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2008-09 Board 

Note:  The biographical information is from 2008 and may now be outdated.

President - Keersten Heskin Martinez was born in Fargo, North Dakota and grew up in Syracuse New York.  She attended undergrad at the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida.  She majored in Aviation Management and Flight Techonology and while there obtained her license as a commercial pilot.  She graduated from the University of Florida College of Law in 1995.  Since graduation from law school she has been practicing with the law firm of Fisher, Rushmer, Werrenrath, Dickson, Talley & Dunlap, P.A. and has been a shareholder with the firm since 2003.   She practices primarily in the area of family law, but also does some ERISA litigation.  Keersten recently received her AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell.  She is married to Greg Martinez.  They have a two year old daughter Isabella and second baby due in October.

President-Elect - 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.

Treasurer – Christine E. Arendas 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.  Christine was the recipient of the 2005 and 2006 Women Lawyer’s Association President’s Award.  Christine is now an associate in the Law Offices of Mercedes R. Wechsler, P.A. and practices primarily in the fields of family, probate and guardianship law.  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, she enjoys scrap booking, theme parking and spending time with her family.

Secretary – 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.    

FAWL Representative – In addition to acting as FAWL Representative, Kimberly Webb is past president of CFAWL for 2006-2007.  Kimberly is an attorney in the Orlando office of Littler Mendleson, P.A., representing clients in virtually all areas of employment law, including litigation, consultation, training, and policy review.  Before coming to Florida in 2001, Kimberly served as law clerk to the Honorable Justice Annabelle Clinton Imber of the Arkansas Supreme Court and, before that, to the Honorable Judge Judith Rogers of the Arkansas Court of Appeals. Kimberly is the proud mom of two beautiful kids:  Nicholas (who just finished second grade and has inherited his mother’s love of art) and Sylvia (who just graduated high school and has inherited Kimberly’s love of shopping!)

Public Relations Director – Sarah P. L. Reiner spent her early years in the small town of Man, WV, but after moving South at the age of 10 she quickly made Central Florida her home.  Sarah attended the University of Florida for seven wonderful years, and obtained both her undergraduate and JD degrees there.  Although she initially practiced transactional law, she later found her niche in litigation.  She now practices employment and labor law (for management) with the firm of GrayRobinson, P.A.  Sarah is very proud to be a past president of CFAWL.  When Sarah is not doting on her nephew, Brayden, or her niece, Avery, she is most likely spending time with friends or volunteering as a member of the Board of Directors for BETA Center, Inc., a local non-profit organization serving the needs of children and families in Central Florida. 

Membership Director -  Alyson Innes is a true Florida native and was born in Hollywood, Florida. She graduated from Nova Southeastern University (NSU) with a Bachelor of Science degree With Distinction in 2000, and received the school’s three highest honors - the James Farquhar Award for Undergraduate Studies, the Liberal Arts Department Award, and the Distinguished Student Award. Alyson graduated cum laude from the University of Miami, School of Law with her Juris Doctor in 2003. She served as Editor-in-Chief of the University of Miami Business Law Review in 2003. Alyson M. Innes has been practicing as a trial lawyer since 2003. She practiced for over two years with the Office of the Public Defender in Orange County, Florida, handling more than 15 jury trials, 20 non-jury trials, and numerous motion hearings. Alyson was named “Rookie of the Year” in 2004 by the Office of the Public Defender. Alyson started her civil litigation practice in 2006. Alyson recently became an in house attorney with Zurich North America.  She is admitted to practice before the State Courts of Florida, and the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida. When not focusing on work, Alyson loves spending time with her family and photography.

OCBA Representative – Jamie Billotte Moses was born in Escondido, California and grew up on Orange, California. She attended the University of California at Los Angeles where she obtained her B.A. in Political Science. She was very active in student government and her sorority and received several awards, including the Chancellor’s Service Award. She obtained her law degree from the University of Notre Dame. While at Notre Dame Law School, Ms. Moses was a Thomas J. White Scholar. Since moving to Florida in 1994, she has been very active in local and state bar associations, including serving as President of the Young Lawyers Division of The Florida Bar. She also served on the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar in 2004 - 2006. Ms. Moses is a shareholder at Fisher, Rushmer, Werrenrath, Dickson, Talley & Dunlap, P.A. where she handles the firm’s appeals. She also litigates in the area of professional malpractice and licensure issues. She currently serves as the Chair of the OCBA Appellate Practice Committee and serves on the Appellate Court Rules Committee. She is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell and was selected for Florida’s Legal Elite in 2006.  Ms. Moses is a single mother of two and an avid triathlete.

Programs Director - Melanie C. Shoemaker 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.

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!