Trendsetters | The Title Report

The Lawrence Duthler Story
Building Companies by Solving Problems

S erial entrepreneur Lawrence Duthler doesn't just start businesses — he creates solutions. Before co-founding Sun Title in Grand Rapids, Mich., with his law school buddy Tom Cronkright, Duthler had already launched multiple ventures including a luxury used car dealership and a property development company.

Look at the top of the title insurance industry; think about today’s integral processes; imagine tomorrow’s breakthrough — that’s where you’ll find trendsetters.

This is where you’ll read their stories.

Trendsetters focuses on the passionate leaders and innovators who shape our industry. And like the Trendsetters themselves, we put our own spin on it. We hope you enjoy

Leadership and innovation are big, aspirational words, but leaders and innovators are all around — and we want to tell your stories. TTR Trendsetters is a new digital project from The Title Report where we put a spotlight on the title industry's innovators, unsung heroes, up-and-comers and veteran leaders.

In order to tell your story, we need to hear about it. Click below to provide us a glimpse into what makes you (or someone you know) a Trendsetter. If your nomination is chosen, The Title Report editor will be in touch to dive in further and write an in-depth profile on you or your colleague.

Nominate a Trendsetter...

A title career that was meant to be

Providing professional service with a smile

From public defender to title industry leader

Teaching the Be-Attitudes

From public defender to title industry leader

Bringing legal expertise to the real estate transaction

Every dog has his day

Learning from each and every job

Summer job leads to trendsetting title career

Going against the grain

Law firm managing partner knew when the time was right

Turning mom-and-pop into statewide power

A 60-year title industry winning streak

Turning relationships into business success

With a little help from my friends (and family)

North Carolina title agent wears many hats

Love of learning paves path to COO

Third generation title agent loves the industry

Passion for puzzle-solving drives successful title career

Executive chef dived into title insurance with no regrets

Family honors title company's historic roots

Lawyer turned entrepreneur loves challenges of title business

Successful title company a family affair

The story of a recovering banker who became ‘King of Title’

From learning the ropes to teaching them

How a small shop became a large network of title agencies in Florida

From state senate chambers to the closing table

Newest NexTitle president has done it all

Determination, technology, and harnessing resources a recipe for success

Former real estate attorney becomes industry leader, innovator in South Texas

A career spent creating technology solutions

At home on a Bayou or a Canadian mountain, a variety of experiences led attorney to success

Spotting and seizing worthwhile opportunities

How a commitment to customer service, and a long-time friend, turned a settlement attorney into a data security pioneer

Attention to detail, work ethic turn into thriving career

Chasing the independent dream with a loyal team and a new technology

From the dairy farm to the settlement table

A thankless journey through the world of auditing that inspired an experimental new business model

Enhancing the client experience one efficiency at a time

How an aspiring TV broadcaster ended up changing the processes and mindset of a small Wisconsin title agency

Love of history, tech turns into distinguished career

Championing process improvement through technology

Mining gold as others fled the field

Sports fan and brewer finds success and happiness in the title industry.

Facilitating thousands of American Dreams

An engineering student and missionary became a leader in the title industry, quite unexpectedly.

An unexpected start to a title insurance career

How learning a dead language can breathe new life into a traditional industry

Creating something special with best practices and collaboration

Ignoring industry norms to forge new business, personal opportunities

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