California Escrow Association Celebrates 50 Years of Revolutionizing the Escrow Process; CEA's Birth -- the Single Most Important Event in California Escrow History.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- This year, beginning with the production of its 50th Anniversary Conference in September, the California Escrow Association (CEA) will celebrate the single most important event in California escrow history: the association's birth almost 50 years ago. It was over a couple of mugs of coffee that a few escrow officers shared the collective vision that the escrow profession needed to be upgraded in order to support California's burgeoning real estate process. Today, upon entering its 50th year of service, CEA's historical significance is clear: escrow practitioners and consumers have an organization dedicated to overseeing escrow in California; "going into escrow" is as second nature to consumers as "going to the market;" and the nearly 20,000 escrow transactions occurring daily in California are easier, smoother, and safer thanks to giant inroads from CEA regarding legislation and industry standardization.

From The Brack Shops On 7th Street, CEA is Born

1924 signified another growing California real estate boom. That meant an onslaught of escrow transactions -- each requiring special handling because of a lack of cohesive industry standards and procedures. Over coffee in the Brack Shops on 7th Street in Los Angeles, a few L.A.-area escrow officers decided to do something about it. At the time, they weren't thinking globally, just how to make their own worlds and jobs a little easier. But the insight and solutions they came up with that day were momentous. So much so, they planned another meeting and the same year, willed the California Escrow Association into existence. The association operated locally for 32 years before becoming a statewide association. The statewide association now has 30 regional associations and more than 2,000 members.

Education, The Cornerstone

The CEA was built on the premise of education -- both for escrow agents and consumers. In 1962, Orange Coast College became the first institution to grant certificates in escrow, and in 1967 awarded the first Associate of Arts degree in escrow. The revolution spread to other campuses with well-developed CEA-approved curricula. Today, 36 colleges throughout the state offer an escrow curriculum.

The CEA didn't stop there, but went on to create a respected continuing education program as well as the only statewide program for the professional designation of escrow officers based on a comprehensive examination.

These inroads paved the path for a burgeoning industry. Each year, CEA's statewide educational conference draws nearly more than 1,400 professionals from California and nationwide. Throughout the year, the bi-monthly CEA News, first published in 1970, provides a wealth of in-depth educational articles written by knowledgeable professionals in escrow and related fields.

Today's Focus

Today, CEA focuses on professional designation, legislation, and inter-organizational liaison. Each year, hundreds of laws come before California state and national legislators that have the potential to dramatically affect escrow and related industries. CEA has retained a legislative advocate since 1971 to screen all introduced legislation and to draft new legislation to resolve any problems its members may face. Legislators, in turn, rely on informed sources like the CEA to stay current about the needs and problems in their field.

In the words of the first CEA president, Fred Tichenor: "The ownership and transfer of real property is too important to be entrusted to the novice. The escrow business must be coordinated by men and women who are experts, and in order to attain this status they must be educated."

It is toward this end that CEA has always strived, and will continue to strive for the next 50 years.

The California Escrow Association is a statewide organization for professional escrow practitioners. It was founded in 1956 and has more than 2,000 members. The organization is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards in escrow through continuing education and legislative advocacy. In addition to its professional designation program, CEA also works with community colleges throughout the state to develop CEA-approved curricula leading to a certificate in escrow. CEA's dedicated legislative advocate screens proposed legislation to gauge its effect on the escrow profession, and to draft new legislation as needed.

For more information on California Escrow Association, visit http://www.ceaescrow.org or call 916-325-0600.