06/08/2017

Ohio State Bar Foundation Inducts 40 New Members

The OSBF is the philanthropic arm of the Ohio State Bar Association

The Ohio State Bar Foundation (OSBF) inducted 40 attorneys into the Fellows program at the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center on June 6. Supreme Court of Ohio Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor and OSBF President Andrew C. Storar presided over the ceremony and reception.

The OSBF is the philanthropic arm of the Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA) and promotes the pursuit of justice and the public understanding of the rule of law. By extending membership to those lawyers, magistrates and judges who are committed to these ideals, OSBF enlists their talents to further its mission. A new class of civic-minded lawyers are inducted annually and these Fellows volunteer their time to organizations across the state that profoundly impact our communities.

Interested lawyers must be nominated by a peer or self-nominate themselves for the program. Each candidate is reviewed by a committee before committing their time to outreach programs and pledging financial support to fuel the OSBF’s statewide grantmaking program. OSBF President Storar noted in his address to the new class that the Foundation granted more than $768,000 in 2016 to 22 law-related organizations and donated more than 356 hours of their time. He challenged this class to “not only match their kindness and generosity, but to exceed it.” 

Michael D. Bonasera, of Columbus, is Of Counsel with Dinsmore & Shohl LLP. He is an alumnus of Capital University Law School, a Columbus Bar Association Board of Governors member, board member of Local Matters and incoming President for the Ohio Association of Justice. Bonasera is on Ohio’s Rising Stars® list and the Columbus CEO Magazine Top Lawyers list. His professional memberships include the Ohio State Bar Association and the American Bar Association. 

Helen S. Carroll, of Akron, is a partner at Roetzel & Andress, focusing her practice on representing school districts throughout Ohio. She received recognition as “Lawyer of the Year in Education Law” (2017) by The Best Lawyers in America© and has been named a Fellow of the Akron Bar Foundation (2016). Professional organizations include the American Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association, the Akron Bar Association and the Cleveland Bar Association.

Nicole DiCuccio, of Columbus, serves as Mediation Counsel for the Supreme Court of Ohio. DiCuccio has developed dispute resolution programs used throughout Ohio. She has also authored articles and facilitated trainings to promote effective mediation rules and standards. She is a member of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, the Ohio Association of Court Administrators and the Ohio Medication Association.

Patrick K. Dunphy, of Dayton, is a member of Falke & Dunphy, LLC and practices in the areas of personal injury, civil litigation, probate, wills and trusts. He is an alumnus of St. Michael’s College in VT and received his J.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Law. Dunphy, a former prosecutor, has tried cases across the state and has appeared on behalf of clients in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio in Dayton, Cincinnati and Columbus. He is a member of the Dayton Bar Association and the Ohio State Bar Association.

Susan L. Durr, of Cuyahoga Falls, is a solo practitioner and a graduate of the University of Akron Law School. As a member of the Akron Bar Association, Durr presently chairs the Professionalism Committee and is a member of the Finance Committee. Durr previously served on the Board of Trustees at the Akron Bar Association and speaks at continuing legal education programs on estate planning. She is also a member of the Ohio State Bar Association.

Kylie Ehrhart, of Bucyrus, is an alumna of University of Toledo College of Law and is presently active in the Bucyrus Elks Lodge #156 (past Treasurer and board member) and in the Crawford County Young Professionals. Her professional organizations include the Crawford County Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association and the American Bar Association.

Richard Emens, of Columbus, partners with his wife in the firm Emens and Wolper Co., LPA. He has served as Trustee and President of the Energy and Mineral Law Foundation, Chair of the Ohio Bar Association Oil and Gas Committee, Trustee of the Ohio Oil and Gas Association, attorney member of the Ohio Oil and Gas Commission and as an author of Ohio’s Oil and Gas Conservation Law. Emens is also Executive Director and Chair of the Advisory Board of the Conway Family Business Center of Central Ohio. He is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association and the Michigan Bar Association.

Rep. Keith L. Faber, of Celina, is the principal partner at Faber & Associates specializing in civil litigation and mediation. As a longtime legislator, he presently serves the 84th District in the Ohio House of Representatives. He has been named Outstanding Legislator of the Year by the United Conservatives of Ohio, and is two-time recipient of the Ronald Regan Excellence in Government Award.

Mark W. Fowler, of Delaware, is an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for the Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office. He received the Ohio State Bar Foundation’s 2017 District Five Community Service Award for Attorneys 40 & Under. He is a member of the Delaware County Republican Party, the Delaware County Bar and the Ohio State Bar Association.

Benjamin Franz, of Findlay, is in-house counsel for Marathon Petroleum Co., where he provides environmental legal support. He serves as Vice-Chair of the Ohio State Bar Association Environmental Law Committee and on the Board of Governors. He is also active in the Findlay-Hancock Bar Association.

Bradley N. Frick, of Columbus, concentrates on family law, sports law and broadcast representation at Bradley Frick & Associates. Frick is the former Chairman of the Board of the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO) and has been asked to speak at a number of organizations on family law and ethics including the Ohio Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and Ohio Legal Institute among others. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association, the Columbus Bar Association and the Central Ohio Attorneys for Justice.

Mag. Shelly Harsha, of Circleville, serves as a Magistrate for the Pickaway County Court of Common Pleas, General Division, Juvenile and Probate Court. She is past President of the Pickaway County Bar Association, member of the Ohio Association of Magistrates and member of the Ohio State Bar Association.

Jeffrey Heck, of Mansfield, practices civil litigation in both state and federal courts as Principal at The Heck Law Offices, Ltd. Heck is an alumnus of The Ohio State University and received his J.D. from the University of Florida College of Law and has served several terms as the Secretary of the Richland County Bar Association, and as the Litigation Chair of its Certified Grievance Committee. Heck’s civic commitments include his membership on the Lexington Local Schools Board of Education and the University Club Educational Foundation. His professional organizations include the Ohio State Bar Association and the Ohio Association for Justice.

Thomas J. Intili, of Dayton, is a founding member of Intili & Groves Co. LPA with extensive experience in personal injury and medical malpractice. He is a mentor of young attorneys, a member of the Carl D. Kessler Inn of Court and a volunteer for the Greater Dayton Lawyers Project. He is a frequent lecturer for the Ohio State Bar Association on topics pertaining to trial techniques and tactics and serves on numerous committees for the American Bar Association and the Dayton Bar Association.

Lori Keating, of Galloway, is the Ohio State Bar Foundation’s Executive Director after having served as secretary to the Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on Professionalism, which included the nationally recognized Lawyer to Lawyer Mentoring Program. Keating received her undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame and attended law school at Washington and Lee University. Keating is also a faculty member of the Ohio Judicial College and a member of the National Legal Mentoring Consortium. She is a member of the American Bar Association and served by presidential appointment on the ABA’s Committee on Professionalism. Keating is also on the board of Women Lawyers of Franklin County and is an active member of the Ohio State Bar Association, serving by appointment on its Women in the Profession Section Council. Keating is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and teaches children’s liturgy at St. Simon & Jude Church in West Jefferson, Ohio.

Suzanne K. Ketler, of Akron, is a partner at Roetzel & Andress where she serves as trademark and intellectual property counsel. Ketler was a member of the Athena Powerlink Advisory Board in 2011 as well as program administrator in 2016. She is a member of Women’s Network (membership and scholarship committees) and is a co-facilitator for the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce KNOW on the Go. Her professional affiliations include the Ohio State Bar Association, the Ohio Women’s Bar Association, the Akron Bar Association, the Cleveland Intellectual Property Law Association and the International Trademark Association.

Gus J. Lazares, of Mason, is a trial attorney with the firm Haughey & Niehaus, LLC. An alumnus of Miami University, he now teaches at his alma mater as an adjunct professor at Miami University, teaching Legal Environment of Business and Mock Trail Practicum. He also coaches the Mock Tail team. He is both a member and volunteer of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association. He is also a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, the Cincinnati Bar Association and the Butler County Bar Association.

Sarah A. Lodge, of Columbus, is a graduate of Capital University Law School and a plaintiff attorney for clients with personal injury and malpractice claims in the law firm of Lamkin, Van Eman, Trimble & Dougherty. She volunteers her time at Nationwide Children’s Hospital as a member of the Hearing Parent Advisory Board, Family Advisory Council (education committee member) and as a Connecting Family mentor.

Thomas C. Loepp, of Stow, is a solo practitioner at Thomas C. Loepp Law Office, Co. LPA. He volunteers his time as a presenter with the Akron Bar Association, the Area Agency on Aging, the Akron Area Board of Realtors and the Summit County Juvenile Court. He is also a member of the Stow-Monroe Falls Rotary Club, the Stow-Monroe Falls Chamber of Commerce, the Akron Bar Association and the Ohio State Bar Association.

Margaret A. Matejkovic, of Richfield, practices labor and employment law in her firm, Matejkovic Law LLC. She’s currently serving as the President of the Akron Bar Association and past President of the University of Akron Law School Alumni Association. Matejkovic has also served on non-profit boards including the American Heart Association. Matejkovic is an adjunct professor at the University of Akron School of Law as well as a prolific writer of academic articles. Her professional memberships include the Ohio State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Society for Human Resources Management, and the Association of Workplace Investigators.

Stephen M. McHugh, of Dayton, represents local governments in real estate and zoning matters at Coolidge Wall LPA. He is actively involved in the community as the Treasurer for Premier Community Health Partners, the largest health network in the metropolitan Dayton area. He is also Law Director for the cities of Beavercreek, Oxford and Trotwood and has been named an Ohio Super Lawyer. His professional organizations include the Dayton Bar Association and the Ohio State Bar Association.

Hon. Denise L. Moody, of Springfield, serves as judge in the Clark County Municipal Court. She serves on the Supreme Court Board of Commissioners of Character and Fitness, the Supreme Court of Advisory Committee on Language Services, the Ohio State Bar Association Board of Governors, trustee of Clark County Law Library Board and is a past Vice President of the Clark County Bar Association.

Erin B. Moore, of Dayton, is a civil litigator in a wide variety of practice areas including insurance, government liability and personal injury with Green & Green, Lawyers. She serves as the Chairperson of the Sugarcreek Township Board of Zoning Appeals and teaches trial practice and dispute resolution at the University of Dayton College of Law. She is a member of the Dayton and Ohio State Bar Associations, the Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys, the Defense Research Institute, the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance and is a Master of the Carl D. Kessler Inn of Court.

Marta A. Mudri, of Columbus, serves as legislative counsel for the Ohio Judicial Conference. Mudri volunteers her time at the Ukrainian Museum Archives in Cleveland, at the Central Ohio Ukrainian Cultural Association and with Community Plates and Local Matters, both organizations dedicated to food distribution. Mudri is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association.

Douglas M. Oldham, of Columbus, is an employment attorney at Barnes & Thornburg, LLP. After graduating from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, Oldham was admitted to practice in both Illinois and Ohio and is also known for co-founding the Columbus Craft Beer Alliance, a non-profit dedicated to advancing the interests of small businesses in the Columbus area. Oldham is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association.

Tina L. Owens-Ruff, of Marysville, is a partner at Allen, Yurasek, Merklin & Owens-Ruff.  She serves on the board member for the YWCA in Marysville and is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association. Owens-Ruff is past President of the Union County Bar Association and is active in the Supreme Court of Ohio Lawyer to Lawyer Mentoring program.

Gregory S. Page, of Dayton, provides legal services as a solo practitioner at Gregory S. Page Co., LPA. Page is a graduate of the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Dayton program, a member of the Springboro Rotary Club and a member of the Legal Action Network for Development Strategies. His professional memberships include the Kentucky Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association, the Dayton Bar Association and the American Bar Association Forum on the Construction Industry.

John K. Rinehardt, of Mansfield, is a personal injury lawyer at Rinehardt Law Firm and is National Board of Trial Advocacy certified. He is actively involved with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the Richland County Humane Society, Big Brothers Big Sisters and many more. His professional affiliations include the Richland County Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association, the Ohio and American Associations for Justice and the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

Paul B. Roderer, of Dayton, is a second-generation lawyer in the firm Roderer Law Office, LLC. As a community member, Roderer has spent extensive time as a volunteer in the Dayton Lawyers Project and as a board member for the local charity, Angels for Anna, Inc. He serves as President of the Dayton Bar Foundation and past President of the Dayton Bar Association. Roderer is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association.

John M. Ruffolo, of Dayton, is a general practitioner at Ruffolo, Stone & Stone. He is involved with the Miami Valley Youth Soccer Association (President and board member) and the Ohio South Youth Soccer Association (board member and appeals Chairperson). He is also involved in the Dayton Bar Foundation and the serves a Bar Counsel and the Grievance Committee Chair at the Dayton Bar Association. Ruffolo is also a member of the Ohio State Bar Association.

Maria R. Schimer, of Rootstown, is General Counsel for the Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), a registered nurse, an Associate Professor of Family and Community Medicine and a member of the graduate faculty at NEOMED. Because of her interest in patients’ rights, Schimer is a volunteer guardian for people with disabilities and does pro bono representation for people facing medical challenges. Schimer is an alumna of the University of Akron C. Blake McDowell School of Law. Her professional involvement includes the Akron Bar Association, American Bar Association, Ohio State Bar Association, the National Association of Colleges and University Attorneys and the National Health Lawyers Association.

Alfred E. Schrader, of Akron, is a solo practitioner at Alfred E. Schrader, LLC. Schrader has served for more than 28 years as a Springfield Township Board of Trustees and for two years as a Summit County Council person. He has also served on the Sturgeon Point Condominium Board and the Springfield Township Veterans Memorial Committee. As a member of the Akron Bar Association Board of Trustees, he has served on numerous committees as well as on the Scanlon Bell Inn of Court. His professional memberships include the Ohio State Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Ohio Association for Justice.

Edward L. Shank, of Dayton, practices estate planning at Bieser, Greer & Landis, LLP.  Listed in Best Lawyers of America for more than twenty years, Shank is a member of the Dayton Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association and the American Bar Association.

Edward M. Smith, of Dayton, is a certified specialist in estate planning, trust and probate law and practices at Nolan, Sprowl & Smith. As a community member, Smith volunteers his guardianship services for Life Essentials, is a participant in the Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Dayton Bar Association and its “Wills for Heroes" program. He was honored to serve as a Captain in the United States Air Force, Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps and has served as Chair to a number of committees including the OSBA’s Legal Ethics and Professional Conduct Committee. His professional memberships include the Dayton Bar Association and the Ohio State Bar Association. 

Joshua J. Strickland, of Painesville, is an associate with the law firm of Dworken & Berstein focusing primarily on business transactional law and commercial real estate. He is President of the Board of Trustees for the Lake County Historical Society and is chapter officer for the AmSpirit Business Connections.  He recently received the Ohio State Bar Foundation District 18 Community Service Award for Attorneys 40 & Under and was recognized as a Super Lawyers Ohio Rising Star for 2017. He is a member of the Lake County Bar Association and the Ohio State Bar Association.

Hon. Linda Tucci Teodosio, of Akron, serves as judge for the Summit County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division and has received national recognition for her introduction of the Crossroads Program, 2016 OSBF Outstanding Program Award winner, a specialized docket for youth with co-occurring mental illness and/or substance dependence. Because of her efforts with Crossroads, she has received a fellowship at the Georgetown University Public Policy Institute’s Center for Juvenile Justice Reform, an appointment by The MacArthur Foundation to the Collaborative for Change Steering Committee, a membership on Columbia University’s National Advisory Commission on Substance Abuse at America’s High Schools and an invitation to serve on the Coalition for Juvenile Justice’s Project SOS Judges Leadership Group. Teodosio is an alumna of the University of Akron Law School. Her professional memberships include membership in the American Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association, the Akron Bar Association and the American Judges Association.

Lee A. Thompson, of Lancaster, primarily focuses on family law as a solo practitioner at the Law Office of Lee. A. Thompson. Since 1987, Thompson volunteers his time with the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Walk, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Fairfield County Pro Bono Legal Clinic and serves on numerous public and civic boards. Thompson received his undergraduate degree from Kent State University and his J.D. from the University of Akron Law School. He is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association and Fairfield County Bar Association.

Melissa M. Tuttle, of Springfield, serves as Clerk for the Clark County Common Pleas Court.  As a lifelong resident of Clark County, she is a member of the Rotary, The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, The Springfield Arts Council Board, Springfield Landmarks Commission, a graduate of Leadership Clark County (now serving on its board). She is also a member of the Ohio State Bar Association and serves as secretary of the Clark County Bar Association. Tuttle received her J.D. from Capital University School of Law.

Yukiko. V. Yee, of Columbus, is a Senior Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the Ohio Attorney General. Yee works with bar associations to expand opportunities for female and minority attorneys in government. In the Ohio Women’s Bar Association (OWBA), she is Founder and Principal Chair of the OWBA’s Government Subcommittee that provides a platform for attorneys and an annual networking event “Honoring Women in Government.” The committee also sponsors outreach programs to law students and the greater legal community with an “Inspiring Leaders in Government” annual luncheon and other charitable events that connect the three groups. Yee was selected as the OWBA’s President’s Choice Awardee in 2016 and is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association. She received her J.D. from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.

Robin G. Weaver, of Cleveland, is a senior partner at Squire Patton Boggs focusing his work on commercial, environmental and product liability law. He is an alumnus of the University of Michigan where he received his J.D. Weaver has held many leadership positions including being elected as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the Internal Society of Barristers, Commissioner and Chair of the Supreme Court of Ohio Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline and foreperson for the Cuyahoga County Grand Jury. He has also served on the Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA) Board of Governors and now serves as the 2017-2018 OSBA president-elect. Weaver served as past President of the Cleveland Bar Association and is a member of the American Bar Association.