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PROMINENT ASSIGNMENTS
Represent companies ranging in size from start-up ventures to public, multi-national corporations on general corporate matters, telecommunications law, and mergers and acquisitions
Corporate Counsel to Aquinas College
Expert on minority/women-owned business formation, finance, and certification issues
Represented local governments nationwide, including City of Detroit, on cable television and telecommunications matters, franchising, franchise renewals, franchise transfers and cable television rate regulation issues
Co-Chaired George Heartwell's successful 2003 and 2007 campaigns for Grand Rapids Mayor
AREAS OF PRACTICE EMPHASIS
Corporate
Mergers & Acquisitions
Minority Business Enterprises
Municipal Law & Finance
Schools & Educational Institutions
Telecommunications
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Michigan Jaycees "Outstanding Young Michigander" Award (2005)
Grand Rapids Jaycees Distinguished Service Award (2004)
Greater Grand Rapids NAACP Floyd Skinner Justice Award (2004)
State Bar of Michigan Outstanding Young Lawyer Award (1996)
Michigan Super Lawyers, 2006, 2007 and 2008
PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT
American Bar Association
Federal Communications Bar
Grand Rapids Bar Association, President (2004-2005), President-elect (2003-2004); Vice-President (2002-2003); Trustee (1999-2002); past Chair, Diversity Committee (1994-present)
Floyd Skinner Bar Association
Wolverine Bar Association
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Aquinas College Board of Trustees, Chair, Executive Committee; Business & Finance Committee; Chair, Diversity Committee; Past Chair, Enrollment Management Committee (1993-2002, 2003-present)
DeVos Children's Hospital Foundation Board of Directors, Vice Chair, Chair, Committee on Trustees (1999-present)
Hope Network Board of Directors (2007-present)
Metropolitan YMCA Board of Directors, Treasurer, Chair, Finance Committee (2005-present)
Spectrum Health Hospitals Board of Trustees, Vice Chair, Chair, Finance Committee (2004-present)
PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
"Wither to Regulate," Federal Communications Law Journal, Vol. 51, No. 2, p. 541 (March 1999)
"No More Pulp Fiction: Proposed UCC Article 2 Revisions Embrace Paperless Electronic Transactions," Michigan Bar Journal, Vol. 75, No. 6, p. 516 (June 1996)
"Cable Television Rate Regulation Under the 1992 Cable Act: An Overview of the Process," Public Corporation Law Quarterly, No. 2, p.1 (September 1993)
Speaker, Michigan Municipal Finance Officers Association, East Lansing, Michigan
Speaker, West Michigan Association of Credit Managers, Grand Rapids, Michigan
EDUCATION
Aquinas College, B.S. 1988 (with honors)
Harvard Law School, J.D., 1991 | 