The self-described Encourager-in-Chief for the #CRE Title Insurance Industry, Joe Powell is Vice President & Managing Underwriting Counsel for Fidelity National Title Group in the National Commercial Services Southeast operations, guiding a team of lawyers and closing specialists in Atlanta charged with assessing risk and providing high-level service in significant transactions throughout the country. Previous to this role, Joe served as Area Counsel with Agency operations for over seven years in Birmingham, underwriting for direct commercial projects as well as for agents and approved attorneys throughout Alabama, Mississippi and Arkansas on all Company brands. Prior to joining FNTG in 2011, he was in private practice in Tuscaloosa, and founded Main Avenue Title Company, Inc., a Castle Club agent for Chicago Title. Joe earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Alabama (B.A. 1993, J.D. 1997); the LL.M. in Risk Management from Texas A&M University School of Law (2019); is admitted to practice law in Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia; and maintains his title insurance agent licenses in Alabama and Mississippi. In 2016, Joe earned the National Title Professional™ Designation from the American Land Title Association and was presented the inaugural President’s award by the Southeast Land Title Association. In 2018, Joe received the Outstanding Advocate Award from ALTA’s Title Action Network. Active on social media, Joe is ranked 37 out of 150 on the international #CREi 2020 Top Twitter Influencers in Commercial Real Estate list, the only title insurance professional to be featured. He hosts Title Talk weekly on Clubhouse and is Adjunct Professor of Law at Texas A&M University School of Law, teaching a master's level course on commercial real estate transactions. Joe is a lifelong resident of Tuscaloosa, Alabama and graduate of its public school system. He is married to the former Stephanie Michelle Ryan (Mikki) of Guntersville, a retired National Board Certified Elementary Teacher and former Alabama Teacher of the Year finalist. Joe and Mikki, married twenty-seven years, are the parents of Jack, Max, Mary Jewel and Lottie Gene. Joe enjoys traveling with family, piddling in the yard, watching good movies, drinking French Roast Coffee, and devouring trivial information.