Class Notes
Aug. 1, 2020
We know it's important to stay informed about what's happening in the lives of Toledo Law alumni. Take some time to read through the following posts, and think about reaching out to say "hello." Share your latest news through our online class notes form.
- 1960s: 1969
- 1970s: 1971, 1972, 1977, 1978
- 1980s: 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988
- 1990s: 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997
- 2000s: 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
- 2010s: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019
Message From The Law Alumni Affiliate
As we begin a new year at The University of Toledo, I am honored to serve as the president of the Law Alumni Affiliate. I look forward to working with the Board, Dean Barros and his faculty and staff, University staff, and the law students.
Although last year ended with incredible challenges for all of us as we tried to find new ways to practice law, run a court, make a living and keep ourselves and our families healthy, I am committed to making this a year in which we can come together and find new and renewed ways of benefiting you as Alumni Association members and the future lawyers of the College of Law.
We had a number of successful events last year, including the Dean's Breakfast during Homecoming week, Law Lapalooza, and of course the ever-popular Law Trivia Night. In addition to these events, we contributed to the PILA fundraiser run by the law students and are proud of the financial, employment, teaching and mentoring contributions many of our members have made. We hope to repeat these events this year and would love to hear from you if you have ideas as to what other events or opportunities you would like to see.
Thank you for being a member of the Law Alumni Affiliate. I look forward to seeing you this year and thank you for your continued support of our alma mater.
Judge Jack R. Puffenberger '78
Law Alumni Affiliate President, 2020-21
1971
Tom Pletz was recognized for his service as part-time acting judge in Sylvania Municipal Court for the past 30 years. Sylvania City Council declared Jan. 8, 2020 as "Judge Tom Pletz Day."
Stuart Klein is a licensed Florida real estate broker and a partner in International Hospitality
Partners, LLC.1978
Nancy Gervinski is a commercial arbitrator on the American Arbitration Association National Panel
of Arbitrators and hears commercial and consumer cases.
Jeff E. Smith has been included on the 2020 Best Lawyers in America list. Jeff practices corporate law at Vorys, Stater, Seymour and Peace LLP.
1980
Harry Gensler retired after 25 years as Nye County public defender in Nevada. The Las Vegas Municipal Court appointed Gensler to serve as an alternate judge.
Roderick Kennedy presented an overview of search/seizure law for genealogical genetics at the 2020
American Academy of Forensic Sciences Annual Meeting and is editing the ABA's Summer
2020 Sci/Tech Lawyer magazine.
1981
Stephen Dane has started a new law firm, Dane Law LLC, with focus on fair housing and civil rights
litigation.
Denise Navarre Cubbon helped establish the Bridge to Independence and Success Pilot Program which helps young men aging out of foster care or leaving Lucas County Juvenile Justice Center.
Connie (Farmer) Zemmelman was the recipient of the 2020 YWCA Milestones Award for her role in government. She received the 2020 Director's Award from the executive director of Lucas County Children Services.
1984
Jim Garrity released the third edition of his best-selling litigation guide "10,000 Depositions
Later" on Amazon and two new field guides, "Creating Invincible Deponents" and "FRCP
30(b)(6)."
Matt Mitten co-authored the fifth edition of "Sports Law and Regulation: Cases, Materials, and
Problems."
1986
Sheila Nolan Gartland has been included on the 2020 Best Lawyers in America list. She practices corporate law at Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP.
Bradley Le Boeuf's short story, "The Bloodhounds," was published by the Ohio State Bar Association
in the Summer 2020 issue of Solo, Small Firms and General Practice News.
1990
Linda (Chugh) Ulinski's law firm, Ulinski Law, focuses on trust and will-based estate planning, trust and probate estate administration, real estate, small business, and guardianships.
Marty Miller was elected to partnership in the firm of Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP.
Sean W. Walsh recently joined Plunkett Cooney’s Commercial Litigation Practice Group. He focuses
his litigation practice in the areas of business insolvency, bankruptcy, employment
law, intellectual property, real estate law and commercial financing transactions.
Christi Bartman is focusing on human trafficking issues in Ohio. She recently concluded a housing
study for trafficked victims in Central Ohio and published on the topic.1995
Jenifer Belt began a new position as the first chief operating officer for the Sisters of St. Francis in February 2020.
1997
Ann Erickson Gault was elected to Troy City Council in Michigan in November 2019. She is a solo practitioner
and of counsel to Cohen Lerner in Royal Oak, Mich.
Ellen Grachek wed Damon J. Williams in 2019. Pictured in the front row with Ellen is Nadeane (Johnson)
Howard. Pictured in back with Damon: Stephanie Risk and Jennifer Benedict.2004
Andrea (Jones) Totten was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to serve as a County Court Judge in Flagler County,
Fla., where she lives with her husband and children.
2005
Gina Clausen Lozier has been recognized as one of South Florida’s Most Effective Lawyers in the insurance category by the Daily Business Review.
Christy Prince was ranked in Chambers USA for Up and Coming, Bankruptcy/Restructuring in Ohio.
Katie (Carollo) Schuyler was named assistant director of the Office of Professional Development at The University
of Toledo College of Law.2008
Jeanne (Whalen) Barber welcomed a daughter, Maren, with husband Brian Barber in May 2019.
Ernest Huang was named partner at Procopio Cory Hargreaves & Savitch LLP.
Andrew Maunz was sworn in as legal counsel for the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission. He will oversee internal and external policy for the nation’s leading civil rights agency.
2010
David Cowen is a federal prosecutor at the U.S. Attorney's Office - District of New Mexico. He currently lives in Albuquerque with his wife, Cassandra, and their two children.
Beth O’Laughlin was named partner at Warner Norcross & Judd LLP. She focuses her practice on counseling
families and businesses on trust and estate planning and administration, succession
planning, tax matters and wealth preservation.
2011
Nicholas Turner started a new position with the U.S. Army at the Pentagon. He's serving as the career
manager for around 1,300 U.S. Army Reserve Judge Advocates.
Nicholas Wittenberg, legal counsel at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (pictured
far right), gave Dean Ben Barros, Professor Eric Chaffee, and Assistant Dean Heather
Karns a VIP tour of The West Wing.
David Mann was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority.
He remains the president of the Lucas County Land Bank.
Bradley Proudfoot has been named the Reader’s Choice "Best of the Best" attorney in Medina County,
Ohio, by the Medina Gazette.2013
J. David Atkins started a solo practice, J. David Atkins Law, P.A. and started a sports management
company, Dream Sports Management, Inc., representing soccer and mixed martial arts
athletes in Miami.
Lidia (Bosek) Ebersole was appointed to serve as vice chair of the Ohio Supreme Court Committee on Language Services. She has served on the committee as a member since 2015.
Kelli Novak has been promoted to counsel at Tucker Ellis LLP. She focuses her practice on health
care law.
2014
Steven Vandercook was appointed as a warranted contracting officer for the Office of Procurement at
NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
2016
Arnold Finkbine is an associate with the firm of Williams & Schoenberger Co., LLC in Columbus, Ohio.
He practices mainly in the areas of insurance defense and domestic relations.
Lindsey (Cavese) Scherting welcomed a daughter, Eloise Margaret, with husband, Andy Scherting, and big brother,
Colin, in December 2019.
2019
Brandy Brown started a new position as assistant director of development for The University of Toledo College of Law.
Madeline K. (Jarrett) Fuller joined Critchfield, Critchfield & Johnston, Ltd. as an associate with the firm's business
and corporate team.
Evangeline Nketia has joined Bodman PLC in Detroit, Mich. as an associate. She is a member of Bodman's
Individual Clients Practice Group.