Category: Business News

Lisa D’Souza, Staff Attorney for the new Honorable Richard B. Teitelman Chair at Legal Services of Eastern Missouri

Lisa D’Souza has been selected to serve as the staff attorney for the new Honorable Richard B. Teitelman Chair at Legal Services of Eastern Missouri. The Teitelman Chair is an endowed position named for the late Missouri Supreme Court Judge Richard Teitelman who also served for 18 years as Executive Director for Legal Services. The named position will focus on legal advocacy that addresses systemic issues affecting low-income families in Legal Services’ 21-county service region.

“Lisa is uniquely qualified for this position. A graduate of Harvard Law School, Lisa has broad experience as a public interest lawyer,” stated Dan Glazier, Executive Director and General Counsel for Legal Services of Eastern Missouri.

D’Souza’s 22-year career includes working with Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid serving migrant farmworkers, the Tennessee Justice Center advocating for health care for low-income clients and, most recently, serving as a staff attorney to the Eighth Circuit U. S. Court of Appeals.

A native St. Louisan, Lisa attended high school in Texas and received her undergraduate degree in Philosophy from Texas A & M.  Lisa and her family returned to St. Louis in 2013.

About Legal Services of Eastern Missouri: Legal Services of Eastern Missouri has provided free civil legal help for low-income families for 62 years. In 2017 nearly 26,000 people in 21 counties of eastern Missouri received services from four regional offices. For more information, please visit www.lsem.org.

Judge Richard B. Teitelman was nationally recognized as a champion for justice for underserved and marginalized members of society. He was also a leader of the civil rights efforts and served as the Executive Director and General Counsel of Legal Services of Eastern Missouri for 18 years before being appointed to the Missouri Supreme Court, where he served as Chief Justice from 2011 through 2013. Among other things, Judge Teitelman was a trailblazer as the first legally-blind judge in Missouri and the first Jewish member of the Missouri Supreme Court. 

Judge Teitelman died suddenly in November 2016. Following his death, members of the legal community began an effort to establish an attorney position “Chair” at Legal Services to continue Judge Teitelman’s work in championing causes for the poor and disadvantaged who are often denied access to the legal process and justice. 

In that spirit, the Teitelman Chair helps Legal Services to further address the systemic issues and the underlying causes, policies and practices that create barriers to equal opportunities in education, housing, employment, health care and other basic civil rights for individuals who are marginalized by lack of resources, race, disability, or other circumstances.

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri was notified in late December 2017 that an anonymous donor was offering a 4-to-1 match for all donations made to support the Teitelman Chair. This funding, along with the matching funds, generated more than $1.25 million in donations to endow the Teitelman Fund to support the Teitelman Chair position.

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri has recently hired three new staff members to provide legal assistance to low-income clients in eastern Missouri.

Robert Hollers has joined the Hannibal Office as an attorney. Hollers was a volunteer with Land of Lincoln Legal Aid and an Equal Justice Works Rural Summer Legal Intern with the Hannibal Office in 2016. He is a graduate of Southern Illinois University School of Law, with a J.D. and a Masters in Human Resources Management.

Laura Silverberg has joined the the Legal Advocates for Adults with Mental Illness Program as its Social Worker. Silverberg is a 2017 graduate of Washington University’s Brown School with a Master of Social Work (MSW). She is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) pursuing her clinical licensure.

Amanda Williams has joined the Immigration Law Program as an attorney. Williams received her J.D. from the Roger Williams University School of Law in Bristol, RI. She was previously an attorney with the Immigration Project of Illinois, representing immigrant survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking.

About Legal Services of Eastern Missouri: Legal Services of Eastern Missouri has provided free civil legal help for low-income families for 62 years. In 2017 nearly 26,000 people in

21 counties of eastern Missouri received services from four regional offices. For more information, please visit www.lsem.org.

Fyndus, a St. Louis-based, global e-Commerce company, was selected as one of Small Business Monthly’s 2018 “Future 50” companies, an award recognizing privately held companies that are key economic indicators for business growth throughout the St. Louis region.

“This is an honor to be selected as one of the Future 50 award recipients. We are thrilled to be included with this amazing group of companies. Given the caliber of the Future 50 companies, St. Louis has a bright future,” said Affan Waheed, Fyndus CEO and Founder.

Founded in 2016, Fyndus has experienced year-over-year revenue growth with plans to expand into Europe, the Middle East, and Pacific Rim over the next 12 months. Currently, Fyndus is operational in six countries, has close to 300,000 users, and has an active presence in nine countries on four continents.

To read Waheed’s Small Business Monthly “Future 50”profile along with the other 2018 award recipients, please click here. Waheed’s profile is on page 23.

“What started as an idea to offer the best prices on overstock merchandise with free shipping in developing countries has exponentially grown into an international company where we’ve evolved into an e-commerce platform that helps market local businesses among Fyndus app users with discounts on retail, dining and events, while continuing to expand our e-commerce offerings to provide the best user experience,” said Affan Waheed, Fyndus CEO and founder.

Contact:

Ann Marie Mayuga, AMM Communications

314.485.9499, annmarie@ammcommunications.com

About Fyndus

Founded in 2016, Fyndus, LLC, is the global leader that changes the consumer retail shopping experience with brick and mortar, and e-commerce using an app to find the best deals in merchandise, service and local dining. Fyndus is different from other e-commerce platforms because it rewards buying behavior patterns, provides savings to buyers by eliminating the middleman, and offers merchants and service providers the tools to better manage the consumer buying experience. With headquarters based in St. Louis, Missouri and offices located internationally throughout Europe and the Middle East, Fyndus is changing the way people shop globally, save money, and help local businesses thrive. Fyndus…Discover. Shop. Save! To learn more, please visithttps://Fyndus.com.

Peter Hoffman, Staff Attorney for the Neighborhood Vacancy Initiative

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri has recently hired three new staff members for the Community Economic Development Program.

Peter Hoffman and Melissa Slator will staff the newly formed Neighborhood Vacancy Initiative to assist neighborhood associations and community nonprofits in addressing the problem of vacant and abandoned housing in the City of St. Louis.

Hoffman is staff attorney for the Neighborhood Vacancy Initiative. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Law School with a J.D. and a Master’s degree in Public Administration. Prior to joining Legal Services, he was Director of the “Adopt-a-Neighborhood” Project at Legal Aid of Western Missouri.

Melissa Slator, Paralegal and Community Outreach Specialist for the Neighborhood Vacancy Initiative

Slator is the Paralegal and Community Outreach Specialist for the Neighborhood Vacancy Initiative. She has more than thirty years of experience as a paralegal and was a paralegal with the Volunteer Lawyers Program at Legal Services prior to this role.

Marlene Elliott, Attorney with the Community Economic Development – Microenterprise Program

Marlene Elliott has joined Legal Services as an attorney with the Community Economic Development – Microenterprise Program. Elliott is a 2005 graduate of Drake University School of Law and in this role will be providing legal assistance for nonprofits and low-income entrepreneurs to start and grow their organizations and businesses.

About Legal Services of Eastern Missouri: Legal Services of Eastern Missouri has provided free civil legal help for low-income families for 62 years. In 2017 nearly 26,000 people in

21 counties of eastern Missouri received services from four regional offices. For more information, please visit www.lsem.org.

Awardee’s Left to right
Back Row: Alderman Terry Kennedy; Julie Berkowitz; Thomas G. Glick; Dr. Vivian Knipp; Chris Nagus; Alyce Herndon; Sarah Luem
Front Row: Dr. Bruce R. Bacon; Dr. Jaquelyn Fleckenstein; Paul Woodruff; Pamela Johnson; Cole O. Combs; Shannon D. Peters.

St. Louis City Alderman Terry Kennedy, Awardee with Legal Services Executive Director, Dan Glazier

More than two hundred guests joined Legal Services of Eastern Missouri to honor the dedication and commitment of those who serve low-income families.  The annual For The Common Good Awards Luncheon, held on August 23, 2018 at the Hyatt Regency in St. Louis, recognized thirteen volunteers and community partners for their contributions. 

Awardees included volunteer attorneys Julie Berkowitz (attorney at law), Cole Combs (attorney at law), Thomas G. Glick (attorney at law and former Legal Services Board President), and Shannon Peters (Husch Blackwell LLP) and law firm Capes Sokol. 

Grace Hill Settlement, Left to right
Back row: Cynthia Danley; Randall Wang, Board President; Laura Kozak, Grace Hill Settlement Executive Director; Timitria Murphy Watson, Michael Foley, Crystal Allen Dallas.

Also recognized were the following community partners: Dr. Bruce R. Bacon (St. Louis University School of Medicine) and Dr. Jaquelyn Fleckenstein (Washington University School of Medicine), Alyce Herndon with Grace Hill Women’s Business Center, Pamela Johnson, Alderman Terry Kennedy (18^th Ward, St. Louis City), Dr. Vivian Knipp (Affinia Healthcare), Chris Nagus (KMOV) and Prosperity Connection.

Paul Woodruff, Executive Director of Prosperity Connection says “It is incredibly unfortunate that we live in a very financially inequitable society, but getting to work with Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, and other organizations like it, we get to level the playing field more and more.” 

Hon. John R. Essner presents the John R. Essner Young lawyer of the Year Award to Shannon D. Peters.

Sponsors for this event was provided by: Alaris; Emerson; Missouri Lawyers Weekly; The Simon Law Firm, P.C.; The Stange Law Firm, PC; Thompson Coburn LLP; Affinia Healthcare; Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner; Capes Sokol; Husch Blackwell LLP and St. Louis University School of Medicine.

About Legal Services of Eastern Missouri

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri has provided free civil legal help for low-income families for 62 years. In 2017 nearly 30,000 people in

21 counties of eastern Missouri received services from four regional offices. For more information, please visit www.lsem.org. 

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri has recently hired three legal professionals to assist low-income clients in eastern Missouri.

Leslie Calandro has joined as a Paralegal and Office Manager with the Public Benefits Program. Calandro has a background in law and government affairs and previously worked as a Legislative Assistant on Capitol Hill and an attorney in Washington DC.

Sarah Jappa has joined as Paralegal and Office Manager for the Family Court Program office located in the St. Louis County Court Building. Prior to joining legal services, Jappa was a paralegal intern with the Family Court Program.

Peyton Rosencrants has joined as Paralegal and Office Manager with the Housing Law Program. Rosencrants is a graduate of the University of Missouri and prior to joining Legal Services was an administrative assistant with the Washington University School of Law.

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri has provided free civil legal help for low-income families for 62 years. In 2017 nearly 26,000 people in

21 counties of eastern Missouri received services from four regional offices. For more information, please visit www.lsem.org. visit www.lsem.org.

T.J. Hoeferlin, Director of Assurance for Purk & Associates, P.C.

T.J. Hoeferlin, CPA, Purk & Associates Director of Assurance, was selected as one of Small Business Monthly’s “2018 Best Bosses.”

Hoeferlin joined Purk & Associates in 2016 and is responsible for all assurance related services including audits, reviews, compilations, and agreed upon procedures. He oversees and manages a wide variety of areas ranging from engagement management and client service to research and implementation of new accounting and auditing standards.

In Hoeferlin’s profile published in the August issue of Small Business Monthly, he said, “…I feel my position is one of an advisor to the team and a consultant to our clients. The only way a professional can grow is to give them the tools for success and help them achieve their goals.”

Hoeferlin was voted by the readers of Small Business Monthly as one of the “2018 Top 100 St. Louisans to Know,” and one of the “2017 Top Business Accountants.”

Bill Purk, CPA, Purk & Associates President and Co-Founding Shareholder, said, “T.J. brings an incredible amount of experience, professionalism and maturity to our team. His enthusiasm contagious, and he has a way of bringing out the best work with each team member because they know that their work has purpose and matters.”

Hoeferlin earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Truman State University and received a Master of Business Administration from Washington University. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants. Hoeferlin is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and Certified Internal Auditor (CIA).

To read Hoeferlin’s profile and the profiles of the recipients of the “2018 Best Bosses,” please click here.

Founded in 2009 with headquarters in St. Louis, Purk & Associates, P.C., is a nationally recognized and award winning, independently owned accounting and management advisory firm that delivers a full range of tax, accounting, audit and consulting services. At Purk & Associates, our focus is to help our clients achieve more financial and business success. To learn more, please visit www.purkpc.com.

Ann Marie Mayuga is AMM Communications co-founder and principal

AMM Communications LLC, a St. Louis-based strategic communication and marketing communication firm, focused on public relations, business development, internal communications, content marketing, crisis communications, reputation management, talent recruitment, executive communication skills training, and social media consulting, was selected as one of the “Best 2018 Public Relations Firms in St. Louis” by Small Business Monthly readers. 

The firm has made the list of Small Business Monthly’s Top Public Relations firms for nine consecutive years from 2010-18.

The list of the top public relations is published in the July 2017 Small Business Monthly. To view the list of the best public relations firms, please click here.

“This is an incredible honor,” said Ann Marie Mayuga, AMM Communications partner and co-founder. “We want to thank our clients and the readers of Small Business Monthly for selecting us as one of the top public relations firms in St. Louis. To be included with this group of St. Louis firms demonstrates the level of marketing and public relations talent in the St. Louis region.” 

Since its founding in 2008, AMM Communications has served the leading companies in their industry sectors providing them with support ranging from media relations and crisis communications to content marketing, and executive communications skills training, and talent recruitment.  The company, co-founded by Ed and Ann Marie Mayuga, focuses on financial institutions, professional services firms, manufacturing and distribution companies, healthcare, technology start-ups, government entities and not-for-profits throughout the region and nationwide.

Founded in 2008, AMM Communications LLC, the St. Louis-based strategic marketing communications, public relations, and talent acquisition firm, provides media relations, business development, crisis communications, content marketing, internal communications, communications skills training, digital marketing, reputation management, social media consulting, and recruitment services for businesses nationwide. The firm is Women Business Enterprise (WBE)-certified by the State of Missouri, St Louis City and St. Louis County; and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)-certified by St. Louis City and St. Louis County. AMM Communications has been voted one of the “Best PR Firms in St. Louis” by Small Business Monthly from 2010-2018. “Drive your sales. Communicate better. Hire well.” For more information, please visit, AMM Communications or call 314.485.9499.

Thirteen local volunteers, civic leaders and community organizations will be recognized by Legal Services of Eastern Missouri at the “For The Common Good” award luncheon on Thursday, August 23, 2018 at the Hyatt Regency at the Arch, St. Louis.

This annual awards event recognizes the dedication and commitment of individuals, organizations and community leaders who partner with Legal Services to benefit the region. In 2017, volunteers provided more than 6,400 hours of free legal aid to more than 12,400 low-income clients of Legal Services in 21 counties in eastern Missouri. 

“The very heart of Legal Services’ mission is to partner with the community to improve lives, promote fairness and create opportunity,” said Dan Glazier, Legal Services Executive Director and General Counsel. “This annual event highlights the collaborative work in each of our communities.”

The awards luncheon will begin at 11:30 am. Honorees include:

Thomas G. Glick (Robert Walston Chubb Award for exceptional commitment and contributions to Legal Services). Glick is a private practice attorney in St. Louis. He is immediate Past-President of the Legal Services Board of Directors, serving in this role 2011-18, and has been a board member since 2004.

Dr. Vivian Knipp (Ashley Award for Child Advocacy) Dr. Knipp is a psychological therapist at Affinia Healthcare’s Children’s Development Center. She works closely with Legal Services’ Children’s Legal Alliance, Medical-Legal Program and Education Justice Program to provide medical information and treatment for clients, to help advocate for their special education rights.

Pamela Johnson (Edna M. Taylor Client Service Award). Pamela Johnson is a client member of Legal Services’ Board of Directors since 2016 and an outstanding advocate and spokesperson for legal aid in the community.

Dr. Bruce R. Bacon and Dr. Jaquelyn Fleckenstein (Hon. Richard B. Teitelman Award for Community Service). Dr. Bacon is a Professor of Internal Medicine and Co-Director at the Liver Center of St. Louis University School of Medicine. Dr. Fleckenstein is a Professor of Medicine at Washington University Medical School. They were important medical expert contributors in the recent legal action with Legal Services and the SLU Law Clinic to secure Medicaid coverage for life-saving Hepatitis C medications from the Missouri Department of Social Services.

Alyce Herndon and Grace Hill Women’s Business Center (Melton M. Lewis Equal Justice Award) As Director of the Grace Hill Women’s Business Center, Herndon has been helping women entrepreneurs realize their dreams for almost four years. Herndon and the Women’s Business Center work in partnership with Legal Services’ Community Economic Development Microenterprise Program to provide legal information for new women business owners.

Prosperity Connection (Eddie Mae Binion Community Service Award) Established in 2010 through St. Louis Community Credit union, Prosperity Connection provides financial services, education, and support for low income people with few other available financial resources. Prosperity Connections works with the Consumer Law Program to protect the rights of St. Louisans, empowering families with the tools they need to prosper.

Julie Berkowitz and Cole O. Combs (F. Wm. McCalpin Pro Bono Award)

Berkowitz is a leading elder law attorney in St. Louis. She has been a volunteer lawyer with Legal Services for twenty years and consistently has one of the busiest caseloads in the Volunteer Lawyer Program, assisting clients with guardianships and estate planning. 

Combs is a private attorney in St. Charles County. He has been a Judicare attorney working with the Legal Services’ Hannibal office since 2015, and is the primary provider of legal aid in rural Lincoln, Montgomery and Pike counties.

Capes Sokol (Gerald R. Ortbals Law Practice Award) Capes Sokol has been a key pro bono partner with Legal Services  for many years, currently working with the Community Economic Development Microenterprise Program. The firm staffs a legal clinic at the Grace Hill Women’s Business Center, and also supports Legal Services by providing annual funding, event sponsorship and other key support.

Shannon D. Peters (John R. Essner Young Lawyer Award) Peters is an Associate at Husch Blackwell LLP in St. Louis. He has provided almost 100 hours of pro bono service to Legal Services in the past few years, staffing legal clinics and providing client representation. 

Alderman Terry Kennedy (Rory Ellinger Legislative Award) Alderman Kennedy represents the 18^th Ward in St. Louis City. He recently sponsored Board Bill #87, the Lock-Out Ordinance, which was passed as law. The ordinance mandates that landlords obtain court orders for an eviction order against a tenant and criminalizes evictions without a legal order. 

Chris Nagus (Media Award) An investigative reporter with KMOV for ten years, Nagus has become a public advocate for consumer rights. He frequently works with Legal Services’ Consumer Law Program to champion the issues of clients and highlight concerns regarding unfair debt collection, consumer scams and other matters.

About Legal Services of Eastern Missouri: Legal Services of Eastern Missouri has provided free civil legal help for low-income families for 62 years. In 2017 nearly 30,000 people in

21 counties of eastern Missouri received services from four regional offices. For more information, please visit www.lsem.org.