Centerbase Blog

April Campbell (Executive Director at the Association of Legal Administrators) and Judy Hissong (President at Nesso Strategies) discuss everything from diagnosing firm culture to the shifted focus on mental health. These two ALA royalties discuss how the world as we know it is changing, and there are quite a few noticeable differences coming out of the legal industry because of it.

Melissa Chambers and Mike West give us some great insight on what firms should be doing once they implement new software. From continuing vendor relationships to leaning into training, check out their best practice tips, and suggestions to help you utilize your new system to the fullest.

Jenna Carter and Chassidy Deckard are here to give their thoughts on providing inclusive environments for every stage in the life cycle of law firm management.

Debbie Foster has been a pioneer in the legal technology industry for a long time. And we had the opportunity to sit down with her and hear her thoughts on the legal landscape and what firms must do in order to remain competitive.

You all know Holly Pulido and Eric Hightower. Their enthusiasm and radiant smiles are hard to miss, but that isn’t everything they have to offer. Share some laughs and grab a takeaway or two as Holly and Eric dive into the challenges and obstacles that come with career changes and how to navigate moving to a new law firm.

Chris Sims and Chrissie Eastin (shoutout to Chrissie for being our fill-in for Tina Terrian) share their thoughts on law firm strategy and the change that has come to the industry due to the pandemic. From recruiting hurdles, getting your house in order, to finding the spotlight, Chris and Chrissie give us a lot to think about.

The Susan L. French Emerging Leader Fellowship Fund was established by GLJ Benefit Consultants in memory of former ALA President Susan L. French. In 2019, Jess Beyer and Emily Spehar were bestowed the honor of the Fellowship and for the last two years, have had the privilege of experiencing the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Join co-hosts Rob Joyner and Amanda Koplos as they sit down behind the mic with Jess and Emily and get a first-hand look at what the Fellowship meant to them and how their career trajectory changed. 

Over the course of season 1, we began amassing a donation to present to The Foundation of The Association of Legal Administrators. For every subscriber, we pledged to donate $10! Well, season 1 has come to an end and we have a big number to announce!

What better place to wrap up season 1 than at ALA’s 2021 Annual Conference & Expo. From behind-the-scenes interviews with some of the series favorite guests to the announcement of a big donation to the Foundation of the ALA, co-hosts Rob Joyner and Amanda Koplos sure know how to make a splash!

If we asked you right now who your mentor is, would you be able to give us an answer? Would you without a shadow of a doubt be able to name a person who has not only inspired you but has personally had a hand in your professional success? Statistically, not many people claim to have a mentor, so if you don’t, that’s okay you’re not alone. But in this final episode of our inaugural season, we interview Amanda Koplos’s lifelong mentor, Winston Williams (Partner at CWP Entertainment Management), and discover why having a mentor is not only crucial but may also determine your success in life.

What’s the difference between passion and perseverance? Passion only takes you so far and perseverance takes you the rest of the way. Take Jenna Carter (Director of Administration for K&L Gates, LLP, Washington, D.C.) and Chassidy Deckard (Director of Administration for the Texas region of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP) for example. Their perseverance has gotten them to where they are today and through the adversity of a high-pressure job, to overcoming the obstacles and blazing their own trail, these two powerhouse women show us what it looks like when the rubber truly meets the road.

Which question would you rather have the answer to – where do you find the best firm administrators or how do you gain loyalty from a large group of people? Fortunately, you don’t actually have to choose because Katya Adams (Office Manager, The Watkins Firm, APC) and Gail Fredrickson (Firm Administrator, Rossway Swan) give us answers to both. Pull up a chair because we dive into a whole host of other questions too and you won’t want to miss what they have to say.

What would you do if, 48 hours before the most important event of the year, someone asked you to fill in for the keynote speaker? Would you pass up the opportunity or would you make it to the stage and give the best speech of your life? What if, after 20 years at a small firm, you made a leap and moved to a large firm? Would you be ready for the challenges that came with that transition? What about getting buy-in from attorneys and partners? How do you sell yourself in a way that gets you what you need? Take it from us, we can’t answer those questions, but Judy Hissong (President, Nesso Strategies) and April Campbell (Executive Director, Association of Legal Administrators) can. They take on the mic and bring us the wisdom we never knew we needed.

What would you do if, 48 hours before the most important event of the year, someone asked you to fill in for the keynote speaker? Would you pass up the opportunity or would you make it to the stage and give the best speech of your life? What if, after 20 years at a small firm, you made a leap and moved to a large firm? Would you be ready for the challenges that came with that transition? What about getting buy-in from attorneys and partners? How do you sell yourself in a way that gets you what you need? Take it from us, we can’t answer those questions, but Judy Hissong (President, Nesso Strategies) and April Campbell (Executive Director, Association of Legal Administrators) can. They take on the mic and bring us the wisdom we never knew we needed.

Buckle your seatbelts, because there is a lot to unpack in this episode! Holly Pulido (Chief Operating Officer at Slack Davis Sanger LLP) and Eric Hightower, CLM SPHR (Director of Operations at Wright, Constable & Skeen, L.L.P.) take us through a jam-packed, 60-minutes’ worth of award-worthy entertainment. From uncovering the real myth behind the legal management profession and navigating mergers and acquisitions, to learning how to prioritize an onslaught of requests, this episode will remind you why you do what you do. And, as a bonus, you’ll also discover what really happens when the light bulb during a Kmart blue light special goes out… Take it from us, if the hosts of our show suddenly become Holly and Eric, you’ll know why!

Finding the love of your life is rare. It isn’t something you can search for or pull out of thin air, and sometimes, people go through their entire lives without it. But that wasn’t the case for Mark Bridgeman (HR Manager, Shuffield, Lowman & Wilson, P.A.). From the Navy to Chief Legal Records Manager to three ALA chapter leadership positions, Mark has seen it all. But what he didn’t see coming was Steven Wingert. From a love born out of a Starbucks line to defying the odds, and navigating pancreatic cancer, Mark takes us through a love story that continues to live on through their children, grandchildren, and Steven’s leadership legacy. It will be remembered as the deepest and purest form of love, partnership, and hope.

This episode is dedicated to and in loving memory of Steven Wingert, CLM, PhD. (FEBRUARY 7, 1960 – MARCH 18, 2019)

Michael Bumgarner (President of ALA) and Debbie Elsbury (former President of ALA) join the show to discuss everything from the hurdles that come with huge career transitions to the power of titles within a firm. They also discuss how one can progress into leadership within ALA.

In the legal community, it’s easy to feel like the dumbest person in the room because let’s face it, you’re surrounded by so many great minds and imposter syndrome is real. But both Debbie and Mike have some tips on how to overcome this. And if that wasn’t enough to pique your interest, they also have a haunted house story!