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IOWA ASSOCIATION OF LEGAL ASSISTANTS
PO Box 93153
Des Moines, Iowa 50393

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President - Rhonda Henning

Rhonda Henning

 

 

 

 

Rhonda is currently employed with Buckmeier & Daane Lawyers PC in Sioux City, Iowa, as a paralegal - office manager since 1995. 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, 2008 & 2006 Spring Seminar Chair, Placement Chairperson, and Region 3 Director.

 

If any member has specific questions regarding the association, please feel free to contact me at henningr@buckmeierdaane.com or membership@ialanet.org.

 
FIrst Vice-President & Seminar Committee Chair - Lynn DeGroot

Lynn is currently employed as a paralegal with the law office of Roxanne Conlin & Associates, P.C. in Des Moines, Iowa.  For the past two years she has worked in the areas of civil, employment, medical malpractice, and class action law.  Prior to that, Lynn worked as a paralegal in Kentucky and Missouri for 6 years practicing bankruptcy, estate planning, business, family, and criminal law.

 

Lynn received her Bachelor of Science degree from Western Illinois University and her Paralegal Certificate from Harper College in Palatine, IL.  First Vice-President is Lynn’s first position on the IALA Board of Directors.

 
Second Vice-President & Membership Committee Chair - Sherry Darnielle
Sherry Darnielle

Sherry is employed as legal assistant/paralegal for total of 20 years, currently working in the areas of litigation, operations, and management of support staff at Wells Fargo Law Department.  she has an AA degree in Legal Assistant; BA in Business Management in 2001; and a Masters in Public Administration in 2004. Sherry has worked as a paralegal for many years in personal injury and medical malpractice. While her focus is now more on corporate litigation, operations, and staff management, it is a challenge that she has embraced as it provides new learning experiences on a daily basis. Sherry has held the positions of  Region 5 Director, School Liaison at DMACC, and Secretary for IALA.

 

Treasurer & Budget and Finance Chair – Janine Plettner-Glodt, CP

Janine Plettner-Glodt, CP is a Paralegal for American Equity Investment life Insurance Company In West Des Moines, Iowa. She received her Bachelor of Liberal Studies from Iowa State University in 1995, and her Paralegal Certificate from DMACC in 1999. She earned the CP designation from NALA in 2004. Janine has been a paralegal for 10 years, and has worked primarily in-house for insurance and annuity companies.

 
Secretary & Elections and Nominations Chair - Tracy L. McGee
 

 

 
NALA Liaison, Certified Legal Assistant Chair & Past President- Marilyn Harms, CLA

Marilyn Harms, IALA President

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.

 

Iowa Bar Liason & New Laws and Legislature Chair - Mark Brooks

Mark Brooks

Employer: Nationwide Insurance working in litigation.

 

Education: Received Bachelors Degree in History from Iowa State in 1995. Completed legal assistant certificate in 2003. Mark also has three Associate Degrees from the Community College of the Air Force.

 

Background: Mark has been married to his wife Teri for 38 years and has two children and six grandchildren. Mark and Teri adopted their oldest granddaughter in 1991.

 

Mark retired from the United States Air Force as a Master Sergeant after 22 years. For his first 12 years in the Air Force he worked as a Security Policeman performing nuclear security here at home and air base defense overseas. He completed his last 10 years as a weapons instructor. In his last assignment he was the Superintendent of Small Arms Training at Hurlburt Field, Fl. In this position, he was responsible for 15 enlisted men and women and one DOD civilian. Mark was also responsible for an annual operating budget of $26,000.00. His unit was responsible for all small arms training for 3 Air Force installations translating to about 20,000 individuals annually. His unit was also responsible for all weapons maintenance for these installations.

 

After completing his degree at Iowa State, Mark substitute taught in the Des Moines school system for a year. He then started working as a technical writer at the John Deere plant in Ankeny for its tillage equipment. Mark then started working as the technical writer for Ag Leader Technology in Ames. After being laid off from Ag Leader in 2002, Mark returned to school and took obtained his legal assistant training.

 

Mark started working as a legal assistant in 2003 part-time with Grefe & Sidney, PLC in Des Moines and then went full-time after completing his training at DMACC. In 2006, he moved to Peddicord, Wharton, Spencer, Hook, Barron and Wegman, LLP until 2008 when he began working at Nationwide. All of these firms were focused on litigation, primarily insurance defense work, and workers' compensation.

 
Public Relations Liaison - Patty Nearmyer
Patty Nearmyer

Patty is employed at Anderson & Tully for 5 years in the areas of practice are Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice. She has been a Paralegal for 10 years, a Legal Secretary for 5 years before that. She has attended Hamilton Business College in Legal Executive Administration; Des Moines Area Community College in Business Administration; and is taking on-line classes at DMACC.

 

New Laws & Legislature Chair -

 

 

Ethics Committee Chair & Historian - Jacque Wilbur, CLA

Jacque Wilbur

Jacque Wilbur joined the Wells Fargo Law Department paralegal team in 2004. She provides support to branch stores in the area of real estate in addition to operations and legislative support to in-house attorneys.

 

Before coming to Wells Fargo Jacque was a legal assistant for over ten years in areas primarily encompassing workers compensation insurance defense, litigation, personal injury, and family law. In the seventeen years prior to beginning her career in the law field, Jacque was a General Manager for Dobbs Houses, Inc. Jacque is a long-standing member of IALA.

 

On IALA's Board she previously held positions as Secretary, Region V Director, and Treasurer. She is the current Editor of the Original Notice (ON). In 1997, Jacque earned her Associates of Science Degree (Legal Assistant) from DMACC and successfully attained her CLA designation through NALA in 1999.

 

Audit Committee Chair - Rosie Starr

Rosie Starr

 

 
Editor, Original Notice - Open
 

 

 
Region I Director - Nikki Thompson
Nikki Thompson

Employer: Miller, Pearson, Gloe, Burns, Beatty & Cowie, PLC, Decorah, IA; Nikki has been employed as a paralegal since 1996 and has over 13 years of experience in the legal field. Sheiscurrently working in the areas of family law, personal injury, insurance defense along with some workman's compensation. Nikki received her A.S. degree in paralegal studies from Iowa Lakes Community College and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in political science from Buena Vista University. She has worked for the Miller Law Firm since June of 1996. Nikki is looking forward to meeting more members of the IALA and becoming a more active participant of the IALA organization.

 
Region II Director - Becky Lohrbach, CLA

Becky is currently working in the areas of workers compensation, administrative law, employment law, insurance, probate, and real estate. She earned by CLA in January 1991. Becky is working as an in-house legal assistant for ABCM Corporation for the past 15 years. Prior to that she worked in a law office for 14 years for a sole practitioner in a variety of areas. Becky is looking forward to networking with legal assistants across the state and hope to be able to meet some of the IALA members in my region. She also hopes to educate other legal assistants on the benefits of belonging to IALA.

 
Region III Director - Laurie Bolluyt
 
 
Region IV Director - Valeriya Andronova

BIOGRAPHY: currently employed at Peters Law Firm, P.C., Council Bluffs IA.

 

Born and raised in Kursk, Russia. Moved to Ames, IA in 2001. Graduated from Ames High School in 2003 with honors. Attended ISU 2003-2007, was a treasurer of the Russian club, member of Criminal Justice Club. Received Outstanding Freshman and Sophomore Awards for academic excellence and highest GPA in Sociology Department in 2003 and 2004. Completed a full time summer internship with U.S. Federal Probation, Southern District of Iowa, pre-sentence investigation unit. Volunteered at ACCESS battered women shelter. Graduated from Iowa State University with distinction in 2007, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice, Sociology and Political Science minor. Attended DMACC from May 2009 to May 2010 for the certificate of specialization in Legal Assistants.  Worked as a student ambassador. Completed an internship with LaMarca and Landry, PC., where was able to acquire my first experience in the area of personal injury litigation. Was on the President’s list in the summer of 2009 and fall 2010. Graduated with honors in May 2010.  I have just begun my career as a paralegal in the area of personal injury litigation. Plan on taking CLA exam in the next year. Enjoy camping, cooking, kayaking, traveling, outdoors, and nature. I am excited to be more involved with IALA as a Region IV Director, and look forward to meeting more members of IALA.

 
Region V Director - Bethany Hempel
Bethany Hempel

Bethany received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Iowa in Political Science and received her Certificate of Specialization in Legal Assistant from the Des Moines Area Community College. Bethany began working as a Legal Assistant at Iowa Legal Aid on the Equal Justice Project in October 2007. The Equal Justice Project is a specialized division of Iowa Legal Aid that not only seeks to protect victims from domestic abuse, but to develop and identify best practices in lifting families from abuse through advocacy and research. Bethany worked in the areas of divorce law, housing, administrative law, and small claims. As an IALA member, Bethany enjoys getting to know other IALA members, receiving resources, and learning new ways to improve her position as a legal assistant at Iowa Legal Aid.

 
Region VI Director  & Technology and Placement Committee Chair - Denise M. Wall, CP
Denise Wall

Denise M. Wall was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She earned her associates' degree in paralegal studies from Kirkwood Community College in 1992 and received her bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa in 2003. Ms. Wall earned her CP (certified paralegal) designation in 2000.

 

Ms. Wall has experience in the areas of workers' compensation, personal injury, employment litigation, and commercial litigation. Currently, she works primarily in workers' compensation and personal injury.

 

Ms. Wall has served as President, First Vice President, Iowa Bar Liaison, NALA Liaison, Secretary, Region VI Director, and Webmaster of the Iowa Association of Legal Assistants since 1997. She has chaired numerous IALA seminar committees. Ms. Wall is a member of the National Association of Legal Assistants.

 
Region VII Director - Open
 
 
Region VIII Director - Open
 
 

Scholarship Co-Chair - Peggy L. Patters

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. 

 

Scholarship Co-Chair - Jill Jamieson

 

 

School Liasons

Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) - Des Moines - Sherry Darnielle

Iowa Lakes Community College - Estherville - Jill Freed, CLA

Kaplan University- Mason City - Christina Hoeft

Kaplan University - Davenport - open

Kirkwood Community College - Cedar Rapids - Sue Wilkinson

Western Iowa Tech Community College - Sioux City - Rhonda Henning

Iowa Western Community College - Council Bluffs - open


 

 

 

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