What excites you the most about ILTA ‘09?

I have to admit that I’m very excited to attend a session that is not directly technology related but is related to CAKE!! Food is my passion, and I love to cook/bake. I watch countless hours of the FoodNetwork in my free time and spend a good bit of time trying and inventing new recipes.

Thursday Super Session – 8:00 a.m.
CakeLove: Find Your Passion, Follow Your Calling

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?

1. Get PLENTY of sleep before you come to conference. There is so much to do and see and learn that you will need your strength, as nap time isn’t built into the schedule.
2. Plan your itinerary before you go. This will help you to make sure you don’t miss anything important and allow you not to “over plan” your time. Allow some breaks where you can potentially take advantage of demos, meet with vendors or network with other ILTA members. You can plan your week online here http://conference.iltanet.org/RightMenu/Planyourweek.aspx
3. Organize for later. I meet so many people at conference, that when I return it’s hard to remember who everyone was and what I promised to contact them about afterward. One way to help my memory is to write on the back of their business card when I meet them. I write one or two characteristics or info about where we were that will help me remember them (i.e. brown hair, tall, English accent, met for coffee, ate lunch together, etc.) and what I promised to email them or communicate with them about later. When I return, I go through the stack of cards and catch up with everyone. It’s how many of my ILTA friendships have come about over the years.
4. Pace yourself eating. There will always be more food in another 2 hours.
5. Take a break. After breakfast but before the sessions, on breaks, after lunch – take a few minutes to step outside and get some fresh air. Don’t talk on your cell or answer emails, but just take 5 minutes of quiet time to take a few deep breaths, refresh and take a break. With the constant hum of the crowds during meals and breaks, your PDA buzzing from calls and emails you’re mission while in sessions and all of the day’s activities, a break in silence will help you regroup and refresh and be ready for the rest of the day. You will thank me later for this one.

What volunteer roles have you held for ILTA?

• Volunteer City Rep (Nashville, TN)
• Various Task Forces
• Regional Vice President (Southeast Region)
• Board of Directors (Secretary – term beginning after conf ‘09)

What prompted you to get involved as a volunteer leader with ILTA?

At the time I helped start the local Nashville group, I found myself working for a law firm, which was a new industry for me, and in a city that I didn’t know very many people in. I didn’t even know any of my peers locally, much less on a national or international basis. I started with planning local events and really worked on getting people to know one another as a local group as well as forming a close bond with them. Some of them are very good friends of mine now. After several years of planning socials and informational meetings, I was lucky enough to get elected into my current role of SE RVP. I felt like that role would give me the chance to spread my wings and get to know even more ILTA (then LawNet) colleagues as well as help other cities to form strong local groups. I have really enjoyed my time in the past 6 years as an RVP. I’ve been lucky enough to have mentors who have helped me to grow not only in my role as RVP, but as a person and in my profession.

What led you in the direction of the Board of Directors?

ILTA is also one of my passions. I believe in the organization and the power behind it. Being on the BoD will allow me to continue to serve the membership. I feel it is the next step in my “ILTA career”.

What does leadership mean to you?

The chance to serve as a voice for the membership. It allows me to help make a difference and make an impact.

What makes you a leader?

I believe I am a leader because I enjoy gaining consensus in a group and making a decision that is beneficial to all involved. I am an initiative taker and someone who will step up and volunteer to get something done. My parents always told me growing up “If you don’t like something, get involved to help change it, instead of being bystander who complains with the crowd.” I also like for people to have fun working together so I will do whatever it takes to get people laughing and enjoying time they spend together for any reason.

How has ILTA helped you become the leader you are today?

In all of the time I’ve been involved in ILTA, I have met some of the most amazing people. I have reached out to so many of my fellow ILTA family members to ask questions and gain wisdom. In every instance people have gone above and beyond to provide information, instruct and share. The incredibly talented peers I have had the pleasure of working with in ILTA over the years have mentored and challenged me to grow personally and professionally.

Do you have a blog?

If so, what’s the URL? What’s your Twitter handle? Nope, no blog. I’m just starting with Twitter CherylProctor

What excites you the most about ILTA ‘09?

A chance to network with my peers and the many educational opportunities. A chance to talk with others about the many challenges the industry is facing today.

Describe a highlight of one ILTA conference that made you a hero when you got back to your firm.

In 2003, I coordinated a session on Business Continuity planning in my Track. The session focused on what a very small number of firms were doing at that time with centralizing their data and deploying thin client as the normal method of application delivery in the office. While almost 6 years ago, this session helped build a foundation for discussion on the technology and strategy that is deployed today.

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?

• Plan ahead. Review the sessions prior to arrival and build your schedule. Learn where the session rooms are located. Don’t hesitate on changing your schedule as the week progresses.
• In addition to the sessions, take every opportunity to network with others; meet at least 10 new people, more is even better. These networking opportunities will prove as valuable, if not more valuable, than the sessions themselves.
• You should strongly consider getting involved in one way or another. While at conference, seek out others who are volunteering (i.e., City Rep, Steering Committee, PGVP, RVP, Board) and talk to them about the many different ways to get involved.

What volunteer roles have you held for ILTA?

Volunteer City Rep, Conference Track Chair, Conference VP/Co Chair, PGVP for Mobile, Remote & Wireless and Board of Director following conference.

What prompted you to get involved as a volunteer leader with ILTA? What led you in the direction of the Board of Directors?

After attending my first conference, I experienced the tremendous benefits that ILTA offered to its members. The annual conference not only provided numerous educational opportunities but also many networking opportunities. After experiencing the benefits of conference, I started to get more involved with monthly programming, and the eGroups (formerly ListServs). I found that I was receiving a great value in the organization and in turn I wanted to get involved and give back to the organization that provided so much for me and others. After many years of volunteering, I wanted to continue but at a level that provided even more ways for me to give back.

What does leadership mean to you?

Leadership is the act of empowering and inspiring others to achieve an objective, goal or purpose. A good leader has to believe in others and have integrity, energy, enthusiasm, innovation, insight, knowledge, competence and adaptability.

What makes you a leader?

The ability to lead by example and strive for success. To adapt to the style that is needed for the particular area/project/team.

How has ILTA helped you become the leader you are today?

ILTA has so many leaders who are members in the organization. Each interaction with this vast group provides yet another opportunity to learn.

What’s your Twitter handle?

I don’t Tweet, but I do subscribe. There are two areas on Twitter that I watch – ILTA09 and METRAUPW (which provides up to the minute announcements for my train schedule).

What excites you the most about ILTA ‘09?

The quality of the programming is the best ever and there is a great deal for all attendees to learn from.

Describe a highlight of one ILTA conference that made you a hero when you got back to your firm.

During one particular conference I spent a great deal of time systematically going through vendor hall. I found products from vendors that I was familiar with but had no idea they offered these other products. I left conference armed with some very useful applications that directly impacted how our lawyers practice.

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?

Plan your sessions including a backup for each time slot. If you get into a session and it is not what you thought it would be you have a backup ready to go without losing any time. Input all sessions that you want to attend into your calendar and also the backup sessions.

What volunteer roles have you held for ILTA?

Volunteer City Rep (Toronto), Peer Group Vice President (Thomson Elite).

What prompted you to get involved as a volunteer leader with ILTA? What led you in the direction of the Board of Directors?

I was getting so much value from being an ILTA member that I wanted get involved and help to keep ILTA growing

What does leadership mean to you?

To me, leadership equals inspiration, delegation, collaboration, influence, respect, knowledge, and continual learning

What makes you a leader?

I have a relentless desire to do better than yesterday.

How has ILTA helped you become the leader you are today?

I have met so many smart people through ILTA; I try to act like a sponge and try to soak up their knowledge!

What excites you the most about ILTA ‘09?

“Optimizing value” is what excites me most about this year’s conference. It’s about coming together and learning the technology landscape well enough to recognize where and how to optimize value. Purchasing the technology is the small piece of the puzzle — it’s knowing what to do with the technology that is the big piece — and I know ILTA ‘09 is going to ensure we all walk away with the big piece.

Describe a highlight of one ILTA conference that made you a hero when you got back to your firm.

For me it’s been more about the little take-aways that I leave with at the end of every conference that have enabled my team back at the office to grow. It’s making the connections with the vendors and members that’s worked best for me.

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?

The trick is to plan what you want to accomplish before arriving at conference and trying to stay as close to those objectives as you can, because it’s very easy to get moved off course.

What volunteer roles have you held for ILTA?

I was on the Conference Committee, 2002-04; the Conference Co-chair, 2005-06; and I was the New York Regional Vice President, 2008-09.

What prompted you to get involved as a volunteer leader with ILTA? What led you in the direction of the Board of Directors?

Learning so much from ILTA had prompted me to share and give back skills in the hope others could benefit the same way I continue to do. Being inspired by past and current board members has led me to take my volunteerism to the highest level.

What does leadership mean to you?

Leadership is about wanting to make a difference. It’s about giving and not getting. It’s about inspiring and not controlling others to accomplish objectives and goals.

What makes you a leader?

I’m a leader because I’m a good listener and communicator. I am not afraid of stepping up and making decisions. I try not to lose sight of goals and missions, and I try to act responsibly by setting good examples.

How has ILTA helped you become the leader you are today?

It’s all about the people who make up this great organization that have inspired me to become the leader I am today.

What excites you the most about ILTA ‘09?

It is the perfect microcosm of the spirit of ILTA. Even with the economic meltdown and resultant travel restrictions within many of our member firms, the “show must go on.” And, boy howdy, it is a truly great program. The spirit of our conference committee and officers in developing and supporting the educational offerings has been tremendous. And our vendors have demonstrated their loyalty by their participation and generous sponsorships. ILTA rocks – even in tough times.

Describe one of your best ILTA conference memories.

Because I’ve been to so many and seen the association’s entire arc, it will be difficult to constrain myself to one. But I’ll try. At the 2007 conference, I was privileged to honor all the past presidents of the association. All but two were able to be in attendance, and it was totally inspirational for me to chronicle their history and their many contributions. The high point actually came much later that evening when a first-time conference attendee approached me to thank me for allowing him to have a glimpse of our great leadership. He hoped it might be himself someday being honored for his service to the association. That’s a recent memory – I have so many memories of staying up all night on the final night of conference and watching the sun rise – sharing great moments with so many of my ILTA family.

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?

My “motherly” advice is to limit your alcohol and go to bed early. Okay, okay. Chart your course early on – find those “must attends” and make everything else secondary. Set aside specific times to visit with key vendors, and shake as many new ILTA hands as you can.

What volunteer roles have you held for ILTA?

Regional Vice President; Conference Committee Member over multiple years; conference speaker; Conference Co-Chair; service for two terms on the Board of Directors.

What prompted you to get involved as a volunteer leader with ILTA?

I was “pushed” into volunteer leadership by a colleague. I hope I’ve done my fair share of “pushing” others to step out of their comfort zones, expand their professional boundaries and experience the joy of serving an association of this caliber.

What led you to become Executive Director?

As to my path to my current position – it was ordained. I was serving on the Board at a time of rapid growth for the association, and it was becoming painfully obvious that we were simply too big to continue to have volunteers run the business. I offered my services, the Board accepted, and the rest is history.

What does leadership mean to you?

Acting with integrity and always in the best interests of your constituents. Being thoughtful and above reproach in your actions. Having a vision and sharing it with others. Embracing change, embracing diversity of ideas and opinions, embracing a sense of betterment, and embracing others as often as you. Showing strength by revealing your weakness.

What makes you a leader?

I like to think that I’m true to all the hallmarks of leadership I’ve described above. And I like to think that if/when I fall short in any area, I’m smart enough to correct myself. I actually never consciously think of myself as a leader, but rather, I think of myself as a companion and counselor of sorts.

How has ILTA helped you become the leader you are today?

In every way possible – the volunteer opportunities that have allowed me to move well outside my comfort zone have opened doors for me that would be double-bolted otherwise. And my ILTA family – all those hundreds, now thousands, of great people whom I’ve met over three decades – their mentoring and support is a true gift.

What’s your Twitter handle?

@rmayes

What excites you the most about ILTA ‘09?

I’m particularly excited about the location and venue this year. Meeting in the Nation’s Capitol and in a great location like the Gaylord National will make this a special year for Conference. It’s a beautiful venue and easy to get to, for both people flying in and those who might be driving or taking the train this year. I’d love to see us come back to this site in the future.

With the economy the way it’s been the last year, I think the focus of this year’s Conference is spot on. Not only IT, but the rest of a law firm are under pressure to deliver high value with limited resources. I think the Conference Committee has delivered current and relevant programming once again, while providing the great core education we get each year.

Describe a highlight of one ILTA conference that made you a hero when you got back to your firm.

In 2007, we were looking at moving from a 17 year old digital phone system to a VOIP system. I came to Conference and gathered info and got some hands on testing for a myriad of VOIP vendors in one week. I also got great referrals and pointers from people I trusted.

We cutover to Shoretel about a year later and I’ve never had better user acceptance. If only every IT project was embraced so warmly!

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?

Pick a couple learning goals and don’t try and attend sessions from every track, you can’t do it! Look for a mix of sessions that might be in your areas of interest and those that are beyond what you’re normally exposed to. If you’re not a KM manager, go to a KM session.

Take advantage of the evening activities to network outside your comfort zone. Introduce yourself to people you don’t know, both members and vendors. I’ve found that some of the best advice and learning experiences I’ve gotten from Conference were from talking with people at the evening events. It’s a friendly group and you’re part of it!

Wake up and go to breakfast. Your fellow regional members are waiting to meet you, the foods great and the coffee’s hot and loaded with caffeine.

What volunteer roles have you held for ILTA?

A lot of people don’t realize that the moment they post something on the e-groups or give some advice to someone at Conference, they’ve effectively become a volunteer. We are all volunteers the moment we join ILTA and start participating.

I’ve served as meeting host, Four Corners RVP, on the Board of Directors as both Treasurer and RVP Liaison (which I’m still struggling to spell) and a number of committees including chairing the Dues Committee.

What prompted you to get involved as a volunteer leader with ILTA? What led you in the direction of the Board of Directors?

My first Conference was in 1997, at the Biltmore in Phoenix. Within a few minutes of arriving at the Sunday night reception, I had people walking up to me and introducing themselves. When I went to sessions, it was clear to me that volunteers and ILTA employees were driving the success of the event. This wasn’t a trade show, this was a volunteer driven and employee supported Conference! It was clear to me that without volunteers ILTA wouldn’t be what it is. I started hosting local events and moved into the RVP position shortly after that.

I was encouraged to run for the Board by a few senior volunteer (as in experienced, not old), and was fortunate enough to be elected. I’m thrilled to be returning for a third term with Scott Christensen, but I’m also really excited to see the new Board members we have coming in for their first terms. New volunteer blood is what keeps ILTA fresh and relevant.

What does leadership mean to you?

Leadership to me means the ability to give people some direction while giving them the responsibility to get the job done. I think we’ve done a good job of giving volunteers real responsibility, where what they do matters in a meaningful way.

Leadership means the ability to listen to others and respect their opinions. Have an open mind and be willing to change yours if you’re wrong. Be ready to work as a group while holding true to what’s important to you.

Leadership means being ready to do the work you can do best while sharing responsibilities with those who can do it better.

What makes you a leader?

I think I’ve had the willingness to get involved and to involve others. I work well in a group, know what’s important to me and can be decisive. It’s been important to me to understand the history and core values of ILTA and practice what we preach.

I’ve also been willing to wear whatever strange outfits the Board thinks is appropriate at Conference.

How has ILTA helped you become the leader you are today?

It’s taught me to trust the people that work for you and with you. Both at work and ILTA, I’ve found myself being constantly rewarded when I push more out to the people who can do a task or project best.

What excites you the most about ILTA ‘09?

Wow, I’m not sure where to start. Certainly the keynote delivery by Tom Koulopoulos on “Innovating More with Less” would lead my list. After that, it is the age old dilemma: Are the educational sessions or the peer to peer networking experience the most valuable element?   For me, the networking element wins by a hair, but it’s close.  There is nothing like leaving a great educational session with a peer, and having the opportunity to discuss what they are doing at their firm related to the topic we just saw.  Multiply that experience by scores of session topics and many conference attendees, and the benefit for me and my firm is significant. I routinely call new member friends that I’ve met at conference to follow up on a conversation that we had there.

Describe a highlight of one ILTA conference that made you a hero when you got back to your firm.

Learning about and implementing Acrophobia. Acrophobia allowed us to deploy an open source solution for the creation of PDF’s that was enterprise class and free (just a bit of time). Our gurus from the Open Source Peer Group kindly publicized the exact specifications on how to put the solution together. We used it for a number of years, and certainly delayed the need to spend significant amounts of money on alternative solutions at the time.  Another example would be some great sessions on WAN architecture and accelleration/optimization at the 2007 conference. We were pressed to open a remote office very quickly shortly afterwards. I learned what other firms had done to successfully centralize some of their enterprise applications amid office growth. The follow up with some of the session speakers (both member and consultant) was invaluable to our implementation.

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?

Plan ahead, but then go with the flow. Certainly reviewing the session detail ahead of time is in your best interest. With the quantity and variety of sessions to choose from, you certainly don’t want to be reviewing the session descriptions for the first time just before the they begin (way too much stress). That said, be open to changing your mind at the last minute, when a peer explains their choice, and it sounds good to you too!  I have found some of the most beneficial time is that spent with my friends and peers outside of the educational sessions themselves.  It is amazing what you can learn over a meal with your peers discussing problems we’ve all run into, and how we’ve found solutions to those problems. It’s great to learn and understand what other firms are doing.

What volunteer roles have you held for ILTA?

I was the Regional Vice President (RVP) for the Midwest region for 5 years. I have served two terms on ILTA’s Board of Directors as secretary, and recently Peer Group Liaison. I’m pleased to have the opportunity to serve as the incoming President following the 2009 conference.

What prompted you to get involved as a volunteer leader with ILTA? What led you in the direction of the Board of Directors?

Certainly the peer powered nature of ILTA enticed me to get more involved. About 13 years ago I went to my first conference, and spoke in a session in the professional development track on how to “properly” hire IT staff.  I was blown away by the collegiality of the members at the time and I was hooked. ILTA has afforded me the opportunity to collaborate with my peers world wide, and bring tremendous value to my firm.  After serving as an RVP for five years, service on the Board of Directors was the next logical step in my volunteer service. The dedication and commitment to the values of the organization and the spirit of helpfulness that is demonstrated by our volunteers continue to amaze me.

How has ILTA helped you become the leader you are today?

ILTA has provided the tremendous opportunity to interact with some of the smartest, most talented individuals in our industry on a daily basis. Whether through eGroups, webinars, a local meeting, or breakfast at conference, we are surrounded by a community of people that is always willing to offer advise, provide direction, or lend a hand.  It has provided fine examples of what it takes to be a leader in your organization. We are blessed to have such an organization, and the thanks goes to each and every member and volunteer that makes it happen on a daily basis. Peer Powered:   Indeed.

Do you have a blog? If so, what’s the URL? What’s your Twitter handle?

I’ve recently made the commitment to social networking in the last few months. I don’t have a blog yet, but am “beginning” to dabble with Twitter. I have found LinkedIn to be very valuable after only a few months of active use (feel free to Connect with me). Facebook will be my next challenge.

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.

What excites you the most about ILTA ‘09?

Getting together with my peers and learning from them. Talking about current challenges and opportunities. Also, I’ve seen National Harbor and it is an awesome property.

Describe a highlight of one ILTA conference that made you a hero when you got back to your firm.

Three years ago we looked at a product for digital dictation, Crescendo. Since implementing Crescendo our attorneys are able to dictate and upload their files remotely or call in their dictation. In addition the quality of the digital dictation far surpasses the analog tapes which makes the assistants very happy. Of all of the technologies we have implemented, this is one that hands down got the most positive feedback.

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?

I always plan in advance but stay flexible. There are times when I attend a session and find early on that the subject matter isn’t exactly what I’m looking for so I move on to another session. There isn’t any rule that says you have to stay put.

I also try and introduce myself to folks I don’t know. You never know when a new acquaintance will become a valued and trusted colleague.

What volunteer roles have you held for ILTA?

Greeter, Bag Stuffer, Meeting Host, Speaker, RVP, Board Member (RVP Liaison, President, Treasurer)

What prompted you to get involved as a volunteer leader with ILTA? What led you in the direction of the Board of Directors?

It’s all Cathy Reilly’s fault. She made it look like such fun. Seriously though, when you get so much from something like I have from ILTA and my peers within the ILTA family it’s easy to give back.

With respect to serving on the Board, I was encouraged to seek election to the Board by fellow officers who I had served with.

What does leadership mean to you?

For the sake of many.

What makes you a leader?

I’m not afraid to state my opinion and I’m willing to accept when I am wrong. Some might say I have the abilty to see around the corner. I am a strong proponent of mentoring formally or informally. I like to see others grow.

How has ILTA helped you become the leader you are today?

There isn’t one thing that I can say that encompasses everything I have experienced. What I can say is that serving as a volunteer in any capacity has taught me the value of putting others before myself. The camaraderie within the officer ranks, including the competitive spirit of the officers, has given me many hours of enjoyment and laughter. To put this more succinctly, serving as an officer (volunteer leader) I have benefited from those around me who demonstrated organizational and leadership skills. Whether staff or volunteers, I have been fortunate to have served and learned real world skills such as building consensus, strategic planning, public speaking and mentoring.

What excites you the most about ILTA ‘09?:

Learning how we can simplify and gain efficiencies during this economic condition.

Describe a highlight of one ILTA conference that made you a hero when you got back to your firm.

Strategic information about e-discovery trends, tablet pcs, and PDAs all come to mind.

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?

About a month before conference, I make a list of areas I need to learn more about and things my firm wants me to research. I then go through the educational content and map out my days. If I decide to meet with any vendors, I already have my “must attend” events scheduled. I find this maximizes my experience and keeps things very simple.

What volunteer roles have you held for ILTA?

Regional Vice President, Northern California, Treasurer, Regional Vice President Liaison, and Executive Vice President. I have presented at conference, written articles for Peer to Peer, hosted meetings, and managed some of ILTAs annual surveys.

What prompted you to get involved with ILTA?

I was brand new to legal 10 years ago and my boss at the time, Jo Haraf, suggested ILTA as a way to learn a lot about the industry. It was without a doubt one of the best pieces of advice I have ever received.

What does leadership mean to you?

Making decisions, being accountable, trying new things, learning quickly from mistakes, letting the team have all the credit and you taking all the blame, saying “yes, no, please and thank you”, and helping people have fun with what they are doing.

What makes you a leader?

I enjoy seeing people and processes work very well. I also really like to hear laughter and see people smile.

Has ILTA helped you become the leader you are today?

ABSOLUTELY. ILTA has afforded me the opportunity to work with the best of the industry, see what does and does not work for me style wise, and expose me to many different ways to approach a given problem. ILTA has helped me develop my financial, managerial, and networking acumen. ILTA is by far the best venue for one gain experience and develop talent by volunteering to help.