FL Voluntary Bar Leaders Annual Conference 2024

Join more than 150 voluntary bar leaders from small to large size bars for two full days of educational sessions and networking opportunities all designed to help develop skillful and informed bar leaders.

For travel plans, please note the conference will begin at 9 a.m. on Friday, July 12 and end at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 13.

 

Keynote Speaker

ROCHELLE GAPERE

Rochelle Gapere is an attorney, happiness coach and entrepreneur. Known for bringing her charismatic personality and sheer joy for living to every experience and individual she encounters, Gapere has mastered the art of living life fully and passionately. 

 

Speakers

ROSALYN “SIA” BAKER-BARNES

Rosalyn “Sia” Baker-Barnes, 2024-25 Florida Bar president-elect, is a partner at Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley in West Palm Beach.

CARLOS BARADAT

Carlos Baradat is an attorney specializing in technology and litigation readiness. 

LAUREN BAUGH

Lauren Baugh has been the executive director of Lee County Bar Association since 2019. Baugh excels in marketing, fundraising, and legal networking.

JASON BERGER

Jason Berger operates a family law and estate planning practice on the Treasure Coast. He has extensive trial experience, including over 100 jury trials. 

CARLA THARP BROWN

Carla Tharp Brown has served as the executive director of the Palm Beach County Bar Association since September 2016. 

MELISSA BYERS

Melissa Byers has served 10 years as the executive director of the St. Petersburg Bar Association. Known for financial/business acumen, Byers is also passionate about wellness. 

JUAN CAMACHO

Juan Camacho, a seasoned litigator and strategist with over 14 years’ experience, advocates for individuals, businesses and municipalities. 

ASHLEA EDWARDS

Ashlea Edwards is an employment attorney at Akerman, focuses on management-side employment litigation and counseling.

ROSELIN FIGUEROA WATTS

Roselin Figueroa Watts is an attorney specializing in personal injury and estate planning. 

MATT FREY

Matt Frey is a native Floridian and obtained his J.D. from the University of Florida. 

JOHN GIHON

John Gihon is a Board Certified Immigration and Nationality Law attorney with over 20 years of experience, specializing in immigration litigation in both immigration and federal courts. 

LISA GONG GUERRERO

Lisa Gong Guerrero, a Board-Certified Criminal Trial attorney and former state prosecutor with over 145 jury trials, served as president of the Greater Orlando Asian American Bar Association. 

KYLEEN A. HINKLE

Kyleen A. Hinkle, a member at Burns White’s Tampa office, is a civil litigator specializing in general liability, long-term health-care defense, hospital liability, and medical malpractice defense. 

ARTI HIRANI

Arti Hirani, a shareholder at the Winter Park firm Meenakshi A. Hirani P.A. is a dual-licensed attorney in Florida and New York. 

NICOLETTE A. KRAMER

Nicolette A. Kramer, a solo practitioner, specializes in condominium and planned development law. 

JOHN F. KYNES

John F. Kynes has served as executive director of the Hillsborough County Bar Association since 2011. 

STACY KYNES

Stacy Kynes, CPA, is a senior manager in the accounting services division of 1Source in Tampa, where she leads a team providing accounting and consulting services across various industries. 

CARLEEN LEFFLER

Carleen Leffler, an attorney at ShuffieldLowman, is the governor for the 7th Judicial Circuit on The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors. 

LAUREN MILLCAREK

Lauren Millcarek is the career law clerk for U.S. District Judge Skip Dalton.

GINGER MIRANDA

Ginger Miranda is a seasoned trial attorney with over two decades of experience in Florida. 

ANA “ANI” P. RODRIGUEZ-NEWBERN

Ana “Ani” P. Rodriguez-Newbern is a former media producer turned attorney.

ANDREA D. ORTIZ

Andrea D. Ortiz is the director of Pro Bono Services at Community Legal Services. 

MONA ROSEY PAYNE

Mona Rosey Payne is a government attorney and member of The Florida Bar. 

BRAULIO ROSA

Braulio Rosa has served as executive director of the Broward County Bar Association, one of Florida’s largest voluntary bars, since 2011. 

AMY  RUIZ

Amy Ruiz, a Tampa native, earned a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Florida in 2000 and a J.D. from Florida State College of Law in 2004. 

ROLAND SANCHEZ-MEDINA JR.

Roland Sanchez-Medina Jr., a partner at Sanchez-Medina, Gonzalez, Quesada, Lage, Crespo et al., specializes in corporate and securities law, with expertise in mergers, acquisitions, and real estate transactions. 

ELINA MAGALY SANTANA

Elina Magaly Santana, shareholder, and co-founder of Santana Rodriguez Law P.A., leads the firm’s Immigration Law practice, representing clients nationwide and specializing in various areas including family-based residency, deportation defense, and more. 

BRANDON SAPP

Brandon Sapp is the founding partner of Brandon Sapp Law PLLC. 

CRAIG SHOUP

Craig Shoup was named executive director of the Jacksonville Bar Association in February 2019. In this role he oversees the day-to-day operations of the approximately 2000-member organization. 

LISA TERWILLIGER

Lisa Terwilliger has been executive director of the Collier County Bar Association for 17 years, managing daily operations, strategic initiatives, events, and membership.

TAYLOR TREMEL

Taylor Tremel graduated from the University of Central Florida with a B.A. in 2010 and later earned a J.D. from Florida A&M University College of Law in 2014. 

CHRISTINA RUSSO WALTERS

Christina Russo Walters serves as the senior managing attorney of Medical Legal Partnerships for Community Legal Services. 
 

Hotel Information

The venue for the conference is the beautiful Jimmy Buffett inspired Margaritaville Resort Orlando, located minutes from amusement parks and Orlando/Kissimmee area attractions.