Affiliated with the National Federation of Paralegal Associations
|
Affiliated with the National Federation of Paralegal Associations
|
|
|
President
Elect
In August of 2001, Leslie was appointed by the Supreme Court of Florida to the Committee for the Unlicensed Practice of Law for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Committee A, where she served a three-year term. Leslie has also been a speaker at a paralegal seminar sponsored by the Hillsborough County Bar Association on the topic of paralegal ethics. In addition to TBPA, Leslie is a member of the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) and the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA). Formerly a member of Paralegal Association of Florida (PAF), Leslie served as Treasurer and then as President of the Hillsborough County Chapter of PAF from 1997-2000, collectively. A founding Officer of TBPA, Leslie has served in the capacity of Treasurer, Second Vice-President, and currently as Secretary. Additionally, she serves as Parliamentarian to TBPA as well as on the Seminar, Audit, Luncheon and Bar Liaison Committees. On a personal note, Leslie
sings with her church’s praise team and also leads bible study classes. In her
free time, (what free time she asks?) Leslie enjoys yoga, reading, shopping,
traveling, NASCAR races, and spending time with her husband of 22 years, and
their dog Angel – albeit not necessarily in that order.
1st
Vice-President: Yvonne DeAntoneo, RP 900 W. Platt Street Tampa, FL 33606  
Yvonne is excited to have been an active part of this board over the last year, including assisting with the National Convention and is looking forward to all of the new projects that TBPA has planned for 2008. Additionally, as First Vice President, she is excited to be planning the luncheon speakers and TBPA’s annual seminar. She would appreciate your input for speakers and seminar ideas and encourages all members to email her with suggested speakers or topics at any time. When not at work, Yvonne enjoys spending time with her husband, David, an IT director for a St. Petersburg law firm, as well as their two daughters, Katherine and Sarah and their two dogs. She is also an avid reader and scrapbooker. Back to Top2nd Vice-President:
Nita Serrano,
RP 3315 Henderson
Blvd., Suite 100
Away from work, Nita can usually be found spending time with her husband and three children. Back to Top
Treasurer:
Kaki Odum
Secretary:
In 1991, Janice obtained her CLA credentials and earned the civil litigation specialty designation in 1994. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors this
year, she is also the chair of the Job Bank committee.
Back to
Top
A native of Michigan, she attended St. Clair County Community College in Port Huron, Michigan where she received her Associate of Arts Degree in May of 1995. She moved to Florida that same year where she began working at Best Buy. She continued working for Best Buy full-time while attending Florida Metropolitan University. With the continued support of her husband, she graduated with honors from FMU in Paralegal Studies in June of 2002. That same month, she was employed with Owens Law Group, P. A. in Ruskin. Her goal is to take the PACE exam in the next couple of years to receive her Registered Paralegal. Melissa specializes in Estate Planning, Corporate work from formation to mergers/buyouts as well as Taxation with respect to preparation of Protests with the Internal Revenue Service and pleadings with the Tax Court and Federal Appellate Courts. When Melissa has spare time
she likes to spend time with her husband, Mike of twelve years and their
daughters, Kaitlyn and Amanda by going to Disney, roller skating, school
activities or even just hanging out at home with their two dogs and cat,
making crafts or playing Sonic the Hedgehog. Director: Lisa Ferrara
Lisa received her Associate of Science degree in June 2001 from Santa Fe
Community College in Gainesville. After working in the insurance and
engineering fields for more than 18 years, Lisa transitioned over to the
legal field when she relocated from Gainesville to the Tampa Bay Area in May
of 2006. Lisa is currently employed as a paralegal with the law firm of
Allen Dell, P.A.
specializing in civil litigation.
Back
to Top Director: Brenda Ferrera, CLA Director:
Nancy attended the University of Tennessee and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in education in 1980 from David Lipscomb University. She taught high school civics and English, and elementary physical education before returning to school to complete the Paralegal Studies program at Tulane University. She passed the CLA exam in 1996. She is a member of the National Association of Legal Assistants, and a past member of the New Orleans Paralegal Association and the National Education Association.
She has spoken on case management and organization at seminars for litigation paralegals and for lawyers doing pro bono work She is a troop leader for Girl Scout Troop #152 and works as a volunteer and fundraiser for the Toys for Tots and Special Olympics organizations. Director:  Tampa Independent Paralegals, Inc. Tel: (813) 846-5672 Fax: (813) 977-0539 Prior to the formation of TBPA, Jay was an active member of the Board for the Hillsborough County Chapter of Florida Legal Assistants n/k/a Paralegal Association of Florida, Inc. and served as a Director from 1995 to 1996 and its Recording Secretary from 1997 to 2000. He received
his A.S. in Paralegal Studies from Tampa College and his Bachelors in
Business Administration from Florida Metropolitan University. He has been a Certified Legal
Assistant since 1994 and successfully passed NFPA's Paralegal Advanced
Competency Exam in 2006. Jay
has been affiliated with the National Association of Legal
Assistants since 1991 and a member of the National Federation of Paralegal
Associations since 2000. Jay is a former member of both the Legal
Assistant Management Jay began his
career as a legal assistant with the law firm of Perenich & Carroll in
the practice of personal injury, workers’ compensation, and medical
malpractice. He also worked
at Fowler, White as a litigation paralegal in Nursing Home department
for three years and in the Securities Litigation department for two
years. His other
work experience is varied and includes corporate & business law,
class-action litigation, and products liability. He has also served as a
part-time adjunct instructor in the Paralegal program at EduTech Centers
in Pinellas County and taught several courses including: Legal Research &
Writing, Torts, and Intro to Law Office Procedures.
In 1999, Jay
assisted Professional Education Systems Inc. with the planning and
development for a seminar on the topic of Nursing Home Litigation for the
Florida Paralegal. He was
honored to have served as the sole paralegal speaker with two
distinguished attorneys specializing in nursing home negligence.
Taking a break from defense-oriented work and an opportunity to try his hand at managing a law office, Jay spent a few years working as a Paralegal and Office Manager for the Matassini Law Firm. His responsibilities included handling a significant caseload, assistance and attendance at trial, as well as various administrative duties necessary to ensure an efficient and profitable practice. In July of 2006, Jay formally created Tampa Independent Paralegals (TIPS), a company that provides paralegal support services to attorneys and law firms. Back to Top Director:
Michele Tawzer, CP In addition to her duties as a Certified Legal Assistant, Michele has also been a speaker at several seminars on topics from discovery rules and regulations to electronic evidence. She is not only the Chair of the Newsletter Committee, but also serves as the current editor of TBPA’s monthly newsletter. Outside of the office, Michele can usually be found spending time with her husband, Joey, and their six-year-old daughter Katie. Back to Top Parliamentarian Emeritus: Scherry Elson The Elson Law Firm, PLLC She was employed at Trenam,
Kemker, Scharf, Barkin, Frye, O’Neill & Mullis, P.A. for 18
years in the area of commercial litigation and bankruptcy. Scherry worked for two years at
Ruden, McCloskey in the area of bankruptcy and foreclosure. Scherry is a founding member of the Tampa Bay Paralegal Association, Inc. and has served as TBPA’s Parliamentarian, Issues & Positions Chairperson, By-Laws Chairperson and Ethics Chairperson. In August, 2002, Scherry was appointed by the Florida Supreme Court as a Non-Attorney Member of the Florida Bar’s Standing Committee for the Unauthorized Practice of Law. Scherry is a non-attorney member of the Florida Bar's Standing Committee on the Unlicensed Practice of Law appointed by the Florida Supreme Court for the term 2002 through 2005 and is was also appointed to serve as Liaison to the Florida Bar's 13th Judicial Circuit Committee "B" Unlicensed Practice of Law Committee. From 1999 through August, 2002, Scherry was appointed by the Florida Supreme Court as a Non-Attorney Member of the Florida Bar's 13th Judicial Circuit Committee "B" Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee. Scherry is a Paralegal Affiliate Member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and was appointed in September of 2000, by its President to ATLA’s Paralegal Task Force and re-appointed to this committee in May, 2002. Scherry was invited to speak at the Association of Trial Lawyers of America Annual Convention in Atlanta, GA in July, 2002, where she spoke to attorneys and paralegals on “The Paperless Law Office.” Her article, “Getting Started With OCR and Imaging” was published by ATLA and West Publishing through ATLA’s College of Advocacy. She is also a member of the National Association of Legal Assistants and the National Federation of Paralegal Associations. In May, 2002, Scherry was appointed by NFPA’s Vice President of Positions and Issues as a member of NFPA’s Positions and Issues Committee. She regularly speaks to paralegal students at Hillsborough Community College on UPL and Ethics issues. Scherry was formerly Treasurer of Florida Legal Assistants, Inc., n/k/a Paralegal Association of Florida, Inc. and a member of the Budget and Scholarship Committees from 1998 through 2000. From 1996 to 1998, she was Second Vice President, Membership Chair and a member of the Scholarship Committee. From 1995 to 1996, she was the Chapter President’s Representative and Board Member. Scherry was President of the Hillsborough County Chapter of Florida Legal Assistants, Inc. from 1995 to 1997 and formerly served as Second Vice President, Recording Secretary, Director, Membership Chair, Scholarship Chair and Parliamentarian. She was a Paralegal Advisory Board Member for Rollins College Paralegal Studies Post-Graduate Paralegal Program at the Winter Haven and Tampa, Florida campuses from 1995 to 1998, when the program was discontinued due to economic cutbacks. Scherry has been a volunteer for the
Bay Area Volunteer Lawyers Program and periodically as a Junior
Achievement Consultant at East Bay High School.
Back to
Top Past President:
Past Presidents |
Send an email to the
webmaster with questions or comments about this web site.
|
