Employee Spotlight: Jerome Jelinek

30 years ago Jerome and Jill started up a business in Traverse City and over the years grew and developed it into what it is today.

How was the idea born to start CSS and why title company?

We lived in the Detroit area and wanted to relocate to beautiful Traverse City.  I found a listing from another attorney who wanted to sell the assets of his title company in Traverse City.  We spoke and met and things fell into place.  The business gave Jill and me the opportunity to work together utilizing her experience in human resources and banking/finance, and my experience as a real estate attorney.  We initially had 5 or 6 employees and Don Peplinski was one of them!

What do you like most about CSS?

Seeing our team members work together to provide great results for our customers.

What are three career lessons you’ve learned over the 30 years running the company?

• The strength and motivation of the people who work for the business determine its success;
• If you know where you want to go and you are determined and persistent, you can get there;
• It’s the journey that matters, working hard with others to accomplish something along the way, not a particular result.

What aspect of your role do you enjoy the most?

• Watching employees take advantage of their opportunities to grow in their roles and responsibilities.
• Working directly with customers.  

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

I don’t know if it is the best advice I’ve been given, but it is very good:  I recently heard a professor of behavioral psychology talk about the power of humor and levity, particularly for your overall health.  She advised, “Make the choice to navigate your life on the precipice of a smile.”