Elise Morton doesn’t see her clients as transactions. She doesn’t even like that word. “We don’t see our closings as ‘transactions,’ they are bigger than that,” she says. “We want to celebrate your major milestone with you.”

As the manager of Professional Title Insurance & Escrow Corp., Elise leads with empathy and intent, navigating a complex industry by focusing on two things: teamwork and adaptability. For her, the path to success has never been about chasing titles — it’s been about taking chances.

“I wouldn’t say I specifically chose the real estate industry, I landed in it,” she says. But that landing was anything but accidental. Elise’s journey wound through a mosaic of roles — bartender, bank teller, personal banker, mortgage closer — before leading her to title work. “Every file was like a puzzle,” she recalls. “I never turned down a new task.”

Her career took shape one leap at a time. From being “poached by a supervisor” for a new department to shifting from the lending side to the title side, Elise embraced risk at every turn. “The risks started small and continued to grow… Success isn’t always the safest route,” she explains. “You can’t force success from something you have zero interest in.”

Now in her third year as a manager — and twelfth in the real estate space — Elise oversees a close-knit team that reflects the values she holds most dear. “We are a smaller family-owned company, which gives us the incredible opportunity to not be focused on numbers, but to be more focused on the customer experience.”

That customer-first approach drives everything at Professional Title Insurance. The company conducts title searches, verifies property ownership, identifies potential liens or claims, holds funds in escrow, and issues insurance policies. They also facilitate witness-only closings and provide notary services for out-of-state clients passing through town.

But what sets the business apart isn’t what they do — it’s how they do it. “Our newest motto is — ‘Welcome Home’ is our priority,” Elise shares. “We want to be a part of your team. We want to collaborate and work as a team WITH your client and all other parties involved.”

The same team mentality drives Elise’s internal leadership. Her two escrow closers, Julie Schneider and Ashlyn Theis, bring varied experience — Julie from working closely with realtors, Ashlyn from a legal background. “We joke that I speak lender, Julie speaks realtor, and Ashlyn speaks attorney — together we make the perfect triangle,” Elise says. “I couldn’t have asked for a better staff.”

That blend of personalities is by design. Elise believes in building a workplace rooted in respect and support. “One thing I do not put up with is bullying, and I never will,” she says. “My employees know that I will stand up for them when necessary.”

Adaptability is another hallmark of Elise’s leadership. Whether her clients prefer to be the main point of contact or want her team to lead communication, Elise flexes to meet their style. “We specialize in adaptability,” she says simply. “We do not have an ideal client, we want to be the ideal title company.”

For Elise, success is not defined by material milestones. “I love what I do, I love the people that surround me, I have a stellar support system, and that to me is success,” she says. After hours, she’s a self-professed homebody who finds peace in solitude. “At the end of a long day, I like to throw headphones on and listen to an audiobook while sitting in the recliner. It’s a much-needed mental break.”

Family plays a major role in her world, too. The third of eight siblings, Elise cherishes monthly game nights, big birthday celebrations, and a household filled with love — and animals. She and her husband Scott, who she married in late 2024, live with their three dogs and two cats. “It’s a little zoo,” she laughs.

This year, Elise is turning outward. Her goal: “To become more involved in our community.” It’s a natural extension of the work she’s already doing every day — building trust, adapting to needs, and leading with compassion.

“I tell my employees: weekends and after 5pm, that’s your time,” Elise says. “You need the separation, it’s important.”

To reach Elise Morton or learn more about Professional Title Insurance & Escrow Corp, call 618-257-8888, email ebradley@professional-title.com, or visit closeatpti.com.