February, 2023 | Article
First Year at TLOMA
It was October 2021 when I saw the posting for an Executive Director role with the Law Office Management Association. I contacted Joncarlo Barrios at Forge Recruitment to get more information on the position.
Fast forward to January 5th, 2022 and I was starting my first day as the Executive Director of TLOMA.
It was a first day like no other in my non-profit executive career. In the past, I’ve traveled to a new office at a new location, figuring out the best commute route, finding parking, then grabbing an elevator to a floor. This time, I simply made my way down to my basement and logged in.
A few weeks earlier I received a box with my ‘office’- laptop, monitor, printer and set up shop. In many ways it is like jumping on a moving train because once January arrived, things started to roll.
January saw my first Board meeting, then in February the official transfer meeting where the newly elected Board members assumed their roles, and the departing Board members said their goodbyes. All very official and all very virtual.
It wasn’t long before I was working on my first ‘event’; a Spring Networking event, except it wouldn’t be in-person. My first encounter with TLOMA members was the virtual Family Feud Night in February.
My first ‘live’ event was the Professional Development Day at Cineplex with the Southern Group in June. Here I was nervously awaiting my first in-person interaction with TLOMA members – greeting them as they arrived and directing them to where the event was taking place.
It was a great experience, everyone I met was friendly and engaging. I got a real sense of the character of TLOMA that morning; a group of people who enjoy each other’s company and are willing to help each other when they can.
Not long after that we were on the links and the TLOMA Golf Tournament where I was able to meet many of TLOMA’s Business Partners and properly introduce myself (special note: mark June 21,2023 in your calendars for this year’s golf tournament).
August saw the first in-person social event, as TLOMA members gathered at The Ballroom to test our bowling skills. A great event with over 30 people in attendance and 5 teams duking it out, having fun and connecting.
Interspersed throughout all of this were the SIG events, where I quickly became familiar with cybersecurity, hybrid work environments, staff retention challenges, and digitizing case files. Plans for 2023 call for a return to in-person SIG events with 8 planned for the year.
The big event every year is the TLOMA Annual Conference and Trade Show, which was returning to in-person in 2022. The last in-person conference was in 2019. This was something I was able to quickly have an impact on; having organized conferences in the past.
Working with a dedicated and enthusiastic Conference Committee we put together a great event highlighted by our 2 keynote speakers; Dr. Lisa Belanger, Shawn Shepheard and the most popular speaker of the event, comedienne Kate Davis.
This was an ideal venue for me to meet a wide range of members and Business Partners. And working alongside our Conference Chair Colleen McHugh as co-hosts of the Delegate/Business Partner Dinner put me front and centre with the members.
Big plans for 2023 in Ottawa, so hope to see many of you there.
I also completed my first Compensation Survey cycle. Working with an engaged service provider in Normandin Beaudry, and a passionate group of compensation professionals on the Compensation Committee was an enlightening experience that’s generated some exciting ideas for 2023.
Ideas that will give the survey a higher profile and increase awareness of its value for TLOMA members.
The year came to an end with the annual Holiday Networking Event, which was postponed in 2021 due to COVID. But returned with a fine meal and social time at Biaggio’s.
And that was my first year at TLOMA, although it didn’t feel like a year has passed. Harvard Business School estimates it takes an executive one year to fully understand the organization they take over. I would concur and extend a thank you to the Board and Karen Gerhardt in showing me the ropes.
I am excited about 2023 and the future of TLOMA.