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2008 Best in Business Finalists: 26-100 Employees
June 27, 2008
Birmingham Business Journal
Reli Title
When Kent Stewart founded Reli Title in 1997, his goal wasn't to create a large title company with offices across the Southeast.
But that's exactly what happened.
Stewart, the president of the company and real estate attorney, said Reli was created so the firm could do title work internally.
But over time, the company began doing more and more title work and over time, Stewart began spending much more time managing Reli than practicing law.
'It just kind of outgrew the law firm and took on a life of its own," he said.
Today, Reli has grown to include 20 offices and 75 employees in Alabama, Florida and Tennessee. Despite the slowing housing market, Reli's gross revenue grew 15 percent to more than $8.4 million in 2007.
Stewart said the firm has experienced steady growth because it has carefully targeted the markets it enters. The company has offices in Tampa, Fla., Chattanooga, Tenn., and Nashville, among other cities. He said Reli has also pursued specific individuals in those markets to bring on board.
"What we've tried to do is identify the real experts in each of those markets and bring them on board," he said.
The company has added nine branches in the past five years, but Stewart said Reli doesn't have a targeted number of offices that it would like to have.
"There are no plans (for another branch) on the drawing board, but that could change tomorrow if the right opportunity comes along."