Vested Interest September 2019
It has been about 100 days since I’ve been sworn in as ITLA’s president for the year 2019-2020 (I had to say that), and I could not be happier to be at its helm. People are constantly
asking me how it is being President? My answer has been steadfast and the same since day 1; I love it.
I love it because of how I feel for this organization. The people who work for ITLA are my friends, and my colleagues who make up this organization are people who work the trenches alongside each other every day, and they are my friends, too. Together and united, we share one common and never-ending goal and that is to ensure our clients are always served with civil justice, whether it be through the courts or enforcing the laws that make up our great country. [read more]
Vested Interest June/July 2019
Many asked if I was prepared for the task of becoming the next President of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. Without hesitation, my answer was an unequivocal “yes.” There is a reason one is an officer for three years prior to assuming the mantle of leadership. The learning curve is steep and requires strong participation during those years, or else, indeed, you will be unprepared. However, no one really asked me if I was prepared for the day of the installation and the profound effect it would have upon me. There is no doubt that the ITLA staff prepared me adequately for the substance of the day and everything ran smoothly and wonderfully. What I wasn’t prepared for was the emotion of the day and the brick that hit me during the dinner program realizing what it truly means to be ITLA President. Sharing a spotlight with Robert Clifford and the austere group of past presidents in the audience was unquestionably daunting. Nonetheless, I remain humbled and honored to be at the helm for the upcoming year. With the steady guiding of James Collins, I remain confident we will have a terrific term.
It would be disingenuous of me not to acknowledge the huge year that Mark Prince had and how relatively easy he made it for me assuming his role this year. Mark proved himself the leader he is, and we all owe a great deal of gratitude to him. [read more]
