Racunas takes over as ACBA President
By Tracy Carbasho
For The Lawyers Journal
Serving as president of the ACBA is a natural progression for Robert Racunas, a
man whose leadership skills and positive personality are known throughout the
Commonwealth.
"Bob is dedicated to the Pittsburgh legal community. Service as the ACBA
President is a natural next step given his extensive involvement in bar
association activities both locally and with the Pennsylvania Bar Association,"
said Ken Argentieri, a partner at Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham and
past board president of the Neighborhood Legal Services Association. "I believe
he is so involved because of his interest in the legal system and his
willingness to try to make a difference."
Racunas, who has served as executive director of NLSA for the past 25 years,
added president of the ACBA to his repertoire of accomplishments on July 1.
Meanwhile, Jim Carroll has wrapped up his term as president.
"Bob's experience at NLSA is different than the experiences of most of our past
ACBA Presidents," said Argentieri. "He is not from private practice or the
government, yet he has led what is essentially a large law firm for many years.
His organizational skills in running NLSA will allow him to offer many
suggestions to the ACBA. His leadership skills and experience with the NLSA
board will assist him in leading the ACBA."
The 58-year-old Racunas will continue to serve as executive director of the
NLSA while he serves as ACBA President. He said he feels fortunate that the
NLSA has Phyllis Stevens serving as assistant director and attorneys like Pam
Dalton Arlotti and Michelle DeBord, both of whom have experience as directors
of legal services programs.
The senior management staff and NLSA Board President Mark Nowak have offered
their support and cooperation.
Nowak, a partner at Thorp Reed & Armstrong, met Racunas more than a decade ago
when he began serving on the NLSA board.
"He has managed NLSA quite well for many years, even during difficult financial
times. He has dealt with every issue imaginable," said Nowak. "He has certainly
given a lot back to the community and elevated the practice of law by
dedicating so much of his life to representing disadvantaged people."
Racunas said the NLSA has continued to provide high-quality legal assistance,
despite drastic reductions in government support. The average experience of an
attorney working at the association is more than 15 years.
During his tenure, the NLSA has increased its focus on issues impacting abused
women and the elderly. The attorneys have also aggressively advocated for
clients and won cases after presenting oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme
Court.
The NLSA has also been proactive in creating pro bono programs, such as the
Lawyers on Loan project, to make services accessible to more individuals.
Long-range strategic plans are in place to help the association effectively
provide quality services with less funding.
"My position at the NLSA is, in essence, that of a managing partner because I
manage lawyers, paralegals and secretaries in a four-county program," said
Racunas. "I am also responsible for managing the program's annual budget and I
understand the role of a board of director since I have been an employee of a
board that has 39 members, 24 of whom are attorneys."
Racunas said his responsibilities as executive director and his experience
working on several committees of the bar association will prove to be valuable
assets in his role as president.
"Having served as a member of the ACBA board and as president-elect, I know who
to turn to when issues arise. I was always of the belief that a good leader
must know how to follow."
Maria Danaher, a director at Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote who also serves as
secretary of the NLSA Board of Directors, said Racunas represents a valuable
combination of a good lawyer, good person and good manager.
"He is forward thinking enough to be a leader, but practical enough to
understand when not to push too hard," she said. "I'm sure that some of that is
his nature and a large part of it has come from his experience at NLSA. He will
be able to add to the constructive progress made this year by Jim Carroll, who
is also very well thought of and a good lawyer."
Racunas said he is succeeding many outstanding ACBA Presidents, including
Carroll, Art Stroyd and Fred Egler as the most recent, as well as others before
them.
"I will strive to do things like they did rather than trying to do things in a
dramatically different way. Why argue with success? We have an excellent
executive director in David Blaner and he has assembled a great staff. Each
member of our board of governors was elected by the membership. I look forward
to working with them and the president-elect, Judge Kim Clark."
Racunas has outlined specific goals that he would like to focus on as
president, emphasizing that long-term objectives must be carried through from
year to year as the presidency changes hands. He said the bar leadership
structure of having a president-elect, president and immediate past president
is essential to providing a smooth transition without losing momentum on
projects, such as the diversity initiative.
In particular, he would like to garner additional legislative support for the
legal profession, increase the pro bono involvement of the bar association,
increase awareness about the work of the ACBA's sections and divisions and get
the word out about what the association offers its members.
"We will reintroduce and host an annual meeting with the ACBA Board of
Governors and our legislators on the city, county, state and federal levels,"
said Racunas. "We have also begun to examine our political contributions to
support our profession in regard to legislation affecting us. During the next
year, this will be a priority."
Racunas has been a member of the ACBA since he graduated from the University of
Pittsburgh School of Law in 1971. He has actually worked at the NLSA in five
different decades, having been hired as a college intern by Judge R. Stanton
Wettick while he was attending law school.
After receiving his law degree, he was hired as a staff attorney assigned to
NLSA's McKeesport office. He was named managing attorney in 1974, deputy
program director in 1976 and executive director in 1980. He will mark the 25th
anniversary of his leadership as executive director on July 21.
Looking back over his career, Racunas said there are three things for which he
is the most proud. His biggest professional accomplishment has been his long
tenure as NLSA's executive director. Being an adjunct professor at Duquesne
University School of Law for 20 years ranks high on the list, as well.
"It was also a thrill to receive a University of Pittsburgh Letterman of
Distinction Award at halftime at the 2000 Pitt v. Penn State football game-the
last time they played," he said.
Racunas will continue to serve as the single project director of the
Pennsylvania Legal Services Board and as the only attorney from Western
Pennsylvania to be a board member for the Regional Housing Legal Services.
"I do not intend to resign from the two boards or to become less active in my
community or with my family. I believe that a balance in life is important. I
have always been very well organized and able to set priorities. With the
technology we have today, you can be in two places at one time. I will
certainly rely upon those skills this year."
Racunas and his wife of 36 years, Karen, have two sons who are attorneys. Rob
is a patent attorney and Matthew is a civil litigation attorney. Rob's wife Amy
is a public interest attorney, while Matthew's wife Amber is an assistant
district attorney. n