| President - Marilyn Harms ~ Email:
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Marilyn has been employed by Hardin County Attorney’s
Office for the past 24 years. She works primarily
in criminal law. Prior to that, Marilyn worked
a private law firm for 8 years.
Marilyn attended Iowa State University. She
received her CLA designation from NALA in 1990. Marilyn
has served on the IALA Board of Directors in many capacities
including Ethics Chair, Bar Liaison, and 1st Vice President.
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| FIrst Vice-President - Diana Benda |
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| Second Vice-President - Faye
Kunz |
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Faye has been employed by Wells Fargo & Company
for 28 years, first as a legal secretary, then as a
legal assistant. After working in the corporate area
of the company for 26 years, Faye transferred to the
examinations and licensing section of the law department,
where she now works as a compliance consultant.
Faye has served in numerous positions with the Iowa
Association of Legal Assistants. She is currently Past
President and Original Notice Editor.
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Treasurer – Rhonda Henning
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Rhonda is currently employed with Buckmeier & Daane
Lawyers PC in Sioux City, Iowa, as a paralegal - office manager
for the past twelve years. Her attorneys are primarily trial
attorneys and practice in Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota.
Rhonda has obtained a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice,
an Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal/Legal Assistant,
and an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Accounting.
She has served in numerous positions with the Iowa Association
of Legal Assistants such as Treasurer, 2006 Spring Seminar
Chair, Placement Chairperson, and Region 3 Director.
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| Secretary - Sherry Darnielle |
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DMACC graduate - 1986 AS Legal Assistant Degree
William Penn University - 2001 BA Degree in Business
Drake University - 2004 Masters in Public Administration
Sherry worked as a paralegal for small private
law firms for approximately 10 years and is experienced in
personal injury, medical malpractice, and asbestos class
action litigation. She worked for a private company
contracted with Child Support Recovery Unit for 5 years establishing
child support court order and paternity. For the past
5 years Sherry has worked for Wells Fargo. For the
past 2.5 years, she has been the Operations Manager of the
legal department.
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| NALA Liaison - Melissa Wickerath, ACP |
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Melissa has been employed as a legal assistant with Casey’s
General Stores Corporate Headquarters in Ankeny, Iowa for
the past three years, working in the area of real estate. She
graduated from Hamilton College in Cedar Falls in 2003 with
an Associates degree in Paralegal Studies. She is also
currently working on her Bachelor’s degree through
Kaplan University. In addition, she attained her CLA
in 2006. Most recently she has been selected to participate
in NALA’s LEAP program.
Melissa began her involvement in IALA as a student member
and has served on various committees prior to her current
appointment as elections and nominations chair.
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Iowa Bar Liason - Lynnsey Bowen
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Lynnsey Bowen graduated with an AS degree from the Legal
Assistant Program at Iowa Lakes Community College. She
attended the University of Iowa. In 2000, Lynnsey joined
IALA. She has held the positions of Secretary and is
current the Iowa Bar Liaison. Lynnsey is currently
employed at Cook, Brown & Scott, PLC in Des Moines,
Iowa working primarily in the areas of personal injury and
medical malpractice.
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| Public Relations Liaison - Christina Smith |
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Christina Smith is currently employed at Pharmacists Mutual
Insurance Company in Algona, IA as a compliance specialist.
Christina is a 2006 graduate of Hamilton College in Mason
City with an Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies. She is
currently taking various classes in insurance through Pharmacists
Mutual.
Christina is married to Gerald Smith and has two children.
Christina and her family reside in Belmond.
Serving as PR Liaison is Christina’s first position
on the board.
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| Past President - Sheri L Womble |
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Sheri is currently employed at Peddicord Law Firm, which
she has held the position of Legal Assistant/Paralegal for
the last 6 years in the area of Workers' Compensation and
Personal Injury in both Claimant/Plaintiff and defensive
litigation.
Sheri graduated from Des Moines Area Community College
attaining her Legal Assistant Degree. She became active in
the Iowa Association of Legal Assistants Association as a
student member. Sheri has served as the Region V Director,
1st Vice President and is currently serving as the President
for the Association. She has assisted with seminars and has
visited colleges at DMACC and Hamilton College in Des Moines
speaking with legal assistant students. As a member of the
National Association of Legal Assistants, Sheri represented
the Iowa Association of Legal Assistants at the NALA Convention
in Kansas City in 2005.
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| Region II Director - Rhonda Deters - ACP |
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Scholarship Co-Chair - Peggy L. Patters
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Past Positions Held - Paula Grady Memorial
Education Scholarship Committee (1997-2007)
Peggy Patters is a paralegal with the law firm
of Brady & O'Shea, P.C. She earned her Associate
of Arts with honors in the Legal Assistant program at Kirkwood
Community College and has been practicing as a litigation
paralegal since 1988. She is a member of the Iowa Association
of Legal Assistants and a paralegal member of American Association
for Justice (formerly Association of Trial Lawyers of America). Ms.
Patters has assisted in jury trials in state and federal
courts. Her main focus is in the areas of personal
injury and business litigation. She has served on several
IALA seminar committees in the past, coordinated speakers
and presenters for regional meetings and presented as a speaker
on several occasions. Peggy is proud to have served on the
Paula Grady Memorial Education Scholarship Committee since
its inception in 1997.
Peggy is married to Keith and lives in Marion, Iowa. She
has three children and six grandchildren. In
her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her children
and grandchildren, traveling, music and photography.
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School Liason - Traci Evans
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School Liaison - Iowa Western Community College
Traci has been with the Law Offices of Roger L. Sawatzke
since June 15,
1998. She received her Associate of Science degree in Paralegal
Studies
from Iowa Western Community College in 1998. Traci is currently
a
full-time student at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.
She works
primarily in the areas of personal injury litigation, workers'
compensation, and railroad litigation.
Professional Affiliations / Community Activities:
Editor/Publisher of the Original Notice for the Iowa Association
of
Legal Assistants 2004-2005; NALA Liaison 2005-2007; First
Vice President
of the Iowa Association of Legal Assistants 2002-2004; Region
4 Director
of the Iowa Association of Legal Assistants 2000-2002; Iowa
Association
of Legal Assistants Liaison to the National Association of
Legal
Assistants 2006; Iowa Western Community College Student Liaison
2000-2007; Iowa Western Paralegal Advisory Board 2000-2007;
Business
Professionals of America 1995-1996; Secretary/Treasurer of
the Legal
Studies Association 1996-1997; Iowa Western Mock Trial Team
Member 1997;
National Association of Legal Assistants 2001-2005; and Legal
Support
Professionals of Iowa 2001.
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