RIVERBEND - Key Persons
Amanda Gittinger has been with Riverbend Commercial Title Services since 2012. She is experienced at managing the title and escrow responsibilities for large commercial real estate transactions nationwide. Amanda is a licensed title insurance agent and is an active member of Riverbend's Board of Directors. Prior to joining Riverbend, Amanda acquired experience working with GE Aviation in the Legal Operations/Compliance department. She earned her B.A. from the University of Cincinnati with honors in Sociology, a minor in Political Science, and a certificate in Paralegal Studies.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Vice President
- Assistant Vice President for Riverbend Commercial Title Services
Andrew Ferguson serves as Assistant Vice President for Riverbend Commercial Title Services where he helps purchasers and lenders with title insurance policies as well as closing and escrow services. He has extensive experience managing a variety of commercial transactions, including the development of retail, commercial and mixed-use properties, and the utilization of new markets tax credits and historic tax credits. Andrew is a licensed title insurance agent and is also admitted to practice law in the State of Ohio.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President
- Senior Vice President and Agent for Riverbend Commercial Title Services
Dan Utt is Senior Vice President and Agent for Riverbend Commercial Title Services. He earned his B.S. in Business Administration from Bowling Green State University (1983) and his J.D. from the University of Dayton School of Law, summa cum laude (1986). For more than 30 years, Dan has helped real estate owners, developers, investors, landlords, tenants and lenders navigate the issues and considerations associated with real estate and general business law matters.
Dan has significant experience with a broad range of real estate transactions, including the following:
Residential, retail, commercial, and mixed-use developments
Office, commercial, and industrial building projects
Acquisition, development, and loan transactions for senior living and multi-family communities
Representation of sellers, purchasers, borrowers, and lenders in commercial real estate transactions
Office, commercial, and shopping center development and lease transactions
Zoning and land-use planning matters
Environmental matters relevant to real estate transactions
Representation of general contractors and builders
Organization of corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies for a variety of transactions
IRC 1031 Transactions and Exchanges
Analysis and resolution of complex title issues involved in commercial real estate projects and evaluation of title insurance opportunities and options
Erin Cole joined Riverbend's Team in June 2016. She is responsible for servicing and processing commercial real estate transactions. She also coordinates the ordering of title examinations and the filing of documents. Prior to joining Riverbend, Erin was a Legal Assistant with reputable law firm in Dayton, OH.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director for Riverbend Commercial Title Services
Geoff Leder serves as the Director for Riverbend Commercial Title Services. Geoff has assisted clients with the development of residential, retail, commercial, and mixed-use properties and has helped attract and utilize various incentives for those projects. In addition, Geoff has significant experience advising clients in the structuring, negotiating and closing of tax credit financing transactions, especially new markets tax credit, historic tax credit and opportunity zone financing.
Herb Weiss has lectured on real estate matters and participated in seminars for the University of Cincinnati College of Law, the University of Cincinnati College of Business Administration, the Ohio Real Estate Law Institute, the National Business Institute, Inc., and the Cincinnati Bar Association. He earned his B.A. degree from the University of Cincinnati (1962) and his J.D. degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law (1965). While attending the College of Law, Herb was a member of the Editorial Board of the University of Cincinnati Law Review.
Herb was an Assistant Attorney General of the State of Ohio from 1969-1971. He served on the Commercial Leasing Committee, section of Real Property, Probate and Trust Law of the American Bar Association. He is a member by election of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers. He is a member of the Advisory Committee, National Multi Housing Counsel.
Herb has been annually included in The Best Lawyers in America, published by Woodward/White. He is a co-editor of McDermott's Ohio Real Property Law and Practice, fourth edition. Herb is a licensed title insurance agent in Ohio and Indiana.
He has extensive experience in the representation of real estate developers and entrepreneurs, builders, financial institutions and investors in real estate. He is the recipient of Robert L. Hausser Memorial Award from the Real Property Section of the Ohio State Bar Association, which recognizes longtime, outstanding achievement, contribution, and leadership in the practice of real property law. Herb serves as an active member of the Board of Directors for Riverbend Commercial Title Services.
Job Titles:
- Vice President & Escrow Manager
Holly Johnson joined Riverbend's team in April, 2014. She is responsible for managing new order requests, the distribution of workflow and accounting functions including the administration of escrow accounts and disbursement of closing proceeds. Her responsibilities also include policy remittance/retrieval and maintaining Riverbend's national referral network, banking relationships, agent licensing and underwriter contracts. Holly earned her B.S. from the University of Cincinnati in Paralegal Studies.
Jody Klekamp is an Attorney for Riverbend Commercial Title Services. She earned her B.A. from Miami University, Oxford (1988) and her J.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Law (1991). Jody's practice is concentrated in all areas of real estate law, including representing developers and lenders in real estate purchases, condominium developments, sales and financing transactions. In addition, her capability in the real estate area includes drafting and negotiating a wide variety of commercial contracts and leases.
Education
J.D., University of Cincinnati College of Law, 1991
B.A., Miami University, Oxford, 1988
Job Titles:
- Paralegal
- Paralegal With Riverbend Commercial Title Services
Katherine Redding is a paralegal with Riverbend Commercial Title Services. Kate is responsible for servicing commercial real estate transactions and the production of title insurance. She also coordinates the ordering of title examinations and the filing of documents
Prior to joining Riverbend, Kate was a paralegal at Keating Muething & Klekamp where she assisted KMK's real estate attorneys with all aspects of commercial real estate acquisition, construction, financing, sale, and leasing transactions, including the preparation of purchase and sale agreements, deeds, affidavits and other real estate related documents; investigation and organization of due diligence materials; and coordination of closings.
Kelly joined Riverbend Commercial Title Services in September, 2017. She is responsible for assisting with new order requests and accounting functions including the administration of escrow accounts and disbursement of closing proceeds. She also assists with the servicing and processing commercial real estate transactions. Kelly earned her Associates Degree in Paralegal Studies from the Kentucky Career Institute, now known as Beckfield College.
Kelly Kroger has been employed with Riverbend since May 2022. She is responsible for assisting with the servicing and processing of commercial real estate transactions and the issuance of title insurance. She also assists with ordering title examinations and filing documents. Kelly earned her Bachelor of Arts in Information Systems and Master of Business Administration from Northern Kentucky University and a Paralegal Certificate from the University of Cincinnati.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- Executive Vice President
- Title Insurance Agent
Ken Kreider is Executive Vice President, Chairman of the Board, and Agent for Riverbend Commercial Title Services. He earned his B.A. from Kenyon College, cum laude (1986) and his J.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Law, cum laude (1989).
Ken's practice is concentrated in real estate acquisition, development and finance, and he has extensive experience assisting clients with all aspects of tenant in common projects and syndications, complex IRC 1031 transactions, and all aspects of real estate taxation. His practice also encompasses general corporate law and the formation and tax exemption of not-for-profit corporations.
Ken is a licensed title insurance agent in multiple states and a frequent lecturer on topics of advanced real property law. He is certified as a specialist in Business, Commercial and Industrial Real Property Law by the Ohio State Bar Association. Ken has served as chairman of the Cincinnati Bar Association Real Property Committee and as a member of the Cincinnati Ohio Historic Conservation Board. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees on the Society for the Preservation of Music Hall and on the Board of Directors for Union Village Development Company. He was elected to join The American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL) in 2009. Ken currently serves as a member of Riverbend's Board of Directors.
Job Titles:
- of Counsel
- Counsel for Riverbend Commercial Title Services
Linda Schaffer is Of Counsel for Riverbend Commercial Title Services. She earned her B.A. from Northern Kentucky University (1974) and her J.D. from Salmon P. Chase College of Law, Northern Kentucky University (1981). Linda's practice is concentrated in the area of real estate law including title insurance, real estate financing and construction and development. She is an Ohio Registered Land Examiner and is licensed to practice law in Ohio and Kentucky. She is a member of the Florence Board of Adjustment, Vice President of Cardinal Hill of Northern Kentucky, Board of Trustees member for the Cardinal Hill Specialty Hospital, member of the Florence City Council from 1995 to 1998 and was a Boone County Planning Commission member from 1994 to 1998. Linda received a Pro Bono Award from the Northern Kentucky Volunteer Lawyers, Inc. in 2004.
Paul Berlage joined Riverbend in December 2023. He has more than 20 years of experience as a Title Examiner. Prior to Riverbend, Paul owned and operated United Titles Services, LLC, procuring work and providing title exams for title agencies, law firms, and municipalities. In addition to Ohio title work, from 2011-2014, Paul provided curative landman work related to oil fields in North Dakota and natural gas fields in New Mexico.
Paul's comprehensive knowledge as a commercial examiner allows him to navigate numerous counties around most of Ohio. He continues his training and education by attending a variety of related professional seminars.
Education
The George Washington University, 1991-1995