Oct. 6, 2023

President’s Message By Marla N. Presley

For this edition’s President’s Message, I want to introduce you to the leaders of our Association’s incredible Divisions. Interviewing Tara, Gabbi, and Amber not only brought on uncontrollable fits of laughter (in between Tara’s inability to give only one answer, Amber’s creepy clown pictures, and Gabbi’s rendition of Beat It!) it highlighted for me how amazing our leaders are and how important it is for our members to get to know one another better. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Tara Sease
Position: Chair of the Young Lawyers Division
Firm/practice area: Family lawyer, Adamczyk Law Office
Law school: Western Michigan
Your neighborhood: Mt. Washington
Favorite division event: Children’s Gift Drive
Favorite restaurant: Alla Famiglia, La Tavola, Rico’s
Best way to get involved in your division: Just show up! If it’s a step outside of your comfort zone, just say yes!
Favorite quote: If it costs to be the boss, guess I gotta pay.
Your hobbies: Volunteering for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Obsessing over Soprano.
Your karaoke song: Baby Got Back
One thing we don’t know about you: I was a running back and wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Passion.
How did you get involved in the ACBA: Judge Bubash told me that I needed to make friends who were my own age.
I’m coming to your house for dinner, what are you making me: Homemade pasta with an Alfredo sauce
Goal for your division: To give back to members everything that they have put in
If you could be any character, who would it be: Kelly Kapowski
How many unread text messages do you have right now: 21
One division member we need to know: Tom Cocchi – the co-chair of the YLD Education Committee

Amber Archer
Position: Chair of the Women in the Law Division
Firm/practice area: Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman
Law school: Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University
Your neighborhood: Gibsonia
Favorite division event: Our monthly meetings!
Favorite restaurant: Springfield Grille
Best way to get involved in your division: Come to a meeting, you won’t regret it. And we’ll feed you Moe’s!
Favorite quote: I want you to want me.
Your hobbies: In my spare time, I seek out Haunted Houses!
Your karaoke song: Something by the Backstreet Boys…Everybodddddy!
One thing we don’t know about you: I have a picture of my husband and dogs dressed as clowns above my fireplace.
How did you get involved in the ACBA: Carol McCarthy – She’s the reason I’m here.
I’m coming to your house for dinner, what are you making me: Beef Bourguignon
Goal for your division: My goal is to make people feel like they belong. I want them to want to come back.
If you could be any character, who would it be: Mulan
How many unread text messages do you have right now: 15
One division member we need to know: Sarah Simpkin

Gabrielle Lee
Position: Chair of the Homer S. Brown Division
Firm/practice area: Criminal law, Federal Public Defenders Office
Law school: University of Pittsburgh
Your neighborhood: Greenfield
Favorite division event: MLK Prayer Breakfast because it involves ACBA members and members of the community
Favorite restaurant: Noodlehead
Best way to get involved in your division: Show up to a meeting!
Favorite quote: “One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn’t pay to get discouraged. Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself.” – Lucille Ball
Your hobbies: All things outdoors – hiking, swimming, dogs.
Your karaoke song: Anything by Michael Jackson
One thing we don’t know about you: If I were not a lawyer, I would be doing construction. No, seriously!
How did you get involved in the ACBA: Ron Jones voluntold me
I’m coming to your house for dinner, what are you making me: Some form of pasta because it’s a safe bet
Goal for your division: To increase active membership and increase interest in HSBD leadership positions
If you could be any character, who would it be: Nala from the Lion King
How many unread text messages do you have right now: 2
One division member we need to know: Taylor Mosley