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  Capital Connection

December 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 Williamson; Beth Fowler
Associate Editor: Paula Serratore
​Contributing Editors: Jenna Carter; Amy Walkowiak; Cindy Schuler; Mary Randolph

Newsletter Designed By: Jessica Davis


In this issue:
  • President's Message
  • With Sincere Gratitude: Farewell to Executive Director Paula Serratore
  • In Memoriam
  • 2019 Annual Meeting Holiday Lunch
  • The Opioid Crisis - How We Got Here and What We Need to Do to Combat the Issue
  • The Value of Our Business Partners
  • December 2019 Diversity Observances
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President's Message

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Jenna Carter
 
 

With Sincere Gratitude: Farewell to Executive Director Paula Serratore

It is with deep sorrow that the Capital Chapter says goodbye to Executive Director Paula Serratore after thirteen phenomenal years of leadership.

Paula's time with the Chapter was one of incredible growth and progress. She refused to settle for "good enough," she insisted upon going above and beyond in all things, and she never lost the imaginative, forward-thinking spark that propelled us forward - all while continuing to work diligently and tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that everything continued to run seamlessly. And somehow, she made it look effortless. We wouldn't be where we are today as a Chapter without her insight, tenacity, and passion. We are immeasurably grateful for all that she has done for the Chapter - as well as for many of us personally - and she will be sorely missed. 

A Message From Paula:

Dear Capital Chapter,
 
When I accepted the role of Executive Director for the ALA Capital Chapter thirteen years ago, I knew I was in for an adventure. I’ve had the privilege of working with some remarkable people, and we accomplished a lot of things to be proud of. The past thirteen years working with you all have been so rewarding. I am grateful for the friendships and partnerships forged, and to have been able to make a difference for both our membership and Business Partners. I appreciate everyone who has reached out over the past several weeks to reminisce and wish me well. I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of you for making my time at ALA Capital Chapter so memorable. I wish the Chapter continued success. 

Paula
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In Memoriam

The Capital Chapter is sad to announce the passing of longtime member Cathy Barron on October 29, 2019. 
 

2019 Annual Meeting Holiday Lunch

Amy Walkowiak
Practice Group Business Administrator, Perkins Coie LLP
Co-Chair, Next Generation Leaders Community

​
On December 5th, Capital Chapter Members and Business Partners gathered at the W Hotel for an afternoon of fun and festive networking and Chapter business at the 2019 Annual Meeting Holiday Lunch.  
 
Chapter President Jenna Carter greeted attendees and called the meeting to order. Jenna recognized the Chapter’s Past Presidents, the members of the ALA Capital Chapter Foundation Board, Executive Committee and Leadership Team. Jenna took a moment to greet our new members and thank the Ambassadors for supporting them this year, highlighting the very first New Member Only Happy Hour this year, which was a huge success. She recognized the Nominating Committee for all of their contributions, support and dedication to the Capital Chapter throughout the year: 
 
Jenna Carter, Immediate Past President, Current President and Chair
Nancy Reeves, Office Administrator, AKERMAN LLP
Cheryl Flynn , Director of Human Resources, Wiley Rein LLP
Dot Mooney, Executive Director, Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville, P.C
Cindy Schuler, Office Administrator, Hughes, Hubbard & Reed, LLP
 
Jenna then introduced the slate of officers nominated for the 2020 - 2021 Chapter year:
 
Nominated for President- Elect,  Jackie Thomas
Nominated for Treasurer-Elect, Herbert Abercrombie
Nominated for Secretary-Elect, Amy Walkowiak
Nominated for VP Community Services-Elect, Tiffany Montgomery
Nominated for VP Partner Advisory-Elect, Deidre Moore
 
The nominations for officers for the 2020 - 2021 Chapter year and the 2020 budget were both approved by the membership. Congratulations to our incoming slate of officers - we can't wait to see what they accomplish!
 
Jenna then addressed the recent vacancy in the positions of President and President-Elect in the Chapter. In accordance with the Chapter’s By-Laws and to solve the succession issue, it was put to a vote for the newly-appointed President-Elect Jackie Thomas to complete this year’s term and assume the role of President effective April 1, 2020 (instead of 2021). Under the By-Laws, the Nominating Committee will reconvene to present a new President-Elect and will keep the Chapter membership apprised of the progress with a final vote by the membership once a new President-Elect has been presented. Congratulations to Jackie!
 
The next portion of the presentation acknowledged our Chapter’s community service this year via community outreach: the Toni K. Allen Scholarship, charity efforts with the “Gifts for Moms” Program at N Street Village, Safe Shores—The DC Children’s Advocacy Center, and Bright Beginnings. Of course, none of this would be possible without the extraordinary efforts of our Vice President and Vice President-Elect of Community Services, Pam Christian-Wilson and Jackie Thomas. We all appreciate how hard they worked to coordinate the programs and ensure that so many children in the DC area will have a happier holiday. 
 
The final portion of the presentation highlighted the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington.  For the last 5 years, the Chapter has put on a 4 week workshop series called Career & College Readiness.  Each week covering a different topic: Business Etiquette & Mannerisms, Resume Review, Interview Prep, and College Readiness & How to be Young and Powerful.  This program is successful because of the members and business partners who volunteer and bring their unique talents to support our youth. Thank you to Dana Rodriguez, the YMCA Program Director, for continuing to partner with the ALA Capital Chapter for this wonderful program.
 
Members had the opportunity to win one of 25 incredible prizes by playing the Play, Pick, Win! incentive game this year. 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 2019 winners!
 
We will be playing the game again in 2020.  We’re looking forward to even more players in 2020, and we hope this will encourage our members to become more involved in the Chapter in the new year!
 
As a very special ending to this year’s festivities, Jenna surprised the attendees with unique party favors that were secretly hidden in black boxes inside the tables’ centerpieces! The favors were nostalgic View-Masters which held images depicting the different events and history of the Capital Chapter- a thoughtful reminder of why we choose to participate in the Capital Chapter. In conclusion, the event ended with a very joyful champagne toast to honor our past, celebrate the present, and embrace our Chapter’s bright future ahead. 
 
We would like to thank all of our members and Business Partners who attended the celebration.
​
The Capital Chapter would like to wish you and yours a joyous holiday season and a wonderful and prosperous New Year!
Congratulations to this year's Play, Pick, Win! prize winners!
  1. Ted Baker makeup case - Wilmara Guido-Chizhik
  2. Ted Baker purse - Jackie Keener
  3. David Yurman leather and sterling silver bracelet - Joanna Hurt
  4. Instant Pot - Halle Kraus
  5. Smart Home bundle - Karen Mojica
  6. Pour over coffee carafe - Daphney Sheppard
  7. Nespresso - Julia Yau
  8. Ippolita bracelet - Tiffany Montgomery
  9. Ted Baker watch - Karen Laumoli
  10. Lucky Brand vegan leather bag - Cindy Schuler
  11. Grooming Lounge gift card & shaving kit - Cathy Schabacker
  12. Jewelry case - Helen Fiori
  13. Wallet - Elaine Gregg
  14. Pink & gray shawl - Cindy Conover
  15. Rust & wine shawl - Richard Gibson
  16. Gold & prosecco shawl - Denise Sloan
  17. Cornhole set - Marie Woods
  18. Kitchenaid food processor - Kristine Miller
  19. $100 Cuba Libre gift card - Ana Sobalvarro
  20. Apple air pods - Sophia Smith
  21. Scholarship to ALA Annual Conference - Tabatha Harris
  22. Scholarship to ALA Annual Conference - LeDonna Marine-Nichols
  23. Margarita maker - Kate Fettrow
  24. External charger & case - Zeno Lantos
  25. Flip 4 bluetooth speaker & case - Erica White
 
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The Opioid Crisis – How We Got Here and What We Need to Do to Combat the Issue

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


On Wednesday, December 11, 2019, the Capital Chapter’s HR Community hosted Dr. Christina Stasiuk, DO, FACOI.  Dr. Stasiuk is Currently Cigna’s Market Medical Executive for the Mid-Atlantic region.  Dr. Stasiuk presented “The Opioid Crisis – How We Got Here and What We Need to Do to Combat the Issue.”
 
Dr. Stasiuk led an interactive discussion and set the tone of the discussion by addressing opioids and substance abuse disorder.  She then took us through the history of opioids.  She explained that the initial use of opioids was for severe pain.  She spoke about the fact that as the sophistication of drugs has changed over time (natural opioids to semi-synthetic opioids, to synthetic opioids, and hangers on) which has made opioids more attractive to people.  Most importantly, she stated that opioids alone do not kill, but that most of the time there are often “hangers on” such as alcohol, cocaine, and marijuana. 
 
Dr. Stasiuk also spoke about the three factors that lead to addiction:  genetics, environment, and development. She told the audience that most people don’t use opioids to get high, but rather to feel a sense of normalcy.  In addition, she spoke about the fact that addiction is a disease, and that we need to be more sensitive in seeing addicts as “people with a problem” as opposed to “a problem.” 
 
Finally, Dr. Stasiuk spoke about how we can address the epidemic by fighting the stigma and teaming with people who can make a change. She stated that Cigna has taken specific steps to combat the epidemic by providing 24/7 crisis support for Veterans even if they are not covered by Cigna, providing money to Pennsylvania District Attorneys Institute, and by providing grant money to Shatterproof (shatterproof.com).  She emphasized that while the epidemic will not disappear overnight, we need to capitalize on solutions for better collaboration.
 
Some interesting facts shared – and to be remembered:
  1. Maryland and Washington, DC are among the top five areas for opioid overdoses.
  2. It only takes 10 days for an adult to become addicted to opioids and only 1 day for an adolescent to become addicted to opioids. 
  3. For the first time since 1919 when we were dealing with the Spanish Influenza epidemic, our life expectancy has decreased.
 
Thank you to our Silver Sponsor, TriBridge Partners LLC for hosting the seminar and the lunch.  
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The Value of Our Business Partners

Mary Randolph
Operations Manager, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP
Vice President-Elect, Business Partner Advisory


Joining the legal community can be intimidating. The pace is swift. The people are important. The work is unique. The stakes are high.
 
Our community is supportive, collaborative, and critical to the value we bring to our organizations. The ALA was instrumental in my acclimation to the D.C. legal community and providing value to my firm. I’ve always believed in “not re-creating the wheel,” and our Business Partners are great resources who can answer our questions about every aspect of legal management from insurance policies to compensation strategies to the price of paper.  The knowledge in our community is breathtaking and the generosity is humbling.
 
Our Business Partners have been and are an essential part of the Capital Chapter.  The business of legal management is a big one. Navigating the maze of the legal support industry is made exponentially easier through ALA’s Business Partner program. Members can turn to a Business Partner rather than searching the depths of the internet for a trusted source. Whether you need information about cyber security insurance or a partner to consult on your IT security program, we can turn to ALA for a trusted partner. Because they are experts, members don’t have to be.
 
Connecting with ALA was invaluable to me when I moved to D.C. from New York City. ALA gave me access to members and vendors who knew the legal community and came highly recommended. The value of ALA and our Business Partners remains tremendous to this day. I am grateful for the long-term relationships with our ALA Business Partners 30 years later.
 
This story rings true throughout the legal community. This partnership and collaboration shouldn’t be taken lightly. That we have such a robust network of members and Business Partners working together to make each other successful is a rarity in the professional world.
 
If you are not taking advantage of the tremendous resources of our Business Partner network, you are working harder than you need to. Make your job easier today. Call a Business Partner and start a conversation about how they can help you.
 

December 2019 Diversity Observances

​Click here to view the full list of December 2019 observances
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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: Cheryl Flynn (Chair), cflynn@wileyrein.com; Beth Fowler (Co-Chair), bfowler@robbinsrussell.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
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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:  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



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


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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; Amy Walkowiak (Co-Chair), awalkowiak@dcwhitecollar.com 
Listserv: nextgen@lists.alacapchap.org
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ALA Capital Chapter Headquarters
​
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Suite 100
Westford, MA 01886
Phone: (978) 364-5134
www.alacapchap.org

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