Great American Title

A title company is in the business of helping people achieve home ownership. “On a daily basis, we work with people who are fortunate enough to accomplish this great American dream,” says Brian Russell, Vice President of Operations and Sales with Great American Title Company.

Extending what they do out into the community, the staff of Great American Title Company has long been involved with charitable organizations that help people who are struggling, in various ways, with the basic necessity of shelter.

“Everything we are involved in ties into the idea of safety and security by having a home or shelter,” says Russell. “Peggy Barton, owner and President of Great American Title started this company 27 years ago. Her leadership set us on a path of making positive impacts in a person’s life directly through quality work, but also back into the community indirectly from our success.”

“If it’s anything dealing with the concept of home and something that we know we can impact financially and/or assist physically, we try to do it,” says Brian Russell. “So many of us and the people we work with are so fortunate. We want to make sure we share that out into the community.”

The staff of Great American Title is heavily involved with The Kitchen, Inc., and all of its various outreach organizations, including Russell who sits on their board. “We really identified with The Kitchen because of all the outreach they do with teens through the Rare Breed, with veterans, and with families,” says Russell. “We have veterans on staff, we have employees with kids who are in their teens, and they cover so many areas that mean a lot to us.”

Great American Title sponsors an annual golf tournament at Highland Springs for The Kitchen every August. The event is exclusive to lenders, builders, and realtors specifically so the players in the industry can give back to organizations that help unsheltered and underserved people. The company is also a major sponsor of the annual Eyes in Disguise fundraiser that The Kitchen holds every February.

The staff of Great American Title also participates in Harmony House’s iCare day in October, which raises awareness of domestic violence. Russell says he was personally and profoundly affected by listening to the stories of the women who live at Harmony House. “The fact that their building is full every night just floored me.”

In addition to all the involvement in Springfield, Great American Title has recently begun to branch out further into the region to get even more involved. While the company has long been a local sponsor of the St. Jude Dream Home, just last year Great American Title partnered with a builder in Joplin to sponsor a Dream Home. The company also sponsors a Habitat for Humanity golf tournament in Joplin, in addition to the local Habitat Home Run 5k race in August.

The staff of Great American Title has also participated in Keller Williams’ Red Day for several years in Lake of the Ozarks, Springfield, Branson, Joplin and most recently by building bunk beds for kids in Bentonville, Arkansas. “It was another eye-opener to learn how many kids sleep on the floor or just on blankets,” says Russell.

“Most of the organizations we work with are all about giving people shelter. We can’t do everything but when it comes to home and shelter, we try to do what we can. We see the good side every day. We also want to be sure we’re helping those who are in need.”

Great American Title
Street Address: 506 W. Battlefield –
Corporate Offices, Springfield, MO. 65807

Phone: 417-823-0800

Fax: 417-823-8202

Website: GATOZARKS.com

Top Executives: Peggy Barton, James Tacke, Brian Russell, Leslie Wagner

Year Founded: 1992

Number of Employees: 120

Product or Service: Escrow Closings and Title Insurance, Construction Disbursement, 1031 exchange services, Title/Property Searches