2010 Board of Directors
Elections are held during the Annual Meeting in November of each year. If you are interested in becoming an Officer or Director, feel free to contact any Officer or Director listed on this page
Board Meetings are held at 5:30 pm on the second Tuesday of every month. These meetings are open to all members and if you are interested in serving this organization, we encourage you to attend the next board meeting. To verify date and location, please contact President, Nita Serrano, RP, FRP.
President: Nita Serrano, RP, FRP
Ogden, Sullivan & O'Connor, P.A.
113 S. Armenia Avenue
Tampa, FL 33609
Tel: (813) 223-5111
Email
Nita Serrano, RP, FRP, is a litigation Paralegal with the Tampa law firm of Ogden, Sullivan & O'Connor, P.A. in their Medical Malpractice department.
Nita has been a paralegal for almost 15 years, four of those years as a freelance paralegal. Nita specializes in the areas of civil litigation, insurance defense, medical malpractice, personal injury, nursing home and general negligence. She has also worked in the areas of criminal and family law. Prior to becoming a Paralegal, Nita worked for two large Tampa Bay Area Hospitals as a Certified Health Unit Coordinator in the Emergency Room/Trauma Center, Transplant, Orthopedic, and Maternity Ward.
Nita earned her Associates Degree in Paralegal Studies from Florida Metropolitan University, her designation as a PACE Registered Paralegal (RP) from the National Federation of Paralegal Associations in March, 2007 and Florida Registered Paralegal designation in March, 2008.
Nita has served as Second Vice President, and President Elect for the Tampa Bay Paralegal Association, Inc. She also served on the Seminar Committee, and was very active on the Pro Bono/Community Service Committee.
Away from work, Nita can usually be found spending time with her husband, three children and two American Eskimos.
President-Elect: Yvonne DeAntoneo, RP
Knopik Deskins Law Group
777 S. Harbour Island Blvd., #800
Tampa, FL 33602
Tel: (813) 221-3131
Fax: (813) 221-3199
Email
Yvonne Lewis DeAntoneo has been a paralegal for many years in the Tampa Bay area. Currently, Yvonne is working for Knopik Deskins Law Group. Prior, she was with the law firm Abrahamson & Uiterwyk handling their mass tort tobacco litigation. Yvonne has a paralegal degree from St. Petersburg College and a Bachelor’s of Arts in English & American Literature from the University of South Florida.
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.
1st Vice-President: Barbara O'Shaughnessy, FRP
Barnett, Bolt, Kirkwood, Long & McBride, P.A.
601 Bayshore Blvd., Suite 700
Tampa, FL 33606
Tel: (813) 253-2020
Fax: (813) 251-6711
Email
Barbara has been employed as a paralegal since 1985, beginning her career in a large nationwide foreclosure firm and after 3-1/2 years moved on to a local foreclosure firm for 7-1/2 years. She then worked for a brief 1-1/2 years with a national firm who was local counsel to a national bank with offices in Tampa. When the local firm closed its doors due a bank buyout, Barbara was forced to change jobs and has happily spent the last 11 years with the firm of Barnett, Bolt, Kirkwood, Long & McBride, P.A. in Tampa, specializing in real estate.
Barbara has been registered with The Florida Bar as a Florida Registered Paralegal since March 28, 2008. She is an active member of Tampa Bay Paralegal Association, Inc., and has been affiliated with the Paralegal Association of Florida, Inc. (State and Hillsborough County Chapter), and National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc. since 2005.
While not working, Barbara spends time volunteering, and is the President of the Parent Advisory Board, at the Interbay Boys & Girls Club where her children spend their time after school and on school holidays and vacations. She is an amateur photographer and takes the team photos for her children’s high school football and basketball teams, including making DVD movies/slideshows from the teams’ regular and post-season games.
Barbara and her husband, Ray, have been married since 1987, and they have three children, Jeremy, Jamie & Jessica. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies, reading, shopping and spending quality time her friends and family.
2nd Vice-President: Melissa Cook, FRP
Owens Law Group, P.A.
811-B Cypress Village Blvd.
Ruskin, FL 33573-6724
Tel: (813) 633-3396
Fax: (813) 633-3397
Email
Melissa Cook has been employed with Owens Law Group, P. A. since June of 2002.
A native of Michigan, she attended Moody Bible Institute for two years after graduating from High School in 1990. She returned to Michigan in 1992 and attended St. Clair County Community College in Port Huron, Michigan where she received her Associate of Arts Degree in May 1995. She moved to Florida later that same year where she began working for Best Buy Co. While working full-time for Best Buy Co., being a full-time mom and wife, she attended Florida Metropolitan University (FMU).
With the continued support of her husband and parents, she graduated with honors from FMU in Paralegal Studies in June 2002. That same month, she became employed with Owens Law Group, P. A. in Ruskin.
Melissa specializes in the areas of Estate Planning, Corporate work from formation to mergers/buyouts, Taxation to include preparation of Protests with the Internal Revenue Service; pleadings with the United States Tax Court and Federal Appellate Courts. She is currently learning about International Tax law.
Melissa has served as Chair of the Education/Professional Development Committee of TBPA as well as serve on the 2008 Seminar Committee. She has recently accepted to serve on the Paralegal Advisory Board of Hillsborough County Community College.
She is active with her church’s Kid Clubs program and with the Worship Team. In her spare time she loves to spend time with her Michael, her husband of twelve years and their two daughters, Kaitlyn and Amanda.
Melissa’s goal is to take the PACE exam in the next couple of years.
Treasurer: Cristen McCaughin, FRP
Mechanik Nuccio Hearne & Wester, P.A.
18560 N. Dale Mabry Hwy.
Lutz, FL 33548
Tel: (813) 968-1002
Fax: (813) 968-1502
Email
Cristen graduated from the University of South Florida in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business management. She began working in the legal field shortly thereafter with the law firm of Trenam, Kemker, Scharf, Barkin, Frye, O’Neil & Mullis, where she remained employed for nearly 10 years. During her employment with Trenam, Cristen obtained an Associate in Science degree in legal assisting from Hillsborough Community College in 1997 and eventually joined their litigation team as a paralegal.
In May 2004, Cristen joined the law firm of Mechanik Nuccio Hearne & Wester which enabled her to be close to her family and home. She has been employed with Mechanik Nuccio as a paralegal for over 5 years working primarily in complex business litigation in state and federal courts, including securities fraud, fraudulent transfer, truth in lending, commercial landlord/tenant, real estate, and personal injury claims.
Cristen is registered with The Florida Bar as a Florida Registered Paralegal and has been an active member of the Tampa Bay Paralegal Association, Inc., and the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc. since 2003.
On a personal note, Cristen has been married to her husband Roger since 1997 and they have one daughter, Cassidy.
Secretary: Nancy Daniel, CP, FRP
Holland & Knight LLP
100 N. Tampa St., Suite 4100
Tampa, FL 33602-3644
Tel: (813) 227-6752
Email
Nancy has been employed as a paralegal for over twenty years, beginning her career in-house with Gulf Oil/Chevron. She then spent fifteen years with the firm of Lemle & Kelleher, LLP in New Orleans working on defense cases involving admiralty and maritime, oil and gas, products liability, class actions and environmental claims. For the past seven years she has worked with the firm of Holland & Knight, LLP in Tampa.
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: Lydia Harrod, CP, FRP
Barnett, Bolt, Kirkwood, Long & McBride, P.A.
601 Bayshore Blvd., Suite 700
Tampa, FL 33606
Tel: (813) 253-2020
Fax: (813) 251-6711
Email
Lydia began her legal career as a legal secretary in Miami. She then returned to school and received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Florida in 1985.
Upon graduation, she moved to the Tampa area and began working as a paralegal with the law firm of Beckham, McAliley & Schulz, P.A, specializing in Plaintiff’s personal injury law. When Beckham, McAliley closed their Tampa office in 1988, Lydia began employment with the Detroit-based Dykema Gossett firm, specializing in commercial litigation. She also took and passed the Certified Legal Assistant exam in 1989. When Dykema Gossett closed their Tampa office in 1992, Lydia began working as a litigation paralegal at Hill, Ward & Henderson.
In 2007, Lydia came to her present employment at Barnett, Bolt, Kirkwood, Long & McBride, P.A., where she works as a commercial litigation paralegal. Lydia is also a Florida Registered Paralegal.
Director: Stacy Johnson
100 S. Ashley Dr., #1190
Tampa, FL 33602
Tel: (813) 228-7755
Stacy is a graduate of St. Leo University and has been working in the legal field for eight years. She moved to Florida six years ago with her family from Baltimore, Maryland. Since moving to Florida, Stacy has made the change from corporate law to insurance defense.
In her spare time, Stacy is usually found at the hockey rink with her two sons, shopping or reading.
Director: Emily Merlin, CP
WellCare Health Plans, Inc.
P.O. Box 31372
Tampa, FL 33631
Tel: (813) 206-1309
Email
Ms. Merlin is a founding Officer and member of TBPA, having previously served on The Board of Directors in the capacities of First Vice President, Second Vice President, Director and Newsletter Editor. Recently, Emily has been involved in the Pro Bono Committee relative to the Military Legalman Project since the fall of 2007 wherein she sends the TBPA member donated items in care packages to military paralegals who are deployed abroad, including to the Middle East and on ships. In addition, Emily is the Bylaws & Standing Rules Committee Chair and is assisting the TBPA Technology Committee Chair with the TBPA web site.
Emily received her Bachelor’s Degree in Legal Administration from the University of West Florida and obtained the designation of Certified Paralegal from the National Association of Legal Assistants in 1990. Her main focus in her paralegal career has been in the areas of contract negotiation and management, corporate governance, business transactions, acquisitions and mergers, telecommunications, healthcare, real estate, intellectual property rights, and complex litigation.
Emily is currently employed with the publicly traded healthcare network corporation, WellCare Health Plans, Inc., as a senior paralegal focusing on negotiating and managing the company’s vast number of commercial contracts, real estate leases and settlement agreements.
Director/Newsletter Editor: Necia Mohammed
Law Office of Mac Greco
501 N. Morgan Street, #200
Tampa, FL 33602
Tel: (813) 223-7849
Email
Necia received her Bachelor in Criminology and Minor in Law and Justice Studies from the University of Tampa in 2001. She earned her Associate of Science from Hillsborough Community College in Paralegal Studies in 2002. Necia is a member of National Association of Legal Assistants, American Association for Justice and a Registered Paralegal of the Florida Bar. She is also an active member with the alumni association of the University of Tampa, Plantation Home Owner's Association and a Hillsborough County Guardian Ad Litem.
Outside of her professional and philantropic responsibilities, she is an avid sports fan and you can usually find her at football, baseball and hockey games.
Parliamentarian Emeritus: Scherry Elson
Broward Taff, Jr. Attorney, P.A.
241 John Knox Road, Suite 100
Tallahassee, FL 32303
Tel: (850) 224-2422
Fax: (850) 224-0762
Scherry attended Hillsborough Community College, where she majored in Business Education and received her paralegal certificate from the American Institute of Paralegal Studies in conjunction with the University of Tampa.
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. She is currently working as the Office Manager and Paralegal at her son's firm, Taff & Elson, LLC.
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.
Past President: Leslie Matthews, CP
Hillsborough County Attorney's Office
601 E. Kennedy Blvd., Suite 2700
Tampa, FL 33602
Email
Leslie received her Associate of Science Degree in Legal Assistant Studies from Hillsborough Community College in December of 1993, and obtained her Certification from the National Association of Legal Assistants in May of 1994. She has been employed in the legal field for 16 years, primarily in litigation, including commercial, civil, eminent domain, construction and securities, but also has experience in bankruptcy and foreclosure matters. Leslie is currently employed asa Senior Paralegal by the Hillsborough County Attorney’s Office in its Litigation Division where she assists the attorneys in preparation of defending the County in all aspects of litigation, including wrongful death, personal injury and First Amendment rights.
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. She was recently appointed to serve on the Ethics Board of NFPA.
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.
Past Presidents
2007: Lee Ann Mitchell
2006: Mary McKay, RP, CP
2005: Rochella Jackson-Ruff
2003/2004: Jay Quigley, RP, CP, FRP
2001/2002: Yvonne Lewis-DeAntoneo, RP
