Jacksonville Bar activities
• Board of Governors member, 2006-present; treasurer, 2014-present; and secretary, 2013-14
• Board liaison to Practicing with Professionalism Section, 2012-13
• Board liaison to Member Services Section, 2012-13
• Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Program Committee chairman, 2010-12
• Membership Committee chairman, 2008-09
• Young Lawyers Section president, 2006-07; president-elect, 2005-06; secretary, 2004-05; treasurer, 2003-04; and board of governors, 2002-07
• Teen Court Judge for Juvenile Delinquency Pre-trial Diversion, 2001-02
• Law Week Committee, 2003-05
• Holiday in January Project chair, 2004
• Young Lawyers Section Special Olympics Committee and participant, 2001-03
• Young Lawyers Section Pro Bono Service competition committee, 2005
• Young Lawyers Section Holiday in January Committee and/or participant, 2000-07
• Young Lawyers Section Skin Cancer Association Charity 5K Run Committee and participant, 2005-06
• Young Lawyers Section Charity Golf Tournament Committee member and participant, 2004-06
• Young Lawyers Section Annual Meeting Committee chair, 2005
Florida Bar/other Bar associations activities
• Jacksonville Federal Bar Association member
• Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association member, 2012-present
• Chester Bedell American Inn of Court, 2013-15, master; 2005-08, barrister; and 1996-97, pupil
• The Florida Bar, board certified specialist in business litigation law, 2011-present
• The Florida Bar Grievance Committee member 4th Judicial Circuit, 2009-12; and chair, 2011-12
• The Florida Bar’s Practicing with Professionalism co-presenter, 2007-09
Civic activities
• St. Mark’s Episcopal Day School Board of Trustees, 2014-present
• All Saints Episcopal Church
Goals for the JBA
To help improve the practice of law in Northeast Florida by encouraging participation in Jacksonville Bar Association activities, enhancing Jacksonville Bar Association member benefits and serving the public.
Jacksonville Bar activities
• Board of Governors, 2012-present
• Finance Committee
• Community Outreach Section (Holiday Project Committee, Law Week Committee, Pro Bono Committee, Civics Education Program and Government Relations)
• Practicing with Professionalism Section (JBA Board Liaison, Bench and Bar Professionalism Committee, Client Disputes, Diversity Committee, Judicial Relations Committee and Mentoring Committee)
• Member Services Section (Social Committee, Membership Committee and Vendor Benefits Committee)
Florida Bar/other Bar associations activities
• Criminal Law Section
• Florida Association Criminal Defense Lawyers
• American Bar Association
Civic activities
• I.M. Sulzbacher Center volunteer (prepare and serve meals to the center residents and non-residents and pro bono legal services)
• Teen Court judge
• Guest speaker/lecturer: Florida Coastal School of Law, University of North Florida, Family Support Services of North Florida, annual Stop the Violence Summit, Leadership Summit, Urban Churches, Real Talk-The Sanctuary @Mount Calvary, Police Athletic League and local elementary, middle and high schools
• University of North Florida Prelaw Board of Advisors
• Special Olympics volunteer
• Junior Achievement Jacksonville Bar Association Bowling Challenge
Goals for the JBA
As a member of the Board of Governors, I will continuously work to enhance The Jacksonville Bar Association, its members, activities and our profession.
My goal is to increase membership and involvement by providing resources and value to our members.
By increasing membership and participation, we can improve upon the activities the association has implemented.
Through outreach to our legal and surrounding communities we can develop new ideas, goals for the future and tackle community related legal issues.
Involvement and participation are essential to foster professionalism among our members, the Judiciary and the community as a whole.
I am seeking re-election to the Board of Governors and I want your support.
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Jacksonville Bar activities
• Board of Governors, 2009-present
• Young Lawyers Section president, 2008-09; president-elect, 2007-08; secretary and treasurer, 2006-07; and Board of Governors,
2003-09
Florida Bar/other Bar associations activities
• Florida Bar Civil Procedure Rules Committee, 2014-present
• 4th Judicial Circuit Unlicensed Practice of Law Committee, 2010-present, and chair, 2012-present
• Florida Bar Committee on Professionalism, 2006-08
• Chester Bedell American Inn of Court barrister, 2011-14
Civic activities
• Girls Inc. of Jacksonville board of directors, 2012-present, and City of Jacksonville Ethics Commission, 2003-07, including as vice chair, 2007
Goals for the JBA
I seek re-election to the JBA board to continue the improvements we have made in recent years in making the JBA more relevant to our membership.
The JBA must provide benefits, programs and services which promote members’ professional growth and quality of life. I will continue to work with the other members of the Board of Governors to bring you this valuable programming, including more CLE options, practice development resources, and social and networking opportunities.
I will strive to keep our dues from increasing through a commitment to increase membership and to improve other revenue-generating programs.
As a small-firm practitioner, I will strive to ensure the voices of the solo and small-firm lawyers are heard by the Bar, that their needs are met and that they, along with all members, continue to realize the value of a JBA membership.
I thank you for your support, and look forward to continuing to serve you on the JBA Board of Governors.
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Jacksonville Bar activities
• Member, 2005-present
• 100 percent firm participant, 2009-present
• Litigation Section chair, 2014-15
• Raymond Ehrlich Trial Advocacy host and chair, 2015
• Construction Law Section chair, 2014, and vice chair, 2013
• Sports Commissioner, 2009-10
• Young Lawyers Section member, 2005-10
• Commercial Litigation Section, 2006-present
• Small Firm Section, 2009-present
• Social Committee, 2006-08
• Professionalism Committee, 2009-present
• JBA mentor, 2010-13
Florida Bar/other Bar associations activities
• American Bar Association member, 2003-present; Construction Law Forum; Litigation Section; Business Law Section and General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Division
• Florida Bar member; board certified in construction law; 4th Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee; Business Law Section; Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section and Construction Law Section
Civic activities
• Chester Bedell American Inn of Court; Northeast Florida Builders Association, general counsel and board of directors, 2012 - present
• Rotary Club of Jacksonville Membership Chair, 2014-15
• Leadership Jacksonville alumni, Class of 2013
• The Gator Bowl Association member, 2006-14, and captain, 2009-14
• Risk Management Association, First Coast chapter president, 2012-14, and Florida State chapter board of directors, 2013-14
• The Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce Public Policy Committee
• St. Vincent’s Foundation, Shircliff Society founding board member
• The Tim Tebow Foundation
• Builders Care
• Junior Achievement
• Girls Inc.
• The Jacksonville Public Education Fund
• The University of Florida Alumni Association and local Gator Clubs
• Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
• Community Connections
• The Jacksonville Bank Advisory Board
Goals for the JBA
1. Grow membership and increase member involvement.
2. Increase member benefits.
3. Work with the JBA Board of Governors to assure there is a viable long-term strategic plan for the JBA. This will include evaluating the year-to-year elected leadership continuity plan and ensuring the organization is on a trajectory for long-term solvency and ensuring the JBA staff has requisite skills, experience, technical assistance and support required to continue delivering consistently high quality services to our membership.
4. Develop a comprehensive and technologically advanced continuing legal education program focused on serving members and training the next generation of lawyers.
5. Increase, enhance and expand outreach and institutional relationships with the judiciary, legal-related professional organizations, law schools, law students and recent law school graduates.
6. Establish/strengthen city, state and national organizational partnerships, which will benefit the Jacksonville legal community and are consistent with the mission of the JBA.
7. Develop a JBA-supported legal incubator for solo practitioners and new lawyers.
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Jacksonville Bar activities
• Judicial Relations Committee member, 2010-present; vice chair, 2012-13; and chair, 2014-present
• Professionalism Committee, 2010-13
• Holiday Project Committee, 2009-present
Florida Bar/other Bar associations activities
• Florida Justice Association member
• Jacksonville Justice Association member
• Jacksonville Area Legal Aid contributor and participant
• American Association for Justice member
• Georgia Trial Lawyers Association member
• Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation
Civic activities
• Florida’s Children First Host Committee, 2008-present, and chair, 2011-13
• Jacksonville Area Legal Aid Meet-a-Lawyer participant
• Jacksonville Humane Society
• Special Olympics
• HEAL Foundation sponsor and participant
• U.S. Merchant Marine officer, 2003-present
Goals for the JBA
As a member of the board, I plan to further The Jacksonville Bar Association’s involvement with the judiciary. My past activity with the Judicial Relations Committee will aid in attaining this goal.
Also, as a board member, I will be very proactive and serve to promote increased Jacksonville Bar Association involvement with our local community.
I am very thankful for and privileged to be a part of The Jacksonville Bar Association and will do anything within means and appropriateness to advance the causes of our wonderful organization.
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Jacksonville Bar Activities
• Board of Governors, 2013-present
• Litigation Section chair, 2012-13
• Chair of the year, 2011-12
• ADR Practitioner’s Section chair, 2003-12
• Bar Association member, 1995-presemt
Florida Bar/other Bar associations activities
• Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award Winner 2015, 4th Judicial Circuit; board certified in civil trial, 2010-present; and member since 1995
• Christian Legal Society, Jacksonville chapter president 2000-02; board of directors, 2004-09 and 2011-present; and Pro Bono Project director, 2011-present
• The Florida Academy of Professional Mediators, 2001-10
• National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals, 2009-present
• Florida Justice Association, 1996-present
• Jacksonville Justice Association, 1997-present
Civic activities
• Jacksonville Area Legal Aid Outstanding Pro Bono Service Award, 2015
• City Rescue Mission, director of Christian Legal Society’s Pro Bono Project serving residents in the LifeBuilder’s program, 2001-present
• San Jose Baptist Church, director of adult ministries, 2004-present; deacon, 1998-present; adult Bible study teacher, 1997-present
Goals for the JBA
For the last two years, I have focused my Board of Governors efforts on CLE programming, aiming to further bolster The Jacksonville Bar Association’s excellent reputation in that regard.
During my tenure, the Jax Bar has transitioned to “annualizing” its primary CLE events (Ehrlich Trial Advocacy, Ethics, Mediator CME, Family Law and Criser Transactional Law), bolstering its CLE event sponsorships, implementing an online CLE event library and offering many other shorter CLE events such as the well-received judicial side bar luncheons.
I do not take credit for all of this, but I do focus my attention and efforts to make the Jax Bar the predominant lawyer educational resource in Northeast Florida.
Having robust CLE programming provides Jax Bar members with access to world-class seminars (both live and via online streaming) in our own backyard. Go to Orlando, Tampa or South Florida to vacation, not to attend seminars.
Robust CLE programming also provides the Jax Bar with a significant non-dues revenue source, which allows our membership dues to remain stable despite rising costs of operations.
I would be honored to be re-elected to the Board of Governors to continue my CLE programming mission.
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Jacksonville Bar activities
• Young Lawyers Board of Governors, 2010-present; treasurer, 2014-15; Judicial Relations chair, 2014-15; Charity Chili Cook-Off chair, 2010-14; Afternoon at the Courthouse chair, 2012; and Trial Bulletin chair, 2010-11.
• Professionalism Committee, 2010-present, and president, 2013-14
• Pro Bono Committee, 2010-present
Florida Bar/other Bar associations activities
• Grievance Committee, 2013-present, and vice chair, 2015
• Chester Bedell American Inn of Court associate, 2009-10, and barrister, 2012-present
• Jacksonville Area Legal Aid volunteer, 2010-present
Civic activities
• Riverside Rotary
• Professional and Businessmen’s Association
• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Light the Night executive counsel, 2013
• Bullseye Gun Range — The Law of Firearms and Self-Defense, presenter
• University of North Florida Mock Trial Class presenter
• UNF Pre-Law Board of Advisors
Goals for the JBA
I am seeking election to the Board of Governors to continue my history of serving our Bar association’s members.
I would like to implement a comprehensive mentoring program that brings together the Jacksonville Bar’s Mentoring Committee, Professionalism Committee and Young Lawyers Section, as well as Florida Coastal School of Law.
Many new practitioners begin their career as sole practitioners or members of smaller firms. These settings may not provide a formalized mentoring process.
Mentoring is not necessarily a corrective measure; instead it can be a proactive experience that increases contacts within the legal community. Our profession is enriched by having its newest members paired with and learning from experienced, respected attorneys.
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Jacksonville Bar activities
• Continuing Legal Education Committee chair, 2012-13
• Family Law Committee vice chair, 2014-15
Florida Bar/other Bar associations activities
• Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association member, 2002-present; executive board member, 2010-15; and current president
• 2013-14 JWLA Chapter representative to Florida Association of Women Lawyers/ FAWL board member, 2013-14, and member since 2002
Civic activities
• Jacksonville Area Legal Aid Pro Bono Attorney, Lecturing Volunteer Attorney and Ask-A-Lawyer Volunteer Attorney
• Lawyers in Libraries Volunteer Attorney
• Duval County Attorney Ad Litem
• Justice Teaching Volunteer
Goals for the JBA
The Bar needs to be grown and be developed more.
The JBA needs to increase membership by offering more CLE worthy events, such as having stronger luncheon speakers so the monthly luncheons can be offered as CLEs to the membership, developing more annual events to increase awareness in our community as a whole — and not simply focused on the legal community.
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Jacksonville Bar activities
• Board of Governors, 2010-present; Building Committee chair, 2014-15; and Transactional Law Section board liaison, 2012-15
• Young Lawyers Section, Board of Governors, 2005-11; president, 2010-11; president-elect, 2009-10; secretary, 2008-09; and treasurer, 2007-08
Florida Bar/other Bar associations activities
• The Florida Bar Trial Lawyers Section and Business Law Section amd Eminent Domain Committee
• Chester Bedell American Inn of Court
Civic activities
• Rotary Club of Jacksonville
• Association of Eminent Domain Professionals
• Urban Land Institute
• All Saints Episcopal Church vestry
Goals for the JBA
I have been proud to serve on the YLS and JBA Boards for the last 10 years, during which we have seen a gradual shift in the way attorneys practice and interact with one another.
The Bar’s challenge is to adapt to this new normal while preserving the best parts of our culture, by
1. Continuing to focus on ways to develop leadership and mentoring opportunities for young lawyers.
2. Identifying new practices designed to increase membership and enhance member involvement and satisfaction; and
3. Developing a long-range plan on how to best manage the stewardship of JBA’s assets.