On March 21, 2017, The San Diego Chapter of The Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) held its annual Leadership Dinner at The Doubletree by Hilton in Mission Valley. Outgoing President Tammie McQuain, MBA, Director of Administration at Milbank in Los Angeles, passed the gavel to Shaila Schaible, formerly of Higgs Fletcher & Mack LLP. Schaible who has been a chapter member for five years will serve as president through March 2018. Other board members during Schaible’s term were presented at the Leadership Dinner: President-Elect and Education Chair Karen Lemmon, J.D., Director of Operations at Higgs Fletcher & Mack LLP; Vice President and Membership Chair, Stephen Williamson, Office Manager at Sullivan Law Firm APC; Treasurer, Cynthia Barron, Office Manager/Legal Assistant at Fitzgerald Knaier, LLP; Secretary Katherine Rivette, COO/CFO at Henderson Caverly Pum & Charney LLP; Director, Business Partner Relations, Katya Adams, Office Administrator at Watkins Firm, APC; Director, Bank Statement Auditor, Libby Worden, Firm Administrator at Robertson & Associates, APC; Director at Large, Lauren Bloodworth, Legal Administrator at Kimball, Tirey & St. John LLP; and acting immediate Past President, Linda Quindt, CLM, Firm Administrator at Finch, Thornton & Baird LLP.
The San Diego Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators was chartered in 1973 and currently has over 100 active members. The chapter is a dynamic and diverse group of legal administrative professionals representing private, corporate and government entities ranging in size from solo practitioners to large international firms.
The mission of the San Diego Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators is to enhance the quality of legal management by providing opportunities for continuing education, networking and professional growth. During the dinner, Schaible announced her goals for the chapter, including keeping members engaged by learning from one another, challenging members to make new ALA friends, and encouraging members who do not currently attend meetings to come back. The chapter has also set up a foundation to host their fundraising events including Couture for a Cause and 5K Challenge for Charity which benefit local groups.