Employee Spotlight: Candy Leonard

Employee Spotlight Candy Leonard

Candace or Candy as most of us know her, has been here since our early beginnings! With 22 years under her belt, Candy is one of our longest standing employees and she has the record to prove it!

Q: What do you do at Capitol Lien?

A: I do Criminal Name Searches and I help with the special projects that come in like Property Tax Searches. I also help with the Minnesota Real Estate recordings for the Counties. When needed, I help with logging the orders in our system. 

Q: What is the best part about your Capitol Lien Career?

A: I love all of the cross-training Capitol Lien has provided me. I have worked in many different departments in my years here. The variety of work is what keeps the day interesting, it is not the same thing day in and day out. 

Q: How did you get into this industry?

A: I was Lisa Magnotta’s (Capitol Lien’s current CEO) Personnel Assistant at Target, that is how we met. We parted ways, and then when we had met up again she was telling me about the company she and her husband had started. She asked me if I would like to come and work for them. I started out by learning UCC searches, then on to Corporate work, it was quite an adventure learning something new almost every year since.

Q: What do you do in your free time?

A: In my free time I love watching movies, quilting, stitching, making cards for my loved ones, and doing scrapbooking! I also like to read, but there are only so many hours in the day, so I have to spread it out with all my favorite things.

Q: What was your first-ever job?

A: My first job was at the Camden Theatre, I was the candy girl!! I made $1.60 per hour and got to see any movie I wanted for free, with popcorn!

Q: What is your greatest accomplistment?

A: I would say passing the Abstractor Exam. I did that before there was the Real Estate book. I learned a lot from abstracting back then, some of the terms I didn’t even know what it meant when I took it the first time. It took me a couple of times, but I was so excited when I passed!!

Q: Where would your dream vacation be?

A: I would love to go to either Ireland or Germany, they both have some great sights to see. In Germany I would love to see Anne Frank’s house along with the other old architecture.

Q: What have you gained since working at Capitol Lien?

A: I have to say “Knowledge,” I knew nothing about this industry at all when I started and it was a little scary at first. I found that you can learn anything with time and the right training. I learned what goes into buying a house, all the pre-work that has to be done before a closing. While being part of closings, I really have come to appreciate a clear title.

Q: What is your favorite service we offer to our clients and why?

A: My favorite service is the Abstracting. I love the history of the properties. It is very interesting to see the chain of title, and a few times I have come across properties that were owned by people I know!