April 2019

Capital Connection is published monthly for members of the Capital Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators to provide information for the education and benefit of legal administrators, law office managers, managing partners of law firms, and other law related associations. Capital Connection is not engaged in rendering legal, financial, or tax counseling or advice through this publication.  The contents of all articles, letters, and advertisements published in Capital Connection should not be considered endorsements by the Capital Chapter of ALA nor the opinion expressed therein of any products advertised.   Contributing authors are requested and expected to disclose financial and/or professional interests and affiliations that may influence their writing position. Articles and materials accepted for publication are subject to editing by the editorial team and become property of the Capital Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators. Links to Capital Connection may not be shared without permission from the Chapter. 
Editors: Cindy Conover; Valerie L. Williamson
Associate Editor: Paula Serratore
​Contributing Editors: Frank Schipani; Margaret Gainer; Darragh Fitzpatrick; Cindy Schuler; Wes Smith; Pamela Christian-Wilson; Adams & Martin Group; Jo Jo Ruby
Newsletter Designed By: Jessica Davis


In this issue:

President's Message

I am truly honored to have been chosen as the next president of our chapter and I hope to be able to follow in the footsteps of all the past presidents who have worked so hard to make our chapter what it is today. My time as president-elect started a year ago when I sat down to try to understand what our chapter’s mission is. I asked myself “Why do we exist?”

This is not the existential “what is our place in the universe” kind of question with no real answer. This is a question I ask of every organization I am a part of, including the law firms I have worked for. What is it that we do, and why do we do it? Why do we exist? Why are we here? What is our purpose? What is our mission?

To me this is a critical question. Because if our organization is going to maintain its relevance as the world around us continues to change, we need to know the answer. The answer to this question is our mission – our reason for being. It is the reason that our organization exists and why we are all put the effort into keeping it going and make it better and better. Our reason for being needs to drive what we do as a chapter. It needs to direct how we expend our resources so that our time, effort and money can go where they do the most good – toward the things that advance our mission the most. Everything we do now or plan to do in the future should be judged by how much it advances our mission.

I believe our chapter exists so that we can share our knowledge with one another and so that we can give back to the community that made our own success possible. And we do those things in a fun and engaging way. It wouldn’t work quite so well without the fun events, the great food and all the friends we’ve made along the way. When you look at what our chapter does best, I think you will see their connection to education and giving back.

Education is a core function of our organization. From chapter wide events, to community meetings, to one-to-one conversations, we do a lot to make knowledge available to each other so that we can do our jobs better. When I took a new job at a new firm six months ago and I suddenly found myself responsible for a whole bunch of things that I had never done before I turned again and again to ALA for help. I called other members with questions, asked people for advice during networking events, and reached out to countless business partners for help. It was the education I received and the connections I had made through our chapter that helped make me successful. I love to share what I know with others and I am very thankful that others are willing to share with me.

Our chapter also excels at giving back to the larger community: To little kid who’s family needs some help around the holidays, to kids who need help with business etiquette and resume writing, to the high school senior that gets a college scholarship and mentoring. We want to be reaching out more to help recruit young people looking for their first jobs into legal administration, to keep that pipeline of talent flowing into our community. Yes, that helps our chapter recruit new members, but we also want to open up opportunities to others, just as others opened the door to us when we were starting out.

In the coming chapter year I would like to help us be as true to our mission as we can be. I’m very thankful that this means just doing more of the kinds of things we already do so well. We will be looking to expand our membership to more people who can benefit from the education we provide. We are putting together a leadership development track to help us all become better leaders in our organizations. We are working to reach back out to the communities that have supported us, to use our gifts, our talents and our resources to help others, just as others have helped us.

Thank you to all the executive committee members and leadership team members who I will have the pleasure of working with over the next year. Thank you to our amazing business partners who make it actually possible for us to do our jobs effectively within our firms and organizations. And thank you to our vibrant and engaged membership members that makes it all worthwhile. Here’s to the 2019-2020 chapter year!
Frank Schipani

New and Returning ALA Capital Chapter Members

James Martin
Wilkinson, Walsh & Eskovitz LLP
Director of IT
2001 M St., N.W.
Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20036
jmartin@wilkinsonwalsh.com
 
Karen G. Mojica
Three Crowns LLP
Legal Assistant
3000 K St., N.W.
Suite 101
Washington, DC 20007
karen.mojica@threecrownsllp.com
 
Chiquetala "Chi Chi" Marcus
Three Crowns LLP
Senior Legal Assistant
3000 K St., N.W.
Suite 101
Washington, DC 20007
chichi.marcus@threecrownsllp.com
Catherine Bonilla
Franklin Karibjanian & Law PLLC
Office Manager
1101 17th St., N.W.
Suite 820
Washington, DC 20036
cbonilla@fkl-law.com
 
Sarah Marie Semp
Three Crowns LLP
Legal Assistant
3000 K St., N.W.
Suite 101
Washington, DC 20007
sarah.semp@threecrownsllp.com

Members on the Move

Dina Dalecki
Fish & Richardson P.C.
Office Manager
1000 Maine Ave., S.W.
Washington, DC 20024
dalecki@fr.com
India N. Hall
Linowes and Blocher LLP
CFO & Director of Administration
7200 Wisconsin Ave.
Suite 800
Bethesda, MD  20814
ihall@linowes-law.com

In Memoriam

The Capital Chapter is sad to announce the passing of a Past President. Ben Landis, who contributed so much to the Chapter’s founding, has passed away at the age of 94. He is remembered by other longtime members of the Capital Chapter as being a great friend, fun to be around, very opinionated and outspoken, and willing to share his wealth of knowledge and expertise with his colleagues.  The Chapter appreciates all that Ben's leadership contributed to where we are today, and he will be missed.

Past Chapter President Margaret Gainer remembers Ben:
"​Few members will know him, but believe me, he was an incredible man.  We would go to the annual conference, stay out all night dancing, have too much to drink, and I would be dragging the next day (20 years younger!), and he’d show up looking refreshed and ready for the earliest session.  I remember being a little intimidated by him (West Point graduate, served in WWII, married his French interpreter, etc.), but he was not only smart and savvy, but a trusting counselor and confidante.  He started the certificate program at Georgetown Law School for legal administrators, and was truly a pioneer in the field.  As to my own professional development, he was instrumental, and I will miss his sage advice and personal friendship forever. Truly one-of-a-kind – a gentleman, a scholar, family man, and best friend (if you were fortunate enough to befriend him)."
We are saddened to pass along the news from her firm that Capital Chapter member Margaret "Marji" Cameron Loukas passed away in March. She worked for nearly 22 years at Steptoe & Johnson LLP in Washington, D.C. — her career culminated with the role of Senior Director of Human Resources. She was an 18-year member of ALA and the Capital Chapter. Our thoughts are with her family, friends and colleagues. Donations in her honor may be made to Helping Haitian Angels. 

6 Questions to Ask a Cloud Technology Partner

Darragh Fitzpatrick
Tabush Group

IT is the lifeblood of law firms, enabling attorneys to provide the best possible service to their clients.  But, it can be overwhelming to keep up-to-date on all of the IT options available to your firm. There’s little doubt, though, that anyone who is responsible for their firm’s IT is considering cloud options.
 
When a small or midsize law firm decides to move to the cloud, there are several important considerations to ensure a successful migration and ensure long term success.  It is vital to ask the right questions to ensure you are getting more than just a service, but rather, a true IT partner.
 
Here are 6 questions to ask a cloud technology partner:
  1. How long have you been in business?
    In the technology space, there are many firms that may have a good product or service but that do not have a long business history.  When you entrust your IT to a partner, it is essential to feel confident that the company will be around to support your needs a year or 5 or 10 years down the road.  Beyond just looking at how long an IT company has been in business, you should also look into their finances, the founders, and the company’s focus.

  2. What is your company’s business focus?
    When you are preparing to move to the cloud, it is vital to select a partner whose main focus is cloud.  Ancillary products tend to get less attention, have fewer improvements and advancements made, and sometimes do not last.

  3. Will your products and services meet my specific business needs?
    One of the biggest mistakes a law firm can make is not to take the time to look beyond the immediate or high-level needs.  Every stakeholder or department should make a requirements list, based on their everyday needs.  This means looking at not only every application that’s used, but also what data needs to interact with other programs, and any customized needs, such as proprietary systems. Once you’ve identified what the system needs to do, formalize this into a requirements checklist.  As you start to review each cloud service, you will then have a formal document to measure each system against.

  4. What support will be available to my firm?
    Even the best cloud service implementation will have some bumps along the way.  One of the more important factors to consider is whether the cloud provider has the structure, ability, and experience to provide the support your firm will require when it’s needed.  You need to find out whether issues can be resolved in an effective and efficient manner.  The best service providers know that the key to a successful relationship is communication, so being able to pick up the phone and talk to someone is crucial.

  5. What are the backup and business continuity plans?
    Not all cloud providers are created equal. It is essential to understand how the cloud service will function when something fails, how and how often the data is backed up, and in the event of an outage, what processes are in place to allow for continued service or a return to full operations as quickly as possible. It is also important to remember that business continuity systems must be managed and continually tested.  It must be sized correctly to your firm and be able to scale as your firm changes.  Ask these questions of your cloud provider before you need to utilize these plans.

  6. What is the cloud provider’s history with providing service and support to firms of your size?
    When it comes to high-touch, business-critical services that require regular support, like IT and software, relationship is of utmost importance. If a company is too focused on growth that it may be exponentially larger in the near future, will they still care about their customers enough to provide the level of support you require?
 
When done properly, moving to the cloud is great for business and offers many inherent benefits, like security, scalability, stability, and convenience.  Taking the time to choose the right IT partner will ensure your long term success and save you many IT headaches, so you can focus on your clients and your business.

April 2019 Diversity Observances

April is Celebrate Diversity Month, started in 2004 to recognize and honor the diversity surrounding us all. By celebrating differences and similarities during this month, organizers hope that people will get a deeper understanding of each other.

April is Autism Awareness Month, established to raise awareness about the developmental disorder that affects children’s normal development of social and communication skills.
​
Click here to view the full list of April 2019 Observances

LGBTQ 101 for Legal Administrators

Cindy Schuler
Office Administrator, Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP
Co-Chair, Human Resources Community

​On Thursday, March 21, Joni Stacy, J.D. presented LGBTQ 101 to the Capital Chapter.  Joni has been an attorney for more than 20 years, and she has been educating people on LGBTQ issues for more than a decade. 
 
Joni spoke from personal experience regarding gender identity disorder when the gender identity in the brain is different than what we are assigned at birth.  More specifically, we have a “need to know” someone’s biology (i.e., we assume a baby is a boy or girl based  upon the body parts we observe upon birth – and that is not always correct.)  We can be born with what we have been taught are male or female body parts, but our brain can tell us that we are something different.  In order to explain this science, Joni introduced us to sexuality graphs where she spoke of four components we must understand:  biology, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation.  The interesting thing is that there are an infinite number of possibilities we can identify with when these four components are broken down.
 
Joni also spoke about identifying and quantifying our unconscious biases.  She discussed how unconscious bias affects workplace environments with a reinforcement of stereotypical gender roles and expectations that impact LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ employees.  She made it clear that we all have biases, and that there is no such thing as “good people” having no biases and “bad people” having all the biases.  She spoke about unconscious incompetence, conscious incompetence, conscious competence and unconscious competence, and that while it is painful to go through these four stages in trying to understand things, it is necessary to learn the most basic information about people who identify as LGBTQ .  Joni explained how the  stages of increased allyship  are often in synchronization with the four levels of understanding. 
​
Finally, Joni suggested that we evaluate common phrases and gave us suggestions regarding “other” phrases to use to create a more inclusive environment.  This was just the tip of the iceberg in discussing LGBTQ issues and how they affect the workplace.  One of the most important things to remember is that sex (anatomy) and gender (brain) are not interchangeable to all people, and that we should not respond to gender expression and make assumptions.  As Joni stated, “…living authentically is important…asking folks to not be themselves is dangerous.”

This presentation was an introductory session to teach us some of the basics.  The feedback received following the session overwhelmingly requested that we continue this discussion so that we – and our firms – can continue to move up the ladder of understanding and more importantly allyship.    Stay tuned for more sessions from this speaker!
​
Click here to view the LGBTQ 101 Presentation Slides

HITT Contracting Spotlight: Outside is the New Inside

Picture
Wes Smith
Project Manager​, HITT Contracting

I know what you are probably thinking right now, as you scroll through the newsletter, what in the heck is this article going to be about? Well you’re in luck because it’s going to be short (hurray!) and it’s going to be about the great outdoors. And by great outdoors I mean your building’s roof top, terrace, balcony, you name it, they are outside your building and transforming rapidly.

Gone are the days of deserted wastelands with a few dying plants and an old ashtray here and there. In today’s ever-changing law firm world, we are seeing a spike in green roof terraces. A few years ago, I wrote an article about this being a trend, however it has now become a de facto standard amenity. With new buildings crowding the skyline, developers are reaching deeper and deeper into their bag of tricks to lure in new tenants. One sure fire way to add color and differentiate yourself from the pack is to build a green roof terrace. As a result, today’s green roofs have become vibrant, dynamic gathering places which offers its’ occupants a respite from the monotony of the open office plan. Developers, designers and planners alike are keen to capitalize on this grand opportunity to showcase their design prowess. This has led to increasingly complex and beautiful spaces.

One exceptionally elaborate and truly divine way to transform a roof top is by adding a large sliding glass door. There are several American and European manufacturers that occupy this space. If you have no idea what I’m talking about then by all means, please reach out to HITT and we will gladly show you a few options. You are probably asking how in the world do we get one of these? It’s simple really, well actually it’s not, but it’s on the cutting edge and increasingly being planned into new spaces. These sumptuous doors provide a grand entry way and allow for an interior space to be transformed into the great outdoors. They truly allow the outside to come inside.

Lastly, we are seeing the emergence of outdoor rooms. Rooms you say? Technically, these are not rooms, but designers have been getting creative with their approach. The main issue is how to divide these spaces. Floor finish changes, large divider trellis’, different furniture and creative planter placements are all being utilized to help define spaces. One nifty feature is a retractable awning. These define space and allow for the end users to have better control over the outdoor environment. One last thought - tent anchors. If you want a large, outdoor, weather-proof, temporary entertaining room then a tent is your best bet. Anchors are integrated into the terrace floor design and blend seamlessly into the mystique. Tents can be purchased or rented depending on your firms needs.

In closing, this is all food for thought. In this ever-changing world in which we live in we are being given more and more of a voice. The built environment is now bending and shaping itself into a better place for people to live, work and play. The topics discussed above are all being built in our city today. Next time you fill out a survey or discuss new office designs be sure to raise your hand and speak up for the great outdoors. 

Community Service Recap: DC Central Kitchen Meal Prep Volunteering

Pamela Christian-Wilson
Assistant Director - Benefits, Covington & Burling LLP
ALACC Vice President Community Services

On April 9th and April 11th sixteen CapChap members and Business Partners banded together to unselfishly volunteer at DC Central Kitchen.  Upon arrival, they were cheerfully greeted by the friendly and jovial Chef Wayne.  While he was cheerful, he was also serious about the tasks at hand.  Chef Wayne made sure each volunteer properly washed their hands and donned a hair bonnet and sparkling white apron. It was immediately obvious that Chef and his team takes pride in providing wholesome and delicious meals.   After each volunteer received their assignment for the evening, music permeated and chatter filled the air.  Some cleaned the facility, while others did food prep: washing and chopping vegetables.  
 
Last year, DC Central Kitchen prepared 3.2 million meals for the homeless, rehabilitation clinics, and after-school programs.  Did you know, the biggest worry for young homeless people is not being able to eat a healthy, nutritious meal? Some go without food for more than five days at a time.  Because of DC Central Kitchen's partnership with over 80 agencies, many homeless and children in after-school programs across the DMV receive warm or hot meals, daily.
 
At the end of the night, bonds were formed and everyone left with that "feel-good" feeling because they felt as though their contribution made a difference.   
  
"Volunteers are not paid--not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless."  Be priceless and give of your time and talent.

2019 Change of Gavel

On March 28th, the Capital Chapter met at the Hamilton Live to celebrate the 2019 Change of Gavel. Chapter members and Business Partners gathered to thank the outgoing Executive Committee and Leadership Team for their service over the past year, welcome the incoming officers, and honor this year's President's Award recipient.  

A video presentation kicked off the afternoon's festivities - clips from the Next Generation Leaders Community trailer, the Past Presidents' 45th Anniversary celebration video, and our 1st place 2018 60 Seconds of Fame video contest submission were followed by a Year in Review presentation featuring snapshots of Capital Chapter members and Business Partners throughout the previous year. As the video came to a close, outgoing Chapter President Jenna Carter took the stage to the chorus of the Cheers theme song that inspired her vision for her presidency: "The Chapter Where Everyone Knows Your Name." That vision came to fruition in an number of ways over the past Chapter year, from the re-imagining of our May Quarterly Networking Lunch as a reception-style mini expo, to the individual new member introductions and networking game at our February Quarterly Networking Lunch, to the silver ALACC business card cases that have become a fixture at every Chapter event as members and Business Partners get to know one another and deepen the sense of community that makes this Chapter great.  In her remarks, Jenna thanked her 2018-2019 Executive Committee and Leadership Team for their work throughout the past year, as well as the Capital Chapter's Business Partners for their help in shaping the Chapter into a community and supporting her "crazy ideas" along the way.   

Jenna also took a moment to acknowledge a particular member for her longtime commitment to the Chapter. Congratulations to Monique Terrell, our 2019 President's Award recipient! Monique has held many leadership roles in the Capital Chapter throughout her years of membership. She was the inaugural chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and has chaired it twice. Monique is never one to be "voluntold," because she is often the first to volunteer to take on a project or assist with a task. She has served on the Education Committee, the Nominating Subcommittee Task Force, the HR Retreat Planning Committee, and the Fall Conference Planning Committee; she served as the 2018-2019 Vice President of Business Partner Advisory-Elect; and after volunteering to step in to fill an unexpected vacancy on the board, she is now the Chapter President-Elect for the 2019-2020 Chapter Year. Outside of the Capital Chapter, Monique is a mother of four whose hobbies include making and fixing jewelry, swimming, and traveling to Aruba. 

At the conclusion of her speech, Jenna presented incoming Chapter President Frank Schipani with the Capital Chapter's ceremonial gavel. Frank in turn awarded Jenna a personalized gavel and crystal award to commemorate her term of service and acknowledge her status as a lifetime member of the Chapter. 

The Chapter presented a donation of $5,000 to the Capital Chapter Foundation in honor of Jenna's presidency. The donation was accepted by Foundation Secretary Richard Gibson. The donation will help to fund the 2019 Toni K. Allen Scholarship.

In his first address as Chapter President, Frank Schipani recalled his initial hesitance to take on the role of President: "No way do I want to follow after Jenna Carter!" While he feels that he has very big shoes to fill, Frank expressed his appreciation for Jenna's commitment to including him in Chapter leadership throughout the year to prepare him to take the reins. Frank then went on to pose a question to those in attendance: "Why are we here?" More specifically, what is the purpose of the Capital Chapter? He reflected upon two of the things that the Chapter excels at - providing education, and giving back to the community. His conclusion is that the Capital Chapter's mission is to "share what we have and give back to our community," and he concluded his remarks by expressing his excitement to focus the Chapter's efforts on being a resource to both the membership and our larger community throughout the coming year. 

Thank you to everyone who attended the Change of Gavel, and to all of our volunteer leaders and Business Partners - we're looking forward to another fantastic year!
Thank you 2018-2019 Officers!

Executive Committee
​Jenna Carter, President
Julie Tomey, Treasurer
Carmen Barboza, Secretary
Colleen Brown, Vice President Business Partner Advisory
Qeyana Hart, Vice President Community Service
Frank Schipani, President-Elect
Sheri Shifflett, Treasurer-Elect
Melody Watson, Secretary-Elect
Monique Terrell, Vice President-Elect 
​Business Partner Advisory
Pamela Christian-Wilson, Vice President-Elect Community Service
Leadership Team
Diversity & Inclusion Committee
Ellen Clinton, Chair
Cameron Gowan, Co-Chair

Salary Survey Committee
Julie Tomey, Chair
Sheri Shifflett, Co-Chair

Branch Office Administrators Community
Jackie Thomas, Chair
Anjanette Milladge, Co-Chair
​
Human Resources Community 
Jasmine Stribling, Chair
Tiffany Montgomery, Co-Chair

Office Operations Management Community
Linda Padron, Chair
Janice Byrum-Jackson, Co-Chair

Next Generation Leaders Community 
Danielle Smith, Chair
Tania Jose, Co-Chair
Member Experience Committee
Sarahi Estrella, Chair
Dot Mooney, Co-Chair
​
Communication & Media Relations Committee
Cindy Conover, Chair
Valerie Williamson, Co-Chair

IP Administrators Community
Astrid Emond, Chair
Matthew Cichocki, Co-Chair

Small Firm Administrators Community
Wilmara Guido-Chizhik, Chair
Jo Jo Ruby, Co-Chair

Technology Community
Kenny Mitchell, Chair
Welcome 2019-2020 Officers!

​Executive Committee
Frank Schipani, President
Sheri Shifflett, Treasurer
Melody Watson, Secretary
Claudia Baragano, Vice President
​Business Partner Advisory
Pamela Christian-Wilson, Vice President Community Service
Monique Terrell, President-Elect
Valerie Williamson, Treasurer-Elect
Tania Jose, Secretary-Elect
Mary Randolph, Vice President-Elect Business Partner Advisory
Jackie Thomas, Vice President-Elect Community Service
Leadership Team
Diversity & Inclusion Committee
Cameron Gowan, Chair
Cheryl Flynn, Co-Chair

Salary Survey Committee
Sheri Shifflett, Chair
Valerie Williamson, Co-Chair

Branch Office Administrators Community
Barbara Kernus, Chair
Joanna Hurt, Co-Chair
​
Human Resources Community 
Tiffany Montgomery, Chair
Cindy Schuler, Co-Chair

Office Operations Management Community
Kenia Garner, Chair
Jacqueline Keener, Co-Chair
Member Experience Committee
Dot Mooney, Chair
LaVerne Anenia, Co-Chair
​
Communication & Media Relations Committee
Cindy Conover, Chair
Valerie Williamson, Co-Chair

IP Administrators Community
Matthew Cichocki, Chair
Judi Heston, Co-Chair

Small Firm Administrators Community
Valerie Williamson, Chair
Tabatha Harris, Co-Chair

​Next Generation Leaders Community 
Kate Fettrow, Chair

Adams & Martin Group Spotlight: Adams & Martin Group is a Proud Supporter of and Resource for ALA Members 

Adams & Martin Group is a values-driven, full-service legal staffing firm, located right in the heart of Washington DC. Their team of experienced legal recruiters provides expertise in legal hiring needs for firms and legal departments throughout the region, creating customized solutions for each client. They offer temporary and temporary-to-hire staffing services, direct hire recruitment, attorney search services, legal project team staffing, as well as specialized services through their Litigation Solutions team.
 
A longtime, proud partner of ALA, Adams & Martin Group sponsors and actively participates in events at the local and national levels, and provides hiring expertise to ALA members. On April 24, 2019, Jennifer Jech Simonson, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Roth Staffing Companies (the parent company of Adams & Martin Group) is offering a free informational webinar exclusive to ALA members, “Demystifying 1099 Classification.” In light of the recent Dynamex case, 1099 classification has become a popular – and complicated – topic among hiring managers, especially in the legal field where contract work is prevalent. Simonson’s presentation will cover proper classification of independent contractors and how to avoid the potentially costly fines and penalties associated with misclassification. All ALA members are encouraged to attend and can register at www.adamsmartingroup.com/ALA/rsvp
 
Adams & Martin Groups’ DC team offers clients the assurance of an experienced business partner with national presence and the resources of a large organization, and yet is small enough to establish a meaningful relationship and the flexibility to quickly respond to your business needs. The team lives and works right here in the greater DC/Northern Virginia region, with strong ties to the area’s professional organizations. Dedicated to creating remarkable experiences, the Adams & Martin Group team is passionately committed to our firm’s Promise: We love to create remarkable experiences…every person, every time.® Clients, Ambassadors (the temporary employees on assignment for clients), and coworkers all agree that Adams & Martin Group’s culture is a fundamental reason why they chose to work with the organization. The company’s awards further demonstrate how culture differentiates them from the competition.
 
As a business line of Roth Staffing Companies, Adams & Martin Group is part of a national organization that has been in business for more than 24 years. Roth Staffing is the only staffing firm to ever receive all of the industry’s highest honors in a single year. This includes Staffing Industry Analyst’s designations as “Best Staffing Firm to Work For” and “Best Staffing Firm to Temp For,” as well as ClearlyRated (formerly Inavero) & CareerBuilder’s awards for “Best of Staffing” in both the Client and Talent Experience categories.
 
Adams & Martin Group’s outstanding reputation is fueling its growth throughout the US. The organization has recently expanded into the St. Louis and Denver markets, to serve the growing need for temporary and direct hire legal professionals in today’s very tight labor market. With their ever-growing network of top legal professionals, Adams & Martin Group’s well-connected recruiting teams take pride in carefully matching job seekers with the right opportunities.
 
Adams & Martin Group looks forward to continuing its unique relationship with ALA well into the future, partnering with legal administrators to create effective hiring solutions.
 
For more information, contact:
Adams & Martin Group
www.adamsmartingroup.com
washingtondc@adamsmartingroup.com
(202) 350-3976

Member Diversity Spotlight

Picture
Jo Jo Ruby
Office Administrator, Barnes & Thornburg LLP

How do you try to bring diversity/inclusion into your workplace and everyday life?
I 100% promote from within so employees know that if they work hard, they will be recognized and rewarded.  This management approach helps me give greater focus on individual employee strengths and weaknesses such that when an opportunity arises, I have already mentored and identified possible candidates.  I strive to identify minorities in particular who are often overlooked to ensure they are promoted.
 
My leadership w/ respect to diversity speaks for itself:  I’ve promoted more minorities by far into management/supervisory positions than any other manager/director during my ten year tenure in IT at Covington.  I created positions where none existed, to elevate talent and skill that was otherwise unrecognized.  I repeated this at other firms by identifying highly skilled, talented employees who weren’t visible either because they lacked confidence that they would be recognized or, because they simply did not have previous mentoring, someone cheering them on, or marketing them to upper management, which is key. 
 
I live like my Mother, a civil rights activist, raised me:  Stand up, even if you’re the only one standing – your friends should be from every walk of life.  You may lose friends, but you can still look yourself in the mirror knowing you did the right thing.  She was right – I cannot imagine my life without my diverse group of friends and colleagues; it is enriched beyond measure. 
 
I was taught never to treat someone different because they look differently.  My Mother is my hero and in her memory, I’m now able to use my platform as an Office Administrator to push the limits at our African American History Month and Women’s International Day celebrations.  I push more each year using humor and tough reality, realizing it makes some uncomfortable.  I risk judgment from some who may see the world differently, but I don’t care; enlightenment must be at the forefront, not swept under the rug. It’s not about having a lunch to celebrate – it’s about educating and enlightening. 
 
Colleagues and friends thank me for gently correcting them for how they come across or for saying something insensitive.  Some people need education simply because they didn’t grow up in a diverse school/neighborhood as I did, near DC. In my younger years,  I learned that in order to change the establishment, I had to become part of it, rather than fight against it.  And, proudly, I have, but it took many years. I didn’t win every battle, but I’m winning one by one, and that’s what counts.   
 
What does diversity mean to you?
Having people from every walk of life, different experiences, races, genders, skillsets, and talent, seated at the table.  You gain more insight on how ideas will be received if you have a cross-cultural subset at the table to vet plans and progress.  If all of my friends looked like me, life would be boring!  
 
When I see someone alone or treated invisibly, I go out of my way to include them.  I’ll ask them to lead a meeting for me – this sends a message that they are important not only to me, but that others should take notice – this person represents what I want to see in everyone and to knock it off. 
 
What do you like to do outside of work?
Not much as I get older!  I used to travel the world, do yoga, go to dinner/shopping, etc. with a group of friends as diverse as the United Nations.  I like to help people who are trying to get ahead.  If I meet a random stranger who starts talking about their school/work, I try to think of how I can hire them to give them opportunities, ideas, and ways to get ahead. Sometimes it’s a win-win or, I’ve at least warmed both our hearts with hope and a plan.  I think that’s one of my purposes in life – to help others, because I can.

Administrative Committees

Communications and Media Relations
As members of the Newsletter and Media Relations Committee, Chapter members participate in producing the award-winning Capital Connection. Members gather to brainstorm new ideas for editorial themes for upcoming editions. The newsletter reports Chapter business activities such as Section and Committee news and provides information about upcoming educational and other events. It also includes articles of interest to members and other legal management personnel, collected, authored and/or edited by members of the committee. This committee also works with other legal associations and the media to ensure that ALA and the Capital Chapter are represented in the legal industry. The Newsletter Committee welcomes new members.

Contact: Cindy Conover, Cindy.Conover@Shearman.com; Valerie Williamson, valerie.williamson@bassberry.com; Paula Serratore, pserratore@alacapchap.org

Diversity & Inclusion
The Capital Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators is a professional organization comprised of administrative managers from private, corporate and government legal organizations in the Washington DC, Northern Virginia and suburban Maryland areas.  ALACC embraces and encourages diversity within the legal profession. We value diversity and those initiatives that promote it and look to partner with affiliated professional legal organizations to advance diversity. We not only strive to raise awareness, but to increase our sensitivity in the area of diversity and more closely reflect the diversity of our community at large. Having a more inclusive and diverse legal community will improve the quality of our organizations workforce and respond to our client’s requirements for diversity. As a committee we are very interested in your thoughts, comments, and suggestions about achieving greater diversity in our Chapter, our profession, and in our firms. 

Contact: Cameron Gowan (Chair), cgowan@jonesday.com; Cheryl Flynn (Co-Chair), cflynn@wileyrein.com
Salary Survey
The Salary Survey Committee is responsible for maintaining, updating and running the local survey each year. They review the positions listed, the job descriptions, and the benefits questions to ensure that the survey remains relevant to the end users. The members of the committee also promote the survey within the Chapter to stimulate participation. 

Contact: Sheri Shifflett (Chair), Cheryl.Shifflett@saul.com; Valerie Williamson, valerie.williamson@bassberry.com;






Member Experience
The Member Experience Committee will establish a welcoming environment for new members to be integrated into the Chapter through a formal Ambassador Program. Ambassadors will provide support and guidance to new members through their first 12 months of membership, ensuring new members realize benefits of membership and become ambassadors of the Chapter. 

Contact: Dot Mooney (Co-Chair), dmooney@powerslaw.com​; LaVerne Anenia (Co-Chair), LaVerne.Anenia@dbr.com


Educational Communities

Branch Office Administrators
The Branch Office Adminsitrators Community focuses on a broad range of topics of interest to local adminisraotrs who must coordinate with other officees of their firms. The Community's monthly luncheon meetings, held on the second Tuesday of the month, provide a venue for members to discuss issues of common interest, share ideas, and network. Members are encouraged to raise topics and to recommend speakers.

Contact: Barbara Kernus (Chair), bkernus@gsblaw.com; Joanna Hurt (Co-Chair), jhurt@mccarter.com
Listserv: branch@lists.alacapchap.org
​

​
Office Operations Management
The members of the Office Operations Management Community represent a cross section of legal expertise from functional administrators to branch office managers. The Office Operations Management Section (OOMS) meets on the fourth Wednesday of every month to discuss operations related hot topics. We welcome all members to join the section, especially if you are an administrator in a small law office and you have to wear multiple hats. We can provide you with many best practices to run your operation smoothly.

Contact:  Kenia Garner (Chair), kenia.garner@pillsburylaw.com; Jacqueline Keener (Co-Chair), jackie.keener@threecrownsllp.com
Listserv: ooms@lists.alacapchap.org
Intellectual Property (IP)
The Intellectual Property (IP) Community focuses on all aspects of legal management as it pertains to the IP Administrator. The group discusses the complexity of the ever-changing IP environment and how to effectively create and apply IP specific, non-legal procedures in both boutique and general practice firms. 

Contact: Matthew Cichocki (Chair), mcichocki@cooley.com; Judi Heston (Co-Chair), jheston@nixonpeabody.com
Listserv: ipadmin@lists.alacapchap.org



​
Small Firm Administrators
The purpose of the Small Firm Administrators Community is to provide Administrators of law firms with 35 or fewer attorneys educational opportunities through vendor presentations, idea sharing and open forums specifically designed for those who work in smaller firms. The Small Firm Management Community meets the fourth Tuesday of the month at host law firms.

Contact: Valerie Williamson (Chair), valerie.williamson@bassberry.com; Tabatha Harris (Co-Chair), tsh@dwgp.com  
Listserv: smallfirm@lists.alacapchap.org


​​
Human Resources
The Human Resources Community operates as a venue for educational information on global human resources issues.  While the Community is mostly comprised of HR professionals, any member is invited to participate in the meetings which typically take place on the second or third Wednesday of each month.  The meetings feature industry speakers or roundtable discussions on topics such as recruiting, benefits, strategic planning, performance management, career pathing, retention and other matters of interest.

Contact: Tiffany Montgomery (Chair), tmontgomery@velaw.com; Cindy Schuler (Co-Chair), cindy.schuler@hugheshubbard.com

Listserv: hr@lists.alacapchap.org

Next Generation Leaders
The mission of the Next Generation Leaders Community is to support our next generation of leaders and close the gap faced by our association and the legal industry as a whole by providing a community for Millennial legal managers and new managers in the legal field with a focus on mentoring, education, and networking. To accomplish this goal, the section hosts monthly meetings, pop-up events, and educational sessions, and provides 2-way mentoring opportunities. 

Contact: Kate Fettrow (Chair), kfettrow@wileyrein.com
Listserv: nextgen@lists.alacapchap.org