Jan 27

Daniel Renner Joins Affinity Law Group, LLC

St. Louis (Jan. 27, 2022) – Affinity Law Group, LLC a leading St. Louis-based boutique business, estate planning and employment law firm, recently announced that Daniel Renner joined as an Attorney in the Private Client Group.

Renner will focus his practice on assisting clients with estate planning, tax planning, asset protection, and probate and trust administration.

“We are thrilled to have Daniel join Affinity. He brings a strong commitment and enthusiasm for providing estate planning services to individuals and their families, which are important qualities for serving our clients,” said Tabitha Atwell, Affinity Law Group Member and Private Client Group Practice Leader.

Renner earned a dual JD / MBA from Southern Illinois University. While in law school, he served as an Articles Editor for the Southern Illinois University Law Journal. Renner was awarded the Hiram H. and Rosalee Lesar Memorial Scholarship to attend law school and was thereafter awarded the Lee Ann and Paul L. Conti Scholarship for his JD/MBA dual degree studies. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Kentucky.

“My interest in estate planning started at an early age.  My family members are now in their fourth generation of owning and operating a local funeral home, where my father and brother now work.  It was a big part of our childhood.  I was able to witness how important end of life planning is and how helpful it can be to those we leave behind,” said Renner.

Renner is licensed in Missouri and Illinois. He is a member of Our Little Haven’s Young Professionals Group. He enjoys spending time with his wife and their son and is an avid sports fan and golfer.

About Affinity Law Group, LLC

Affinity Law Group’s mission is to partner with its clients to provide strategic counsel and tailored legal services integral to their business and personal success. To learn more, please contact 314.872.3333 or visit, www.affinitylawgrp.com.

Nov 11

The Association of Corporate Counsel – St. Louis Chapter Receives 2021 Gold Chapter of Distinction

ACC STL is recognized as one of the best chapters in the country for the fifth consecutive year

St. Louis (Nov. 10, 2021) – For the fifth consecutive year, the Association of Corporate Counsel – St. Louis Chapter (ACC STL) received the 2021 Gold Chapter of Distinction by the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), which is an award bestowed on the best chapters in the United States.

The award recognizes an individual Chapter’s accomplishments in areas including programming; membership recruitment; diversity, inclusion and equity; and governance and operations.

“This is an incredible honor for the St. Louis chapter, and it is a reflection of the dedication, support, and commitment of our members. The last two years have brought unique opportunities to engage with our members. Our board frequently asks members what they want from their chapter, and we implement their advice into innovative programming, CLEs and social gatherings,” said Sven Fickeler, 2021 ACC STL Chapter President, and Senior Corporate Counsel, Bunzl Distribution NA .

In addition to the Gold Chapter of Distinction awards, the ACC STL has also received the national ACC 2020 Innovation Award for its Diversity & Inclusion Internship Program, and the ACC 2018 national membership award.

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.  The ACC STL has been recognized as one of the leading chapters in the country by the national Association of Corporate Counsel having received the Gold Level Award for five consecutive years from 2017-21. To learn more, please visit,https://www.acc.com/chapters/stlouis/.

Nov 02

ACC STL Chapter Celebrated 2021 National Pro Bono Month

Members volunteered to provide free legal counsel to individuals and families by partnering with local organizations 

St. Louis (Nov. 2, 2021) – The Association of Corporate Counsel St. Louis Chapter celebrated National Pro Bono in October where its members donated hundreds of hours of free legal counsel and guidance, and volunteered for community service projects.

“Each October, we are reminded of the impact that we can make as attorneys in our community. ACC STL members consistently step up and show up to provide much needed free legal counsel to underserved communities, families and individual. By giving back to the St. Louis legal community, we gain much more personally than we professionally give to the clients we serve by preserving access to legal services. This is the foundation of our legal framework,” said Patricia Duft, 2021 ACC STL Pro Bono Chairperson and Senior Legal Director, Medtronic.

During the past several years, ACC STL members have worked with many not-for-profits. Some of the partner organizations members have worked with include:

  • Legal Services of Eastern Missouri where ACC STL members have addressed a wide variety of legal matters for clients including small business, real estate, and housing issues.
  • Veteran’s Estate Clinic with Missouri Attorney General’s Office and Missouri Veterans Commission where veterans and their spouses receive free legal counsel on simple wills, living wills and power of attorney valued at $35,000 or less.
  • Members supported the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition where members provided support to help citizens understand their voting rights.
  • Supported Loaves and Fishes, a local St. Louis area food bank.
  • Provided school supplies for St. Louis area schools in our annual backpack/school supply drive.

“So many of you have supported us this year during our limited virtual offerings, I am grateful that we continued to have many new volunteers who supported the microenterprise ‘office hours’ where we were able to help ~ 100 local entrepreneurs with their business planning,” said Duft.

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/.

Oct 27

Tom Dunn, CPA, Voted One of the Best 2021 Accountants by Small Business Monthly

St. Louis (October 27, 2021) – Tom Dunn CPA Firm, a St. Louis-based accounting, business advisory and tax preparation firm for small business owners and entrepreneurs, was voted one of the “Best 2021 St. Louis Accountants” by the readers of Small Business Monthly.

“I am honored to be part of this select group of the best accountants in the region. I love what I do by helping our clients grow their businesses successfully,” said Tom Dunn, CEO and founder of Tom Dunn CPA Firm.

Tom Dunn CPA Firm has a unique process with the way they manage client relationships. Dunn explained that he asks clients to come in each week for a weekly 20-minute meeting where clients need to sign their personal and business checks prepared by his team of accountants, discuss business strategies, and understand the general financial direction of their businesses.  A benefit is that clients meet with Dunn, who is an entrepreneur having owned more than 10+ businesses throughout his career, and he shares his experience with each client to help guide his clients to make better informed decisions.

Dunn has been selected by Small Business Monthly readers for past multiple awards including Best Accounting Firm, Best in Reliability, Best in Customer Service, Best in Payroll Service, and voted One of the Most Innovative Companies in St. Louis. He has also been voted one of the “Top 100 People to Know in Business in St. Louis.”

To read the list of the “2021 Best Accountants in St. Louis,” please visit, https://bit.ly/2ZoKKWl.

About Tom Dunn CPA Firm

Tom Dunn CPA Firm, founded by Tom Dunn, CPA, is a St. Louis-based accounting, business advisory and tax preparation firm that serves small and mid-sized businesses, nonprofits, families, and trusts.  Nearly 20 years ago, Tom decided to focus on his passions of accounting and helping entrepreneurs find solutions. Tom and his team can manage the business and personal financial, accounting and tax needs of their clients by partnering with them so they have a better chance at success, life-changing-results, and peace of mind. To learn more, please visit, http://tomdunncpa.com.

Sep 08

Jennifer Goltermann Joins Affinity Law Group, LLC

St. Louis (Sept. 8, 2021) – Affinity Law Group, LLC a leading St. Louis-based boutique business, estate planning and employment law firm, recently announced that Jennifer Goltermann joined the firm as Of Counsel.

Goltermann will focus her legal practice on employment and labor law. She will counsel clients on a variety of matters ranging from wage and hour issues, discrimination and harassment claims, and human resources policies and best practices.

Prior to joining the firm, Goltermann worked at Littler Mendelson, P.C. and Thompson Coburn LLP.

“We are thrilled to have Jennifer join Affinity Law Group. She brings a depth of experience in labor and employment law that is crucial for our clients to succeed in the complicated business environment,” said Kathleen Bilderback, JD, LLM, Affinity Law Group Founding Member.

Goltermann earned a Juris Doctor from Saint Louis University School of Law, and a Bachelor of Arts from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She is licensed in Missouri and Illinois.

About Affinity Law Group, LLC

Affinity Law Group’s mission is to partner with its clients to provide strategic counsel and tailored legal services integral to their business and personal success. To learn more, please contact 314.872.3333 or visit, www.affinitylawgrp.com.

Sep 02

The Association for Corporate Counsel of St. Louis and Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis Hosts 2021 Corporate Counsel Institute (CCI) on Sept. 27

The annual event brings together in-house counsel, local leaders, and attorneys

St. Louis (September 1, 2021) – The Association of Corporate Counsel Chapter of St. Louis (ACC STL), the pre-eminent professional development organization serving in-house counsel, in partnership with the Bar Association of Missouri St. Louis (BAMSL), the largest legal member association in St. Louis, announced today that they will host the Corporate Counsel Institute (CCI), an annual event that brings together in-house counsel, local leaders and attorneys, on Sept. 27 at the Ritz-Carlton located at 100 Carondelet Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63105.

The 2021 CCI program will offer 9 hours of Continuing Legal Education (CLE) and breakout sessions ranging from managing data privacy and employment law to diversity and inclusion and working with federal agencies.

Ty Ulmer, ACC STL 2021 CCI Chairperson, said, “We are excited to bring back the CCI this year as an in-person event. The ACC STL and BAMSL volunteers who have made this year’s event possible worked hard to ensure that participants have incredible learning experiences and opportunities to network with peers.”

When asked about why the partnership between ACC STL and BAMSL is successful each when co-hosting the CCI, Ulmer said, “The strong partnership between ACC and BAMSL is built on many years of working together, and outstanding leaders in both organizations who recognize each organization brings different, complimenting strengths to the partnership.  The combination of these different strengths results in a CCI event that is greater than either organization could host on its own.”

The 2021 CCI corporate sponsors include:

  • Husch Blackwell, the breakfast sponsor
  • Thompson Coburn LLP, lunch and cocktail reception sponsor
  • Dentons, the materials book sponsor
  • Chicago Title Insurance Company, sponsor of the final presentation of the day, Jazz Drumming and the Art of Creative Persuasion.

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/.

Jul 13

AMM Communications Voted One of the Best St. Louis Public Relations Firms in 2021 by Small Business Monthly

This is the twelfth consecutive year for AMM Communications to make the list of Best St. Louis PR Firms.

July 12, 2021 (St. Louis) – 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, executive communication skills training, and social media consulting, was selected as one of the “Best Public Relations Firms in St. Louis in 2021” by Small Business Monthly readers.

AMM Communications has made the list of Small Business Monthly’s Top Public Relations firms for 12 consecutive years from 2010-21.

“This is an incredible honor,” said Ann Marie Mayuga, AMM Communications principal and co-founder. “We want to thank our customers, partners, vendors, family, and friends 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 customers providing them 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 working with customers in the financial services, banking, professional services, manufacturing and distribution, healthcare, government entities and not-for-profits industries throughout the Midwest.

The list of the top public relations is published in the July 2021 Small Business Monthly. To view the list of the best public relations firms, please click on the link, https://sbmon.com/Awards/Article/1865/2021-Best-Public-Relations-Firms.

About AMM Communications

Founded in 2008, AMM Communications LLC, the leading St. Louis-based strategic marketing 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 2010-2021. “Drive your sales. Communicate better.” For more information, please visit, http://ammcommunications.com or call 314.485.9499.

Jun 24

AMM Communications Celebrates Thirteenth Anniversary

June 24, 2021 (St. Louis) – AMM Communications LLC, the St. Louis-based digital public relations and strategic communications firm, celebrated its 13th anniversary on June 1.

Founded in 2008 by Ed and Ann Marie Mayuga, AMM Communications works with businesses and not-for-profits nationwide serving organizations in the financial services, banking, professional services, technology, and health care industries.

“We want to thank our clients, family and friends for their support for the past 13 years. The future of marketing and public relations is exciting with advancements in Artificial Intelligence, expanding social media platforms and understanding how to embrace technology. The one thing that will never change is the need for focused and clear messaging and communications,” said Ann Mayuga Mayuga, AMM Communications co-founder and partner.

Founded in 2008 by Ann Marie and Ed Mayuga, AMM Communications, a PR digital agency, serves clients throughout the St. Louis region and nationwide. The firm has evolved from its initial offerings of public relations and social media consulting to expanding into one of the only digital public relations firms in St. Louis using the Paid Earned Social Owned (PESO) model. The PESO model was created by Gini Dietrich, PR-thought leader and founder of the influential blog, http://spinsucks.com.

“It is hard to summarize the lessons learned from the past 13 years as an entrepreneur and communications professional. Our goal from the first day when we opened our doors for business is to help each customer craft and communicate their stories well, create thriving cultures, and grow their businesses,” added Mayuga.

AMM Communications has also been voted one of the “Best St. Louis Public Relations Firms” by the readers of Small Business Monthly for 12 consecutive years from 2010-21. Also, the firm was selected by Small Business Monthly as one of its 2017 and 2020 “Future 50” companies, an award recognizing privately held companies that are key economic indicators for regional business growth.

About AMM Communications

Founded in 2008, AMM Communications LLC, the leading St. Louis-based strategic marketing, PR, and talent acquisition firm, provides media relations, digital marketing, business development, crisis communications, content marketing, internal communications, communications skills training, reputation management, and social media consulting for businesses nationwide. 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 2010-2021. We want to help you … Drive your sales. Communicate better. For more information, please visit, http://ammcommunications.com or call 314.485.9499.

May 06

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri has three Advocates selected as 2021 National Race Equity Fellows for Racial Justice Institute

Leaders to Join Network of Advocates Advancing Racial Justice Across the Country

St. Louis (May 6, 2021) – The Shriver Center on Poverty Law recently announced 47 Fellows, including Legal Services of Eastern Missouri’s staff members Earlene Bolton, Katherine Holley and Amanda Schneider, have been selected to take part in its 2021 Racial Justice Institute (RJI), a leadership program that equips and coordinates anti-poverty advocates to affirmatively advance racial equity.

“The past year has laid bare systemic inequities that many members of our community face daily,” said Dan Glazier, Legal Services Executive Director and General Counsel.  “We are gratified that Earlene, Katherine and Amanda have all been selected for this incredible opportunity to bolster our advocacy with the core principles of race equity.”

This year’s RJI Fellows include a diverse group of public interest lawyers, legal aid attorneys, community advocates, executive leaders, and even a judge. They come from 16 organizations advancing justice in 10 states, including 11 organizations new to the RJI.

“The COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis, combined with the racial reckoning during the past year, have exposed racial disparities experienced daily in the communities that anti-poverty advocates serve,” said Kimberly Merchant, Director of the Racial Justice Institute and Network. “The Racial Justice Institute equips these advocates to take a strategic, direct approach to eliminating racial disparities, dismantling barriers to opportunity, and strengthening communities of color.”

The 2021 Fellows come to the Racial Justice Institute with experience in a wide range of advocacy areas, including criminal justice reform, healthcare, second chance opportunities, economic justice, disability justice, immigrants’ rights, and affordable housing. Under the intensive seven-month RJI program that begins in May, the 2021 Fellows will be exposed to a core set of racial equity concepts that they can apply to the advocacy in which they are currently engaging.

“This year’s Fellows are working with communities facing many systemic challenges, including individuals experiencing discrimination in the criminal justice system, people with disabilities facing intersectional issues and discrimination, and families of color harmed by the child welfare system,” said Janerick Holmes, Associate Director of the Racial Justice Institute and Network. “RJI will offer these Fellows a framework to contextualize structural racism, systems thinking, social cognition, and implicit bias that they can use to confront and impact racial disparities in the communities they serve.”

Earlene Bolton is the outreach coordinator for Legal Services’ Connecting Kids to Coverage program, and has expertise in Medicaid outreach and enrollment.  A staff attorney in Legal Services’ public benefits program, Katherine Holley has developed important community partnerships while conducting food stamp outreach to able-bodied adults.  Amanda Schneider manages Legal Services’ Health Justice Initiative/Education Justice Project, which works to address the root causes of inequities in health and education, and doing community outreach with a racial equity lens.

Together, Earlene, Kate and Amanda, with the support of the RJI program, hope to advance health equity in Missouri by increasing the enrollment of Black men—a group with historically low rates of health coverage—in Missouri’s Medicaid program.

Entering its eighth year, the Shriver Center’s Racial Justice Institute has cultivated nearly 300 advocates, representing over 90 organizations in 31 states and the District of Columbia. Fellows emerge from the program ready to help shape policies that support a more racially just society and continue to work in concert as part of the Shriver Center’s Racial Justice Institute Network.

The full list of the 2021 Fellows:

Afrasan Adams, Bay Area Legal Services
Alisa L. Anderson, Bet Tzedek Legal Services
Johanna Baumann, Bet Tzekdek Legal Services
Virginia Benzan, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
Earlene Bolton, Legal Services of Eastern Missouri
Lisa Brody, Bay Area Legal Services
Calli Burnett, Bay Area Legal Services
Amanda Caldwell, Community Legal Services of Arizona
Daniela Cimo, Legal Services of Greater Miami
Iris Coloma-Gaines, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
Deborah Concepcion, Lone Star Legal Aid
Krisofer Cook, Legal Aid of North Carolina
Richard Crews, Human Services Campus
Prachi Dave, Public Defender Association
Sha’Tarria Davis, Legal Services of Greater Miami
Richard Diaz, Disability Rights California
Britni Eseller, Disability Rights California
Lili Graham, Disability Rights California
Eric Harris, Disability Rights California
Alicia Hill, Bay Area Legal Services
Katherine Holley, Legal Services of Eastern Missouri
Yalonda Houston, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
Parsa Ijadi-Maghsoodi, Disability Rights California
Ashea Jones, Lone Star Legal Aid
Georgia Katsoulomitis, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
David Keenan, King County Superior Court
Saadiqa Kumanyika, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
Elizabeth Larin, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
April Lee, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
Lauren Lystrup, Disability Rights California
Jenna Miara, Bet Tzekek Legal Services
Lucia Mirande, Disability Rights California
Alexandra Narvaez, Legal Counsel for Youth and Children
Guerby Noel, Legal Services of Greater Miami
Tatiana Perez, Bet Tzedek Legal Services
Brian Reichart, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
Jeremy Rosen, Shriver Center on Poverty Law
Archie Roundtree Jr., Bet Tzedek Legal Services
Marcus Samuel, Shriver Center on Poverty Law
Amanda Schneider, Legal Services of Eastern Missouri
Amy Schwabenlender, Human Services Campus
Eric Sirota, Shriver Center on Poverty Law
Jen Story, Legal Aid of North Carolina
Stephan Thomas, Consultant
NaTonia Trammell, Legal Aid of North Carolina
Korin Waltersdorf, Community Legal Services of Arizona
Audra Wilson, Shriver Center on Poverty Law

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Legal Services of Eastern Missouri has provided free civil legal help for low-income families for 65 years. In 2020, more than 30,000 people in 21 counties of eastern Missouri received services from four regional offices. For more information, please visit www.lsem.org.

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The Shriver Center on Poverty Law fights for economic and racial justice. Over our 50-year history, we have secured hundreds of victories with and for people living in poverty in Illinois and across the country. Today, we litigate, shape policy, and train and convene multi-state networks of lawyers, community leaders, and activists nationwide. Together, we are building a future where all people have equal dignity, respect, and power under the law. Join the fight at povertylaw.org.

Apr 19

Tom Dunn CPA Firm Voted 2021 Best Payroll Service Providers in St. Louis by Small Business Monthly Readers

St. Louis (April 19, 2021) – Tom Dunn CPA Firm, a St. Louis-based accounting, business advisory and tax preparation firm for small business owners and entrepreneurs, was voted one of “2021 Best Payroll Providers in St. Louis” by the readers of Small Business Monthly.

“We are honored to be part of this short list of St. Louis’ best payroll providers. We want to thank our clients, partners, and the readers of Small Business Monthly,” said Tom Dunn, CEO and founder of Tom Dunn CPA Firm.

Tom Dunn CPA Firm has a unique process with the way it manages client relationships. Dunn explained that he asks clients to come in each week for a weekly 20-minute meeting where clients need to sign their personal and business checks prepared by his team of accountants, discuss business strategies, and understand the general financial direction of their businesses.  A benefit is that clients meet with Dunn, who is an entrepreneur having owned more than 10+ businesses throughout his career, and he shares his experience with each client to help guide his clients to make better informed decisions.

Dunn has been selected by Small Business Monthly readers for past multiple awards including Best Accounting Firm, Best in Reliability, Best in Customer Service, and voted One of the Most Innovative Companies in St. Louis. He has also been voted one of the “Top 100 People to Know in Business in St. Louis.”

To read the list of the “2021 Best Payroll Providers in St. Louis,” please click on the following link: https://www.pageturnpro.com/St-Louis-Small-Business-Monthly/99369-STL-SBM-April-2021/sdefault.html#page/17.

About Tom Dunn CPA Firm

Tom Dunn CPA Firm, founded by Tom Dunn, CPA, is a St. Louis-based accounting, business advisory and tax preparation firm that serves small and mid-sized businesses, nonprofits, families, and trusts.  Nearly 20 years ago, Tom decided to focus on his passions of accounting and helping entrepreneurs find solutions. Tom and his team can manage the business and personal financial, accounting and tax needs of their clients by partnering with them so they have a better chance at success, life-changing-results and peace of mind. To learn more, please visit, http://tomdunncpa.com.