The 2010-2011 Officer Installation Ceremony will be held on July 22, 2010 at the Franklin Park Conservatory.  E-mail pr@pacoparalegals.org if you wish to attend. 

 

2010 - 2011 PACO Board Members

President: The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and Executive Board and perform such other duties as ordinarily pertain to this office.

NELL CHAMBERS has been a paralegal for over 20 years and is currently employed by Dinsmore & Shohl, LLP (D&S) in its Commercial Litigation Practice Group. Nell obtained her paralegal certificate from the American Institute of Paralegal Studies at Ohio Dominican College. She recently obtained the distinction becoming an Ohio State Bar Association certified paralegal.

Prior to her employment with D&S, Nell worked at Schottenstein, Zox & Dunn Co., LPA, Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLP, John P. Lavelle and Emens, Hard, Keller & Ritter. Before she began her law firm career, Nell was a military policeman in the US Army serving with the International Security Command in Okinawa, Japan. She later lived in West Germany after leaving the military.

Nell has previously served three terms as President of PACO, although she regrettably resigned halfway through the second term due to a serious illness. She has also served one term each as First and Second Vice President and Parliamentarian. Nell has chaired several committees, including Advisory, Pro Bono and Bylaws and has been an active member of several other committees. She was instrumental in the achievement of the current joint membership agreement with the Columbus Bar Association (CBA) whereby the CBA provides much needed administrative tasks for PACO. Due to this agreement, PACO is able to focus more on the needs of its members.

Nell has served as part of a focus group through the CBA to work with the Franklin County Common Pleas Court in its efforts to enhance its website capabilities and to provide pleadings online. She is also assisting the Clerk of Court in heading up a committee to provide redaction services so that the court can bring more cases on line without added cost.

Nell and her husband, Tim, are the proud parents of Nicole, their adult daughter who has moved from upstate New York, leaving behind her many assorted exotic pets, back to central Ohio where she laughs when it "snows" and people are late to work. Nell and Tim enjoy their tame cats, reading, movies, net surfing and bicycling, intending to lengthen their rides as they can find the time.

First Vice President/Committee Coordinator: The First Vice President shall preside in the absence of the President; shall be responsible for the organization of all committees, including soliciting committee chairperson for all committees not chaired by elected officers. The First Vice President shall be the liaison between all such committees and the Executive Board and shall perform such other duties as ordinarily pertain to this office.

SHELLEY STEVENS is the First Vice President/Committee Coordinator and Second Vice President/Membership Director.  She is currently a Paralegal Specialist in the Corporate Transactions Group/Real Estate Department at Nationwide Insurance. Prior to working at Nationwide, she worked as a Paralegal in the Public Law Department at Schottenstein Zox & Dunn.  She has been in her current position for 2 ½ years and has worked in the real estate field as a Paralegal for over 18 years.

Shelley earned her Bachelor of Science/Paralegal Certification (Business Law Emphasis) from Winona State University, Minnesota in 1991.

Shelley’s volunteer experience includes Project Mentor, Mid-Ohio Food Bank and Meals on Wheels. She has academically tutored the same student for 2 years with Project Mentor and is a member of the Project Mentor Council, the Chair of the Project Mentor-Mentor Experience Committee and has spoken on several panels promoting Project Mentor.

Shelley lives in Dublin with her two daughters and is a member of PACO and the Columbus Bar Association. She enjoys cooking, reading and watching her daughters play softball and volleyball.

Second Vice President/Membership Director: The Second Vice President shall: preside in the absence of the President and First Vice President; be chairperson of the Membership Committee; review all new applications for membership and present the same to the Executive Board for consideration; present to the Executive Board a report that quantifies PACO’s membership by membership category at each Executive Board meeting; Liaison with the CBA on all membership matters, including the review and coordination of dues renewal notices to current members, maintaining an updated roster of PACO members, and the submission of PACO membership information to NFPA on a monthly basis.

ANGELA ASSI is the Second Vice President/Membership Director. is currently employed with the Columbus Bar Association in the Ethics and Grievances Department. Angela also administers the Fee Arbitration Program as well as the Character & Fitness Interviews for the Ohio Supreme Court Bar Admissions at the Columbus Bar Association. Angela is a licensed surety agent for the State of Ohio and executes Probate Bonds for CBS Agency, Inc. (a subsidiary of the Columbus Bar Association).

Prior to her employment with the Columbus Bar, Angela worked with Taft Stettinius & Hollister, Thompson Hine & Flory, Colley Shroyer & Abraham, Lane Alton & Horst and Delligatti Hollenbaugh Briscoe & Milless. She has been in her current position for 2 ½ years and has worked in the legal profession for over 16 years.

Angela graduated from Kent State University with a B.A. in Political Science in 1966 and Columbus State Community College with an Associates Degree in Applied Science in Legal Assisting in 1990.

Angela has served on several PACO committees including the Bylaws, Ethics and Mentoring Program. Angela also serves on the State Advisory Panel for Exceptional Children and is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and League of Women Voters.

Angela resides in New Albany with her son. In her spare time she enjoys traveling abroad, golfing, and spending time with family and friends.

Secretary: The secretary shall record the proceedings of all meetings of the Association and the Executive Board; in conjunction with CBA keep a list of all names and addresses of all members; preserve in a permanent file all records and letters of value of the Association and its officers, which, together with the minute book, shall be delivered to the incoming officer at the close of the term; and keep a record of all correspondence of the Association. The Secretary shall serve as statutory agent of the Association. In the absence of the Secretary, a secretary pro tempore may be appointed by the Executive Board to perform the Secretary’s duties.

DEBBIE SEKERAK is PACO's Secretary. She is a Paralegal in the Real Estate/Corporate Law practice group with Wiles, Boyle, Burkholder and Bringardner Co., LPA. She has been in her current position for one year, and has worked in the corporate environment for more than sixteen years, including five years in the legal department with Dominion Homes. Corporations for which she has been employed include Kinko’s and Qwest Communications.

Debbie received a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from The Ohio State University in 1991 and a Paralegal Certificate from Capital University Law School in 2007. She is an associate member of the Columbus and Ohio State Bar Associations.

She served as a member of the PACO Public Relations Committee and was active with the committee that organized Paralegal Day 2008.

Debbie is a native to Columbus. She resides in Powell with her husband John and their three dogs. In her spare time, she enjoys walking, biking, working in the yard, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

Treasurer: The Treasurer shall collect Sustaining Affiliate Member annual fees and all monies of the Association and make distribution by check, signed by the Treasurer or President; keep an account of all receipts and disbursements, monthly reports, make an annual report at the annual meeting; and deposit the funds in such bank as the Executive Board may direct. The Treasurer shall be bonded in an amount set by the Executive.

VICKI BABBERT has been a paralegal since 1985 and at the time worked for Anderson, Brown, Gerbase, Cebull & Jones in Billings, Montana, an insurance defense firm.  Vicki moved to Columbus, Ohio in 1987 and accepted a litigation paralegal position at Emens, Hurd, Kegler, Brown, Hill & Ritter.  Since 1992, Vicki has been held the position of litigation paralegal at Schottenstein, Zox & Dunn.

Vicki completed her paralegal studies at the College of Great Falls, which is now an extension of the Montana State University.  In 2006, Vicki obtained her B.S. in Business Administration from Ohio Dominican University, graduating Magna Cum Laude. 

When Vicki first arrived in Columbus in 1987 I she had the pleasure of working with a past president of the Association who encouraged Vicki to join what was then LACO.  Vicki did join the Association and in a year was sitting on the Board as Parliamentarian.  As the years passed her two daughters demanded more non-working time and so she stepped back from leadership in the Association but was an active member and tried to consistently attend membership meetings.  At the urging again of fellow PACO colleagues, Vicki has decided to commit time as a board member to PACO and currently holds the office of Treasurer. 

Vicki is also the Treasurer for the Groveport United Methodist Church and is active in her church by singing in the Chancel Choir and assisting in activities of the Walk to Emmaus program. 

Vicki is married to Keith and they reside in Canal Winchester where she and Keith spend a great deal of time taking care of the lawn, flowerbeds, and garden on three acres.  Vicki also enjoys scrapbooking, NASCAR racing, riding on the back of Keith’s Harley Davidson, and exercise classes at the gym.  Keith and Vicki also have four grown daughters between them, which they enjoy visiting or having them hang out at the house.

Parliamentarian: The Parliamentarian shall be the chairperson of the Bylaws Committee and advise on questions of order. It is recommended that the Parliamentarian be the chairperson of the Professional Ethics and Standards Committee.

RENEE TOMKO has been a paralegal for five years and is currently employed by Baker & Hostetler LLP (“Baker”).  She works in the Tax & Personal Planning practice area.  She has been with Baker since February of 2008, when she moved from Michigan to Columbus.  In 2004, Renee obtained her Bachelor’s degree from Madonna University, in Livonia, Michigan, where she graduated with highest honors.  She also holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Detroit College of Business, now known as Davenport University.

While working full-time and attending Madonna University full-time, Renee also helped initiate, form and organize the Madonna chapter of Lambda Epsilon Chi, the National Honor Society in Paralegal Studies.  She was one of the initial inductees into the chapter.

Prior to her employment with Baker, she worked at Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP (“Honigman”) in Detroit, Michigan, first as a legal secretary, then as a paralegal.  Prior to Honigman, Renee lived in St. Louis, Missouri, where she split her time between working as a legal secretary and managing a small pet-sitting business, as well as volunteering at the St. Louis Zoo as a docent. 

Renee has served on the Bylaws committee and is a member of PACO and the Columbus Bar Association.  Renee lives in Gahanna with her daughter and a variety of pets, where she and her daughter enjoy visiting the zoo, movies, canoeing and hiking.  Renee also enjoys scrapbooking, puzzles and reading in her spare time.

NFPA Primary Representative: The NFPA Primary Representative shall represent the interest of the Association before the NFPAand shall report on all of NFPA's activities to the Executive Board and the membership of the Association.

TRICIA MAYS is the NFPA Primary Representative.  Bio coming soon!

Statewide Representative/NFPA Secondary Representative: The Statewide Representative/NFPA Secondary Representative will promote and maintain ongoing relationships on behalf of the Association with other allied professional associations. The Statewide Representative will be the NFPA Secondary Representative and aid the NFPA Primary Representative only with NFPA related responsibilities, and represent PACO at NFPA annual, mid-year and regional meetings.

KATHY MCGRANAHAN is the Statewide Representative/NFPA Secondary Representative.  Bio coming soon!

Editor: The Editor shall be chairperson of the Publications Committee. The Editor shall coordinate and oversee Columbus Bar Association production of The Citator on a quarterly basis.

GARTH W. ROWBOTHAM has been an active member of PACO since 2004, serving on the Newsletter, PR, Pro Bono, Student Liaison, and Website Committees, as well as being PACO’s  Photographer for the last several years.  While attending Columbus State, he served as Vice President of the Student Paralegal Association, and managed the Defense Team during the annual Law Day Mock Trial there in 2003. Garth also had the opportunity to be part of  the Wills for First Responders project sponsored by the Columbus Bar Association in 2008.

Garth received his Bachelors degree in Business Management from The Ohio State University with a major in Production / Operations Management; and received his paralegal certificate in 2004 from Columbus State Community College.

Most recently, Garth managed various projects, controlled expenditures, and resolved safety and environmental concerns as a  Facility Operations Manager for fifteen years at  CM Media Inc., which was the former parent company  of  Columbus  Monthly, Bride and  CEO; The Other Paper, and Suburban News Publications. While working full time in 2004, he interned at The Office of The Secretary of The State of Ohio in the Business Services Division, reviewing  filings for Articles of Incorporation, Articles of Organization - LLCs, Trademarks, Trade Names, Name Reservations, and Professional Associations, while conducting pertinent legal research. Prior to his CM Media position, he was a  territory account manager for the food broker, Performance Inc. in Hilliard, for two years. He is currently seeking  a paralegal position at a corporation or law firm in the Central Ohio area.

Garth is active at River of Life Church in the Worship Band and other ministries;  and President of the Smoky Ridge Civic Association in Powell, where he resides. While enjoying gardening, landscaping, and socializing with family and friends,  he likes to keep up to date with  local, national, business and political news.

Public Relations Director: The Public Relations Director shall be the chairperson of the Public Relations Committee; and shall be responsible for preparing and arranging for all publicity relating to the activities of the Association.

MINDI SCHAEFER is an OSBA Certified Paralegal at Reminger, Co., L.P.A. where she is involved in various types of litigation cases in the areas of medical malpractice, professional liability, eminent domain, and corporate law. She is involved in all aspects including discovery, file management, and trial preparation.

As the Reminger Brown Bag Lunch Seminar creator, Mindi coordinates the events in her office and presents to staff members on various topics including organization and managing multiple projects. She is the Reminger Extern Coordinator and facilitates Reminger’s relationship with Miami-Jacobs Career College’s Extern Program for the Columbus office.

Prior to starting her career at Reminger in 2006, Mindi was employed at Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz (Dayton) from 1999 to 2004 and Jenks, Pyper & Oxley (Dayton) from 2004 to 2006. She was also a member of the Greater Dayton Paralegal Association during her paralegal career in Dayton.

Mindi graduated from Sinclair Community College (Dayton) with an Associates Degree of Applied Science in Legal Assisting in 1999 and Wright State University (Dayton) with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science in 2006. She also obtained her OSBA Paralegal Certification in 2010.

Her professional affiliations include the Ohio State Bar Association, Notary Public for the State of Ohio, National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Columbus Bar Association, Paralegal Association of Central Ohio, and Miami-Jacobs Career College Advisory Board. Mindi has participated in several committees during her membership with PACO including Public Relations, Bylaws, Pro Bono, Editor, and Paralegal Day.

In her spare time, Mindi enjoys working out with her personal trainer and spending time with her husband Marcus and their dog Lucky. She is a Pampered Chef consultant who loves to cook and entertain for friends and family. Mindi is also a member of Speedy Sneakers Women’s Walking and Running Club and Toastmasters International.
 

New Student Liaison Coordinator: The New Student Liaison Coordinator shall develop and implement student scholarships for local paralegal programs; visit Columbus and surrounding area paralegal programs, to coordinate student membership involvement in PACO; maintain a speakers bureau, and establish a mentoring program.

STEPHANIE A. FOSTER is a 2006 graduate of The Ohio State University where she obtained her B.A. in Communications, specialization in Strategic Communications.  She then went on to obtain her Paralegal Certificate from Capital Law School in 2007.

While at Ohio State, Stephanie became very involved in The Ohio State University Football Program where she helped toorganize and manage all activities, camps, and day-to-day operations under Coach Jim Tressel and the coaching staff.  She also served as a Game Day Hostess, where she interacted with potential players and their families to promote the OSU Football program and University.  Stephanie also was employed by Walt Disney World where she had the chance to work in their world renowned entertainment division.

During her education at Capital Law School, Stephanie became very involved in the Paralegal Association of Central Ohio (PACO).  She took part in many committees such as Student Liaison, Pro-bono, Website, Public Relations and Paralegal Day.  Stephanie has been active in PACO since becoming a student member in 2006 by serving on these committees as well as by volunteering for panels, Rock-n-Roll Bowl, and social events.

Stephanie was employed with Hahn Loeser and Parks for two years as a paralegal, primarily in their litigation department.  Stephanie is currently employed with Abercrombie and Fitch in their trademark division.

 

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