December 2018

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: Jenna Carter; David Sherdil; Qeyana M. Hart; Pamela Christian-Wilson; Craig Church
Newsletter Designed By: Jessica Davis


In this issue:

President's Message

Jenna Carter

New and Returning ALA Capital Chapter Members

Denise E. Johnson
Troutman Sanders
Human Resources Manager
401 9th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20004
[email protected]
Anat Allal
Van Ness Feldman LLP
Marketing & Business Development Manager
1050 Thomas Jefferson Street, NW
7th Floor
Washington, DC 20007
[email protected]
​

2018 Annual Meeting Holiday Lunch

On December 6th, Capital Chapter members and Business Partners gathered at Mastro's Steakhouse for an afternoon of fun and festive networking and Chapter business at the 2018 Annual Meeting Holiday Lunch.  

Chapter President Jenna Carter greeted attendees and called the meeting to order. Jenna recognized the Chapter’s Past Presidents, Foundation Board, Executive Committee, Leadership Team, and Nominating Committee for all of their contributions, support and dedication to the Capital Chapter throughout the year. After taking a moment to greet our new members - the Chapter welcomed 34 new members in 2018 - and thank the Ambassadors for supporting them this year, Jenna introduced the slate of officers nominated for the 2019 - 2020 Chapter year:
Nominated for President- Elect,  Danita Ellis
Nominated for Treasurer-Elect, Valerie Williamson
Nominated for Secretary-Elect, Tania Jose
Nominated for VP Community Services-Elect, Jackie Thomas
Nominated for VP Partner Advisory-Elect, Mary Randolph
 
The nominations for officers for the 2019 - 2020 Chapter year and the 2019 budget were both approved by the membership. Congratulations to our incoming slate of officers - we can't wait to see what you accomplish!

To mark the end of the Chapter's 45th anniversary year, attendees watched a video featuring past Capital Chapter presidents reflecting upon their experiences with the Chapter and what their membership and service has meant to them. Click here to watch the video.

The final portion of the presentation spotlighted a new Capital Chapter initiative that recently celebrated its one year anniversary: the Next Generation Leaders (NGL) Community. The community has grown significantly over the last year, and the concept has been adopted by other ALA chapters and inspired the creation of the ALA International online community called the First 5.  NGL community Chair Danielle Smith spoke about the mission of the group - to educate and empower the next generation of legal management leaders - and encouraged members to get involved with the community in the new year. A video presentation featuring members of the community wrapped up the presentation. Click here to watch the video.

Play, Pick, Win! Game
Members had the opportunity to win one of 25 incredible prizes by playing the Play, Pick, Win! incentive game this year. This revamped incentive game made its debut in 2017, and was such a hit that it was carried forward into 2018.  Throughout the year, members attended Chapter events and meetings, participated in community service projects, and engaged with Business Partners to earn raffle tickets, which they used for a chance to win one of the 25 prizes. Congratulations to all of our 2018 winners:
  1. Kate Spade wristlet - Erica White
  2. Nambe leaf dish, wine coaster, and rosé - Joanna Hurt
  3. Nambe bar board, cocktail shaker, and gin - Joshua Alecknavage
  4. Cole Haan tote bag - Renee Brooks
  5. Instant Pot and cookbook - Nina Adams
  6. Zweisel wine decanter - Beth Fowler
  7. Hobo clutch bag - Kristine Miller
  8. Parker Daniels cuff bracelet - Valerie Williamson
  9. Tory Burch watch - Elaine Gregg
  10. Bertha watch - Ginger Hannums
  11. Cashs Ireland silver necklace - Dot Mooney
  12. Get Organized 2019 bundle - Barbara Kernus
  13. Date Night bundle - Tania Jose
  14. Italian 14K gold bracelet - Mary Randolph
  15. Italian 14K gold necklace - Tiffany Montgomery
  16. Italian 14K gold earrings - Pennie McKinney
  17. Le Creuset casserole dish and oven mitts - LaVerne Anenia
  18. Amazon Echo Show - Donna Williams
  19. Signed copy of Annie Liebowitz at Work and picture frame - Ashley McCabe
  20. Nieman Marcus cashmere scarf & Cole Haan wallet - Bob Bieber
  21. $100 Nike gift card - James Cornell
  22. Vizio Sound Bar - Jasmine Stribling
  23. JAM wireless earbuds & bluetooth speaker - Cindy Schuler
  24. $125 ThinkFoodGroup gift card - Helen Fiori
  25. Framed DC map print, DC map etched rocks classes, and gin - Chris Blemly
We will be playing the game again in 2019!  We’re looking forward to even more players in 2019, and we hope this will encourage our members to become more involved in the Chapter in the new year!

We would like to thank all of our members and Business Partners who attended the celebration.  Special thanks to our Holiday Giving Program Community Service Partners - from N Street Village, Events Manager Makenzie Delmotte; from Safe Shores, Development Associate Micah Goudy; and from Bright Beginnings, Executive Director Dr. Marla Dean - and to the Chapter’s Community Service Team for another fantastic program. This year, Chapter members “adopted” and shopped for 246 children, as well as supporting the “Gifts for Moms” Program at N Street Village.

The Capital Chapter would like to wish you and yours a joyous holiday season and wonderful and prosperous New Year!

December Celebrations and December 2018 Diversity Observances

Learn More about December Celebrations:
7 Interesting Facts about Kwanzaa

The History of Hanukkah

The History of Christmas

Click here for the full list of December 2018 observances

HITT Contracting: Wellness By Design – Trends in Healthy Office Spaces

Picture
David Sherdil
Assistant Project Manager,HITT Contracting

Our environment plays a pivotal role in our health and wellbeing. With nearly a third of our lives spent at work, architects are taking steps to ensure that office design positively impacts its tenants.  For those of you that have gone through recent renovations, this may help you understand and answer questions about certain features of your office.  For others, about to embark on the process, this may help you relay to your partners current trends in the marketplace.  Intentional, intelligent design can support employee physical and psychological health, and in turn, support employee performance. This is one of the reasons Law firms tend to have extraordinary office spaces. Your office’s layout, lighting, sound transmission, furniture, color, and materials have likely been methodically selected to positively impact your wellbeing. If they haven’t, modest enhancements can produce great results.  As Dr. Richard Jackson, University of California Los Angeles School of Public Health, states, “…developers and architects can be more effective in achieving public health goals than doctors in white coats.”

LAYOUT
Good office design has the power to nudge employees towards positive behaviors. For example, staircases in the middle of offices can encourage more use.  Elevators are typically placed in the center of offices, and unpleasant fire stairs carry the risk of locking us out. Central, monumental staircases between floors are not only aesthetically pleasing and popular, but convenient and healthy. Intelligent designers place said central stairs near communal areas, like pantries, to foster engagement with other employees.

LIGHT
More firms are arranging offices to allow for maximum penetration of light throughout the floor. Exposure to natural lighting can improve mood and satisfaction. High ceilings, and even no ceilings, are becoming increasingly favored. In addition, using glass increases light penetration. Glass film can be an inexpensive solution if privacy is needed. On the other hand, too much light can be distracting. Automated and semi-permeable roller shades offer users control over how much light enters their space, and are much more appealing than typical window blinds.

SOUND
An easy stressor in the workplace can be noise. It can stem from the inability to focus on task due to someone else’s conversation, or not being able to have a private phone-call of your own. “Privacy Booths” offer employees a space to have uninterrupted conversations as well as a place to concentrate on high focus work. In addition, acoustical ceiling tile (ACT) technology has greatly advanced in recent years. Stronger, better soundproofing tiles are now available and are even cheaper than traditional tiles. Fabric panels, carpeting, and operable partitions are other popular ways to absorb/block sound.


FURNITURE
Furniture can help reverse the sedentary nature of office work.  In an effort stray away from “the new smoking”, many companies are Integrating sit-stand desks, treadmill desks, and even bicycle desks into the work environment. This promotes movement, can help sustain productivity, and has also been found to support mental cognition[i].

COLOR AND MATERIALS
Sensory stimulation can increase focus and creative drive, while dull offices can lead to boredom and passivity. Simple and inexpensive measures can be taken in offices to positively impact employees. Art, graphics, and color are some of the easiest ways to give any office a facelift. Color psychology suggests that color affects human behavior[ii]:
  • RED – Increased energy, strength, and ambition. Consider using this in open work areas and in meeting rooms.
  • ORANGE – Increased self-esteem and enthusiasm. Consider using this at entry points.
  • YELLOW – Increased clarity and alertness. Consider using this is offices and open spaces.
  • BRIGHT BLUES & GREENS – Associated with increased focus and accuracy. Consider using these                                colors in office and open work areas.
  • BLUE – Associated with calming, clarity and creativity. Consider using this in         meeting/collaboration   rooms.
  • PINK – Decreased aggression, irritation, and loneliness. Consider using this in corridors and         wellness rooms.               
Natural materials like wood, water, and stone are frequently used in elegant design. Incorporating these elements promotes the instinctive bond humans have with nature, thereby creating a more pleasant indoor work environment. Additionally, plants and green-walls help rid indoor air of pollutants.

The best companies understand that their primary goal is to enhance the performance of their people. It’s why companies like Facebook, Google, and Adobe (yes, they have a rock-climbing wall) enhance employee wellness by making over-the-top investments in their office construction. Most companies, however, don’t need to go to great lengths to have healthy work spaces. If your offices don’t already make you feel good, consider seeking some of the design suggestions above.  They’ll likely help the well-being of your employees as well as your company’s bottom line.
​

[i] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Physical Activity and Health. http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/health/index.html?s_cid=cs_284. Updated February 16, 2011.

[ii] Agarwal, Dr. Pragya. “How Do We Design Workplaces That Support Mental Health And Well-Being.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 25 June 2018, www.forbes.com/sites/pragyaagarwaleurope/2018/06/24/how-can-workplace-design-help-mental-health/#4424fe594dc1.

2018 Community Service Wrap-Up

Qeyana M. Hart
Vice President Community Services
Pamela Christian-Wilson
Assistant Director of Benefits, Covington & Burling LLP

As 2018 comes to an end, the ALA Capital Chapter's Community Services team is proud to announce another successful year of giving back to our community through the Toni K. Allen Scholarship and the Holiday Giving Programs. 

On November 1, we raised $2,785 at the Silent (and Live) Auction/Raffle Happy Hour for the Toni K. Allen Scholarship. This event would not have been possible without the wonderful support from our Business Partners who donated prizes, and Tracy Morris and the DLA Piper team who hosted the event.

​We raised an additional $1,200 for the Toni K. Allen scholarship by raffling off a $200 spa gift certificate from the Four Seasons Hotel at our Annual Holiday luncheon that was held on December 6th. With all the latest proceeds, we were able to meet our goal of raising $15,000 for next year's scholarship.

During our 2018 Holiday Giving Program, we supported three local charities: Bright Beginnings, N Street Village, and Safe Shores. Members and Business Partners supported this year’s program by fulfilling 100 wish lists from Safe Shores and 126 wish lists from Bright Beginnings, and by purchasing over 50 gift cards for N Street Village.   As you know, many of the children are facing life's challenges and the gifts we provide may be the only gift the children receive during the holiday season.  But because of your generous giving, we were able to provide not only toys and clothing, but also joy this holiday season.

In addition to the wish lists, the Capital Chapter had the opportunity to sponsor a Holiday Gift Wrapping Party at Safe Shores. Volunteers had the opportunity to meet the staff, tour the facility and learn more about the services that are offered at Safe Shores. 

Thank you again to everyone who supported our efforts this year. We look forward to serving our community again in 2019. Happy Holidays!

Miller's Supplies at Work: 3 Questions to Consider Before Peak Cold & Flu Season

Craig Church
Vice President Sales, Miller's Supplies at Work

Winter is coming to a place near you sooner than you think! According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac the first day of Winter is December 21st and a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study shows the peak month of the flu season is February. With brisk cooler temperatures every day the time to prepare facilities and offices for sniffles, sneezes and the flu is now. Please consider the questions below to anticipate the impact peak cold and flu season may have on your workplace.

1) Do you understand the true financial impact of absenteeism?
It is difficult for most organizations to understand the financial impact of absences caused by employee illness. Healthcare claims and their affiliated costs may be more readily financially trackable, but absences also have far-reaching effects on productivity and operating expenses that are not as easy to quantify and control. The Aon Hewitt’s 2014 Health Care Survey found that less than 40 percent of employers measure the bottom-line financial impact of employee absences. In addition, a 2011 Liberty Mutual survey found that nearly 50 percent of employers are not even able to estimate the total cost associated with absenteeism.1 According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), more than 40% of organizations provide a paid time off (PTO) plan that combines vacation time, sick leave and personal days. This limits employers’ visibility into the causes of employee absences, which includes a variety of reasons not related to illness. Did you know, U.S. employers collectively lose an estimated $260 billion annually as a result of poor employee health?2 Learn more about the true financial impact of absenteeism here.

2) How do layout trends affect the spread of germs?
The open office trend is here to stay, and for good reason: the layout can foster collaboration, a livelier interchange of ideas and a greater sense of belonging to the team. But while an open environment can boost morale and creativity, there are new challenges that come with open floor plans. Closer physical contact between office workers means more exposure to germs. If an open floor plan encourages the spread of ideas, the same can go for the spread of illnesses. Beyond the breakdown of office walls, two other trends are increasing employee exposure to germs in the workplace.
  • Shrinking floor space. Office floor plans used to allow for an average of 250 square feet per employee, but that number has dropped to 160-170 square feet.
  • Shared workspaces. The shuffle and camaraderie of shared workspaces can keep an office feeling dynamic and fresh. But sharing space also means that employees have less control over the cleanliness of their work surfaces.
    Learn more about how modern layout trends affect the spread of germs here.

3) True or False? Promoting a company image can be expensive.
There's a widespread perception that promoting a positive company image has to be expensive. Organizations often think office amenities or wellness initiatives need to be dramatic to have a positive impact on employees. Companies become convinced they need to build a gym or do something dramatic so their employees will have to notice. It’s much more practical to do small, inexpensive things for your employees that make their everyday lives better and healthier. If you provide something simple like PURELL® Advanced Hand Sanitizer and PURELL® Hand Sanitizing Wipes throughout work areas, employees are more likely to use these products on a daily basis. Many companies underestimate the opportunity to enhance their image with something as straightforward as hand sanitizer and hand sanitizing wipes. However, the fact that employees are likely to use these products every day means there is a substantial opportunity to improve their view of their workplace. Learn more about how promoting a company image can be inexpensive here.

Did you find these questions insightful and helpful? Please consider downloading our free eBook “Guide to Keep Your Workplace Healthy and Safe” here. Miller’s Supplies at Work is always available for your workplace facility solutions including janitorial sanitation, workplace safety, green sustainable products and more.


Excerpts of this content was originally published by GOJO here. We republished this content with their permission.
  1. Liberty Mutual. The Missing Piece of Absence Management—Turning Data into Dollars. 2011.
  2. Davis K, Collins SR, Doty MM, Ho A, Holmgren AL. Health and productivity among US workers. Issue Brief. (Commonwealth Fund). 2005; 856:1-10.

We Are the Next Generation of Leaders

The Chapter's Next Generation Leaders Community is celebrating its one year anniversary this month. So what, exactly, does the community do? Take a look at the video below to find out. 
​Thank you to everyone who has helped the Next Generation Leaders Community grow and thrive throughout its first year! Stay tuned for more information about ways to get involved in 2019!

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, [email protected]; Valerie Williamson, [email protected]; Paula Serratore, [email protected]

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: Ellen Clinton (Chair), [email protected];  Cameron Gowan (Co-Chair), [email protected]
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: Julie Tomey (Chair), [email protected]; Sheri Shifflett (Co-Chair), [email protected] 






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: Sarahi Estrella (Chair), [email protected] ; Dot Mooney (Co-Chair), [email protected]​


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: Jackie Thomas (Chair), [email protected]; Anjanette Milladge (Co-Chair), [email protected] 
Listserv: [email protected]
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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:  Linda Padron (Chair), [email protected]; Janice Byrum-Jackson (Co-Chair),  [email protected]
Listserv: [email protected]
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: Astrid Emond (Chair), [email protected]; Matthew Cichocki (Co-Chair), [email protected]
Listserv: [email protected]



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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: Wilmara Guido-Chizhik (Chair), [email protected]; Jo Jo Ruby (Co-Chair), [email protected]
Listserv: [email protected]


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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: Danielle Smith (Chair), [email protected]; Tania Jose (Co-Chair), [email protected]
Listserv: [email protected]
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: Jasmine Stribling (Chair), [email protected]; Tiffany Montgomery (Co-Chair), [email protected]
Listserv: [email protected]
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Technology
The Technology Community is looking for members to join the group for lively discussions about practical situations we all face daily in the information technology world. With ever-changing IT needs and issues, we will look at our firms' policies and procedures and help develop best practices and speak of the many concerns we all have. Even if you are not in the IT field,  your experiences and opinions will help us in bringing all departments of a law firm together and working on the same page.

Contact: Kenny Mitchell (Chair), [email protected]
Listserv: [email protected]