Officers & Managers

Erwin Wood
Founder, President & Licensed Escrow Officer

Erwin Wood, the founder of Professional Escrow Services, started in the title business in 1962 with Puget Sound Title Insurance Company in Seattle, which became Transamerica Title Insurance Company. He worked his way from messenger to Vice President and finally, County Manager. In 1971 he was recruited by First American Title Insurance Company, where he again rose to Vice President. He opened First American Title Company of Bellevue where he was made President. He served for several years in management for the Seattle and Bellevue offices. His forte has and always will be in title. However, he is also an expert and very proficient in the escrow process. He has been involved in the closing of every conceivable type of transaction. In 1978 he started his own company, Professional Escrow Services, which has since grown to serve multiple locations in the greater Seattle Area.

Mr. Wood has distinguished himself as a respected member of the real estate community, and has authored and co-authored forms and documents widely used in real estate transactions throughout the Northwest. Some of his work has become a standard of practice in the escrow field.

Always an innovator, Mr. Wood co-founded Advanced Escrow Systems and participated in the design of the escrow software, which became one of the most widely used escrow computer software systems in the Pacific Northwest. Advanced Escrow Systems became known as Infostream until it was purchased by SMS Corporation, which is now a subsidiary of First American Corporation. Mr. Wood is also known as the local pioneer and expert of the split escrow method of closing.

Mr. Wood’s latest enterprise was the merger between Professional Escrow Services and the law firm of Malone & Associates, PS in order to provide enhanced services for his clients. Erwin Wood has dedicated more than 40 years of his life to providing quality customer service.

Thomas Malone
CEO & Manager

Thomas Malone, CEO and Manager of Professional Escrow Services, LLC, has a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Washington, a Juris Doctor from the University of Washington School of Law, and a Master of Business Administration in Taxation from Golden Gate University. Tom’s law firm of Malone and Associates PS, specializes in real estate law, income and estate tax planning, corporate and general business, health care, and probate. Tom is licensed to practice law in all Washington State Courts, the U.S. Supreme Court, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Western District, in the United States Tax Court, and in the U.S. Court Claims. He is rated A-V by Martindale-Hubbell, and has been named to Who’s Who in American Law from 1990 to present.

Tom was recently awarded the Trustee of the Year Award for 2009 by the Trustee’s Association of Community and Technical Colleges of the State of Washington.  Tom is a long-time member of the Seattle Community College District Board of Trustees and received the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year award from that Board in 1995. He served on the Board of Directors of Swedish Health Care Services from 1992 to present, and as Chairman of the Board from 1996 to 1999.

Tom has served on the Board of Directors, Ballard Community Hospital, as Chairman of the City of Seattle Board of Ethics, and as the Chairman of the City of Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission. He has served as a member and Chairman on the North Seattle Community College Foundation and Chairman of the City of Seattle Fair Campaign Practices Commission.

Tom was the President of the Ballard Chamber of Commerce for four years, and was named Business Person of the Year by the Ballard Chamber in 1986. He was also named as Man of the Year by the Kiwanis Club of Ballard in 1983. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Washington State Bar Association, the King County Bar Association, and the Estate Planning Council of Seattle.

Terry Jaynes
Designated Escrow Officer

General Manager

Terry Jaynes is the Designated Escrow Officer and General Manager for Professional Escrow Services.  Terry is responsible for all back and front office operational issues, staff supervision, and escrow processes for Professional Escrow.  She also handles trust account reconciliation, monitors and analyzes leasehold issues, equipment purchases and leases, and technology implementation, upgrades and training, and is the Administrator for our State-of-the-Art Escrow Software, Streamline, including paperless file storage with Green Folders.

Terry started in the escrow business in 1968.  She served as the Designated Escrow Officer and Manager of several escrow companies prior to joining Professional Escrow Services, and also worked for SMS/Jerry Wheeler for 13 years as Escrow Software Support/Trainer.   Her previous responsibilities have included staff training, development and support, customer service, daily trust reconciliation and accounting, and overseeing compliance with all escrow regulations and procedures on the closing of escrow files.

Terry’s extensive previous experience and expertise in escrow operations and management have allowed her to add significant back office improvements to the Professional Escrow Services operation. In addition, her communication, training and staff development, and software trouble-shooting and implementation skills are utilized on a daily basis in dealing with PES escrow files, clients, vendors, and other staff members.

Patti Southard
Senior Closer, Vice President, & Manager, Relocation/REO Branch

Patti has worked with our company since 1984, gaining a comprehensive knowledge of all phases of commercial and residential escrow procedures.

Prior to her career at Professional Escrow Services LLC, Patti spent ten years with Great Western Bank as relocation services coordinator and loan servicing supervisor, followed by five years at Prudential Relocation Management as Relocation Coordinator.

Patti oversees the operations at our Relocation/REO branch.

Cindy Hansen
Branch Designated Escrow Officer, Senior Escrow Closer,Vice President, & Manager, Bellevue

Cindy is a long-time veteran of the escrow field; she has been in escrow since 1973 and has been working with Professional Escrow Services, LLC since 1986. A "star" in the industry, she helped establish the first computer-based escrow processing system with IBM.

Cindy has extensive knowledge of real estate contracts, equities, and on-line escrow closings, and is proficient in all aspects of residential and commercial escrow.

Cindy oversees operations at our Bellevue branch.

Betty Fox Paulsen
Vice President of Administrative Services

Betty oversees and consults on human resource issues, finances, and marketing.

Betty holds a BA in Business from Newport University. She is a former president of both the Ballard Chamber of Commerce and Puget Sound Association of Legal Administrators, and was awarded a Lifetime Member Award from that association in 2003. She served on the North Seattle Community College Technical Advisory Committee for several years.

Betty was the administrator of the Malone Galvin Spicer law firm for fourteen years prior to joining the management staff of Professional Escrow Services.

Closers & Assistants

Kris Blackburn

Escrow Closer

Kris Blackburn is a Closer in our Relo/REO Department.  Kris has comprehensive sales and marketing experience in all aspects of the real estate industry, is an excellent communicator with strong closing abilities, and is well versed in computer operating systems and industry-specific software. 

Kris has extensive previous experience as an escrow closer and real estate agent, making her invaluable to the Professional Escrow Services staff.

Beverly LeMay

Senior Escrow Assistant

Bev brings extensive previous escrow closing experience as well as loan servicing and document processing of equipment leases to her position with PES.  Her well-rounded background and experience allow her to take over processing of any PES file, whether in our REO/Relocation Branch or a residential or commercial transaction in one of our other branches.  In addition, her title clearing experience is utilized on a daily basis in her position at PES.  Bev’s professional and pleasant phone demeanor provide incoming callers a welcoming contact with our company. 

Cary Malone

Project and Systems Coordinator

Cary's unique computer software and hardware expertise have enabled him to upgrade PES records management systems.  In addition, Cary provides data entry assistance and is special project coordinator for the company.

Cary graduated from Seattle Academy in 2002, and has a degree in Computer Hardware from Seattle Vocational Institute and an AA degree from South Seattle Community College.

Theresa Thies

Administrative/Escrow Assistant

Theresa Thies' professionalism provides customers and clients with a pleasing first experience with Professional Escrow Services.  Theresa has previous experience as a multi-line switchboard operator, and handles the PES phones and calls with ease.  Her calm and proficient demeanor provide a welcoming atmosphere and are appreciated by co-workers and clients. 

Theresa sets up escrow files, order title policies, reconciles trust accounts, and performs other administrative functions for our processing team.

Theresa has an AA Degree from North Seattle Community College and also attended Saint Michael's College in Colchester, Vermont.