Interview with Rande Johnsen

Congratulations on your election as President of the United Trustees Association.  What is your vision for UTA?

As the newly elected president of the United Trustees Association, I would like to thank all of the people who made this accomplishment possible. Without their support this could not have happened. Over the past few years we have all heard and discussed how the foreclosure and default industry would soon be booming. Well that time has come. In these trying economic times we must make sure that we seize every opportunity, and build a ship to ride above the flood of defaults that we are currently experiencing. My vision for the UTA is to make it a national platform for education, information, and legislative reform for all it’s members.

How does the current boom in foreclosures affecting the industry and in turn, the association?

Now that we are at the frontlines of the default boom, the UTA is facing a variety of new challenges. These challenges include moratoriums, restrictions, and new laws enacted by local and state governments. The UTA will now, more than ever, need to remain fluid at the forefront of education and legislation, so we can ride smoothly over these types of roadblocks.

Tell us about your background and how you got into the industry.

I came to this realization by looking at past foreclosure booms, and my own experience in the industry. However, before I entered the foreclosure and trustee industry,

I have always been a part of the lending industry since graduating from Long Beach State University. However, my initial concentration was in escrow, real estate, and title insurance. During the early 1980’s I became a partial owner of an escrow company located in Southern California while also running a R.E.O. management company. Soon after, the management of a mid-sized foreclosure trustee asked me to join their ranks and run their R.E.O. division. I took the position with the stipulation that they teach me how to foreclose the properties that I was already closing and reselling. It was during these years that I learned every aspect of the foreclosure industry from beginning to end. Through these valuable experiences, I was able to create my own foreclosure and trustee company. Slowly and have built up a strong and unified team that forecloses and manages defaults throughout the western United States.

Your company, Trustee Corps, has grown during the past years.  How did you grow it to this point and what is your business or leadership philosophy? 

The way such growth is possible is by always trying to improve upon what already works. This goes against the saying “if it’s not broken don’t fix it”. However, as any businessman knows, if you wait till some things are broken then you’ve waited too long. I am the typical “Type A” personality; this is probably why I have the constant drive to improve upon things.

The company that my experiences have led me to create is Trustee Corps. Within this company and our associated partners,  we are a highly efficient and select group of individuals and managers who make the organization operate at maximum capacity. Through my years I have learned one simple truth: that surrounding myself with excellent people and partners, my business has grown, and will continue to grow exponentially during the present explosion of defaults.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

What I enjoy the most about coming to work every day is greeting the challenges of the day with an optimistic view, and making each obstacle into a learning experience. 

What do you anticipate you’ll enjoy most about your leadership position with UTA?

I am looking forward to working with the people and companies associated with industry and the organization.

What are UTA’s greatest challenges over the next year?  And over the next several years?

As the new leader of this great organization, I plan to improve the methods of communication that are integral to the UTA’s success. As in any successful relationship whether it be personal or business, the key ingredient is exceptional communication. If clear and open communication is not achieved in our business, then opportunities will be missed, animosity created, and efficiency decreased. This I believe will be the greatest challenge of our organization over the next year. If open ended communication is achieved then everyone will reap the rewards.

How do you spend time outside of work?

With the onslaught of defaults we have been facing this year, I spend most of my time at work. The few precious moments I do get outside of work, my wife and I spend time with our daughter who is middle school and my son who is a midshipman at the United States Merchant Marine Academy . Our children are very important to us, and they have personally inspired me to be all that I can be for them, and this mentality has transferred into the workplace. My wife and I also love to dance, travel and rehab houses when we can, which relieves the stress of work. Thank you and good luck over the next year to all the members of the United Trustees Association.