Her Title Collective Featured Spotlight: Monica May Dunn

Arizona Escrow & Financial Corporation CEO and owner Monica May-Dunn was recently featured in Her.collective’s Spotlight Series, celebrating women leaders shaping the future of title and escrow. The profile highlights Monica’s remarkable journey from assistant to owner, her leadership through adversity, and her commitment to empowering the next generation of professionals in the industry.

A Career of Dedication and Growth

Monica began her career at AEF in 1990 as an assistant to the Controller. By age 24, she was promoted to Controller and later rose to CFO and Vice President. In 2023, she became the sole owner of the company. Under her leadership, AEF has grown into Arizona’s largest independent escrow company, with expanded offerings including commercial real estate transactions, holding accounts, and personalized escrow solutions.

Monica also completed executive coursework in Fintech strategy at UC Berkeley, ensuring AEF stays ahead of industry shifts. Her leadership helped navigate record-breaking years and a strategic relocation to Phoenix’s Camelback corridor.

Leadership Built on Resilience and Integrity

The profile details Monica’s extraordinary leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she faced the sudden loss of staff and the passing of AEF’s founder. Honoring the founder’s succession plan, she acquired the company and chose to lead it forward. “I was faced with a choice: let fear take over or take a leap of faith,” she said. “I chose to step forward.”

Mentorship and Empowerment

Monica credits mentor Lisa Riley as a major influence and now pays it forward by mentoring women in the title industry. She emphasizes mastering the details, building trust-based relationships, and owning your leadership role. Her advice to aspiring professionals: “Be the person others can trust and depend on.”

Her Leadership Philosophy

• Lead with integrity

• Support, don’t compete

• Keep learning

• Trust your journey

Her guiding principle: “Do the right thing, even when no one is watching.”

Life, Leadership, and Legacy

Monica’s career has been marked by commitment and balance, even commuting weekly from Yuma to Phoenix early in her journey. She continues to find purpose in the lives she impacts, not just in the transactions she oversees.

“I hope to be remembered for the people I’ve served, the partnerships I’ve built, and the standard of care we bring to this work.” – Monica May-Dunn.

Read the Full Feature: Her.collective Spotlight on Monica May-Dunn