Denise Dewling
Director of Marketing, Tydings & Rosenberg, LLP
Denise Dewling has recently entered her 13th year as Marketing Director of Tydings & Rosenberg, LLP in Baltimore, Maryland. Previously, she worked in the marketing departments of two other large Mid-Atlantic law firms - Miles & Stockbridge and Ober|Kaler. Denise has been heavily involved in the Legal Marketing Association for nearly 15 years, most recently serving as the Baltimore City Group Leader since the group was formed in 2008 as a subset of the Capital Chapter. As I will be stepping into that role after the new year when Denise steps down, I thought it only appropriate that I speak with Denise about the significant impact that LMA has had on her career in the legal marketing world in Baltimore
What are the various roles you have held in LMA over the years?
I first became involved in LMA's Baltimore Chapter in 1995. At the time, the DC and Baltimore Chapters were separate entities. I served as Program Chair of the Baltimore Chapter from 1995 until 1997, and sat on the Baltimore Chapter's Board for five years - two of which I served as Chapter President. When the Baltimore Chapter proved too small to sustain a sufficient membership, it merged with the Capital Chapter. I was a Member-at-Large during the first year and acted as a liaison between the Capital Chapter and Baltimore. In 2008, the Capital Chapter formed the Baltimore City Group, and I became the group's leader. I'm currently a member of the Mentoring Committee of the Capital Chapter and a member of the Baltimore City Group Programming Committee. I have also served on and co-chaired several committees in LMA International.
What have been your greatest accomplishments through your involvement in LMA?
In the late 1990s, I served as President of the LMA Chapter Presidents and worked with the other chapters to organize the first in-person Presidents' Weekend in Washington, DC. All of the Chapter Presidents from across the country attended the meeting, and realized that each chapter had something great to offer in the way of best practices. The group fostered great relationships and shared ideas among themselves. This meeting of the minds was the catalyst to creating what we now know as the Chapter Presidents' Annual Retreat.
I am also proud of my time spent on the Sponsor Relations Committee. I worked with co-chairs Jeff Reade, Tim Corcoran, and Catherine Alman MacDonagh to help pave the way for service providers to become full, regular members of LMA. We also created evaluations targeted specifically to service providers to ensure that programming would fit their needs, and even gave them their own educational opportunities at the annual conference in order to ensure they received the most benefit from their involvement in the organization. This was also the first time service providers were able to hold positions on the International LMA Board. We thought that so many talented service providers had given so much to LMA and had more to give - the organization would be richer for their full participation.
It is also an honor to be the first recipient of the Member of the Year Award from the Capital Chapter.
What advice would you offer young legal marketers entering this career field?
Find a firm that values professional development; not just in talk, but in action. I've been able to serve LMA in the capacity I have because my firm believes that professional development and community service is important, not just at the attorney level, but for me, as well. I have served with so many incredibly talented people across the country and the relationships I have formed with them extend beyond that time of service. Most people in LMA are willing to share that talent. I have always felt that I've gotten more out of my involvement than I have given; but by giving, I feel that I get even more.
What has been your biggest accomplishment at Tydings & Rosenberg?
There are a number of business development initiatives that had previously never been implemented. I'd like to also credit much of my success to the firm's culture, including the support of our marketing partner and managing partner, who I've worked with for 13 years.
What do you enjoy doing when you aren't at work?
I enjoy spending time with my daughter, Rachel, who will be turning 21 in December. I live in Anne Arundel County and travel often to Connecticut to visit my significant other, Ralph. I hope our family will soon be residing under one roof in the near future. I also enjoy antiquing, fishing, and tending to my garden.
As the Baltimore City Group enters its fifth year, we would like to say how indelibly grateful we are for all that Denise has done for our members since the group's inception, and that we look forward to a bright future continuing to supplement the benefits that the Capital Chapter offers for those in the Baltimore region whom otherwise could not as easily attend the programs that the Chapter's leadership offers.
By Jenna O'Connor, Director of Marketing at Rosenberg Martin Greenberg, LLP