Vested Interest June/July 2019

Many asked if I was prepared for the task of becoming the next President of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. Without hesitation, my answer was an unequivocal “yes.” There is a reason one is an officer for three years prior to assuming the mantle of leadership. The learning curve is steep and requires strong participation during those years, or else, indeed, you will be unprepared. However, no one really asked me if I was prepared for the day of the installation and the profound effect it would have upon me. There is no doubt that the ITLA staff prepared me adequately for the substance of the day and everything ran smoothly and wonderfully. What I wasn’t prepared for was the emotion of the day and the brick that hit me during the dinner program realizing what it truly means to be ITLA President. Sharing a spotlight with Robert Clifford and the austere group of past presidents in the audience was unquestionably daunting. Nonetheless, I remain humbled and honored to be at the helm for the upcoming year. With the steady guiding of James Collins, I remain confident we will have a terrific term.

It would be disingenuous of me not to acknowledge the huge year that Mark Prince had and how relatively easy he made it for me assuming his role this year. Mark proved himself the leader he is, and we all owe a great deal of gratitude to him. [read more]