Blogs

New Ventures

Welcome to new LMA Midwest member and the new industry business development manager at Freeborn & Peters, Christina S. Solomon. Christine was formerly an associate at Cray Huber Horstman Heil & VanAusdal. She joins chief marketing officer, Ian Turvill, and his great team. Send a warm greeting to Christine at csolomon@freeborn.com.

Curious development! The above-mentioned Christine Solomon is not long time LMA member, Christina Solomon, marketing director at Salvi Schostok & Pritchard as confirmed by the wonderful, TJ Saye, chief operating officer. Yes, there are now two!

Congrats to In the Loop contributing writer, Brandon Coutre, formerly marketing communications manager at Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg, now the new marketing manager in Thompson Coburn’s Chicago office. He joins the amazing Anne Schuster, former LMA BOD member and director of client relations and her great St. Louis team. Send good wishes to Brandon at bcoutre@thompsoncoburn.com.

Monica Kharmatsky, formerly business development manager at Barnes & Thornburg with recent LMA Board of Directors member-at-large and chief marketing officer at B&T, Allen Chichester, has joined McDermott Will & Emery as a business development manager. Say hello to Monica at mkharmatsky@mwe.com.

Great news from our St. Louis City Group, Nicole Weinacht, formerly the marketing and client relations Manaer for Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale for nearly 10 years, has made a big move to Hand Arendall as the firm’s marketing director. Nicole is an invaluable member and organizer of the St. Louis City Group. Email best wishes to Nicole at nweinacht@handarendall.com.

More exciting news from the St. Louis group, Maureen Farr, formerly business development manager at Husch Blackwell, is now the marketing manager at Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale…hmmm, interesting. Maureen is also currently the City Group Liaison and member-at-large on the LMA Midwest Board. Congratulate Maureen at mef@greensfelder.com.

Of course, we have to send very best wishes to the fabulous Jocelyn Brumbaugh, formerly with Baker & McKenzie. She surprised us all and went over to the “dark side” (kidding) and joined financial services powerhouse, Citadel Group as VP, internal communications. Jocelyn, founder and president of Legal PR Chicago, has promised to continue bringing us great programming at LPRC and we look forward to her continued support of LMA Midwest. Jocelyn can be reached at jocelyn.brumbaugh@citadelgroup.com.

Mergers

Wonderful news! Stephanie Hall, now Stephanie Miller, longtime LMA Midwest member and director of marketing at Much Shelist, has taken the big leap and tied the proverbial knot with Randy Miller, regional technology manager at Foley & Lardner, Chicago. Stephanie and Randy were married on June 15 at the Cheney Mansion in Oak Park. They honeymooned in Hawaii. Stephanie tells us that she and Randy met at the Orlando ILTA Conference in 2007.  Finally, I say! Send hugs to Stephanie at shall@muchshelist.com.

Rachel Repke, LMA Midwest special events chair, In the Loop contributing writer and NA client development manager at Baker & McKenzie, will finally (she has been diligently planning this wedding for some time) walk down the aisle with beau, Jack Thompson, on August 31 in Whitefish, Montana. Jack recently graduated from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and will be joining A.T. Kearney this fall. Wish Rachel and Jack the very best at rachel.repke@bakermackenzie.com.

Acquisitions

Big hooray! Saving the best news for last…Cere Woods, LMA Midwest treasurer-elect and senior business development coordinator at McDermott Will & Emery, and husband, Tom, an executive at Rotary International, welcome their first baby, Nolan August Woods, born July 16 at 10:33 a.m. Nolan weighed in at a healthy 7 lbs. 5 oz. and 20” in length. Everyone is healthy and thrilled. Sincere wishes for a wonderful life for baby Nolan and ecstatic parents. Contact Cere at cerewoods@gmail.com while she is away from the office.

More very exciting news…Susan (Jacobs) Morgan, longtime LMA Midwest member and practice development manager at Holland & Knight, and husband, Gavin, manager of Oak Park Township, are “over the moon” with the arrival of first babies, yup, twins, Gabriel Walter and Jacob Dale, born May 30. Gabriel was 6 lbs. 6 oz. and brother Jacob was 7 lbs. 12 oz. H & K colleague, Kristin Vasilj, digital media/technology marketing manager, tells us the boys are absolutely adorable and that everyone is doing fine. Again, sincere best wishes to the Morgan family on this doubly blessed event. Susan can be reached at susan.morgan@hklaw.com

Kudos!

We may have neglected to congratulate Beverly Loder, marketing director at Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery LLP, and former editor of In the Loop, who has been elected as a Fellow in the College of Law Practice Management. Fellows are elected in recognition of their outstanding contributions and sustained commitment to the highest standards of professionalism in law practice management. Way to go, Bev! Send a “high five” to Bev at bloder@fitcheven.com.

Welcome to the following new LMA members since April, 2013: