This week’s leader is Dave Rigali, ILTA Conference Liaison and Manager of Information Technology at Thompson Coburn LLP. As a popular ILTA speaker, Dave has presented at ILTA conference sessions and webinars on topics ranging from project management to mentoring to why everyone should own a BlackBerry. Dave’s term as Conference Liaison ends at ILTA ‘09, as does his service in ILTA’s Board of Directors. Hmmmm… Perhaps then he can find the time to blog; we’d love to hear more from him!
What excites you the most about ILTA ’09?
How on-point this year’s conference is. The conference committee and peer group vice presidents understand how important it is to help our colleagues deliver value to their firms in this economy, and the conference program shows it.
Describe a highlight of one ILTA conference that made you a hero when you got back to your firm.
For me, it hasn’t been any single highlight, but the networking and connections I’ve made and continue to make that helps me help my firm stay abreast of current trends in legal technology.
Conference is a whirlwind of activity; can you share your strategy or any tips to making it through and getting the most out of it?
Don’t even think of it as a vacation. By Thursday night you should be thoroughly exhausted, paler then when you arrived and dimly aware at best as to what the weather has been like for the last four days. I think it also helps to take a spiral-bound notebook and treat sessions like college lectures. Note taking helps keep me more engaged. It would also be impossible for me to remember even a fraction of the information I’m exposed to if I didn’t take notes.
What volunteer roles have you held for ILTA?
Chairperson for the InterAction SIG (what we use to call Peer Groups back when we thought digital watches were a pretty neat idea). Board of Directors in various roles, including Peer Group Liaison, Executive Vice President and Conference Liaison.
What prompted you to get involved as a volunteer leader with ILTA? What led you in the direction of the Board of Directors?
I wanted to get involved from just about the moment I walked into my first ILTA conference. There was so much going on and I wanted to be part of it. I was fortunate enough to have been tapped on the shoulder twice, first to start the InterAction SIG, then later to serve on the Board of Directors. The experience has vastly exceeded my expectations.
What does leadership mean to you?
The ability to be decisive. Great leaders surround themselves with great people but never leave any doubt as to who is accountable for the decision.
What makes you a leader?
The (hopefully not mistaken) belief that my opinion matters. I am a critical thinker and a problem solver. I’m not afraid to assert myself particularly in areas where I am held accountable.
How has ILTA helped you become the leader you are today?
By giving me the opportunity to work with some of the best leaders in our industry and to work in an amazingly functional organization. I’ve been particularly fortunate to have spent the last six years with the class of ’09, including Judi Flournoy, Joy Heath and Jim McKenna. If I leave the Board with just one unique insight from each of them I’ll be a better leader for it.
Do you blog or Tweet?
I’d love to blog if I could find the time. I have a Twitter handle, but I’m afraid I don’t tweet (at least not in public). I’m at the tail end of the boomer generation and I think a lot of us (ok, maybe it’s just me) just don’t get it.
Filed under: Profiles in Leadership
