Northwest Suburban Bar Association Installs New Officers
The Northwest Suburban Bar Association celebrated its new year June 20, with its Installation Dinner and swearing-in of new officers.
The Honorable William O. Maki, presiding judge of the Third Municipal District of the Circuit Court of Cook County, performed the installation and swearing-in of new officers: Michael A. Meschino, president; William F. Kelley, executive vice president; Ronald F. Wittmeyer, first vice president; Nichole M. Waltz, second vice president; and Jay A. Andrew, treasurer. Secretary Michael Rothmann was not present.
Judge Maki also installed those members serving new terms on the Board of Governors: Allen S. Gabe, Colin Gilbert, Michael Lightfoot and Joseph Vito, all of whom will serve from 2013-16. Louis Capozzoli is association attorney and Steve Koukios is parliamentarian for 2013-14.
The NWSBA, beginning its 54th year, includes more than 650 attorneys and associates who live or practice in the northwest suburbs.
Allen S. Gabe was master of ceremonies for the evening, held at Maggiano's Little Italy in Schaumburg.
Outgoing President Neil H. Good talked briefly of his year at the helm of the association. The many accomplishments were achieved as the result of the association's committee system, he said, listing the chairs of every NWSBA committee. Good also saluted incoming President Meschino for his loyalty and integrity, and then presented him with the president's gavel.
Meschino said he is “humbled to be the incoming president” and thanked his fellow officers and directors for their outstanding work. He said he wants to follow through on existing programs, and also outlined three goals: to communicate more effectively with the membership, to work through and energize the committee structure and to increase the diversity of the association, the average membership of which is “51, white and male.” He wants to reinvigorate the Young Lawyers Committee and hopes to help the association to be “the rival of every organization in the state.”
Meschino then introduced attorney Jay S. Judge, the recipient of the NWSBA's 2013 President's Award for Distinguished Public Service.
The longtime attorney has more than 40 years of experience with jury trials, liability and insurance coverage appeals. He is founding partner of Judge, James & Kujawa, LLC of Park Ridge, which defends individuals, companies and governmental bodies such as park and school districts, townships, municipalities and housing authorities, against personal injury claims. The firm also represents insurance companies in litigation over insurance coverage.
In the belief that attorneys should help educate and mentor fellow lawyers, Judge also has for more than 35 years written the “In Federal Courts” column for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, and also writes a column on Illinois law for Township Perspective.
Sponsors of the 2013 Installation Dinner were: ADR Systems; American Financial Concepts; Elite Deposition Technologies; Kelley, Kelley & Kelley, Attorneys at Law; Market JD; and Runco Office Supply. Limousine service for the evening was provided by the Law Offices of Neil H. Good and Rafi Arbel of Market JD.