Tributes to our Leaders
Earl G. Barrett Tribute
Earl G. Barrett was the founding father of the American Escrow Association and was elected Charter President of the American Escrow Association at its organizational meeting in San Francisco in May 1980. He had a lifetime commitment and dedication to the escrow/settlement profession. Earl started AEA to provide a forum where the escrow/settlement industry could come together from all states to share knowledge and take ownership of laws that would regulate the industry. Earl passed away August 2006.
Past President Tribute
A Tribute to all those who have served as President of the American Escrow Association, honoring their leadership, dedication, and unwavering support for our settlement industry.
Scroll through each decade to see all members who have served as an AEA President.
Honoring our Past Leaders by the Decade
1980's
1990's
2000's
2010's
2020's
Award Recipients
AEA Vision and Service AwardThe Past Presidents of the American Escrow Association present a commemorative award to a member in good standing with AEA who has a strong history of involvement in local and state associations, actively supports the mission and vision of AEA, and exemplifies leadership, education, and service to the settlement community. Member states may submit one application for this award by the March 15 deadline each year, recognizing a deserving member at the annual conference. |
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Leadership AwardIn June 2021, the Past Presidents of the American Escrow Association presented a commemorative award to Leslie Banes (Arizona) in recognition of her exemplary leadership, education, and service to the settlement community. As a member in good standing, Leslie has consistently embodied the spirit of dedication to the escrow industry as a whole. With over 40 years of experience in the escrow field, Leslie holds multiple professional designations, including Certified Senior Escrow Officer, Certified Escrow Instructor, Senior American Settlement Industry Professional, and Land Title Professional. She currently serves as the Operations Program Manager at Stewart Title. Leslie is widely respected for her active involvement in both national and state industry associations. She has served as the First Vice President, Second Vice President, and Treasurer of the American Escrow Association. Currently, she participates in several important workgroups for MISMO (Mortgage Industry Standards Organization), including the Closing Instructions Development Workgroup, Third Party Oversight Questionnaire Workgroup, Remote Online Notary Workgroup, and Title Insurance Section Workgroup. She is also an engaged member of the Arizona State Escrow Association, where she contributes to the Education and Industry Liaison Committees. Notably, she chaired the committee that produced the ASEA Escrow II book and organized the 2016 AEA Annual Conference. Leslie frequently shares her expertise by presenting classes to escrow officers, lenders, and realtors. She has chaired the Industry Partners Conference, planned educational sessions for three ASEA annual escrow conferences, and organized the 2014 AEA Annual Education Conference. More recently, she has been instrumental in organizing education sessions for the upcoming AEA conference. In addition to her professional achievements, Leslie is a proud mother of three and grandmother of two. She resides in Gilbert, Arizona, with her husband, Phil. A native of Arizona, Leslie earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from Northern Arizona University. |
Earl G. Barrett Award
The Earl G. Barrett Memorial Award was presented annually from 2009 – 2018 to individuals who has shown exceptional dedication to the escrow/settlement industry at the local, state, and national (AEA) levels. These people devoted their time to advancing and supporting the escrow/settlement profession.
