MEET OUR TEAM
More than 50 years combined experience in Title Insurance and Law Firms
Troy Crawford
Managing Counsel
Troy is Managing Counsel for LM Title Agency, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lawyers Mutual serving attorneys throughout North Carolina. Prior to heading the title agency, he worked for Lawyers Mutual as Claims Counsel, focusing primarily on real estate, fraud and technology related claims. In that role, Troy routinely taught CLEs and other professional education programs for national, statewide and local organizations, including recent engagements in Hawaii, Chicago and New Orleans.
Before joining Lawyers Mutual, he worked at Investors Title as a Claims and Subrogation Counsel. Troy began his career with a small Garner, NC law firm where his practice concentrated in commercial and residential real estate transactions and litigation involving real property.
Troy attended NC State University, graduating with honors in Civil Engineering. He received his JD, also with honors, from Campbell University.
Outside of work, Troy enjoys hiking, working in his garden and enjoying seeing his three children experience life. His wife, Jennifer, is also a licensed attorney.
Contact Troy directly at 919.585.1182 or troy@lmtitle.com.
Michelle serves as Vice President of Operations and is a licensed North Carolina attorney and title insurance underwriter. She oversees the company's operations and manages the title insurance underwriting process, ensuring transactions are completed smoothly and efficiently.
Michelle grew up in the small town of Micro, located in Johnston County, NC. She has experience in several areas of law including real estate, collections, and tax foreclosures. She has worked in different size law firms and corporate settings, including the legal department of a bank and as a research consultant for the Carolina Panthers, allowing her to understand and sympathize with the different demands of clients.
In her free time, Michelle enjoys traveling internationally with her family, kickboxing, and indulging her passion for true crime stories.
Michelle is a member of the NC Bar Association, Wake County Bar Association, and the Tenth Judicial District Bar Association.
Contact Michelle directly at 919.521.8934 or michelle@lmtitle.com.
Michelle Church
VP Operations, Title Counsel
Sharon Keeter
Marketing Manager
Sharon joined LM Title in 2019 as the Marketing Manager. She has several years of marketing experience with telecom, senior living, and other title insurance companies.
She is currently scheduling and promoting the statewide CLE programs.
Sharon volunteers with a few organizations throughout the year. She loves to spend time with her grandson when she can.
Heather Ballance-Brown
Senior Title Underwriter
Heather has spent the last 25 years working in real estate as a paralegal, mortgage loan processor, and title insurance underwriter.
Heather joined LM Title in the Summer of 2020.
In her free time she teaches dance, volunteers with organizations her daughter is involved in, and raises livestock.
Debra Underhill
Title Underwriter
Debra joined LM Title in February 2021. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington School of Business and a graduate of the Johnston Community College paralegal program.
She has worked as a paralegal for the past 24 years with ten years as a real estate closing paralegal. Her free time is spent with family and friends. Debra is a lifelong resident of Johnston County.
Melanie Johnson
Senior Title Underwriter / Training Coordinator
Melanie likes to say she was born into the real estate law business. In addition to working as a title underwriter, Melanie has dabbled in real estate law, mortgage lending, managing a land surveyor's office, and spent seven years training at SoftPro.
Melanie joined LM Title as an underwriter and training coordinator in March 2021.
Virginia Beury-Helms
Title Underwriter
Virginia is a Title Underwriter for LM Title and focuses most of her attention on timely completing final policies. Virginia joined LM Title in September 2021.
A long-time Carolina Beach paralegal, Virginia has years of experience in local deed vaults and clerk's offices.
Deborah Reece
Title Underwriter
Deb joins LM Title through the Blackacre Title acquisition in April 2022. She has been a Title Underwriter for the past 15 years.
Deb will continue to assist local attorneys producing new commitments and timely finals for both LM Title and Blackacre files. She is very involved and hosts many parties for her family.
Megan Haines
Prior Policy Coordinator and Marketing Representative
Megan is a Prior Policy Coordinator and is now marketing the coastal area. A native of New York, she relocated to Brunswick County in 2018.
She is passionate about dog rescue, cooking, and learning to pronounce cities and towns throughout her adopted state. Megan’s happy place is the beach.
Pam Lusk
Administrative Assistant
Pam Lusk comes to LM Title as our Administrative Assistant. She has many years of administrative and customer service experience.
Pam enjoys living out her faith as she spends time with family and friends and tries to live a healthy, natural life.
Laeken Faircloth
Prior Policy Coordinator
Laeken was born in Wilmington and joins LM Title as a Prior Policy Coordinator from Blackacre Title. Laeken joined her mom, Deb Reece, there in 2018, and they continue to have the privilege of working together.
Laeken has 3 boys, loves the beach, and spending time with her family.
Sara Cockerill
Bookkeeper
Sara is the Bookkeeper for LM Title. She has many years of experience in this role.
Leigh Ann Hill
Marketing Representative
Leigh Ann is LM Title's newest employee and is marketing in the western part of the State.
Leigh Ann has 2 boys and loves to travel.