Erin Elser, 33

Erin Elser’s plan was to go into event management after college. But when she graduated from University of Florida in 2008, the only jobs she could find were unpaid internships.

At the time, her father’s title services business was booming by capitalizing on short sales and foreclosures. He sought a support administrator. Although the business, she recalls, didn’t sound “fast or sexy,” Elser decided a paycheck was a paycheck. So the two agreed she would help out and career-search at the same time.

Fast-forward 11 years: Elser is now branch manager of Majesty Title Service’s largest, most profitable and flagship office.

“I started at the bottom of the rung and have done everything since,” Elser says. She grew from admin work to business development and sales, to processing, to title search and examination, to getting her title license in 2013. She then became an escrow closer and eventually made the step to branch manager at the beginning of 2019, leading the Tampa office’s 13 employees.

With a nod to her generation, Elser also has a side hustle: She cohosts a podcast with her sister called "Millenials360Life," designed to educate people about millennials. It has more than 2,500 subscribers.

And even though Fidelity acquired the growing seven-office company last year, under LandCastle Title Group, Elser’s father, Vincent Cassidy, continues to play an active role in the company. He also continues to be a role model and mentor for Elser. The two often get up around 4:30 a.m. and walk Bayshore Boulevard together to maintain one-one-one time.

Cassidy taught Elser she doesn’t have to jump in and fix every problem — and she doesn’t need to get involved in everything. “Only a small percentage of the time you need to get involved; the other times things work out organically,” Elser says.

That has also served her well outside the office, in making sure she doesn’t overcommit herself to passion projects in the community. Elser has been involved in leadership in multiple groups including Junior League of Tampa, Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Emerge Tampa and the Tampa Metropolitan YMCA.

Elser’s parents also taught her the importance of personal brand, she says. “You are born and die with one thing — that’s your name. Don’t ever lose your name or let people question your integrity or intentions.”

ON THE RECORD: ERIN ELSER

Employer: Majesty Title Services

Title: Branch Manager & Licensed Title Agent

Birthplace: Long Island, New York

Years on the Gulf Coast: 19

Marital status/children: Married with a 9-year-old stepdaughter 

Alma mater/degree:  University of Florida: bachelor's in recreation and event management; University of Tampa: MBA

Where is the best place to network? Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce

What's the best business lesson you've ever learned? Sometimes the best action is no action. Ninety percent of the time, things fix themselves.

What's your top tip for being productive? I’m avid creator of to-do lists and, more importantly, prioritizing what needs to get done first. I also block off time for different tasks on my calendar, so it keeps me accountable and on track.

What's the weirdest job you've ever had? I got paid to hand out flyers on campus at UF at the large classroom halls. It was only “weird” because there was very limited accountability, and it was random. You just sort of showed up with flyers and got paid.

What community group or organization are you most involved with? The Junior League of Tampa

If you could have a side hustle, what would it be? Slinging cocktails in a tiki hut on the beach somewhere

What's your favorite off-hours activity? My husband and I love biking the Pinellas Trail and hydrating at local craft breweries along the way.

What's your favorite board game or video game? The Game of Life

What's the top item on your bucket list? To travel to a faraway island like Fiji and stay in one of those overwater bungalows

Where is your happy place? Reading a mindless chick-lit book on the beach

What's your favorite podcast? Currently enjoying Dax Shepard’s "Armchair Expert "

Who/what is your favorite musical artist/band? Billy Joel

Who would play you in a movie about your life? Kristen Wiig 

What was your first album/tape cassette/CD? New Kids on the Block or Paula Abdul

What was your first concert? Billy Joel

What's one song that will get you out on the dance floor? "Don’t Stop Believin’" — Journey

What's your favorite karaoke song? "We Didn’t Start the Fire" — Billy Joel

What instrument/role would you play in a band? I can’t sing, but I think being a drummer would be fun.

Please describe yourself in three words. Compassionate, outgoing and engaging