CHRIS MORTON’S STORY BEGINS far from K Street or Capitol Hill. Raised in a socioeconomically diverse working- and middle-class neighborhood of Chicago, he grew up with a strong sense of community.

“I learned early on the importance of bringing resources and investment to the people who need them most,” said Morton, reflecting on his upbringing. “I saw neighborhoods where opportunity was lacking, and I wanted to help change that.”

That drive eventually pulled him to Washington, D.C., where he built a career on Capitol Hill and later in financial services policy. There, he met his wife—also a congressional staffer at the time—and together they’ve raised two daughters.

Strengthening his roots to the Windy City, Morton received a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Chicago and graduated with honors from Northwestern University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science.

Morton is quick to note that his Midwestern roots remain central to who he is. A lifelong Chicago Cubs fan, he jokes that decades of disappointment stemming from the infamous “Billy Goat curse” taught him patience and persistence.

“If you can remain a hopeful Cubs fan in the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s, you learn a lot about the importance and power of optimism,” he quipped.

When ALTA announced Morton as its new chief executive officer in June 2025, the decision was met with broad enthusiasm across the industry. Since 2020, Morton has been at the center of ALTA’s advocacy machine, serving as the industry’s voice in Washington. Now, as he steps into the CEO role, he faces both opportunities and a challenges to harness the collective strength of over 6,000 member companies and ensure the title industry continues to thrive in a rapidly shifting housing market.

His approach blends steady advocacy with a renewed call for visibility, unity and pride in the industry’s essential role.

“I am humbled by the Board’s faith and trust in me,” Morton said. “Our leadership remains deeply committed to continuing ALTA’s legacy of promoting and supporting the title industry and the expertise of tens of thousands of title professionals across the country. Our dedicated members work every day to protect the American Dream of homeownership in their communities – and ensure the integrity of every single real estate transaction throughout the United States. As we continue to tackle challenges like the need for more housing supply and resultant affordability pressures, I’m excited to lead an association dedicated to meaningful progress in this area and many more.”

The Advocate-in-Chief

A seasoned professional with over 25 years of experience in the financial services arena, Morton joined ALTA in 2020 at the outset of the pandemic. During his tenure as ALTA’s chief lobbyist over the past five years, Morton established himself as one of the most effective voices for the industry. His advocacy efforts helped shepherd critical legislation enabling remote online notarization (RON) that’s now on the books in 46 states and drove attention to growing threats like wire fraud and seller impersonation. His recognition as a Top Lobbyist by The Hill and as one of the 500 Most Influential People Shaping Policy by Washingtonian magazine reflect the respect he has earned beyond the industry’s walls.

Morton reminds members of the stakes, ranging from the pressures of unregulated title insurance alternatives to new regulations like FinCEN’s anti-money laundering rule that goes into effect in December.

“Five years ago, we proved to ourselves, our customers and our communities that we were essential when it was our industry keeping the housing and real estate economy going and providing fuel to the overall American economy,” he said. “We must consistently and proudly remind everyone else of our importance. Because if we don’t tell our story, someone else will.”

Modesty vs. Visibility

One of Morton’s recurring themes is the industry’s tendency to be modest. Title professionals pride themselves on working behind the scenes to ensure smooth closings. But that modesty can come at a cost.

“Sometimes, that can work against us,” he said. “Policymakers are busy people, when they don’t see or hear from you regularly back home or in Washington, you can get taken for granted. We can’t let that happen. We’ve got to continually seize the spotlight.”

His call is not for self-congratulation, but for increasing our recognition. Title companies directly contribute more than $30 billion annually to the country’s GDP, pay $13 billion in wages and benefits every year and play a crucial role in collecting $3 billion in delinquent taxes and child support. Yet, Morton argues, the numbers only tell part of the story.

“I think of the first-time homebuyers who finally find stability, or the retirees who close on their dream home after decades of saving,” he said. “Those aren’t just transactions. They’re moments of dignity and opportunity—and we’re right there, making sure those moments are protected and insured.”

Vision for the Future

As CEO, Morton wants to build on ALTA’s strong advocacy foundation while ensuring the association adapts to new challenges. Fraud prevention is among the items near the top of his list, particularly as schemes become more sophisticated.

“Seller impersonation is growing. Wire fraud is relentless. Our job is to stay two steps ahead of the criminals—and that means training, technology and constant vigilance,” he said.

He highlighted two recent innovations ALTA developed alongside its members. First, two new policy endorsements were published to help protect homeowners from the growing threat of seller impersonation fraud. The endorsements will allow new and existing homeowners to add coverage that offers post-policy protection against forgery of a deed or mortgage. Second, ALTA updated its Best Practices Framework to include new guidance to help title professionals combat fraud through identity verification efforts. Specifically, the update to Pillar IV of the Best Practices includes requirements for staff training to detect impersonation attempts, stronger controls over notary and signing agent selection, additional verification steps for third-party professionals and defined protocols for responding to suspected fraud.

“With criminals harnessing advanced technology to perpetuate sophisticated seller impersonation schemes against unsuspecting homeowners, new products like the policy endorsements are needed to keep the American homeowners protected,” Morton said. “These endorsements build upon ALTA’s landmark Homeowner’s Policy of Title Insurance, and set the standards for forgery protection before and after closing.

“Recognizing that fraud prevention must begin before documents are recorded, that’s why we also updated our Best Practices framework to raise the bar for identity verification and closing security across the title insurance industry,” Morton continued.

Since real estate fraud is quickly evolving, he added the industry must lead with new approaches to combat it. That means not only enhancing the integrity and security of real estate transactions for consumers by offering the strongest protections through title insurance policies, but also putting stronger safeguards in place throughout the transaction itself.

“ALTA and the industry are committed to staying one step ahead and protecting what matters most: the security of homeownership,” Morton said.

He also stresses the importance of embracing change—whether in technology, regulation or consumer expectations. But, he insists, the core of the industry will always be its people.

“Artificial intelligence is on everyone’s mind, but our greatest asset is what I’ve heard one of our members call ‘Agent Intelligence,’” Morton said. “The underwriting, the clear communication, the fraud prevention—that’s the value we bring. That’s what makes us indispensable.”

‘We Are Main Street’

Morton is determined to distinguish the industry’s identity.

“We’re Main Street, with title professionals offering their critical services in every county nationwide” he said. “Over 90% of our industry is comprised of small businesses. We’re the hard workers who do our best when not in the spotlight. But it’s okay to seize the spotlight when recognition is earned. ALTA is not just the professional team or the board of governors—it’s all our members, representing the industry as a whole. Together we are second to none.”

Small Steps, Big Impact

Morton challenges more members to recognize their own ability to shape the industry’s reputation. He urges them to commit to what he calls “small but mighty actions.”

“If each of us committed to just a few extra small actions—sharing thought leadership, educating a community group, recruiting someone into our ranks or developing a personal, long-term relationship with your policymakers and regulators at the state and federal levels— the combined strength of this industry would grow exponentially,” he said. “The force would be unstoppable.”

This grassroots approach mirrors his personal experience as an advocate where change happens when many voices align around a common message and goal.