What makes me unique
As a former head of two large law firm marketing departments, I bring a leader’s in-house perspective to every engagement with a professional services firm. Having conducted many hundreds of client interviews, I also bring the client’s voice to every design, content and technology assignment.
Our approach is strategy-first in everything we do. As a result, our clients’ strategic vision and goals reign supreme, and we are both the standard-bearers and protectors of them. With your strategy as our foundation, we design for your firm five years from now – pushing you to see greater possibilities than you might imagine today.
I have dozens of articles and co-authored several books published by the American Bar Association Law Practice Management Division, with the latest being, “The Lawyer’s Guide to Marketing on the Internet, 4th edition.” I also wrote the 2nd and 3rd editions with co-author Greg Siskind.
The projects that I love
Anything with strategy. Unearthing positioning strategy is a special talent and I am known for it. Working with our creative designers and project managers on smart and beautiful design for websites and brands, crafting a new and elevating content strategy, and writing copy with heart that hits the intellectual and emotional mark – I love all of this. It is also exhilarating helping firm leaders design and execute their vision for the marketing and business development functions in their firms.
I am literally thrilled when we work with major law firms on their new websites, proposal systems and experience management projects. Again starting with strategy, we climb into their processes, understand their business development and performance goals, teams and their technologies and find ways to streamline, make them better, more productive and efficient.
What makes me proud
I am proud of three decades of service to the legal marketing community, having held many local and national roles in the Legal Marketing Association. In 2019 and 2020 I co-chaired LMA’s “Next Big Thing,” an enormous initiative and curriculum focused on “Service Metamorphosis: Driving Performance Improvement.”
I was inducted into the LMA Hall of Fame in 2008 and the College of Law Practice Management as a Fellow in 2007. And I was delighted to be on the inaugural list of National Law Journal’s “2013 Top 50 Legal Business Trailblazers & Pioneers” and proud to be included in LawDragon’s Top 100 Legal Consultants every year since it began. Since 2021, I’ve been recognized on LawDragon’s Global 100 Leaders in Legal Strategy and Consulting.
My charitable service is intensely meaningful, too. For two years I served as the first straight Board President of the Resource Center, the largest LGBTQ and HIV provider of services in North Texas (and the 3rd largest in the U.S.) and also asP resident Emeritus. I continue to serve on the board and have co-chaired its major fundraiser, “Toast to Life” three times.
I also serve on the national board of Lambda Legal.
I am a long-time board member and advocate for the Tony Award-winning Dallas Theater Center, co-chairing the Long-Range Planning Committee and co-chairing the 2021 Center Stage Gala. I chaired the annual State of Mind fundraiser for Second Thought Theatre in November 2019 and in 2021. Finally, I am a board and executive committee member for TACA – The Arts Community Alliance in North Texas.
Nuts and bolts
- Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, Gustavus Adolphus College, St Peter, MN
- Master of Music, honors, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (Flute performance and conducting)
- Frequent author and blogger, speaker at regional, national and international conferences and law firm retreats, social media devotee
- Watch my TED-style talk called #TheSunnySideofShame on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GmmX-RX4Rc
2021 and 2022