Your Team

Craig R. Woodward – Owner and consulting attorney with 35 years of real estate experience.  Craig earned a JD Degree, University of Florida College of Law 1980; BS Degree in Business Administration Finance, University of Florida 1977. Craig is Florida Board Certified in Real Estate Law since 1993. Professional Associations, Florida Super Lawyers and Rated “AV” the highest professional rating by Martindale Hubbell Law Directory.

Received the Lifetime Achievement Award 2010 by the Marco Island Chamber of Commerce and awarded “Key to the City” of Marco Island and Marco Island Citizen of the Year 2007.  Craig is a senior partner in the law office of Woodward Pires & Lombardo, P.A. located at: 606 Bald Eagle Drive, Suite 500, Marco Island, Florida 34145.

Melissa Reilly, Escrow Officer –  Melissa Reilly is a Closing Coordinator of First Title & Abstract, Inc., Melissa has been in the title industry for over two decades with settlement and closing experience. She began her career in banking and eventually honed her skills in the core function of title processing and closing. Her experience, commitment to clients, understanding of the market ultimately led her to FTA in 2015.
Melissa believes in empowering her team in the processing, title and closing departments and works hard to ensure all clients are served at the highest caliber. The goal is to make sure that it’s not the end product that drives our client to our services, but the level of attention to individual needs that brings them here. We want our clients to know that we are here to assist them, throughout the whole closing process.

Barbara Murry, Senior Post Closing Processor – Employed with First Title & Abstract, Inc. for over 5 years, with over 30 years’ experience in the business, Barbara is one of our top processors.

Neil Spoerlein, Comptroller – Neil joined First Title & Abstract, Inc. as the company Comptroller in 1988. With over 30 years’ experience in accounting– through up and down markets — Neil has been a guiding force behind our company’s success.

Nicole Murry, Senior Title Processor – Nicole originally began working for First Title in 2014; she started as a part-time employee when she still was in high school. Since then, in 2016, Nicole received an Associates in Science degree in Paralegal Studies and a certificate in e-Discovery and e-Litigation, from Hodges University. Nicole now assists with clearing the title requirements for each transaction and assists in preparing the files for the closing coordinators.

Julian Acosta, Post-closing Assistant – Julian Acosta started over a year ago, learning quickly, he has become a well needed talent to First Title and Abstract Inc. As one of our newest members, he has helped the company with hundreds of files, assisting to its success.

Brigid Harris, Closing Coordinator/Real Estate Paralegal – Brigid Harris is an experienced professional with over 16 years of real estate closing experience, as well as a Florida licensed Real Estate Sales Associate. She started her real estate career as a Legal Assistant/Paralegal for an established law firm in Boca Raton and has managed a high volume of real estate closings from contract to closing. Brigid works diligently to communicate with her internal team, lenders, real estate agents and clients to ensure a smooth closing experience. She relocated to Naples and joined First Title & Abstract in 2019.

Taylor Murry, Post-closing Assistant – Taylor Murry has been with First Title and Abstract for over 8 years. Over the years, she has developed this skill of foresight, thinking critically, and offering an elevated level of professionalism and confidentiality over the course of her career.

Dena Hatt, Receptionist/Title Processor Assistant – Dena Hatt joined First Title and Abstract, Inc. as the company’s receptionist back in 2021. Currently she is in training as a Title Processor to assist with extra workflow. Dena’s 37 years of experience in Children’ Ministry, Banking, and Insurance; provides a plethora of talents to FTA and a passion for customer service.