CEA PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE:

Can you believe it? How can it be March already?! Now that I’m a grammy, I am really noticing how quickly time flies -- how did my grandkids get to be 7 and 2-1/2 already?!

 With our decades-long relationship with CAMS coming to an end due to their reorganization and the retirement of key team members, your Executive Committee has been very busy with CEA’s management transition. We all agree that we picked an excellent new management company, and Tracey and Brenda from Advantage AMC have been very thorough and patient with us. From September through December, we met every Sunday morning to discuss everything had already been done and what was left to be done. It was going very well… until it didn't. Turns out we were not aware of a lot of details that CAMS took care of for us, and those things still need to be sorted out. A progress report will be given at the next Board of Directors meeting via Zoom on May 3rd.  

 Our Nominating Committee is already looking for members to volunteer to be on our Executive Committee for the 2026 calendar year.  If you or someone you know is interested in serving, please consider reaching out to us at [email protected] to learn about the requirements of holding office or to request being nominated.  Make this the year you grow your leadership skills and give back to the association that has served you.

 Education opportunities abound!  Be sure to scroll through your CEA Scoop (formerly known as the Weekly Note) for current educational events.  SAVE THESE DATES! Professional Designations holders – note that 2025 is Year 2 of the current continuing education cycle.

  • April 3rd will be our CEA Directors training class at 5:30 pm.  It’s about 35 minutes long.  More info to follow.
  • April 7th will be our CEA Committee Chair training class at 5:30 pm.  It’s also about 35 minutes long. 
    • All members and invited to this free trainings to see how CEA operates and what some of the duties are for our committee chair and our Directors. 
  • The 45th AEA Annual Business Meeting and Conference will be held at the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa in Las Vegas on June 6, 7 & 8. It's always a great educational event!  Room reservations are open – see details at AEA Converence VERY IMPORTANT! Before April 29, 2025, each region needs to submit the names of their delegates to our AEA Director Rosanna Medeiros. Don’t leave votes on the table!  The BOD will also have to electronically vote on the State delegates before 4/29 also.
  • The NorCal Education conference has been slimmed down to a 1-day event this year and will be held on Saturday, July 19th at the DoubleTree in Burlingame.  The speakers are all set and as usual, it’s going to be a jam-packed day of education and fun in “The New World of Escrow!"
  • CEA’s 70th Annual Education Conference will be October 24 and 25 at the newly-renovated Hyatt Regency, Irvine – a new venue for us. We held our February Board of Directors meeting there, and it was very nice. Details to follow soon.
  • Have you signed up for CEA’s upcoming Lunch & Learn webinars?  Check our calendar for details and to register! Lunch & Learns

 What’s ahead for CEA? For one thing, the FinCEN Anti-Money Laundering Rule (AML) will keep us busy this year!  It’s currently set to go into effect on December 1, 2025, and we all need to get ready for it, in case it actually does. Based on all the changes being made by the new administration, it’s not yet known what will become of the new ruling.  We are exploring working with members of CLTA on a collaborative effort to educate our members before the effective date. Stay tuned! Your Bill Review Committee is busy reading every bill for their potential impact on the escrow industry. If you’d like to participate on Bill Review – or any of our other committees -- please contact us at [email protected] for details. 

 I had a great time in January at the Los Angeles Escrow Association’s 2025 Installation Gala. Many thanks to Stephanie Lee and Terrica Banks for inviting me to attend. They had a fantastic turnout! 100 years ago, in 1924 LAEA became the first escrow association, leading the way to the formation of CEA as a statewide association in 1956. California escrow practitioners have recognized the need for a professional association for at least that long, and it’s so important that we continue to exist and provide education and advocacy for settlement service providers in our state!

 I am very proud and honored to be your President this year. Please help me and your Executive Committee to support and grow CEA by Writing CEA’s Next Chapter Together. I look forward to sharing more news with you as time marches on. 

 Sincerely, your 2025 President,

Sharon Strahlendorf, CSEO, CEI, CMHS