October 14, 2010 (Lincolnshire, Ill.) – Lisa R. Dasher, CLM, chief financial officer for the law firm of Wicker Smith O'Hara McCoy & Ford, P.A. in Miami,
has been named Chair of the 2012 Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) Annual Conference Committee.
As Chair, Dasher will oversee a 12-person committee, comprised of fellow legal management professionals and one nonmember lawyer, who provide a cross-section of
ALA membership. The committee is the primary member advisory group for the Conference and is instrumental in the overall planning, development and production process.
"I am both honored and humbled to serve as the 2012 Conference Chair," said Dasher. "I am looking forward to working with the Conference Committee to develop an
extraordinary educational program and overall wonderful Conference experience for attendees."
The ALA 2012 Annual Conference & Exposition will take place April 22-24 in Honolulu, Hawaii, and is expected to draw more than 1,300 legal administrators and law
firm managers from around the world. The ALA Annual Conference is the leading educational and networking event for the legal management and administration profession.
May 4, 2010 (Lincolnshire, Ill.) – The yearly changeover of the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) Board of Directors took place today at the Association
Luncheon at the ALA Annual Conference & Exposition in Boston. Leading the Association and serving as President for 2010-2011 is Rita M. Alli of Stoel Rives LLP in Seattle.
The full Board of Directors is as follows:
President: Rita M. Alli
Stoel Rives LLP
Seattle, Washington
President-Elect: Karen D. Griggs, CLM
Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice, LLC
Kansas City, Missouri
Past President: Susan French Koran
Fellers Snider Law Firm
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Region 1 Director: Paul A. Farnsworth
Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP
Rochester, NY
Region 2 Director: Paula Barnes
Burr & Forman, LLP
Nashville, Tennessee
Region 3 Director: Steven D. Wingert, CLM
Marshall, Gerstein & Borun, LLP
Chicago, Illinois
Region 4 Director: Toni R. Beasley, CLM
Andrews Kurth LLP
Austin, Texas
Region 5 Director: Carol Anne Nitsche, CLM
Karr Tuttle Campbell
Seattle, Washington
Region 6 Director: Steven M. Morris, CLM
Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis, LLP
San Francisco, California
At-Large Director: Sabine S. Curto
Jenner & Block, LLP
Washington, D.C.
At-Large Director: Kara Jordan, MBA
Black Helterline LLP
Portland, Oregon
At-Large Director: William D. Mech
Squire Sanders & Dempsey, LLP
Cleveland, Ohio
May 4, 2010 (Lincolnshire, Ill.) – New leadership for the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) took place today at the ALA Annual
Conference in Boston with the yearly changeover of its Board of Directors. The changes include the installation of Rita M. Alli, director of
business and professional development for Stoel Rives, LLP, in Seattle, as 2010-2011 ALA President.
As President, Alli will guide the Association’s strategic planning and will oversee all Board, inter-association and media spokesperson activities.
A legal administrator for more than 20 years, Alli joined ALA in 1995. Nationally, she was appointed to two consecutive terms as At-Large Director in
2006. Previously she served as the Region 5 Education Officer and the Region 5 Projects Officer.
Alli has been a speaker at both ALA national and regional conferences. She is affiliated with the Puget Sound Chapter (PSALA), where she has served on
numerous Board positions, committees and FALA grant project teams, including the Business Skills Training Program. Alli was President of PSALA 2000-2001 and
was presented with their Spirit of PSALA Award in 2006.
Alli has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Eastern Michigan University and possesses trainer and facilitator certifications.
May 4, 2010 (Lincolnshire, Ill.) – New leadership for the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) began today at the ALA Annual
Conference in Boston with the yearly changeover of the ALA Board of Directors. The changes include the installation of Karen D. Griggs, CLM,
executive director of Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice, L.L.C. in Kansas City, Missouri, as 2011-2012 ALA President-Elect.
Upon becoming President in 2011, she will guide the Association’s strategic planning and will oversee all Board, inter-association and media
spokesperson activities.
Griggs has been a member of ALA since 1984 and just completed her term as Region 3 Director. She has held various leadership positions at the ALA Regional
and Chapter levels. She has served as her Chapter’s President and on numerous Chapter committees. At the Regional level, she served as Nominating Committee
Chair and as the Region 3 Conference liaison. She was also on the Region 3 Management Team and held the positions of Communications Officer and Education Officer.
She was honored in the Inaugural Group of Kansas City’s Top Ten Legal Leaders, and in 2006 she received ALA’s Outstanding Association Volunteer Award.
She is a member of the Greater Kansas City Chapter and she earned the Certified Legal Manager (CLM)SM designation in 1999.
May 4, 2010 (Lincolnshire, Ill.) – New leadership for the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) began today at the ALA
Annual Conference in Boston with the yearly changeover of its Board of Directors. The changes include the installation of Susan French Koran,
director of administration for Fellers Snider Law Firm in Oklahoma City, as ALA immediate past-president for the 2010-2011 term.
Koran has been a legal administrator for 13 years and a member of ALA since 1998 and served on the national level as Director, Education Officer,
Communications Officer and Nominating Committee member for ALA’s Region 4. On the chapter level, she has served as Chapter president for two terms
and has been a member of the Vendor Relations, Chapter Nominations, Community Challenge Weekend and Salary and Benefits Survey Committees.
Koran earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Central Oklahoma. She is affiliated with the ALA OKC Chapter.
May 4, 2010 (Lincolnshire, Ill.) – New leadership for the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) began today at the ALA Annual Conference in Boston with the yearly changeover of its Board of Directors. This includes the installation of Paula K. Barnes, legal administrator of Burr & Forman LLP in Knoxville, as ALA Region 2 Director.
As Director, she will be responsible for the overall management of ALA Region 2, which consists of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico.
An administrator for 10 years, and an ALA member since 2002, Barnes just completed service as Projects Officer for Region 2. She has served on the 2007 Regions 2 & 3 Conference Planning Committee and as a member of the 2006 Region 2 Nominating Committee. At the Chapter level, Barnes has served as Community Service Chair, Secretary, Vice President and President (twice).
May 4, 2010 (Lincolnshire, Ill.) – New leadership for the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) began today at the ALA Annual Conference in Boston with the yearly changeover of its Board of Directors. This includes the installation of Toni R. Beasley, CLM, office administrator of Andrews Kurth, LLP in Austin, Texas, as ALA Region 4 Director.
As Director, she will be responsible for the overall management of ALA Region 4, which consists of Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah.
An ALA member since 2003, Beasley just finished her term as Region 4 Projects Officer. On the Chapter level, she currently serves on the Compensation and Benefits Committee and was Past President, President-Elect and Chair of the Membership Committee. She is affiliated with the Austin Chapter and earned her Certified Legal Manager (CLM)SM designation in 2008.
May 4, 2010 (Lincolnshire, Ill.) – New leadership for the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) began today at the ALA Annual Conference in Boston with the yearly changeover of its Board of Directors. This includes the installation of Sabine S. Curto, director of administration for Jenner & Block, LLP in Washington, D.C., as At-Large Director.
As At-Large Director, she provides policy-making and operational responsibilities in support of the Regional Management Teams for ALA Region 4 and Region 6. Region 4 consists of Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah. Region 6 consists of Arizona, California, Nevada and New Zealand.
Curto joined ALA in 1994 and just finished her service on the 2009-2010 Board of Directors as Region 2 Director. Additionally, on the national level, she has served as Region 2 Education Officer, Chair (and three-time member) of the Regional Nominating Committee and a member of the Regional Conference Committee. Curto is Past President of the Capital Chapter and its Foundation. She serves on the D.C. Bar Board of Governors.
May 4, 2010 (Lincolnshire, Ill.) – New leadership for the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) began today at the ALA Annual Conference in Boston with the yearly changeover of its Board of Directors. This includes the continuation of Paul A. Farnsworth, executive director for Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP in Rochester, N.Y., as Region 1 Director.
Farnsworth is entering his second year as Region 1 Director and will be responsible for the overall management of the Region, which consists of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Ontario and Québec.
Farnsworth joined ALA in 1994 and has held numerous leadership positions on the National, Regional and Chapter levels. He was Region 1 Education Officer, Chair of the 2003 Regional Nominating Committee and a member of the 2005 Association Nominating Committee. As a member of the Rochester Chapter, he has served as Treasurer, President-Elect, President (twice) and Immediate Past President.
May 4, 2010 (Lincolnshire, Ill.) – New leadership for the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) began today at the ALA Annual Conference in Boston with the yearly changeover of its Board of Directors. This includes the installation of Kara Jordan, MBA, firm administrator of Black Helterline LLP in Portland, Oregon, as At-Large Director.
As At-Large Director, she provides policy-making and operational responsibilities in support of the Regional Management Teams for ALA Region 2 and ALA Region 3. Region 2 consists of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. Region 3 consists of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Jordan has been an active member of ALA since 2002 and has most recently served as Region 5 Education Office. She served on several ALA committees including the Association Nominating, Regional Nominating and 2007, 2008 and 2009 Region 5 Conference Planning Committees. She has held the Chapter leadership positions of Past President, President, President-Elect, Education Director and Newsletter Editor. Jordan is affiliated with the Oregon Chapter.
May 4, 2010 (Lincolnshire, Ill.) – New leadership for the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) began today at the ALA Annual Conference in Boston with the yearly changeover of its Board of Directors. This includes the installation of William D. Mech, office administrator of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, L.L.P. in Cleveland, as At-Large Director.
As At-Large Director, he provides policy-making and operational responsibilities in support of the Regional Management Teams of ALA Region 1 and ALA Region 5. Region 1 consists of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Ontario and Québec. Region 5 consists of Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and the Yukon and Northwest Territories.
An administrator for 20 years and an ALA member since 1991, Mech has served as President of the Pittsburgh and Cleveland Chapters, and served on various chapter-related committees. He served as Chair of the 2000 Regional Nominating Committee and as a judge for the ALA Presidents’ Award of Excellence. Mech is affiliated with the Cleveland Chapter.
May 4, 2010 (Lincolnshire, Ill.) – New leadership for the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) began today at the ALA Annual Conference in Boston with the yearly changeover of its Board of Directors. This includes the installation of Steven M. Morris, CLM, office administrator of Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis, LLP in San Francisco, as ALA Region 6 Director.
As Director, he will be responsible for the oversight of ALA Region 6, which consists of Arizona, California, Nevada and New Zealand.
Morris has been a legal administrator and ALA member since 1995. While a member of the Orange County Chapter, he served as Secretary, Director of Membership, President and Past President. He is currently associated with the Golden Gate Chapter. Morris earned his Certified Legal Manager (CLM)SM designation in 2002.
May 4, 2010 (Lincolnshire, Ill.) – New leadership for the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) began today at the ALA Annual Conference in Boston with the yearly changeover of its Board of Directors. This includes the continuation of Carol Anne Nitsche, CLM, administrator for Karr Tuttle Campbell in Seattle, as Region 5 Director.
Nitsche is entering her second year as Region 5 Director and will be responsible for the overall management of the Region, which consists of Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and the Yukon and Northwest Territories.
Nitsche joined ALA in 1996 and has held numerous leadership positions on the National, Regional and Chapter levels. She was Region 5 Communications Officer, a member of the Association and Regional Nominating Committees and served as the Puget Sound Chapter’s Secretary, President-elect, President and Newsletter Co-editor.
May 4, 2010 (Lincolnshire, Ill.) – New leadership for the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) began today at the ALA Annual Conference in Boston with the yearly changeover of its Board of Directors. This includes the installation of Steven D. Wingert, CLM, executive director of Marshall, Gerstein & Borun, LLP in Chicago, as ALA Region 3 Director.
As Director, he will be responsible for the overall management of ALA Region 3, which consists of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
An ALA member since 1995, Wingert just finished his service on the 2009-2010 Board of Directors as At-Large Director. Additionally, on the national level, he served as Region 3 Communications Officer, and in 2008 he served as Chair of the Annual Conference Committee after serving as member of that Committee in 2006 and 2007. He is Past President of the Wisconsin Chapter, for which he held a variety of officer positions since 2002. Wingert earned his Certified Legal Manager (CLM)SM designation in 2005. He also received the ALA Outstanding Association Volunteer Award in 2008 and the Wisconsin Chapter Award of Excellence in 2009.
May 4, 2010 (Lincolnshire, Ill.) – John J. Michalik, former executive director of the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA), was presented with the 2010 Founders Award on May 4 at the ALA Annual Conference in Boston. The Founders Award is given annually for exceptional contributions to the legal management profession, and is named for and honors ALA founders Mary Ann Altman, Bradford W. Hildebrandt and Robert I. Weil.
Michalik is the fifth recipient of the award and was recognized for his extraordinary leadership, vision, commitment, dedication and service as ALA executive director from 1995 to 2010. During his tenure, he was responsible for implementing the Certified Legal Manager program, a full-time reference desk service for members, a legal management encyclopedia, the Large Firm Administrators Caucus, Community Challenge Weekend and Professional Legal Management Week.
Prior to joining ALA, Michalik served four years as Assistant Dean and Associate Professor of Law at the University of Washington School of Law in Seattle. He was also the Director of the Law School’s Alumni Association and Executive Director of the Washington Law School Foundation.
From 1981-1990, he was the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the 18,000-member Washington State Bar Association. Before becoming the State Bar’s Executive Director, Michalik served as its Director of Continuing Legal Education from 1975-1981.
Now retired, Michalik resides in Seattle with his wife, Diane.
ALA is the largest international association providing support, high-quality education and services to professionals
involved in the management of law firms, corporate legal departments and government legal agencies. With nearly 10,000 members in 30 countries, ALA represents legal administrators who are leaders and industry experts on legal management issues such as
finance, human resources, systems and technology, facilities, marketing and practice management. For more information on the Association, visit About ALA.
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