Company Profile
Stewart Abstract of Berks County Inc. has been serving Berks and the surrounding counties since 1988 and provides high quality Title Services to our customers. We are a licensed agent for 3 underwriters: Stewart Title Guaranty Company, First American Title Insurance Company, and Fidelity National Title Insurance Company. We have a staff of seasoned professionals providing title insurance services for residential and commercial properties and mortgage refinances. We also have a department that works with the Sheriff of Berks County to provide Sheriff Sale property distributions.
Stewart Abstract provides business management services to two other settlement companies owned by the largest Real Estate Agencies in Berks County.
Meet Our Staff
Keith T. Brown
President
Having over 45 years of experience in the Title Industry, Keith has proved himself to be an outstanding leader and an expert in his field. His years of experience as Chief Financial Officer at Meridian Title have undoubtedly contributed to this success. Keith purchased Stewart Abstract in 1991 and turned the small business into the largest Title Company in Berks County. He continues to oversee day-to-day operations at Stewart Abstract and lend his vast knowledge to any transaction needing special attention.
Email: keithb@stewartabstract.com
David W. Lesher, Esquire
Vice-President
As an attorney and Stewart Abstract’s title examiner, Dave is able to draw on over 30 years of experience in the title industry. He joined the company in 1992, and since then he has helped to establish Stewart as a well-respected contributor to the title insurance industry. Not only does Dave personally review every title for accuracy before a commitment is generated, he is also able to identify any potential legal issues and then provide direction on resolution of these issues prior to closing.
Sherry A. Hracho
Settlement Officer, Marketing Executive
Since the acquisition of Stewart Abstract in 1991, Sherry has been a driving influence in the company as well as the community, and she works tirelessly to close both residential and commercial properties. Sherry also leads our Marketing Department, and because of her diligent efforts, her professional reputation in Berks and surrounding counties is second to none. She has developed exceptional relationships with customers and local lenders alike.
Email: sherryh@stewartabstract.com
Karen S. Mills
Settlement Officer, Marketing Officer
Having devoted over 23 years to Stewart Abstract, Karen has proved herself to be an extremely valuable resource. Karen is known among her colleagues and customers for putting her heart into everything she does and for making sure that every last detail is accurate and precise. Although she spends many hours on the road handling out-of-office closings, her loyal customers attest to the fact that she is never too busy to provide personal service.
Email: karenm@stewartabstract.com
Barbara A. Cammarano
Settlement Officer
Prior to joining Stewart Abstract in 1988, Barb formerly worked for Meridian Title. Over the years, Barbara’s loyal customers, including local attorneys, have provided a testament to her outstanding service by returning again and again. Barb also manages our Policy department, ensuring that each policy is issued in a timely and accurate manner. She works closely with the underwriters to generate a quality product every time.
Email: barbarac@stewartabstract.com
Carol A. Chelius
Settlement Officer
Having worked for many years as a realtor and a settlement officer with another company, Carol had cultivated outstanding relationships in the business community. Because of this, many loyal customers followed her when she came to Stewart Abstract in 2010. She quickly established herself as someone who is willing to answer questions and spend whatever time is needed in order to see a closing through to its finish. That hard-working and dedicated spirit has been a true asset to Stewart Abstract.
Email: carolc@stewartabstract.com
Kristi Skoczen
Title Producer
Having started her working career right here at Stewart Abstract, 22 years later Kristi is an integral part of the company. She works closely with the title examiner, and over the years she has set the standard for speed and accuracy in title production, helping Stewart to keep up with the high volume of title commitments. Her dedication and proficiency has aided Stewart Abstract in distinguishing itself as the largest title company in Berks County.
Lauren Dunn
Sheriff’s Distribution Administrator
Prior to joining Stewart Abstract, Lauren interned for the Tax Claim Bureau. Since coming on board in March of 2006, Lauren has performed a variety of services including present owner searches and full title searches. Her specialty, however, is working as a liaison with the Berks County Sheriff’s Department. She prepares all of the distributions for properties that sell after competitive bidding at the Sheriff Sale.
Barry Schell
Courier
Barry has been working with the company for over 20 years, and he has become an important connection between Stewart Abstract and other local businesses. Since his responsibilities include delivering important documents all over the Berks County area, he is well-known among many local banks and lenders. Although Barry largely operates in the background, his efforts make it possible for Stewart Abstract to function seamlessly on a daily basis.
Lisa Zezenski
Administrative Assistant
Lisa came to us in 2007 with 15 years of experience in accounting and business management. She works alongside the president of Stewart Abstract, Keith Brown, in caring for daily operations and administrative responsibilities. Her areas of expertise include reconciliations, computer technical support & troubleshooting, and organization & document management. She is also involved in daily financial matters, ensuring that all transactions, both incoming and outgoing, are accounted for with total accuracy.
Robert “Boat” Shober
Title Searcher
Stewart Abstract is fortunate to have its own team of searchers at the Berks County Court House, and Boat has been heading up this elite group since 1998. With more than 25 years of searching experience, Boat’s expertise centers around full title searches, and he works faithfully to keep up with the increasing demand for title work. This behind-the-scenes reliability helps Stewart to be successful year after year.
Kevin Sharp
Title Searcher
Kevin is an essential part of Stewart’s team of searchers at the Berks County Court House. He began searching in 2001, and it was his reputation for excellent work, quick turn-around time, and outstanding reliability that brought him to Stewart in 2012. Kevin’s skills are multi-faceted, allowing him to be proficient in handling full title searches and present owner searches, and he’s never too busy to handle last-minute requests.
Debra M. Konowal
Business Development Representative
As of April 2019, Debra brings to our team 40+ years of experience in the Mortgage and Banking industry. Her impressive professional resume includes Branch Manager, Private Banking and Business Development Officer, and some 20 years as a Mortgage Loan Originator. She is now using her knowledge and connections to support continuous business growth for Stewart Abstract.
Her top priority is you, and she resolves to be available to answer your questions and to make the final stages of your real estate purchase as stress-free and enjoyable as possible. If your interest is in a residential or commercial purchase or refinance, she’s looking forward to providing you the best service possible!
Dorothy Bechtel
Receptionist and Customer Service
Dorothy has been at the front desk giving a gracious welcome to our customers since June 2016. She came to us with a decade of experience in working with the public, having been a classroom Teacher’s Aide for Holy Guardian Angels Regional School.
In addition to warmly greeting our customers, she also cares for customer service and processes new title applications. This includes tax and utility conveyancing, as well as coordinating settlement times with the realtors and lenders. Her organizational skills have been an invaluable daily contribution to smooth office activities.
Lori A. Yerger
Settlement Preparation and Post-Closing / Remote Settlement Officer
Lori began working in the Title industry in 1997 as an Independent Mortgage Closer. In 2018 she accepted a position as a permanent employee for a local title company and joined the Stewart Abstract team in 2019.
She now lends her time and effort to contributing to an organized signing experience to those gathering at the Stewart Abstract closing table. To expedite settlements, she offers remote signing services when needed. She also assists in preparing files for settlements and post-closing execution. Her understanding of the settlement process from start to finish is a valuable asset.
Alice Meyerson
Settlement Processor and Preparation
Alice has many years of experience working in the field of real estate, having worked in the Appraisal field for more than 17 years. She joined the team at Stewart Abstract in August 2015, and since then has worked in the settlement processing and preparation department.
She is happy to gather the various and extensive details for each transaction and strives to do her part to provide a smooth and seamless settlement experience.