Brian and Shelle Pitman, avid Longhorn fans, regularly attend the University of Texas vs. University of Oklahoma game or better known as “Texas – OU”.
By CASSIE MCKEE
Four Points News
Brian and Shelle Pitman have had a big influence on the Four Points community. In the 19 years that they have lived here, they have raised three children, grown a successful start-up business that today has 450 employees, and volunteered for countless civic organizations.
Both from the small North Texas town of Sherman, Brian and Shelle met after finishing college – he at The University of Texas at Austin and she at the University of North Texas at Denton. They had both returned to Sherman to begin their professional careers. Brian went to work for a small title company and Shelle was a science teacher and coach at Sherman High School.
The couple married a few years later and will celebrate their 25th anniversary this year. In 1998, they moved to Steiner Ranch, still a very rural community at the time.
“When we moved to this area, the Four Points H-E-B had not even opened and the only school in the area was Steiner Ranch Elementary,” Brian said. “It has been amazing to watch how the community has grown and evolved during all of those years.”
The Pitman children at Christmas time: (L-R) Kelsee, 21, now a senior at Texas Tech University majoring in broadcast journalism; Reid, 18, a freshman at Baylor University; and Trevor, 17, a junior at Vandegrift High School.
The couple has raised three children here – Kelsee, 21, now a senior at Texas Tech University majoring in broadcast journalism; Reid, 18, a freshman at Baylor University; and Trevor, 17, a junior at Vandegrift High School.
“The Four Points area has been a great place to raise a family,” Brian said. “The Leander ISD-area schools have been great for our family.”
In 2005, Brian co-founded Independence Title with Jay Southworth. He wanted to start a locally-based title company that was focused solely on Texas business. The company started small and has grown into one of the largest title companies in Texas, with offices in Austin, San Antonio, Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth.
They now have about 450 employees in Texas and have been ranked the Austin Business Journal’s #1 title company for 10 years in a row.
“We continue to actively grow the company,” Brian said. “We are planning two new locations in the Austin area for 2017 and several locations in the DFW area in 2017.”
Time and talent have been a huge part of the success of Independence Title.
“Starting any business is a huge time investment,” Brian said. “I think hiring and retaining a
talented team of employees is the key to the success of any business.”
It hasn’t been all about work though. Sports have always played a big part in the Pitman family’s life. Shelle, who played basketball during college, has coached countless athletic teams for kids over the years. All three of the couple’s children grew up playing basketball and swam on the Steiner Stars swim team. They are also avid Longhorn fans and also enjoy boating and spending the weekend at Lake LBJ.
Since moving to Austin, both Brian and Shelle have volunteered for community organizations. Brian has served on the Viper Nation Education Foundation Board since 2010.
“I have always been a big advocate for supporting our local schools,” he said.
Shelle has been very involved in the schools, PTAs and booster clubs. She has served as the President of the Steiner Stars Swim Team and on their board. She is also very involved in the Young Men’s Service League in the Four Points area. The couple also belong to Austin Christian Fellowship church.
Brian and Shelle will soon have a little more time on their hands. They will soon have to adjust to life as empty-nesters.
“We will probably spend more time traveling and enjoying Lake LBJ,” Brian said.