Age: 53
Family: Married (for almost 26 years) to Carrie. We have one daughter, Blake who is a senior at Clemson University and a son, Hank, who is a freshman at Belmont University. We miss the kids, but love the empty nest.
Pets: Charlie, 14-year-old shepherd/beagle mix from the animal shelter.
Education: University of Florida, Bachelor of Science in Building Construction, and Mercer Law School
Admitted to the Bar: 1987
Employed by: Bachara Construction Law Group
Field of practice: Construction law
Professional organizations: The Florida Bar, The Jacksonville Bar Association and the American Bar Association. Formerly active with the Northeast Florida Builders Association and Florida Homebuilders Association.
Community involvement: Chairman of the 4th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission; St. John's Cathedral Properties Committee; Jax 2025 Volunteer; Florida Homebuilders Association chairman of the Legal Action Committee; The Florida Bar Construction Law Committee; and The Florida Bar Standing Committee on Professionalism chair
How did you become involved?
You get out of any endeavor exactly what you put into it, so I try to invest time in the organizations in my areas of work: Law and construction. This fit well with the philosophy of one of my first employers – The Bedell Firm – which encouraged me to become active with The Florida Bar. The firm encouraged us to attend the annual and mid-year meetings and to find committees that interested us. I found the Standing Committee on Professionalism to be a perfect fit and eventually chaired that committee.
How can someone become get involved?
Contact any volunteer organization and let them know you would like to volunteer your time. There is plenty of work to be done. Also, if you know the chair of a committee you may be interested in getting involved with, let them know you are willing to volunteer your time to work for the committee. I spent several years as a committee member doing the detail work for the committee chairperson before really being ready to lead the committees I have chaired.
What have you learned/achieved through the experience?
Working with people from other walks of life greatly increases one's understanding of perspectives that you don't see when you interact exclusively with people from your same profession, educational background, religious affiliation, political beliefs, etc.
What was the last book you read or are reading?
Last book I read: "Paterno" by Joe Posnanski. Currently reading: "David & Goliath" by Malcolm Gladwell.