Elizabeth A. Smith, Esq.
Liz graduated from St. Michael’s College in 2007, and received her J.D. from Vermont Law School in 2011. While in law school, Liz clerked for Judge Thomas Durkin in the Environmental Division of the Vermont Superior Court. After graduating, Liz worked in private practice, focusing on real estate, before joining the VATC team in 2016. She is a member of the VBA Title Standards and currently serves as Chair of the Committee. Liz lives with her husband and children in Underhill Center.
Steve Ducham, Esq.
Steve joined CATIC in 2022, bringing with him 18 years of experience as a Vermont real estate attorney. At CATIC Steve draws upon that experience to help attorney agents and their staff resolve title issues and close transactions. He is a graduate of the University of Vermont and Vermont Law School and has been a member of the Vermont Title Standards Committee since 2014. Steve lives in Essex Junction with his wife and two children.
Lau Almeida
Lau grew up in Shelburne. She knows many sides of the real estate industry. Before joining VATC, Lau worked for a building contractor for many years. She also worked over 10 years as a legal assistant in a busy Chittenden County office. Lau and her husband live in Essex. They have spent many hours in hockey rinks watching their three sons play hockey.
Jill Drinkwater
Jill grew up in Central Ohio but has made Vermont her home since 2005. Before joining CATIC, Jill worked as a legal assistant and paralegal in Burlington law firms, where she found her interest in real estate law and assisting clients through their commercial and residential transactions. She and her family live slopeside in Bolton Valley.
Katie Caron
Katie is a native Vermonter who graduated from Suffolk University. Prior to joining VATC in 2010, Katie worked as a legal assistant in two law firms. She has held a Realtors® license as well as a Top-Secret Clearance from the U.S. Government. Katie lives in Milton with her husband and daughter. If you talk hockey with Katie, you’d better be a Canadiens’ fan!
Judith Graves
Judith joined VATC on Halloween 2016 as a member of our post-closing title update team. A Rutland native, she worked for many years as a certified soil evaluator and septic system designer in VT and MA and has surveying and title search experience. Judith is an avid reader, beekeeper and dog trainer, and designed and constructed a 1600 gallon rainwater collection and delivery system for her gardens in Essex Junction.
Judith Braun
SVP, Northern New England Regional Manager
Judy joined CATIC in 2016 and in 2022 added Vermont to her area of responsibility. Judy has been in the title insurance industry for more than 30 years working in both sales and management roles with other national underwriters in both New Hampshire and Maine. Judy lives in New Hampshire with her husband and her puppy, Cooper.