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2008 Board of Directors

President
Christina Weeks
Paralegal
404-375-8656
gap_president@bellsouth.net

Christina is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and received a certificate with honors from the National Center for Paralegal Training. She began her term as President of the Georgia Association of Paralegals (“GAP”) in the summer of 2007. She has served in various positions on the GAP board since 2003. Her legal experience includes real estate litigation, foreclosure and bankruptcy. In 2006 she changed her focus and took as position at the Georgia Law Center for the Homeless where she gained experience with direct client service through outreach to the homeless members of our community. At the law center she focused on public housing, wage claims and identification issues. Most recently, Christina worked as a paralegal at the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (“AVLF”). At AVLF she served many functions but her primary roles included; coordinating volunteers, screening clients, coordinating various programs with other organizations and managing all of the Foundation’s technology.


 

Vice President
Kevin O. Fogle
Epstein Becker & Green, P.C.
KevinOFogle@yahoo.com

Kevin O. Fogle is a paralegal with Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. At EBG, Kevin is a member of the firm's Corporate/International Transactions section, where he assists in providing legal services to both foreign and domestic U.S. companies and individuals transacting business in the United States and abroad, including mergers and acquisitions; general corporate matters; intellectual property; and immigration. Prior to joining EBG, Kevin has worked in other areas of law such as, public finance, securities, commercial real estate, land use, estate planning, and health care. He is a contributing writer for GAP's publication, The Paragraph, and the National Federation for Paralegal Association's publication, The National Paralegal Reporter. Kevin holds an ABA approved paralegal certificate, an associate's degree in Integrative Studies with a legal and business emphasis, and a bachelor's degree in Business Administration.


 

Board Advisor
Barbara Pylant
SunTrust Robinson Humphrey
404-813-0217
gapboardadvisor@gmail.com

Barbara Pylant is currently employed as an Associate and Senior Paralegal in the Structured Leasing Group at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, a wholly owned subsidiary of SunTrust Banks, Inc. Ms. Pylant received a B.A. in Political Science from Louisiana State University in 1990 and brings almost 20 years of experience to the paralegal profession. Ms. Pylant’s primary area of law is focused on commercial real estate, commercial lending, acquisitions and mergers and contract review. As a member of GAP since 1999, Ms. Pylant served on GAP’s Board of Directors as the Membership Inquiries Chair from 2000-2001 and Secretary from 2004-2007. She has been a former speaker for CSC’s 2001 Merger & Acquisition Seminar, and featured in LawCrossing’s article Handling Complex Business Transactions: Paralegals in the Field of Mergers and Acquisitions.


 

Secretary
Julia Lanford
King & Spalding
404-572-3480
jlanford@kslaw.com

Julia Lanford is currently employed as a Senior Paralegal in the Tort/Environmental Litigation section at King & Spalding LLP. Ms. Lanford earned a B.A. in Art from San Diego State University in 1987. She relocated to Atlanta and returned to school in 1990, earning a paralegal certificate with honors from the National Center for Paralegal Training, an ABA approved program. She began her paralegal career in January of 1991, with a mid-sized insurance defense law firm in Atlanta, specializing in first-party defense of arson and fraud cases. In late 1993, Ms. Lanford went to an in-house legal department for a large insurance carrier in Atlanta, as a Senior Paralegal, where she handled first-party defense of arson/fraud and coverage cases. In 1999, she started with King & Spalding and currently works on product liability cases involving asbestos and pharmaceuticals. Ms. Lanford has been a member of GAP since 1991. This is her first time serving on the GAP Board.


 

Treasurer
Ann Jackson
404-625-2982
ajj23@bellsouth.net
 
Ann Jackson earned a B.S. in Industrial Management from Georgia Institute of Technology. She returned to school in 2001, earning her paralegal certificate with honors from the National Center for Paralegal Training (NCPT), an ABA-approved program. The same year, she began her career at an Atlanta law firm in the real estate section, specializing in homeowner and condominium association law (a combination of litigation and creditor’s rights work). Most recently, she has worked in-house at two publicly traded companies in many areas of corporate law and compliance, as well as intellectual property and contract law. She was awarded the GAP 2005 PACE Scholarship and became a PACE Registered Paralegal in March 2006. She is currently in her second year on the Board as Treasurer.
 

 

NFPA Primary
Karen Prouty
Fellows LaBriola LLP
404-586-2039
kprouty@fellab.com
 
Karen Prouty is a paralegal with the law firm of Fellows LaBriola LLP. She mainly works on complex litigation cases. She also handles paralegal work on trademark and copyright matters and securities mediation and arbitration matters. She is a 1998 graduate of the University of Georgia. She completed her studies at the University of Georgia with Bachelors of Arts degrees in English and German. In September 2001, she received her paralegal certification with honors from the National Center for Paralegal Training, which is accredited by the ABA. She became a PACE Registered Paralegal in December 2003. Karen has been a member of GAP and the National Federation of Paralegal Associations since 2001, and was the recipient of the GAP’s 2003 PACE Scholarship.

 

NFPA Secondary
LaShonda Dillard
The Weatherly Law Firm
lashondad@hotmail.com
 
 
LaShonda Dillard most recently worked as a paralegal at Fellows, Johnson & LaBriola, LLP. There, she provided paralegal services under the direction of counsel involved in complex insurance cases addressing coverage issues related to catastrophic construction and maritime losses. LaShonda has over ten years of experience working in different areas of the legal field which include, workers’ compensation, personal injury criminal and bankruptcy law. She is a 2001 Graduate of the University of Michigan, where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Science with an emphasis in Criminal Justice and Business. In 1997 LaShonda received her Associate’s Degree in Paralegal Technology from Mott Community College, located in Flint, Michigan.

 

Director of CLE
Edwina Robinson
Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP
404-407-5173
edwina.robinson@sablaw.com

Edwina Bernita Robinson is a Paralegal with Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP. At SAB, Edwina is a member of the firm’s Corporate section, where she provides assistance to attorneys in the practices of mergers and acquisitions, private equity, corporate finance, securities, corporate governance, outsourcing, and general corporate matters. Edwina is a volunteer with the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, the Georgia Truancy Intervention Program, Everybody Wins!, and various other community service organizations. In addition, she is an active member of the Gate City Bar Paralegal Section where she contributes to the CLE, sponsorship, membership. She attended Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University where she studied Business Administration. She also studied for her Paralegal Certificate at Clayton State University.


 

Director of Communications
Sherry Rosen
404-931-8262
gapnewsletter@comcast.net

Sherry Rosen began her legal career in 1990 and has been a paralegal specializing in civil litigation for over ten years. Sherry started her legal career as a legal secretary at a small personal injury firm. She began working as a Paralegal in 1998 and credits her knowledge and experience gained over the years as reasons for her success. Sherry graduated from Oglethorpe University with a B.A. in Business and English, and has taken classes toward a Masters degree in criminal justice at Georgia State University. She is currently employed as a litigation Paralegal specializing in insurance defense at Gray, Rust, St. Amand, Moffett & Brieske. She will be sitting for PACE in 2008 as a recipient of the GAP PACE scholarship sponsored by HIRECounsel. Sherry previously served on the Board in 2002 as Director of Job Placement.


 

Director of Membership
Tenitra Adams
Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
404-881-1300
tenitra.adams@ogletreedeakins.com

Tenitra Adams attended Buffalo State College majoring in Criminal Justice. She plans to complete her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Phoenix in Fall 2008. Tenitra received her Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies from Bryant & Stratton College (an ABA approved school) in 2000.

Tenitra has been working as a paralegal for 7 years. She started her career working in Family Law, Probate, and Real Estate working for a small boutique law firm in New York and then broadened her horizons in 2003 working for a medium size law firm in Litigation, Estates & Trusts and Immigration Law.

Tenitra is currently a Litigation Paralegal with Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C., a labor and employment law firm in Midtown Atlanta.


 

Director of Pro Bono
Michael Misenheimer
Sicay-Perrow, Knighten & Bohan, P.C.
atlantaparalegal@gmail.com
 
 
Michael Misenheimer holds a paralegal certificate as well as a B.A. in Psychology. Michael began his paralegal career working for a solo practitioner whose specialty was consumer bankruptcy. Upon leaving the consumer bankruptcy firm, he went to work for a Chapter 7 Trustee. In 2003, he joined Kenney, Solomon & Medina, where he was a paralegal focusing in creditors’ rights issues in Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee. In 2005, he joined the firm of Sicay-Perrow, Knighten, Bohan & Iqal, P.C. returning to the creditors’ rights arena, including consumer bankruptcy litigation, foreclosures and suits.

 

Bar Liaison Coordinator
Edwina Robinson

Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP
404-407-5173
edwina.robinson@sablaw.com

Edwina Bernita Robinson is a Paralegal with Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP. At SAB, Edwina is a member of the firm’s Corporate section, where she provides assistance to attorneys in the practices of mergers and acquisitions, private equity, corporate finance, securities, corporate governance, outsourcing, and general corporate matters. Edwina is a volunteer with the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, the Georgia Truancy Intervention Program, Everybody Wins!, and various other community service organizations. In addition, she is an active member of the Gate City Bar Paralegal Section where she contributes to the CLE, sponsorship, membership. She attended Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University where she studied Business Administration. She also studied for her Paralegal Certificate at Clayton State University.


 

Benefits Coordinator

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Community Service Coordinator
Jenny Manzer
King & Spalding LLP
404-572-3421
jmanzer@kslaw.com

Jenny Manzer is a paralegal with King & Spalding LLP’s Business Litigation Practice Group.
Jenny received her litigation paralegal certification from the University of California, Los Angeles Extension Attorney Assistant Training Program, offered in cooperation with the UCLA School of Law and approved by the American Bar Association. She is an honors graduate of UCLA, where she received a Bachelors of Arts degree in Anthropology, with a concentration in Archaeology, and a specialization in Computing. Jenny also serves on GAP’s Pro Bono Committee.
 

 

Directory Coordinator

 

 

 

 

 


 

E-News Coordinator
Christina Weeks
Paralegal
Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation
404-521-0790
gap_president@bellsouth.net

Christina is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and received a certificate with honors from the National Center for Paralegal Training. She began her term as President of the Georgia Association of Paralegals (“GAP”) in the summer of 2007. She has served in various positions on the GAP board since 2003. Her legal experience includes real estate litigation, foreclosure and bankruptcy. In 2006 she changed her focus and took as position at the Georgia Law Center for the Homeless where she gained experience with direct client service through outreach to the homeless members of our community. At the law center she focused on public housing, wage claims and identification issues. Christina is currently a paralegal at the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (“AVLF”). At AVLF she serves many functions but her primary roles include; coordinating volunteers, screening clients, coordinating various programs with other organizations and managing all of the Foundation’s technology.


 

Event Coordinator

 

 

 

 

 


 

Membership Retention Coordinator

 

 

 

 

 


 

Mentor Program Coordinator
Tenitra Adams
Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
404-881-1300
tenitra.adams@ogletreedeakins.com

Tenitra Adams attended Buffalo State College majoring in Criminal Justice. She plans to complete her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Phoenix in Fall 2008. Tenitra received her Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies from Bryant & Stratton College (an ABA approved school) in 2000.

Tenitra has been working as a paralegal for 7 years. She started her career working in Family Law, Probate, and Real Estate working for a small boutique law firm in New York and then broadened her horizons in 2003 working for a medium size law firm in Litigation, Estates & Trusts and Immigration Law.

Tenitra is currently a Litigation Paralegal with Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C., a labor and employment law firm in Midtown Atlanta.

 


 

New Member Coordinator
Cheryl McKenzie

Kilpatrick Stockton
404-745-2435
Cmckinzie@kilpatrickstockton.com

Cheryl McKinzie is currently employed as the Annuity Paralegal with the Intellectual Property Group at Kilpatrick Stockton LLP, an international law Firm. Cheryl’s primary area of law is focused on the annuities in the foreign countries and the maintenance fees in the United States for the Atlanta office as well as several offices outside of Georgia.

Cheryl has been a member of GAP and the National Federation of Paralegal Associates for over 8 years. Last year, Cheryl participated as a program advisory member with Dekalb Technical College as the Paralegal Studies Program seeks ABA accreditation status. Along with GAP, Cheryl was instrumental in bringing and hosting the Regional III Convention held here in Atlanta in 2006. Cheryl holds a paralegal certificate from Clayton State University. Cheryl is a native of Georgia and she brings over 21 years of experience to the paralegal profession.


 

PACE Ambassador
K. Paezlč Harris, RP
Cox Communications, Inc.
404-269-7898
Paezle.Harris@cox.com
 
Paezlč Harris has held a Senior Paralegal position with Cox Communications, Inc. since 2004 where she is responsible for litigation, civil investigative demands, disputes, small claims, and marketing review. After graduating from ECPI College of Technology in Virginia, Paezle´ moved to Atlanta in 1996 to join and remain with McCalla, Raymer, Padrick, Cobb, Nichols, and Clark LLC for seven years before joining Cox. Paezlč is a Certified Mediator and Georgia Neutral who obtained her Paralegal Certificate from the University of Georgia (UGA) and her Advanced Paralegal Certificate from the University of South Carolina (USC.) Paezlč became a PACE Registered Paralegal in 2007 and a NALA Certified Paralegal in 2008. She is currently pursuing a BS in Business Administration (Legal Studies Major) at Adams State College. Paezle´ has been on the Board for the Georgia Association of Paralegals (GAP) since 2006.
 

 
Public Relations Coordinator
 

 

 

 

 


 

Speaker's Bureau Coordinator
LaShonda Dillard
The Weatherly Law Firm
lashondad@hotmail.com


LaShonda Dillard most recently worked as a paralegal at Fellows, Johnson & LaBriola, LLP. There, she provided paralegal services under the direction of counsel involved in complex insurance cases addressing coverage issues related to catastrophic construction and maritime losses. LaShonda has over ten years of experience working in different areas of the legal field which include, workers’ compensation, personal injury criminal and bankruptcy law. She is a 2001 Graduate of the University of Michigan, where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Science with an emphasis in Criminal Justice and Business. In 1997 LaShonda received her Associate’s Degree in Paralegal Technology from Mott Community College, located in Flint, Michigan.


 

Student Members Coordinator
Nola Sayne
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
404-881-5463
nsayne@seyfarth.com

 
Nola Sayne is a Labor and Employment/Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Paralegal at Seyfarth Shaw LLP. Nola’s work is focused in the corporate defense in single plaintiff employment discrimination actions and also drafting plan documents, participant communications, board consents and preparing IRS and U.S. Department of Labor filings. She started at Seyfarth Shaw as a legal assistant in the Employee Benefits and Labor and Employment group and was promoted after two years to her current position. She has worked in the legal field for over eight years in family, corporate, residential real estate, employee benefits and litigation. Nola graduated from Kennesaw State University’s paralegal program in 2005 and is currently pursuing a B.S. in Business Administration.

 

Web Design Coordinator
Amadi Leaks
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
404-881-5447
aleaks@seyfarth.com
 

Amadi Leaks received her Bachelor of Arts degree, summa cum laude from Spelman College with a concentration in Philosophy and Computer Science. She joined Seyfarth Shaw LLP in 2006 as a senior Paralegal in the Labor & Employment Practice Group. Her practice experience includes Single Plaintiff litigation, Wage-Hour litigation, Complex Discrimination litigation and Commercial litigation matters. Amadi has extensive trial preparation and database management experience. Prior to entering the legal field, Amadi worked in various sectors of the IP & Telecommunications industry. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa Society, and a certified Cisco Network Professional. Amadi joined the GAP board in 2007 where she presently serves as the Website Coordinator.

 


 

Executive Administrator
Gina S. Farley, CP
3904 N. Druid Hills Road #376
Decatur, Georgia 30033
404-229-8632
Fax 888-677-5650
gaparalegal@comcast.net

Gina Farley obtained her B.S. in Secondary Education at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where she was also born and raised. She graduated with Honors from the National Center for Paralegal Training (NCPT), an ABA-approved program, and began her paralegal career in Knoxville, Tennessee, working in the areas of litigation, workers’ compensation and bankruptcy. In 1996, Gina relocated to Jacksonville, Florida, where she served on the Community Service and Newsletter committees for the Jacksonville Legal Assistants, Inc. (n/k/a Northeast Florida Paralegal Association, Inc.) and attained CLA accreditation. Gina moved to Atlanta in 1998 and has been paralegal manager at The Weatherly Law Firm since September, 2000. She was recently chosen as a Paralegal Superstar by ParalegalGateway. Gina served on the GAP Board of Directors for several years, and was most recently the organization's President.