SPOTLIGHT ON: Stephanie Liggio
Mary Prenon | November 8, 2017
‘Bronx Girl’ Wins Affiliate of the Year Award
Stephanie Liggio, HGAR’s 2017 “Affiliate Member of the Year,” has enjoyed a varied career path before settling in at Rye Brook’s Judicial Title Insurance Agency, where she has worked for the past 12 years. Currently the Director of Business Development, Liggio has held previous positions with Unilever in Greenwich, CT and Jazz at Lincoln Center in Manhattan.
She also lived in Las Vegas and now hails from the Bronx.
Liggio holds an Accounting degree from Berkeley College in White Plains, a Communications degree from the University of Las Vegas, and a Master’s Degree in Marketing from Baruch College in New York City. A die-hard Rangers and Yankees fan, Liggio even earned a Master’s Degree in Sports Management from Iona College in New Rochelle “just for fun.”
Given her background and Association volunteer work, it’s no wonder that this well-rounded “over achiever” caught the eye of HGAR’s Recognition Committee when choosing this year’s “Affiliate of the Year.” Over the past two years, Liggio has been a constant force in planning numerous successful events for the Hudson Gateway Realtor Foundation.
“I started to suspect something when I was asked to stay for the Annual Meeting at Members Day,” Liggio admitted. “But when I heard my name called for this award I was still surprised. It was so exciting to hear everyone cheering and to know that you’re appreciated for the work you do.”
A lifelong “Bronx girl,” Liggio headed west to Las Vegas after “falling in love” with the University of Nevada campus. However, an opportunity to work with Jazz at Lincoln Center brought the native New Yorker back home. The non-profit music organization promotes Jazz music around the word and educates children about Jazz.
Liggio spent over a year working there as a Marketing Coordinator, booking talent, doing promotions and selling tickets. “I worked very long hours for very little money but it was great,” she recalled.
After moving to Unilever for a year, she made her foray into the financial world working in the mortgage business. Later, she transferred into the title insurance business, learning just about everything on the job. “Title questions are probably the hardest ones to answer for new homeowners,” she explained. “Basically, title insurance helps to prevent any type of fraud from happening at the closing table. It’s making sure that the people selling the property are the rightful owners of the house—especially when you’re dealing with estates.”
In New York, homeowners must have title insurance, and this applies to single and multi-family homes, condominiums and sometimes co-op apartments. Liggio’s main thrust now is seeking new business and she is constantly networking with Realtors and attorneys. “I love the people I work with,” she said. “The Realtor community has been great.”
Despite her busy schedule, Liggio makes time for volunteering with the Hudson Gateway Realtor Foundation, as well as the Women’s Council of Realtors (WCR), where for years she helped to coordinate its annual Fashion Show. Initially, she got involved with the Women’s Council as a sponsor liaison and credits Realtor and WCR member Bonnie Koff with coaxing her into the inner sanctum of the Fashion Show planning. “I met Bonnie when I was doing mortgages and attended many open houses in the Rivertowns,” she said. “The Fashion Show was a lot of work, but I loved it.”
Two years ago when Koff was named Chair of the Realtor Foundation’s Fundraising Committee, she tapped Liggio again for her help. “Yes, Bonnie roped me in again, but it’s been so much fun and for such a great cause,” added Liggio. The two have been instrumental in planning a series of very successful “Pub Nights” at local bar/restaurants throughout the Hudson Valley, recruiting “guest bartenders,” who are local Realtors, to serve wine and beer.
Liggio and Koff have also led the planning for the Foundation’s successful “Monte Carlo Night,” and will be repeating it in 2018 with a “Casino Night.”
“Bonnie and I have been working together for so long that everyone now knows us as ‘Bonnie & Clyde.’ And yes, I’m Clyde!”
When she’s not working or volunteering, Liggio loves to attend hockey and baseball games, as well as rock concerts. In the summer, she loves spending time on Long Island’s beaches.
Her biggest concern now is new regulations in the title industry and how they will affect business and property closings in the near future. Liggio looks forward to growing with Judicial Title, which is now the largest title insurance agency in New York, with offices in Westchester, Long Island and New York City.
As for her newest designation as “HGAR Affiliate Member of the Year,” Liggio said she is proud and honored to have earned that title. “It was so wonderful to be recognized along with all of the other award winners this year. I was so happy to be included with all of these deserving people.”
HGAR, Director of Communications