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 President - Mary Ann Etzler, obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of South Florida in 1990, and her JD from Cumberland School of Law in 1995.  Mary Ann worked for the 9th Judicial Circuit, Office of the State Attorney, as a prosecutor for nearly five (5) years.  She now handles complex commercial and business matters, family law, and criminal defense cases with the firm of deBeaubien, Knight, Simmons, Mantzaris & Neal, LLP.  Prior to attending law school Mary Ann was a law enforcement officer for nearly 15 years with the City of St. Petersburg, retiring at the rank of Sergeant.  When not spending time with her husband and two young sons, in her free time Mary Ann enjoys aerobics, leisure reading, baking, and playing softball, tennis, volleyball, and craft-making activities.  Read more . . . .

President-Elect – Christine E. Arendas is with Arendas Law, P.A., and practices primarily in the fields of family, probate and guardianship law.  She is also a Certified Circuit Civil Mediator.  She graduated from the University of Central Florida, College of Business with a BSBA in Business Administration/Economics in 2002. She then went on to Barry University College of Law in Orlando where she received her J.D. in 2006.  While at Barry, Christine was the treasurer for the Women Lawyers Association from 2005 – 2007 and the recipient of the 2005 and 2006 Women Lawyer’s Association President’s Award.  Christine’s professional memberships include the OCBA, Osceola County Bar Association and CFAWL.  Christine is the proud mother of two. When she is not running her children to their various activities, cheering on her children at the ball games, or acting as a Den Leader for the Cub Scouts; she also enjoys scrap booking, theme parking and spending quality time with her family.

Treasurer – Suzanne D. Meehle graduated from the University of Alabama in Huntsville with a B.A. in English in 1991.  She has over ten years experience as a database and systems engineer and consultant for software and heath care IT firms such as Interactive Media Corporation, Avio Systems, Shared Medical Systems, and Electronic Healthcare Systems. Suzanne went on to obtain her J.D. from Barry University School of Law in 2006 and is now an associate attorney at ShuffieldLowman where she practices in the areas of corporate law, intellectual property and health law.  In her spare time, Suzanne volunteers as a Guardian ad Litem with the Legal Aid Society and is a Director on the board of the Victim Service Center of Orange County.    

Treasurer Elect - Courtney L. Milam graduated from Rhodes College with a B.A. in history and a minor in English in 2003. Courtney went on to obtain her J.D. from Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida. While at Stetson she was a member of the Client Skills Board and participated in several competitions throughout the country on the mediation and negotiation teams. Courtney is now an associate attorney at the law firm of ShuffieldLowman where she practices in commercial real estate focusing primarily on lender representation and commercial leasing. In her spare time, Courtney enjoys spending time with her family, including her two playful boxers!

Secretary - Joyce Fuller is from Falls Church, Virginia, has been practicing law for ten years, is the sole shareholder of the law firm J.C. FULLER, P.A., in Winter Park, Florida, and practices all areas of Community Association law (HOA and Condo), civil litigation, appellate practice, and corporate for profit and non-profit law.  Joyce obtained her law degree from  Stetson University College of Law with academic excellence; her Bachelor of Arts Degree in American Studies with Distinction from Eckerd College, and her Associate of Arts Degree, Summa Cum Laude, from Manatee Community College. Joyce has authored published works including  “Thanksgiving Lessons From Puritans,” Bradenton Herald;  “Legal Comments on Ramifications of Margins of Error,” Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers Annual Meeting; and "Captain Lonnie More, 10 Jet Ace - The Chief and his Dancer", Veteran’s Day 2005 publication of Fox 28, WPGX. Joyce has appeared at annual and bi-annual OCHAA legal workshops and on Orange County Public Television as a legal expert in the area of community association law. She is a former Vice-Chair of a Florida Bar Grievance Committee, and is currently serving on the Florida Bar Code of Rules of Evidence  and Unlicensed Practice of Law Committees.  Prior to law school, Joyce created the Literacy Program for the Manatee County Jail, Bradenton Florida; and served as a missionary in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.  Joyce performs locally as a Jazz singer and pianist, and she is an artist.  Joyce is also a direct descendent of Samuel and Edward Fuller signers of the Mayflower Compact, and the Great-Grandniece of Chief Justice Melville Weston Fuller, United States Supreme Court 1888-1910.  Read more . . . . 

Programs Director - Melanie C. Shoemaker Griffin earned her undergraduate degree in business finance (2003) and her law and master of business administration degrees (2006) from Florida State University. She is an associate attorney at Dean Mead and practices in the area of commercial litigation with an emphasis on contract disputes and employment law. In addition to serving on the CFAWL Board of Directors, Melanie is a member of the Steven G. Gey Foundation (Board of Directors), Orange County Regional History Center Young Professionals Advisory Board (Vice President of Philanthropy), Orange County Bar Association - Young Lawyers’ Section (At-Large Executive Board Member), City of Orlando Civil Service Board and Junior League of Greater Orlando.

 

 Orange County Bar Association Representative - Kimberly E. Lorenz is an attorney with Fisher, Rushmer, Werrenrath, Dickson, Talley & Dunlap, P. A.

  

FAWL Representative - Ashley Calhoun is an attorney with Broad and Cassel and practices in the area of tax, trusts, wills, and estates.  After receiving her undergraduate degree from Florida Southern College in advertising and graphic design, Ms. Calhoun attended Stetson University, where she earned both a Master of Business Administration and a Juris Doctor.  During her tenure at Stetson, Ms. Calhoun served as a student intern to U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas G. Wilson at the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida and Articles Editor for the Stetson Law Review.  Ms. Calhoun earned a Master of Laws in Taxation from the University of Florida College of Law, where she served as an assistant editor for the Florida Tax Review.  In 2006, the Florida Southern College chapter of Omicron Delta Kappa recognized Ms. Calhoun with its annual "Grads Made Good Award."  She is the author of published literary and scholarly works and has been active in numerous professional and community organizations, including the Estate Planning Council, Kiwanis Club of Lakeland, Junior League of Greater Lakeland, the Polk Museum of Art and the Community Foundation of Central Florida.  Ms. Calhoun is an associate in the Trusts and Estates practice group at Broad and Cassel in Orlando.

Membership Director - Laura Weis (Arango) is an attorney with Allen Norton & Blue, P.A., and practices in the area of labor and employment law.  A native Floridian, Laura was born and raised in Miami, Florida.  Leaving the warm sunshine of Miami, Laura traveled north to Tallahassee and graduated from Florida State University with a B.S. in Psychology in 1996.  During her undergraduate degree, her family relocated to Winter Park where her extended family resided.  After graduating, she worked as a legal secretary for two different local attorneys before starting law school in 1999.  Laura earned her J.D. from St. Thomas University, School of Law, in Miami, Florida.  After graduating in 2002, Laura returned to Orlando and has practiced exclusively in the labor and employment sector.  She is currently an associate with Allen, Norton & Blue and represents public and private sector clients with employment related matters, including federal and state defense litigation.

Public Relations Director - Linda Brehmer Lanosa is an Assistant County Attorney with the Orange County Attorney's Office.  She handles a wide variety of cases ranging from constitutional challenges to civil rights to contracts to code enforcement issues to other aspects of local government matters.  Prior to law, Linda was an engineer and holds degrees in both Chemical Engineering and Computer Science and Engineering.  She was recently recognized in Florida Trend as one of the elite government lawyers in Florida. 

COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Young Lawyer Committee Chair - Bridget Hefferman Labutta is an intellectual property associate with Allen, Dyer, Doppelt, Milbrath & Gilcrest, P.A., and has been a member of CFAWL since arriving in Orlando 3 years ago.  The Young Lawyer Committe was created in 2009 to better meet the needs of our association's new and prospective members.  If you are new to the legal profession, new to Central Florida, new to CFAWL, or just want an opportunity to network or socialize with other attorneys, please contact Bridget at blabutta@addmg.com. 

 

Professional Development Committee Chair - Linday Oyewale obtained a B.S. Degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University, and her J.D. from Florida State College of Law. She is a Senior Associate with the law firm of de Beaubien, Knight, Simmons, Mantzaris and Neal, LLP, where she practices Labor and Employment Law and Family Law. She serves as Special Counsel for Orange County's Grievance Adjustment Board and Assistant City Attorney for the City of St. Cloud, Florida. In 2005 Governor Jeb Bush appointed Lindsay to Commissioner of the Seminole County Housing Authority. She was reappointed by Governor Charlie Crist. Lindsay is married with three amazing children. Lindsay enjoys outdoor sports, travel and spending time with her family.