Background
Senior Counsel for ProMedica Health System
Editor-in-Chief of #1 Best Selling Book Series Life's Cheat Sheets
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Earned BA in Sociology, Magna Cum Laude at the University of Toledo.
Earned and maintained full-tuition scholarship to the University of Toledo College of Law.
LSAT Instructor at Kaplan Test Preparation.
Law Clerk at DeNune & Killam, Marshall & Melhorn, and Cooper, Walinski & Cramer.
University of Toledo Law Review Member, Editor, and and published Author.
Authored “Binding Arbitration of Employment Disputes: Opposing Pre-Dispute Agreements.”
Earned Top Student Honor in: Trial Practice, Employment, Trusts & Estates.
Ranked #1 with 4.0 GPA in first semester of law school and remained in top 6 throughout program.
Graduated UT Law Magna Cum Laude, top-ranked female student.
Member of Order of the Coif (top 10% law class).
Licensed Attorney in Ohio and Michigan.
Developed civil litigation practice focusing on employment, professional malpractice defense, and civil rights enforcement at Cooper & Walinski, LPA, the largest majority women-owned law firm in the US.
Joined the law firm in 1997 as an Associate Attorney.
Within five years, in 2002, became Partner/Shareholder.
Elected to the firm's Board of Directors in 2004.
Mentored associates as Associate Development Supervisor for five years.
Served on Recruiting, Long-Range Planning, Technology, Marketing, and Employment Law committees.
Joined HCR ManorCare as in-house Legal Counsel in 2009.
Responsible for negotiating and resolving patient care matters throughout the country for a leading provider of short- and long-term medical and rehabilitation care, with a nationwide network of skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers, assisted living facilities, outpatient rehabilitation clinics, and home health & hospice providers.
Senior Counsel for ProMedica, a not-for-profit health system serving communities in 28 states, pursuant to ProMedica's acquisition of HCR ManorCare.
Editor-in-Chief of Life’s Cheat Sheets: Crucial Success Habits School Never Taught You, #1 Best-Selling book series.
Promoting launch and growth of Financial Relief University.
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AND RECOGNITION
Former Board Member for The Toledo Hospital.
Former Board Member for the University of Toledo College of Law Alumni Affiliate
Former volunteer mediator for Toledo Municipal Court’s Citizens Dispute Resolution Program.
Chaired Toledo Bar Association’s Labor & Employment Law Committee.
Past Secretary of Toledo Bar Association’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee.
Pro bono and public interest work contributed to firm’s 2000 Public Interest Law Award.
Appointed by Chief Judge James Carr to United States District Court Advisory Board.
Selected as Judge for Vestige e-Discovery Awards 2007 and 2008.
Winner of one of Toledo’s 20 Under 40 Leaders’ awards in 2010.
Former volunteer coach and judge in high school mock trial competitions.
Successfully challenged discrimination and enforced fair housing laws to ensure equal access.
Advocated for individuals with disabilities to obtain reasonable accommodations.
Sought Civil Protective Orders pro bono for victims of domestic violence.
Speaker on topics including Hiring, Firing and Employee Discipline; Medical Record Confidentiality, & e-Discovery.
Former Little Flower Catholic Church Member, Student, and Vocalist.
Current Epworth United Methodist Church Member and Wesley Group Member.
EUMC Volunteer for Adopt-A-Family, Meals at Cherry Street Mission, Furniture Ministry, Feed 5000.
Former EUMC Vocalist with Christian Contemporary Band, Rise.
Arrested for MDA’s Lock-Up, Chaired United Way campaign, Walked in American Heart Association’s Heart Walk, American Cancer Society’s Daffodil Days Committee Member, Volunteer/Donor/Contributor for Habitat for Humanity, Assistance Dogs of America, Toledo Area Humane Society, Toledo Zoo, St. Paul’s, Cherry Street Mission, Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, United Health Services, Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Toledo Rotary, Mobile Meals, Junior League, Lourdes University, ProMedica, University of Toledo, Make-A-Wish, Boys and Girls Club, LPGA, Fayette Booster Club, HCR ManorCare Hug Fund, United Way, Central Catholic Alumni, UT Alumni & UT Law Alumni.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Pickleball
Golf
Goat Yoga, Stand-up Paddleboat Yoga
Attending local sporting events such as UT football, basketball, and volleyball and Toledo Mud Hens baseball.
Reading, Photography, Zumba, Spin, and Social Media.
Assist with commercial and residential real estate purchases, rehabilitation, and sales.
PERSONAL BIOGRAPHY
Born and raised in Toledo, Ohio in a multigenerational home.
Attended Little Flower Catholic School.
Graduated from Central Catholic High School with Honors.
Attended Miami University for 3 semesters before earning degrees at the University of Toledo.
Met my husband, Jeff, while we both worked for Job Coaching Services, a company dedicated to helping people with disabilities develop skills and find and maintain permanent community employment.
Married in 1999 and live in Sylvania Township with our two bichon-maltese sisters.