Category: Business News

March 24, 2020 (St. Louis) – Legal Services of Eastern Missouri issued a statement today from Dan Glazer, Legal Services Executive Director and General Counsel, about guidelines the organization will use for its business operations and how clients will continue to be served during the COVID-19 crisis.

The Legal Services statement is provided below:

We want the community to know that Legal Services of Eastern Missouri remains dedicated to helping individuals and families during this COVID-19 crisis.

Individuals who need our assistance can continue to call our toll-free number from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. The online application for help is available anytime (24/7) at www.lsem.org/get-help-now/. Unfortunately, we are not able to accept walk-in requests for assistance at this time due to COVID-19 safety concerns.

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri’s Toll-Free Number – 800.444.0514

NOTE: This is the intake number for all 21 counties in our service area.

Legal Services is still “doing business” by having nearly all our staff work remotely. They can be reached by their usual office email or telephone. Each office will respond to clients who call regarding their hearings, appointments, and to inquiries from our community partners.

In keeping with health guidelines regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, all the Legal Services of Eastern Missouri’s offices will not hold any scheduled in-person meetings until further notice.

We know our clients and our communities are being profoundly and adversely affected by this crisis. We are closely monitoring events as they develop and will continue to advocate for clients and communities to ensure they receive critical benefits and protection throughout this health emergency.

For your information, we are posting information about COVID-19 resources on our website at: www.lsem.org/covid-19-updates-march-2020/.

We will continue to provide ACTION. JUSTICE. HOPE. to those we serve during this unprecedented time, just as we have throughout our 64-year history. As always, we thank you for your support and appreciate your commitment to our work on behalf of those in need.

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About Legal Services of Eastern Missouri: Legal Services of Eastern Missouri has provided free civil legal help for low-income families for 64 years. In 2019, 30,000 people in 21 counties of eastern Missouri received services from four regional offices. For more information, please visit www.lsem.org.

St. Louis’ Premier Legal Soiree raises funds, renews support

ST. LOUIS – The Legal Services of Eastern Missouri’s 30th annual Justice For All Ball, hosted was held on Saturday, February 29, 2020 at the Ritz-Carlton in Clayton. This year’s 30th Anniversary event attracted more than 400 guests to celebrate in style with gourmet banquet stations, music, entertainment, a special “justice-tini” cocktail and a silent auction.

Co-Chairs of the event were Paula Finlay (AT&T) and Priscilla Murray (Husch Blackwell LLP) with Auction Chair Tracy Tabb (Brown & James, P.C.). Special Honorary Chairs for the event were Edna Mae Graham, who founded the event committee and served as its first Chair in 1997, and Doreen Dodson, who served as Honorary Chair in 1997. Also attending the event this year with St. Louis attorney Shevon Harris, was former heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield.

Presenting Sponsor for the event was Missouri Lawyers Media, with Sustaining Sponsor Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner and Supporting Sponsors Emerson and Thompson Coburn, LLP. Contributing Sponsors were: Armstrong Teasdale, LLP; Association of Corporate Counsel – St. Louis; Blitz, Bardgett & Deutsch, L.C.; Brown & James, P.C.; Capes Sokol; Dowd Bennett LLP; Gray, Ritter & Graham, P.C.; Husch Blackwell LLP; Newman Bronson & Wallis; Polsinelli PC; Stange Law Firm, PC; The Bar Plan Mutual Insurance Co. and The Simon Law Firm, P.C.

L to R: Dan Glazier, Executive Director & General Counsel; Paula Finlay and Priscilla Murray, Event Co-Chairs; Tracy Tabb, Auction Chair

L to R: Ryan Turnage, Young Friends Vice President, and his wife Stephanie Turnage

L to R: Legal Services Attorney Latasha Barnes with Sheikera Balentine

L to R: Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner partner Charlie Weiss with his wife Suzie

L to R: Seth Crompton, Jennifer Matthew, Missouri Bar President Thomas Bender
with Tina Bender, Missouri Bar Vice President Hon. John Grimm with Angie Grimm, Hon. J.B. Lasater with Julie Lasater

L to R: Honorary Chairs Edna Mae Graham (2nd left) and Doreen Dodson (far right) with their spouses, Marcy Graham (1st left) and Dana Spitzer (2nd right)

Former heavyweight boxing champion, Evander Holyfield

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About Legal Services of Eastern Missouri: Legal Services of Eastern Missouri has provided free civil legal help for low-income families for 64 years. In 2019, 30,000 people in
21 counties of eastern Missouri received services from four regional offices. For more information, please visit www.lsem.org.

St. Louis (February 24, 2020) – Tom Dunn, CPA, founder and president of Tom Dunn, CPA Firm, was voted one of the “Top St. Louis Business Advisors for 2020” by Small Business Monthly. Dunn’s “Top Business Advisor” profile is published in the February issue.

“It’s a great honor to be selected as one of the top business advisors in St. Louis,” said Dunn. “I want to thank the Small Business Monthly for the wonderful recognition. My team and I work hard each day to find solutions, deliver results and be that accounting team member so our small business clients can focus on growing their businesses.”

To read Dunn’s Top Business Advisor profile, please click on the following link:
https://www.pageturnpro.com/St-Louis-Small-Business-Monthly/93846-STL-SBM-February-2020/flex.html#page/20

Over the past three years, Dunn and the Tom Dunn CPA Firm has also been selected by the Small Business Monthly readers as “One of the Best Companies in Customer Service in St. Louis” in 2018, “One of the Most Innovative Companies in St. Louis,” in 2019, 100 People to Know in Business in St. Louis in 2017,” and “One of the Best Accounting Firms in St. Louis ” for 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Tom Dunn, CPA, founder and CEO of St. Louis-based Tom Dunn, CPA Firm, is an accountant, business advisor and CFO who serves small business owners and their families. As a serial entrepreneur, Tom understands the challenges that business owners face each day. After launching several successful businesses, Tom decided to focus on his passion of accounting and helping entrepreneurs more than 20  years ago when he opened his firm. Tom and his team manage the business and personal financial, accounting and tax needs of their business owner clients by partnering with them so they have life changing results and peace of mind. To learn more, please visit, http://tomdunncpa.com.

Program topic is about how to use data to improve member communications

Feb. 20, 2020 (St. Louis) – Ann Marie Mayuga, AMM Communications LLC, the St. Louis-based strategic communications and public relations firm, will present “The Data Dive: Understand How to Improve Your Member Communications,” at the March 19, 2020 St. Louis Society of Association Executives (SLSAE) Lunch & Program.

The presentation is for SLSAE members and not-for-profit association executives who want to learn how to leverage current and prospective member data. This information can help not-for-profit executives understand and make strategic decisions on how to improve member communications and build a strong communications plan. During this presentation, attendees will learn the following:

• How to use data to develop and drive a stronger communications program that will help attract and retain members.
  
• Understand what the PESO model is and how to use it to improve communications. (Note: Gini Dietrich, Founder of SpinSucks.com, is the creator of the PESO model, https://spinsucks.com/communication/pr-pros-must-embrace-the-peso-model/)
  
• Learn how to develop and build an ongoing communications campaign to improve an organization’s online presence.
  

The program will be held at the Missouri Society of CPAs located at 540 Maryville Centre Dr., St. Louis, MO, 63141, from 11:15 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Tickets are $40.00 for SLSAE members and $60.00 for non-members. To register, please click on the following link, https://slsae.org/event-3694482.

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.  The company, co-founded by Ed and Ann Marie Mayuga, focuses on serving financial institutions, professional services firms, manufacturing and distribution companies, healthcare, government entities and not-for-profits throughout the Midwest.

About AMM Communications
Founded in 2008, AMM Communications LLC, the leading St. Louis-based strategic communications and public relations firm, provides media relations, digital marketing, business development, crisis communications, content marketing, internal communications, communications skills training, reputation management, social media consulting, and executive communication skills training. AMM Communications is a nationally certified Women Business Enterprise (WBE) by Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), and certified by State of Missouri, St. Louis County and St. Louis City.  The company is federally certified as a Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) by the SBA and is certified as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). AMM Communications has been voted one of the “Best PR Firms in St. Louis” by Small Business Monthly from 2010-2019. For more information, please visit, http://ammcommunications.com or call 314.485.9499.

St. Louis (February 18, 2020) – Tom Dunn, CPA, founder and president of Tom Dunn, CPA Firm, was profiled in the February 2020 issue of Small Business Monthly’s regular column, “Time with the Boss.”

The monthly column features leading St. Louis business owners and not-for-profit executives on their life philosophies, how they spend their day, and how they started their careers.

Dunn’s February “Time with the Boss” profile can be read by clicking on the following link, https://www.sbmon.com/Articles/Article/1618.

Over the past three years, Dunn and the Tom Dunn CPA Firm has also been selected by the Small Business Monthly readers as “One of the Best Companies in Customer Service in St. Louis” in 2018, “One of the Most Innovative Companies in St. Louis,” in 2019, 100 People to Know in Business in St. Louis in 2017,” and “One of the Best Accounting Firms in St. Louis ” for 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Tom Dunn, CPA, founder and CEO of St. Louis-based Tom Dunn, CPA Firm, is an accountant, business advisor and CFO who serves small business owners and their families. As a serial entrepreneur, Tom understands the challenges that business owners face each day. After launching several successful businesses, Tom decided to focus on his passion of accounting and helping entrepreneurs for 20 years ago when he opened his firm. Tom and his team manage the business and personal financial, accounting and tax needs of their business owner clients by partnering with them so they have life changing results and peace of mind. To learn more, please visit, http://tomdunncpa.com.

(L) Vikas Sunkari, Senior Attorney, Transactions, SSM Healthcare; (R) 2019 ACC STL President, Chrissy Teske, Senior Attorney, Commerce Bancshares, Inc.

February 6, 2020 (St. Louis) – The Association of Corporate Counsel – St. Louis Chapter (ACC STL), the pre-eminent professional development organization serving in-house counsel, held its 2020 Annual Meeting recognizing members for their individual contributions.

The 2020 ACC STL award recipients include:

• Member of the Year: Vikas Sunkari, Senior Attorney, Transactions, SSM Healthcare. Sunkari volunteered to lead the 2019 ACC STL Summer Diversity Internship Program, which paired six, first-year law students with host corporations in the St. Louis region. He managed the entire process that included the interview and selection process, recruited mentors to pair with the interns, and developed educational and training programs to supplement the students’ internship experience. Through participation in the program, several 2019 Summer Interns obtained employment for the summer of 2020.

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  2019 Pro-Bono Committee, (L) Co-Chair Patricia Duft, Vice President, Legal, Medtronic; (C ) Chrissy Teske; (R ) Paula Finlay, Assistant Vice President, Senior legal Counsel, Labor & Employment, AT&T.

  Committee of the Year: 2019 Pro-Bono Committee led by Co-Chairpersons Patricia Duft, Vice President, Legal, Medtronic; and Paula Finlay, Assistant Vice President, Senior legal Counsel, Labor & Employment, AT&T. Under the leadership of Duft and Finlay, the committee engaged members to volunteer in a variety of projects and pro bono opportunities including: National Health Care Decisions Clinic, Veterans Wills Clinics; Partnered with Loaves & Fishes; Legal Services of Eastern Missouri micro-Enterprise Entrepreneur Seminars and Clinics; and Backpacks for St. Louis City Schools

• William E. Jaudes Service Award: Renee Schenk, Senior Assistant General Counsel, Bayer, received the award. The William E. Jaudes Service award was named after Bill Jaudes, one of the original founders of the ACC STL. This honor, which is not awarded annually is given to members who exemplify dedication, leadership and service. Schenk served ACC STL leadership roles including president and membership chairperson where the Chapter was recognized by the national Association of Corporate Counsel as Outstanding Chapter of the Year and achieved a milestone of surpassing 500 members for the first time in the Chapter’s history.

(L) Chrissy Teske; (R) Renee Schenk, Senior Assistant General Counsel, Bayer.

In 2019, ACC STL received the Gold Chapter of Distinction by the national Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC). The award recognizes the Chapter’s accomplishments in areas including programming, membership recruitment, and governance / operations.  In 2018, ACC STL received the Gold Level Award, and the Innovation Award for Best Membership / Recruitment.

Contact:

Ann Marie Mayuga, AMM Communications

314.485.9499

annmarie@ammcommunications.com

About the ACC STL:

The Association for Corporate Counsel of St. Louis (ACC STL), the pre-eminent professional development organization serving in-house counsel, was founded in 1987. The St. Louis chapter has more than 550 members who represent more than 100 organizations. During its 30-year-history, the ACC STL has been recognized as one of the leading chapters in the country by the national Association of Corporate Counsel with having received the 2017 and 2019 Gold Level Award and selected for the 2018 Best Membership / Recruitment Award. To learn more, please visit,https://www.acc.com/chapters/stlouis/.

Funding for expansion of legal advocacy for children’s educational needs

ST. LOUIS –Bayer Fund has made a one-year grant of $25,000 to Legal Services of Eastern Missouri’s Children’s Legal Alliance to fund important educational advocacy work for low-income children, with an emphasis on serving children enrolled in schools in north St. Louis County.

This generous grant from Bayer Fund will support attorneys who work closely with families who have children at risk of failure in school because of lack of access to special educational needs and/or individual education plans.

Each year, the Children’s Legal Alliance serves more than 200 families with children struggling in school because of lack of access to special educational services. The program also represents children at high risk of suspension and/or unfair discipline and helps educate parents so they can become more effective advocates for their own child’s educational rights.

Additional information about the work of the Children’s Legal Alliance can be found at:www.lsem.org/childrens-legal-alliance-program/

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About Legal Services of Eastern Missouri: Legal Services of Eastern Missouri has provided free civil legal help for low-income families for 64 years. In 2018, 30,000 people in

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

About Bayer Fund: The mission of Bayer Fund is to make philanthropic investments that contribute to the quality of life in the areas of food and nutrition security, STEM education, health and wellness and community development. Our primary focus is to assist families in under-resourced and rural communities where our customers and employees live and work. Learn more about Bayer Fund at https://www.fund.bayer.us/

January 27, 2020 (St. Louis) – The Association of Corporate Counsel – St. Louis Chapter (ACC STL), the pre-eminent professional development organization serving in-house counsel, elected its 2020 officers and board of directors.

The 2020 ACC STL officers include:

• President: Brian Parsons, Senior Counsel, Macy’s Inc.
• Vice President / President-Election: Sven Fickeler, Senior Corporate Counsel, Bunzl Distribution USA, LLC
• Secretary: Jennifer Herner, Associate General Counsel, MiTek
• Treasurer: Kate Krebel, Corporate Counsel, DRS Technologies, Inc.
• Immediate Past President: Chrissy Teske, Senior Attorney, Commerce Bancshares, Inc.

At-Large Directors: Geoffrey Grammer, Assistant Corporate Counsel, Ameren; and Erika Schenk, General Counsel & Vice President of Compliance, World Wide Technology.

ACC STL 2020 president, Brian Parsons, shared that the priorities for the Chapter this year are to strengthen member retention and engagement, utilize social media platforms to improve communications, and expand networking opportunities that are specific to members’ practice areas.

“This year is exciting for the ACC STL chapter. Last year, the chapter was selected as one of the best chapters in the country at our national meeting. Previous boards have laid a strong foundation, and the board is looking forward to making contributions to better serve our membership,” said Parsons.

The board of directors include:

• Advocacy: Jennifer Feldhaus, Vice President, Associate General Counsel, Maritz
• Corporate Counsel Institute (CCI): Ty Ulmer, Chief Counsel, The Boeing Company
• Communications: Danielle Langeneckert, Director, Contract Design, The Resource Group
• Diversity: Tamee Reese, Assistant Vice President, Senior Legal Counsel, AT&T Mobility & Entertainment
• General Counsel Forum: Kate Molamphy, General Counsel, ICL Americas; and Erika Schenk
• Annual Golf / Spa Event: Jay Repaso, Manager, Legal Services, Mastercard
• Law School Relations: Paula Finlay, Assistant Vice President, Senior Legal Counsel – Labor & Employment, AT&T
• Membership: Beverly Garner, Associate General Counsel, Bunge North America
• Practice Area Networking (PAN) – Labor & Employment: Toni Douaihy, Vice President, Assistant General Counsel, Macy’s Inc.
• Past President Council Chair: Chrissy Teske
• Pro Bono: Patricia Duft, Vice President, Legal, Medtronics
• Professional Development: Geoffrey Grammer
• Programs: John Farmer, Vice President, Litigation, Charter Communications
• Social: Margy Weisman, Assistant General Counsel, ESCO Technologies
• Sponsorship: Denise Whitener, Managing Counsel, Wells Fargo Law Department

In 2019, the ACC STL received the Gold Chapter of Distinction by the national Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC). The award recognizes the Chapter’s accomplishments in areas including programming, membership recruitment, and governance / operations.

In 2018, ACC STL received the Gold Level Award, and the Innovation Award for Best Membership / Recruitment.

Contact:

Ann Marie Mayuga, AMM Communications

314.485.9499

annmarie@ammcommunications.com

About the ACC STL:

The Association for Corporate Counsel of St. Louis (ACC STL), the pre-eminent professional development organization serving in-house counsel, was founded in 1987. The St. Louis chapter has more than 550 members who represent more than 100 organizations. During its 30-year-history, the ACC STL has been recognized as one of the leading chapters in the country by the national Association of Corporate Counsel with having received the 2017 and 2019 Gold Level Award and selected for the 2018 Best Membership / Recruitment Award. To learn more, please visit,https://www.acc.com/chapters/stlouis/.

representing young legal professionals with an interest in public service

St. Louis (Nov. 19, 2019) — The Young Friends of Legal Services of Eastern Missouri have elected five new members to their Board of Directors. Joining the Board are Mackenzie Allan, Luke Jackson, J. Thomas Mihalczo, Dr. Kara Moskowitz and Vannah Shaw.

Board President, Michael Cherba (Danna McKitrick, P.C.) says “We are excited to welcome these new members to our Board. The enthusiasm and professionalism they bring will help increase our sup

port of Legal Services’ mission to provide access to justice and free legal representation to the marginalized

and under-served in our community.”

Mackenzie Allan joins the board as the Washington University Board Representative on a two year term. She is currently a JD Candidate at Washington University School of Law and holds a B.A. in Political Science from California Polytechnic State University. She has completed internships with Danna McKitrick, P.C. in St. Louis and with the Superior Court of California in San Luis Obispo.

Luke Jackson is an associate attorney in litigation practice at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner. He is a 2018 graduate of Saint Louis University Law School and also holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice Administration from Columbia College. He has served in the US Air Force Reserves since 2012. During his time in law school, he also worked with the Civil Litigation Clinic and served as a faculty fellow researcher.

Thomas Mihalczo is an attorney with Bollwerk & Tatlow, LLC. He is a 2017 graduate of St. Louis University Law School and holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He previously served with the Federal Public Defenders Office for the Eastern District of Missouri, and as a Research Fellow for Prof. John Ammann at Saint Louis University. He currently also serves as Board Secretary for MindsEye Radio, which serves people with vision loss.

Dr. Kara Moskowitz is an assistant professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Department of History. She is 2014 PhD graduate of Emory University in Atlanta, GA, and also holds a M.A. in History from Emory University and a B.A. in History from Grinnell College in Iowa. She has authored four publications on the subject of African Decolonization and is a volunteer tutor at the International institute of St. Louis.

Vannah Shaw is a legal clerk with St. Louis County Pretrial Release. She is a 2013 graduate of Regent University School of Law in Virginia Beach, VA, and also holds a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Missouri in Columbia. She is currently also a volunteer lawyer with Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, and served 2014-2017 as an Assistant Circuit Attorney with the St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office.

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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 2018, 30,000 people in

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