle is the Chief Financial Officer of Transnation Title and has worked here since 2008. He has more than 20 total years of experience in the industry. Bill said he is proud of how our TransDirect service allows for better customer communication and interaction. While Transnation Title is your experienced title provider, Bill says it has also been a joy to see new employees flourish and grow over the years as part of our collaborative atmosphere. When not working Bill loves to travel, spend time with family or be on the golf course.
Lavinia Biasell
CLO
Lavinia Biasell
Chief Legal Officer
Lavinia Biasell has been practicing real estate law for over 17 years, and is Transnation Title’s Chief Legal Officer. She has experience litigating title insurance claims and coverage disputes, underwriting for a national underwriter, and managing the day-to-day legal needs of a title agency and its customers. Lavinia is active in her professional community through her service with the Michigan Land Title Association, and she volunteers as a board member of the Spring Lake Schools Foundation in her local community.
Richard Garnaat II
CIO
Richard Garnaat II
Chief Information Officer
Richard Garnaat is the Chief Information Officer at Transnation Title. He has more than two decades of experience working in the title industry, including two stints as part of the Transnation Title family. He has a passion for working with new and emerging technology and takes pride in using innovation to come up with trusted customized solutions for our team and our customers. Richard is a Lansing-area native but splits his time between our Lansing and Grand Rapids offices.
Tom Host
VP of Commercial
Tom Host
Vice President of Commercial
Tom Host has worked for Transnation Title for more than 40 years, the last 32 of which has been exclusively in the commercial area. He is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to underwriting, commercial escrow closings and policies and endorsements. Tom has been a Qualified Intermediary for IRS Section 1031 Exchanges since 1999.
Becky Malone
Chief Residential Officer
Becky Malone
Chief Residential Officer
Becky Malone is the Chief Residential Officer. She has worked in the industry for 37 years with 35 of those years at Transnation. One highlight of her job is mentoring and encouraging new Transnation team members over the years and watching their continued success. Becky works out of our main branch in Grand Rapids and while also managing our Central, Northern, St. Clair, and Ann Arbor divisions. She lives in Rockford with her husband, and dog. Outside of the office she enjoys reading, running, riding bikes and spending time with their dogs.
Robert Meredith
Regional Vice President
Robert Meredith
Regional Vice President
Robert Meredith is the Regional Vice President of the Great Lakes, Metro, and Mason Burgess. He has almost four decades of experience in the title industry and has been with us since 2009 and is based in the Grand Rapids office.
He and his wife have three children. Robert is a past president of the Michigan Land Title Association. When he’s not in the office or spending time with family, Robert enjoys being on the golf course. Robert loves working with his Transnation Title colleagues to find solutions for our customers and believes that building relationships with customers leads to them placing extra value on our services and more trust in our local decision making.
Sharlene Shineldecker
Chief Commercial Officer
Sharlene Shineldecker
Chief Commercial Officer
Sharlene Shineldecker is the Chief Commercial Officer and has worked with Transnation Title for nearly 35 years. She loves finding solutions when “things seem impossible,” in any real estate challenge our customers encounter. You’ll find Shar’s desk in our Seminole office, but she could be anywhere in the region helping our great customers and staff. She truly loves the Western Lakeshore because of the pleasant relations coupled with the intense community pride. It’s a friendly place where everyone cares for each other and takes time to say hello, which is exactly how we’d want someone to describe us.