2011 – 2012
Sections & Divisions – Purposes

Bankruptcy Section
Chair: Steven Fishman, 727-724-9044, steve.fishman@verizon.net
Co-Chair: Carol Lawson, 727-536-4911, cal@dczahm.com
Provides information to members regarding bankruptcy law and its impact on state law and litigation; provides liaison with bankruptcy court, bankruptcy court clerk's office and federal bankruptcy bar; generates articles for Res Ipsa Loquitur. Meets monthly.

Civil Practice Section
Chair:
Initiates and considers suggestions to improve civil trial practice in county and circuit court, generates articles for Res Ipsa Loquitur, and sponsors monthly CLE luncheons and annual 1/2-day civil practice seminar. Meets monthly.

Elder Law Section
Chair: Jessica Lillesand, 727-330-7895, jessica@lillesandlaw.com
Keeps practitioners up to date on elder law issues, educates seniors on legal rights, identifies the legal needs of the elderly, analyzes legislation impacting senior citizens, and generates articles for Res Ipsa Loquitur. Sponsors bi-monthly CLE luncheons. Meets bi-monthly.

Family Law Section
Chair: Gale Moore 727-584-2528, galehmoore@aol.com
Studies matters regarding dissolution of marriage and related litigation, initiates and considers suggestions to improve the family law practice in circuit and county court, and generates articles for Res Ipsa Loquitur. Sponsors bi-monthly CLE luncheons and an annual 1/2-day seminar. Meets bi-monthly.

Government & Administrative Law Section
Chair: Jason Ester, 727-464-3354, jester@pinellascounty.org
Deals with legal issues of villages, cities, counties, school districts and other local governmental bodies; presents "Law for Public Officials" seminar for appointed and elected public officials; addresses administrative law practice and professional discipline procedures; generates articles for Res Ipsa Loquitur.

Labor & Employment Law
Chair: Marcus Castillo, 727-535-4544, marcus@haas-castillo.com
Reviews changes in local, state and federal laws in both the public and private sector, including discrimination and retaliation, unlawful employment practices, and human rights violations. Sponsor annual seminar for law firms and small businesses.

Probate & Real Property Section
Chair: Steven E. Hitchcock, 727-443-7898, steve@khsfllp.com
Initiates and considers suggestions to improve probate, guardianship, trust and real property practice in circuit court, and generates articles for Res Ipsa Loquitur. Sponsors monthly CLE luncheons and an annual 1/2-day seminar. Meets monthly.

Solo & Small Firm Section
Co-Chair: Connie Stephens, 727-446-8899, crsthephens@crs-pa.com
Co-Chair: Joe Corsmeier, 727-799-1688, jcorsmeier@jac-law.com
Provides an opportunity for solo practitioners to meet and network in an informal setting such as brown bag lunch meetings, pizza and beer seminars and happy hours to exchange information and assist each other with office practices, procedures and management, as well as serve as a source of referrals.

Young Lawyers Division
President: Colleen Carson, 727-572-4545, ccarson@baskinfleece.com
President-elect: Michelle Nadeau, 727-441-4947, mnadeau@ksblaw.com
Members 36 years of age and younger or in practice five years or less coordinate public service projects, the annual Judicial Reception and activities to assist young and new lawyers. Some of the projects include Christmas in January, Back Pack Project, Legal Eagles and the Great Debate. Generates articles for Res Ipsa Loquitur. Meets monthly.

2011 – 2012
Committees – Purposes

Awards Committee
Chair: Wallace F. Pope, Jr., 727-461-1818, wallyp@jpfirm.com
Reviews member nominations for local, state and national awards and makes recommendations to Board of Directors; suggests new CBA awards and methods of recognition; reviews nominations and recommends recipients for Law Day Awards.

Bench/Bar Conference Planning Committee
Chair: James Royal, 727-461-4955, jer@thomasjdonnelly.com
Co-Chair: Carl Brody, 727-464-3354, cbrody@pinellascounty.org
Acts as liaison between the Bar and the judiciary; plans, implements and coordinates programs for better understanding and to improve relations between the Bench and the Bar; conducts annual Joint Bench/Bar Conference with the judiciary and the St. Pete Bar.

Continuing Legal Education Committee
Chair: Bridget Heptner, 727-726-9799, bheptneratty@yahoo.com
Works in cooperation with sections, other CBA entities and other organizations to conduct CLE seminars.

Diversity & Inclusion
Co-Chair: Myriam Irizarry, 727-464-3341, mirizarr@pinellascounty.org
Co-Chair: Carl Brody, 727-464-3354, cbrody@pinellascounty.org
Promotes principles of diversity and inclusion and implements or continues programs designed to increase the diversity of the association’s membership and the local legal community. When practical, works in coordination with Florida Bar committees tasked with promoting diversity and inclusion.

Golf Classic Committee
Chair: Bridget Heptner, 727-726-9799, bheptneratty@yahoo.com
Co-Chair: Kevin Kilgore, 727-441-8383, kevinkilgore@verizon.net
Recruits and solicits participants, sponsors and prizes for annual golf outing.

Law Office Professionals Committee
Chair: Carolyn Poteet, 727-692-5055, carolyn_poteet@hotmail.com
Serves as a liaison between the legal profession and legal support staff such as legal administrators, paralegals, legal assistants, etc. Encourages involvement in CBA by law office staff. Plans and conducts continuing education seminars for law office staff and attorneys.

Law Related Education Committee
Chair: Elise Winters, 727-442-3888, ewinters@elisekwinters.com
Coordinates high school involvement programs with Pinellas County schools, organizes People's Law School, operates a Speakers Bureau, and conducts annual Law Line program.

Law Week Committee
Chair: Christy Pemberton, 727-464-3354, cpembert@pinellascounty.org
Plans, organizes, promotes and coordinates the activities of Law Week, such as essay contest, poster contest, speech contest, Law Line, Great Debate, and Gold E. Locks Trial with assistance from other Clearwater Bar entities.

Lawyer Referral Service
Chair: James Royal, 727-461-4955, jer@thomasjdonnelly.com
Oversees Lawyer Referral Service reviewing and updating its rules, devising marketing techniques, and provides follow up to panel members as needed.

Membership Committee
Chair: Bridget Heptner, 727-726-9799, bheptneratty@yahoo.com
Develops, implements and evaluates member recruitment and retention strategies.

Oyster Roast Committee
General Chair: Joshua T. Chilson, 727-796-8282, josh@usalaw.com
Immediate Past Chair: Jennifer Ficarrotta, 727-461-1818, jenniferr@jpfirm.com
Plans, conducts and evaluates annual Oyster Roast.

Pro Bono Committee
Co-Chair: Hon. Linda Allan, 727-464-3263, fax 727-464-3309, lallan@jud6.org
Co-Chair: Mary Lou Miller Wagstaff, 727-584-8182, Marylou@wagstafflawoffice.com
Assesses needs and coordinates programs to provide pro bono legal services in cooperation with Clearwater Bar Association, Clearwater Bar Foundation, Gulfcoast Legal Services, community organizations and others. Works closely with association sections.

Professionalism Committee
Co-Chairs: The Board of Directors
Enhances member relations in the areas of professionalism, diversity and inclusivity. Coordinates member to member mentor program.

Program Committee
Co-Chair: Donald S. Crowell, 727-464-3354, dcrowell@pinellascounty.org
Coordinates programs and speakers for general membership luncheons and Law Day Luncheon.

Res Ipsa Loquitur Committee
Co-Editor: Scott E. Schiltz, 727-461-1818, scotts@jpfirm.com
Co-Editor: Sarah Manthey, 727-461-1818, sarahm@jpfirm.com
Coordinates editorial content and production of Res Ipsa Loquitur.

Revenue Enhancement Committee
Chair: Michael J. Faehner, 443-5190, mfaehner@mfaehner.com
Reviews and implements sources of non-dues revenue including programs, member benefits, continuing legal education, advertising and website.

Stetson Liaison Committee
Chair: Jason Ester, 727-464-3354, jester@pinellascounty.org
Serves as liaison to students at Stetson University School of Law and identifies need and coordinates programs to assist law students with the transition from law school to law practice through mentoring, networking and education.

Strategic Planning Committee
Chair: Kimberly A. Campbell, 727-461-4955, kimcampbell70@hotmail.com
Coordinates consideration of issues of strategic importance to CBA and makes recommendations to the Board for revisions to the bar's strategic plan. Ensures current strategic plan is followed.