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Ohio Women’s Bar Association celebrates 20 years, jump in members
Ohio Women Bar Association officers with Ohio Supreme Court Justice Yvette McGee Brown (L-R): Secretary Angela Courtwright, President Jennifer Breech Rhoads, Treasurer Denise Platfoot Lacey, Immediate Past President Valoria Hoover, Vice President Stephanie Bowman, President-Elect Michelle Proia. Photo courtesy of OWBA.
ASHLEY C. HEENEY
Legal News Reporter
Published: June 14, 2011
Two decades ago there were a slew of challenges for the beginnings of the Ohio Women’s Bar Association, including getting support from established bar associations.
Over the past year, the OBWA and the Ohio Women’s Bar Foundation have grown in relevance and respect throughout the Ohio Legal profession, recent past president Hoover said, adding the association has become more fiscally secure.
“What do you need it for?” was the big question in 1991, said OWBA founder Pamela Hultin.
At the time, women in the courtroom were called “honey, baby or sweetheart” by opposing male counsel. In front of a jury, they might be asked if they were married.
When past OWBA president Michelle J. Sheenan was in law school in the early 1990s, she thought women had already blazed the trail, she said. But it wasn’t true.
The OWBA was formed because it was needed--and wanted, Hultin said, and today the organization has exceeded her expectations. Reasons the organization exists are the same, though situations differ.
Now, more than 500 women are members—a growth of 60 percent in the past 12 months.
At the end of May, they kicked off the organization’s 20th anniversary.
Members honored trailblazer Justice Alice Robie Resnick- one of the women who had the vision for the OWBA. She was the third woman to serve as justice on the Supreme Court and was the only woman on court until Justice Deborah Cook was elected in 1994.
At the annual meeting, Hoover passed the gavel to Columbus attorney Jennifer Breech Rhoads, who has previously held positions in the association. She was a former assistant attorney general under Ohio Attorney General Betty Montgomery and as of late last year, Rhoads is first new executive for the petroleum association in more than 50 years. Previously she served as its chief legal counsel, handling regulatory and legal issues for the industry.
“It’s an honor to have been chosen to serve as president of such a distinguished group of women professionals, particularly at this historic milestone as the OWBA celebrates its 20th year,” Rhoads said.
The meeting also featured Ohio Supreme Court Justice Yvette McGee Brown, who administered the oath of office to the incoming officers and trustees of the OWBA and Ohio Women’s Bar Foundation.
Hoover, also the past president of the OWBF, said after women go through law school, they need to develop leadership skills to move into leadership position. These are goals that the foundation’s newly formed leadership institute seeks implement. The foundation, Hoover said, raised over $30,000 to support and sustain its operation.
“Women are entering the legal profession in the same number if not even greater numbers than men, but there are still are not the numbers of women aspiring to real leadership that we would have hoped,” past president Laura Hauser said.
Along with McGee Brown, Ohio Supreme Court Justices Maureen O’Connor and Justice Judith Lanzinger are also on the advisory committee.
Six attorneys from Central Ohio make up its inaugural class--Martha Asseff, Dinsmore & Shohl, LLP; Stephanie Chmiel, Thompson Hine LLP; Lori Clary, McDonald Hopkins LLC; Sommer Sheely, Bricker & Eckler LLP; Erin Sutton, Peck Shaffer & Williams, LLP; and Jennifer Fuller, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Co.
Other members of the class are Magistrate Sharon Dennis, Summit County Domestic Relations Court; Marilena DiSilvio, Reminger Co. LPA; Twila Ferguson, Lucas County Child Support Enforcement; Patricia Gajda, Brouse McDowell LPA; Bonnie Kristan, Littler Mendelson PC; and Sasha Alexa VanDeGrift, Coolidge Wall Co. LPA.
The first class starts in September and continues through March 2012, with a curriculum focusing on rainmaking and practical business development strategies, executive coaching, branding and career development, public speaking, social media, effective communication techniques and effective leadership.