Feature Spotlight #77 - Jacki Tobar

Founder & Escrow Boss | 23 Years Making Title Happen.

Every once in a while, you meet someone in the title industry who sees the work a little differently, who understands that behind every closing file is a story, a puzzle, and an opportunity to protect something deeply important.

This week, Her.Collective proudly celebrates Jacki Tobar, Founder and Escrow Officer of Proven National Title in Wylie, Texas. With nearly 23 years in the title industry, Jacki has built a career rooted in curiosity, resilience, leadership, and a deep respect for the complexity of the work we do behind the scenes.

What started as a part-time receptionist role has grown into a career—and now a company—built from the ground up. And if you ask her what still excites her about title after two decades?

It’s the puzzle.

From Receptionist to Founder.

Jacki’s journey into title began the way many great title stories do, unexpectedly. Her mother worked as a paralegal for a P-22 attorney at Ticor Title, and Jacki started working there as a part-time receptionist at just 17 years old. Not long after, she moved into a full-time escrow assistant role and began learning every layer of the industry.

 Instead of staying in one lane, Jacki intentionally worked through multiple roles in title, absorbing everything she could about the closing process.

Those early years created a foundation that would eventually shape her into the professional she is today.

“Those experiences gave me a deep understanding of how everything works behind the scenes,” Jacki says. “And they helped shape me into the trusted resource I strive to be today.”

 The Mentor Who Shaped Her.

When asked about a woman who influenced her career, Jacki smiles before answering.

“If I must choose one,” she says, “it would be Sue Jackson.” While working at Fidelity National Title early in her career, Sue became more than a colleague—she became a mentor.

“She wrapped me in her arms,” Jacki recalls. “We laughed together, cried together, and navigated incredibly challenging moments.”

Jacki watched Sue handle difficult clients and complex transactions with grace and professionalism, even during the chaos of the 2008 housing crisis.

“She showed me not only how to do the work—but what truly matters and what doesn’t.”

It’s the kind of mentorship that shapes a career long after the moment passes.

When the Challenge Isn’t Gender—It’s Age.

Interestingly, Jacki says the biggest challenge she faced early in her career wasn’t being a woman, it was being young. Starting in the industry as a teenager meant she often had to prove her credibility before people trusted her authority. “I used to joke that it was because I didn’t have any gray hair yet.” But the experience taught her a powerful lesson:

Consistency and integrity always win over time.

“When you show up prepared, stay solution-oriented, and keep doing the right thing, people eventually learn to trust your voice.”

Today, she’s proud to have earned that trust.

Title Work: The Ultimate Puzzle.

Jacki admits something that might surprise people; she loves crime shows. And in many ways, she says title insurance feels a lot like solving a mystery.

“Every file is a puzzle,” she explains. “We gather pieces of information, review the history of the property, and make sure everything fits together the way it should.” Sometimes something appears in the chain of title that doesn’t belong.

And figuring out why?

That’s the interesting part.

“Title insurance is almost like a secret society,” Jacki says. “There’s so much happening behind the scenes that most people never see.” And she loves helping people understand that hidden world.

A Philosophy of “Elevate & Lift.”

Jacki believes strongly that the industry grows stronger when professionals lift one another up. Her personal philosophy is simple: “Elevate & Lift.”

“As I grow, you grow. As I rise, you rise.”

 She rejects the scarcity mindset that sometimes shows up in competitive industries.

“There isn’t a space limit at the top,” she says. “If you feel like you’ve reached the top, it may just mean you’re in the wrong room.”

It’s a perspective that aligns beautifully with the mission of Her.Collective, where connection and mentorship help women grow together.

Stubbornness… or Grit?

When asked where she finds her grit, Jacki laughs. “I usually just call it stubbornness.”

Once she commits to something, she’s determined to see it through. That determination is backed by strong processes—something Jacki believes is the backbone of successful title operations. “Find a process. Stick with it. Improve it. Refine it. Repeat it.”

Because in title, the real product isn’t the closing. It’s the policy.

And that means every file must be clean, compliant, and audit ready.

The Village Behind the Vision.

Behind every entrepreneur is a support system, and Jacki is quick to recognize hers. Her husband, Jason Walters, is her biggest supporter. “He’s usually the one holding the ladder while I climb.”

Her children—16-year-old daughter KP and 6-year-old son—keep her grounded and remind her what unconditional love looks like.

She also credits the local business community in Wylie and organizations like the Texas Land Title Association for providing relationships and support throughout her journey.

“It really does take a village,” she says.

Life Outside the Closing Table.

When she’s not running a title company, Jacki embraces her creative side. She loves journal planning, often creating detailed memory journals filled with stickers, washi tape, and thoughtful design. The process allows her to unplug and enter a creative flow state.

And if there’s karaoke involved?

Even better.

“A salt shaker, a candle, scissors—whatever’s available can be a microphone.” 😊

Music has always been part of her life, from seeing LeAnn Rimes in concert with her mom to still jamming to early 2000s bands today.

A Leadership Mantra: Do Good.

Jacki’s leadership philosophy is beautifully simple. Two words she attributes to Socrates:

Do Good.

Treat people the way you want to be treated. Lead with integrity. Be kind.

“It’s free,” she says. “And it makes you feel good.”

Building Something of Her Own.

One of Jacki’s proudest moments came when she founded Proven National Title from the ground up. But the moment that truly made it real?

The day the company sign was installed on her office building in downtown Wylie. “Seeing the name on the building made everything feel real.”

 It was a reminder that hard work, persistence, and vision can create something lasting, not just for a business, but for a community.

The Legacy She Hopes to Leave.

When asked about legacy, Jacki returns to a lesson she learned early in life: Leave things better than you found them, “If you borrow a car, fill up the tank before returning it.”

In the same way, she hopes to leave the title industry stronger through integrity, mentorship, and higher professional standards. Because to Jacki, title insurance is about more than policies and closings.

It’s about leadership.Relationships.Opportunity.

And helping the next generation of professional’s lead.

Final Words for the Women of Her.

Jacki leaves the Her.Collective community with a simple but powerful reminder:

“You matter. Your voice matters. Your knowledge matters. And the way you show up for your clients and colleagues’ matters.”

The title industry needs strong women who lead with both competence and character, and Jacki Tobar embodies both. Jacki, we celebrate your journey, your leadership, and the impact you’re making in our industry.

We are honored to know you. To work beside you. You are truly a remarkable Woman of Title!

*To Connect with Jacki: jacki.tobar@provennationaltitle.com I LinkedIn I Instagram I Facebook