An Interview with Richard Giliotti
Interviewed by: Ronni Bleich
Name: Richard Giliotti
NYSLTA Role: Agent Section Chair
Company and Title: Judicial Title, Owner
Q. Why do you enjoy working with the NYSLTA?
A. I started to work with the NYSLTA to grow and protect my business and to network. I wanted to have a say in what is going on in the industry. I met a lot of good friends. We all help each other out. The NYSLTA is a great avenue for support – as an owner of a business, you can feel very alone at times. Having other agents who are in the same position as I am in is invaluable. It is so comforting to know that I have someone to commiserate with when I run into a business problem. In this industry, you aren’t alone. There is a great support system.
Q. What did you focus on this year, as agent section chair of the NYSLTA?
A. With the legislature, we concentrated on getting a Remote Online Notarization (RON) bill passed. It was passed and as of this interview we are awaiting Governor Cuomo to sign it.
1. We followed all of the Executive Orders (EO).
2. We were in constant contact with the local, county and state municipalities ensuring that our examiners had excess to all or most of the records. The end goal was that we had the ability to record our documents.
3. Avoiding fraud.
Q. What are you most proud of?
A. Personally – I am married 36 years and we have one child. Professionally – I have been Chair for 15 years. I have put forth a major effort to change the demographic, by promoting diversity. I believe that I have made a major contribution to eliminating the “good ole boys” image within the industry.
Q. What do you enjoy doing while not working?
A. I bike about 8K-10K miles per year, play squash a few times per week, and read. I mainly read books off the bestsellers list now. Some of my current favorites are Midnight Library, Golden Girl and Project Hail Mary. A few of my all-time favorites are Gone with the Wind, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Godfather. I’m not really a big vacation guy. I would rather stay home.
Q. When did you start in the title business and how did you get started?
A. I was a history major and I couldn’t find a job. I went to an employment agency. They got me a job at a title agency (Judicial, where I started on 10/25/1983). In 1993, I became a minority partner, and in 2002, I became the owner.
Q. Do you have any pets? What’s he/she like?
A. I have 2 Tonkinese cats, Brownie and Cupcake. They are very affectionate.
Q. Who is the most influential person to you (alive or deceased)?
A. Abraham Lincoln – by far! He failed in a lot of things – he was an unsuccessful lawyer and he ran for senate and lost, but he ended up becoming President. He became president in a trying time. It shows it is all about perseverance. He kept working at it and took everything in stride. I truly believe he had a lot more to give when he died.
Q. What did you want to be when you “grew up”?
A. The General Manager of the NY Mets.
Q. If you weren’t in the Title Industry, what job/career would you want to have?
A. Something in the field of Broadcasting.
Q. What’s your secret talent that no one knows about?
A. Memorization. I am really good at memorizing things, especially dates. The trick for me is association.
Q. Where is your favorite place in the world?
A. Disney World, especially EPCOT. Disney gives you the feeling that anything is possible.
Q. What is your favorite TV show?
A. Currently: Friends
When I was growing up: All in the Family
Q. What is your favorite movie?
A. Gone with the Wind.
Q. What is the last song you listened to on your iPhone/android/iPod?
A. “Paradise by the dashboard light” by Meatloaf.
Q. What’s your favorite movie or song quote?
A. “A man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest” – The Boxer by Simon and Garfunkel.
Q. What was the first thing you bought with your own money?
A. 10 speed bike. And, no, I don’t still have it.
Q. What is one thing you have learned about yourself during this pandemic?
A. I can be more flexible than I thought. I had to deal with working from home, doing other things that I didn’t have to do before.
Q. Have you tried anything new or different during this pandemic?
A. I learned other parts of the job that I hadn’t learned before. I wanted to be prepared.
Q. Tell me something not everyone knows about you.
A. I really do like Bob.