Difference Makers Awards
The Difference Makers Awards recognize extraordinary lawyers who “made a difference” by breaking down barriers for women, people of color, people with disabilities and people of diverse sexual orientations and is held at the Fall Meeting. These awards have since been expanded to honor local attorneys whose dedication has made a difference to the profession or the community where the Division’s Fall Conference is held. However, the winners are not limited to only those in the local community. Rather than only recognizing solo/small firm lawyers or those working in the solo/small firm sections of local and state bars, these awards are intended for any size firm lawyers, educators, judges, etc., who fulfill one of the award categories. Recognition is given for Breaking Barriers, Community Service, Service to the Profession and Pro Bono Service.
Winners will be honored at the Division’s 2009 Fall Meeting and National Solo & Small Firm Conference Awards Ceremony in Los Angeles, California.
The ABA General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Division’s awards program is underwritten by the generous support of West, a Thomson Reuters business.
2008 Difference Makers Awards
West, a Thomson Reuters business, is a primary sponsor of the Making a Difference through Service to the Profession Award and a co-sponsor of the other Making a Difference Awards.
Winners were honored at the Division’s 2008 Fall Meeting and National Solo & Small Firm Conference Awards Ceremony in Santa Fe, New Mexico at the Gerald Peters Gallery Friday, October 3, 2008.
Read about our Difference Makers Awards winners:
- Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico (Santa Fe, NM) for Making a Positive Change in the community
- Professor Nekima Levy-Pounds (St. Paul, MN) for Making a Difference by Breaking Barriers Award
- Justice Petra Jimenez Maes (Santa Fe, NM) for Making a Difference by Breaking Barriers Award
- Margaret Holt Baird (Burlington, NC) for Making a Difference Through Community Service Award
- Patricia L. McCabe (Van Nuys, CA) for Making a Difference Through Pro Bono Work Award
- Briggs Cheney (Albuquerque, NM) for Making a Difference Through Service to the Profession Award
- University of New Mexico School of Law, Indian Law Program, Professor John P. LaVelle (Albuquerque, NM) Certificate of Recognition
For more photos, please go to our Picture Gallery at http://www.abanet.org/genpractice/gallery/fall08/index.html
Difference Makers Awards 2007
Given at the GPSolo Fall Meeting in Philadephia, PA, in the fall of 2007.
Community Service
William T. Robinson III
Florence, KY
Service to the Profession
C. Dale McClain
Worcester, PA
Pro-Bono
For their work with the Child Advocacy Project
Wendy Demchick-Alloy and Mary Coyne Pugh
Montgomery County
Pro-Bono
Co-Director of Legal Aid for Southeastern PA
Harvey F. Strauss
Maple Glen, PA
Breaking Barriers
Judge Pamila J. Brown
Ellicott City, MD
For photos, please go to our Picture Gallery at http://www.abanet.org/genpractice/gallery/07fall/index.html
Difference Makers Awards 2006
Professional Achievement
Honorable Janine P. Geske
Milwaukee, WI
Justice Janine P. Geske currently serves as a Distinguished Professor of Law at Marquette University Law School and as an adjunct associate professor in the Marquette University Center for Dispute Resolution program.
Diversity Achievement
Ulice Payne, Jr.
Brookfield, WI
Ulice Payne, Jr. is the president of Addison-Clifton, LLC, global trade compliance advisors. Payne is the former president and CEO of the Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club.
Difference Makers Awards 2005
The Difference Makers Awards dinner honored the hard work of several local attorneys whose dedication has changed the profession of law for the better. The awards ceremony and dinner was followed by live music and dancing in the beautiful World Trade Center overlooking the harbor in Boston, MA.
Diversity and Professional Achievement — Honorable Sandra L. Lynch, First Circuit Court of Appeals
Lifetime Achievement — Honorable William T. Hogan, Jr. (ret.) (a Boston lawyer, former counsel to Governor, former Commissioner of Corrections, former Commissioner Mass. Health and Human Services; former Mass. state court judge)
Professional Achievement — Michael S. Greco, ABA President
Difference Makers Awards 2004
Lifetime Achievement Award
Given at the GPSolo Spring Meeting in Gold Canyon, AZ, in the spring of 2004.
General Earl E. Anderson, Vienna, VA
Diversity & Professional Achievement Award
Given at Annual Meeting in Atlanta, GA in August 2004.
Paula J. Frederick, Atlanta, GA
Diversity Achievement
Given at the GPSolo Fall Meeting in Beverly Hills, CA in fall of 2004.
- Catherine Endo Chuck, McBirney & Chuck, P.C., Los Angeles, CA
- Gary Farwell, Farwell & Associates, Los Angeles, CA
- Diane M. Goodman, Goodman & Metz, Encino, CA
- Lorraine Loder, Los Angeles, CA
- Marilyn H. Nelson, Zukor & Nelson, Beverly Hills, CA
- Maria Villa, Lathrop & Villa, Torrance, CA
Difference Makers Awards 2002
Diversity Achievement
Given at the GPSolo Fall Meeting in San Diego, CA in fall of 2002.
- Major James M. Durant III, Vandenberg, CA
- Laura V. Farber, Pasadena, CA
- Harry Hathaway, Los Angeles, CA
- Mary Pat Toups, Laguna Woods, CA
