Arnell Bryant-Willis of Tallahassee has been selected as the newest public member of The Florida Bar Board of Governors. A Florida native with more than 25 years of experience as a manager and consultant, Bryant-Willis was selected by the Supreme Court of Florida to serve as one of two non-lawyer members on the Bar’s board.
Also nominated for the appointment were Carmen Brown of Florida Atlantic University and Dr. David Paulus, a professor and anesthesiologist at the University of Florida.
“Professional experience has instilled an ethic of common sense in the application of rules and regulations. My facilitator and negotiation skills will also foster team building,” said Bryant-Willis of her decision to seek the public member seat. “I will bring to the table professionalism, dedication and dependability, and the willingness to become a part of the team to accomplish the mission and goals of the Board of Governors.”
Two public members have served on the Bar’s 52-member governing board since 1987. The Board of Governors oversees the lawyer discipline program, continuing legal education, legislative activities and the overall administration of the organization.
Born in Tampa, Bryant-Willis received an associate’s degree from Hillsborough Community College, a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Florida State University and a master’s in education from Florida A&M University.
Bryant-Willis currently is vice president of operations for EW Bryant Associates, a consulting and training firm, where she develops and conducts training in leadership, team building and diversity in addition to facilitating round table discussions and strategic planning sessions for clients. Her prior work includes serving as operations director for the Office of Supplier Diversity at the Florida Department of Management Service, as special project coordinator and chief of the Bureau of Training for the Florida Department of Labor & Employment Security, and in positions with Volusia County Department of Corrections and the Agricultural and Labor Program, Inc. She was division chief for the Department of Employment Services in the District of Columbia from 1980-82.
Her public service experience ranges from gubernatorial appointments to the Governors Council on Farmworker Affairs (1986-87), the Florida Coordinating Council on the Americans with Disabilities Act (1993-95), the Florida School to Community Transition Project (1995) and the Building Codes Study Commission (1997-98), to being a member of Florida’s first Youth Council operated by the Workforce Development Board under Enterprise Florida. She was also appointed to The Florida Bar Citizens Forum in 2006.
As a board member she will serve a two-year term beginning June 29.
Bryant-Willis replaces Solomon L. Badger III, Ed.D., of Jacksonville, whose second two-year term expires in June. The other public member currently serving on The Florida Bar’s Board of Governors is J. Blair Culpepper, of Winter Park. Public members may serve two consecutive terms by appointment of the Supreme Court.
— Courtesy The Florida Bar