Georgette M. Lovelace, RP®: Georgette earned a bachelor's degree in legal studies from Quinnipiac University in 1980, and has worked continuously as a paralegal since that time. She currently works as a litigation manager in the Litigation Life Department at The Hartford. Her previous paralegal experience has been in the areas of professional malpractice defense, municipal defense, plaintiff's personal injury litigation, healthcare law, probate and estates, residential and commercial real estate, and foreclosures. In 1981 Georgette was one of the founding members of the New Haven County Association of Paralegals. From 1981 through 2005 she served that organization as treasurer, secretary, first vice president, newsletter editor, bylaws chairman and president. Georgette served as NFPA secondary for her local association from 2002 to 2006. She was a member of NFPA's budget committee from 2003 to 2006, and served as NFPA's Case Law Coordinator from 2004 to 2006. Most recently she served as NFPA's Treasurer and Director of Finance from 2006 to 2008. She has served on the Legal Studies Advisory Committee for the University of New Haven since 2004. She became a PACE Registered Paralegal in June, 2005.
Vice President & Director of Profession Development
Theresa A. Prater, RP®, Vice President & Director of Profession Development, is a senior paralegal/litigation specialist in the Valley of the Sun (Phoenix metro area) and has more than 25 years of litigation experience in healthcare law, personal injury and commercial litigation. Long active in paralegal associations locally and nationally, Theresa earned her designation as a PACE Registered Paralegal in 1998. She served as the primary delegate from the former Arizona Association of Professional Paralegals for many years, and as NFPA's Continuing Legal Education Coordinator for five years. From May 2006 through October 2009, Theresa served on the NFPA Board as the Region I Director, and was chair of the Region Directors for the 2008 – 2009 term. Theresa is a founding member of the Maricopa County (AZ) Bar Association's Paralegal Division and serves as a member of the advisory board of Everest College and is on their adjunct faculty. Her goals as VPPD are to expand opportunities for online learning through expansion of NFPA online CLE and through partnerships with NFPA Corporate Partners, such as IPE.
Vice President & Director of Positions and Issues
Tracey L. Young, RP®
is a litigation paralegal for the E. Stewart Jones Law Firm, PLLC in Troy, New York practicing in the areas of plaintiff’s personal injury and medical malpractice. With 25 years of experience, she has worked in a variety of areas of law, including family law, real estate, collections, estates, personal injury and miscellaneous civil litigation. Tracey joined the Albany Legal Assistants Association in 1995 which later became the Capital District Paralegal Association (CDPA). She was instrumental in CDPA’s decision to join NFPA in 2001. Tracey served two terms as president and vice president of CDPA as well as secretary, newsletter editor and six years as delegate to NFPA. Tracey is also a member of the Albany County Bar Association, Capital District Trial Lawyers Association and the Empire State Alliance of Paralegal Associations. Most recently, Tracey served as NFPA’s Director of Region V for the 2007-2008 term. She was a member of the planning committee for the 2008 Tech Institute. She previously served as NFPA Regulation Review Coordinator from June 2006 to October 2007 and was a speaker at the 2007 NFPA Regulation Conference. Tracey was the keynote speaker at the Massachusetts CLE 2008 Paralegal Conference on the topic, “Regulation – The Future of the Paralegal Profession” and also spoke at the 2008 Paralegal Conference sponsored by the Paralegal Association of New Hampshire on “What the Future Holds for the Paralegal Profession”. Tracey earned a BA degree in Sociology magna cum laude from the University of Virginia, a Master of Science in Urban Planning from Columbia University and a paralegal certificate from the American Institute of Paralegal Studies. She has been a PACE Registered Paralegal since December 2000.
Vice President & Director of Membership
Mary J. McLaughlin. RP®
Paralegal to Ronald J. Shingler and Aaron H. Simon
Simon & Shingler, LLP
3220 Lone Tree Way, #100
Antioch, CA 94509
BA -Business Administration - St. Mary’s College - Moraga, 1988
Paralegal Certificate - St. Mary’s College - Moraga - 1990
Notary Public - Since 1995
Member of San Francisco Paralegal Association (SFPA)
California Alliance of Paralegal Associations (CAPA)
National Federation of Paralegal Association (NFPA)
National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA)
National Notary Association
I worked in the paralegal field for over 19 years. Following a 29.5 year, multi faceted employment history with Chevron Corporation and Chevron USA, Inc. I retired in 1999. I began working for Hobin, Shingler, & Simon, LLP in June, 2002. When the law firm split in 2008, I continued working for Simon & Shingler, LLP. I have a diverse background in Civil Litigation, Workers’ Compensation, Bankruptcy, Accounting and Medical Records Review.
I am active in organizations which promote paralegal professionalism, (SFPA, CAPA and NFPA). I served in all Board capacities in the San Francisco Paralegal Association (SFPA). Within NFPA, I served as the Membership Benefits Coordinator, Co-coordinator for Pro Bono, the NFPA Liaison to the ABA Pro Bono and Public Service Committee, and the Budget Committee. I am currently the Vice President & Director of Membership for the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA). I work with numerous retirement homes on a pro bono basis assisting residents in setting up wills and notarizing documents.
My hobbies include reading, cooking, gardening, card making and scrap-booking. I reside in Rio Vista, California with my two cats, Smokey Joe and Samantha.
Vice President & Director of Paralegal Certification
Ann W. Price, RP®is a Paralegal Specialist in the United States Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division in Washington, D.C. Ann received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA and her paralegal certificate from Merritt College in Oakland, CA. Ann passed the Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam in May 2002. Ann has been a paralegal for over 23 years, and worked on both plaintiff and defense sides in large and small law firms in several in diverse practice areas, including environmental law, product liability, personal injury, legal and medical malpractice, insurance litigation and food and drug law. Ann has also worked as a paralegal manager. Currently a member of the Paralegal Association of Northern Virginia, Ann served on the National Capital Area Paralegal Association’s (NCAPA) Board of Directors for over 6 years, holding various positions including President-Elect, First Vice President, Chair of the Executive Committee, PACE Ambassador, NFPA Primary and Secondary, Chairman of the Scholarship Committee and Speakers' Bureau. Ann also served as NFPA’s Assistant Coordinator for PACE Ambassadors for 3 years before election to the position of Vice President and Director of PACE. Ann is a frequent speaker at paralegal CLE events and locally.
Vice President & Director of Marketing
Isabel Quintana has been the Paralegal at the Glendale (CA) City Attorney’s Office since 2002. In addition to litigation matters, Isabel also handles the Workers’ Compensation subrogation cases, restitution cases involving damage to city property and reviews subpoenas served on the various city departments. She is also the Administrative Hearing Officer involving Parking Citations and is the City representative in Small Claims Actions filed against the City. In November 2007, Isabel graduated from the Glendale Supervisor Academy, an in-house training program developed by the City of Glendale. Isabel received her Associates Degree in Paralegal Studies from Phillips Junior College in Encino, California in February 1993. In August 1999, she received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Paralegal Studies from the University of LaVerne in LaVerne, California. She graduated with Departmental Honors and was the recipient of a 1999 Academic Achievement Award. She was also honored with being selected to the Dean’s List for two semesters. In 2008, Isabel completed her Master of Arts in Organization Leaderhip at Woodbury University in Burbank, California. Isabel is a member of the San Francisco Paralegal Association and has served as the NFPA Membership Growth Coordinator and as the Region I representative of the Strategic Planning Committee, Legislative Committee and Marketing Committee. She is an Associate Member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. Recently, she was also selected to be a member of the Review Board for the Internet Paralegal Education section of the National Business Institute. Isabel also serves on the Advisory Board of the paralegal program at the University of LaVerne where she also speaks to students about the paralegal profession. She is involved in various Pro Bono and community service projects, including Public Counsel where she assists with Adoption Day and in 2004 received the Volunteer of the Year Award from their Community Development Project. She has been an active participant in NFPA Navy Legalman Community Service Project.
Treasurer & Director of Finance
Karen Santagata, RP® has over 20 years experience in the legal field. She is currently a paralegal at American Greetings Corporation in Cleveland, Ohio, specializing in employment, litigation, immigration, insurance defense and product safety.She has also worked in oil and gas, probate, subrogation, medical malpractice and real estate.Karen received her paralegal certificate in 2003 from the American Institute of Paralegals, Inc. (AIPS) and became a PACE Registered Paralegal in 2007.She is a member of the Cleveland Association of Paralegals, Inc. where she served as Director of Membership, Treasurer and PACE Ambassador.Before assuming the role of NFPA Treasurer and Director of Finance, Karen was the Case Law Coordinator and the PACE Coordinator – Education, and also served on the 2007 Tech Institute Speakers Committee.Karen mentors paralegal students at local colleges and paralegal programs and was the key note speaker for the first paralegal graduating class at StautenzbergerCollege in Strongsville, Ohio.She has developed online CLE seminars for AIPS, including Technology for the Litigation Paralegal and Practical Skills for the Litigation Paralegal.Most recently, Karen developed and facilitates a technology workshop for AIPS, together with teaching its ethics course for paralegals.
Secretary & Director of Operations
Stephen P. Imondi, RP® has been employed as a Legal Assistant with BrownUniversity's General Counsel's office in Providence, Rhode Island since 1989.Stephen is a general paralegal but does much of his work in the areas of litigation, non-profit corporate law, employment law, education law, and legal research. From 1985 to 1989, Stephen worked for Rhode Island's Lt. Governor, Richard A. Licht.During his time in that office Stephen worked on legislative and policy issues, including research on legislative and policy issues and attending legislative committee hearings, constituent services, and a number of other projects. Stephen graduated from the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) with an Associate's Degree in Business Administration and from RogerWilliamsUniversity with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Administration and a Masters Degree in Public Administration.He received a Certificate in Paralegal Studies from the American Institute for Paralegal Studies.He was the first paralegal in Rhode Island to complete the National Federation of Paralegal Association's (NFPA) Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE) and earn the "Registered Paralegal" (RP) designation. Stephen is a member of the Rhode Island Paralegal Association where he has served as a board member, secretary, vice president and president.Before assuming his role as Secretary and Director of Operations, Stephen was RIPA’s Secondary Representative to NFPA and its policy and issues coordinator.He was also serving at NFPA’s Ethics Board Chair.Previously, Stephen served NFPA as Case Law Coordinator, Legislative Coordinator and Vice President for Positions and Issues (filling and unexpired term). Stephen served as a Co-Moderator for a Seminar Session entitled "Tag Team Law--You 2 Can Play", at the RI Bar Association Annual Meeting in June 1995.He has also been a presenter for several discovery seminars sponsored by the Institute for Paralegal Education. He has also been on a panel for the Massachusetts Bar Association regarding the use of paralegals.Stephen has spoken on a number of occasions including the Naval School of Justice in Newport, RI on ethics, the combined meeting of all of the Connecticut Paralegal Associations on the legislative process, and has presented at NFPA’s workshops at several annual meetings. Stephen is married to Lynn (Rennard) Imondi, a CPA, CFE, and Audit Manager for the State of Rhode Island's Auditor General's office.They have two daughters, Bethany and Jaclyn.Stephen is Chairman of the three-member North Providence (Rhode Island) Personnel Board.He is active in Democratic politics both in the Town and on the state and federal level working for various candidates.Finally, Stephen enjoys playing golf, working in the yard, reading and cheering for the Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots and the Providence College Friars.
Director, Region I
Theda M. Yandell,RP® is employed as a paralegal in the Seattle law firm of Forsberg & Umlauf, P.S., a litigation defense firm. She currently participates in personal injury, premise liability, property damage, and product liability cases. During her over 20 year paralegal career she has also assisted in the areas of legal malpractice, medical malpractice, employment litigation and construction defect. While she has been involved primarily in defense work, she has also participated in plaintiff cases. Theda is a member of Washington State Paralegal Association (WSPA) and has held the offices of President, Seattle Chapter Director, At-Large West Director, PACE Ambassador, NFPA Primary Representative and NFPA Secondary Representative. She has chaired many events for WSPA including the 2009 NFPA Regulation/Leadership Conference. Theda became a PACE Registered Paralegal in December 2006. She graduated from Highline Community College with an A.A. degree and an A.A.S. degree, Legal Assistant. She is a member of the Highline Community College Advisory Board and volunteers at the Kent Legal Clinic.
Director, Region II
Helen Federline has over 14 years of experience in probate, estate planning, and real estate. She is the owner of HMS Paralegal, providing freelance/contract paralegal services to area attorneys. Ms. Federline holds an associate’s degree in Paralegal Studies from NorthHennepinCommunity College, and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from MetropolitanStateUniversity.She is active in the MN Paralegal Association (MPA), serving on their Board of Directors from 2004 – 2007 as their Director of Positions & Issues and National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) Primary Representative, and has held other committee positions, as well.Federline has been the NFPA Bar Association Coordinator since 2001. Ms. Federline has been an associate member of the Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA) since 1995.She is very active in the association: she was the founding chair of the MSBA Paralegal Committee; has been the treasurer of the MSBA General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Section since 2004; and is a member of the MSBA Practice Management & Marketing Section Council. Federline is also an associate member of the American Bar Association (ABA). She is a frequent speaker at local paralegal education and Continuing Legal Education programs, and has presented seminars on paralegal utilization, paralegal ethics, leadership skills, and communication.Federline serves on the Paralegal Program Advisory Boards of the Minnesota School of Business/Globe College and the AlexandriaTechnicalCollege.
Director, Region III
Cherylan Shearer is a corporate paralegal at the law firm of Yoder Ainlay Ulmer & Buckingham, LLP in Goshen, Indiana. She has been with the firm for 15 years and received her paralegal certificate with honors in June 1999 from Indiana University at South Bend. She primarily works with the initial set up of organizations including for-profit, not-for-profit, and limited liability companies, mergers and acquisitions, and maintaining record books for corporate clients of the firm. Cherylan is also a member of the Paralegal Section of the Indiana State Bar Association, and has been a member of the Michiana Paralegal Association since 1999. While a member of her local Association, she has served as Membership Chair for several years, served on its Board of Directors, and before becoming Region III Director served as Primary of her Association since 2006. During 2009, she taught two seminars to the paralegal students taking the Business Organization class at the Indiana University at South Bend.
Director, Region IV
Sandra Heintz is a paralegal at the law firm of Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, Pittsburgh, PA. She has had extensive experience in construction law as well as surety claims, mechanics’ liens, real estate and contracts. Her former employer was a general contractor in the Pittsburgh area and she worked as a paralegal with in-house counsel for over 16 years.
She has been an active member of Pittsburgh Paralegal Association for almost twenty years and has held various positions on the board of directors. Sandra has served as the NFPA primary and secondary delegate, vice-president, treasurer and litigation section chair. She was a part of the first group of attendees of the NFPA Leadership Conference. She is a graduate of Duquesne University’s Paralegal Institute where she received both her general and litigation specialty paralegal certificates.
Director, Region V
Cheryl Corning
Board Advisor
Anita G. Haworth, RP®, has over 24 years experience in the legal field. A paralegal since April 1989, she is a senior litigation paralegal at Campbell Kyle Proffitt LLP in Carmel, Indiana. Anita has a B.S. Degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in psychology and a paralegal certificate from Indiana University Kokomo. She became a PACE Registered Paralegal in September of 1999. Anita is the Board Advisor and Immediate Past President of National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc. (NFPA) having served as its President for the 2006-2008 term. She previously served as NFPA Treasurer & Director of Finance, Region III Director, and held various coordinator positions. Anita has been a member of the PACE Development Committee since February of 2001. A member of Indiana Paralegal Association (IPA), Anita received Paralegal of the Year and Outstanding Board Member awards from Indiana Paralegal Association in 2000, and she most recently received Paralegal of the Year for 2008-09. She was a member of IPA’s Board of Directors for several years as its Primary Representative to NFPA and was instrumental in the drafting and implementation of several policy resolutions adopted by NFPA. She is also an affiliate member of the Indiana State Bar Association. She is an experienced author, speaker and presenter on paralegal topics, including PACE, ethics, management, and leadership skills, and is a member of the IPE Program review Board. Anita is the co-author of a book entitled The Paralegal’s Handbook, published by Kaplan Publishing, a division of Kaplan, Inc., in July 2008.
National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc.(NFPA®)
P.O. Box 2016, Edmonds, Washington 98020
Telephone: 425.967.0045 - Fax: 425.771.9588
Email: info@paralegals.org
National Paralegal Reporter, NFPA, PACE Registered Paralegal, RP, PACE, NFPA - The Leader of the Paralegal Profession and the NFPA design logo are all Registered Trademarks/Service Marks of NFPA; NFPA - Your partner in your profession, PACE - The Standard for Excellence, NFPA Tech Institute and the PACE design logo are Trademarks/Service Marks of NFPA.
