Highlights of Paralegal/Attorney Dinner

The Western New York Paralegal Association hosted its annual Paralegal/Attorney dinner Tuesday, May 19, at The Saturn Club in Buffalo. This year's keynote speaker was Maryann Saccomando Freedman, an attorney from Cohen & Lombardo.

Freedman, who received the New York Bar Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award in January, spoke on achievements in her career as a lawyer, the obstacles she overcame practicing law and her tenures as the first woman president of the Bar Association of Erie County, New York State Bar Association and New York State Bar Foundation.

Freedman is an inspiration to WNYPA. She provided valuable insight on working in the legal field and promoting equality in the workplace, and encouraged the leadership of WNYPA to accept and overcome challenges presented to it.

As mistress of ceremonies, Freedman installed the 2009-10 WNYPA board of directors: Michelle Coxford of Phillips Lytle LLP, president and second vice president/director of membership; Laura Szychowski, also of Phillips Lytle, first vice president/director of programming and bar liaison; Linda Wiederick of Cole Sorrentino Hurley Hewner & Gambino PC, secretary and student liaison/scholarship coordinator; Edith Maggiotto, also of Phillips Lytle, treasurer and Empire State Allicance of Paralegal Associations representative; Beth Bialis of Hodgon Russ LLP, director of marketing/public relations and National Federation of Paralegal Associations primary representative; Lynda Wilcox of Burden Gulisano & Hickey LLC, director of sponsorship; Jacyln Todaro of the Law Office of Dan Tiede, director of fundraising; Denise Murphy of Goldberg Segalla LLP, newsletter editor; and Jodie Zolnowksi, NFPA secondary representative.

At the annual dinner, WNYPA presented recognition awards to members who attended 10 or more continuing legal education events in the past year, and gave special recognition to two outstanding members - Maureen Malark and Karen Turner - for their commitment to the association. Also acknowledged were the spring scholarship winners: Sara Mosier, from Hilbert College, Janet Poydock, from Erie Community College, and Laurie Boehler, from Bryant & Stratton College. Top awards were presented to Gross Shuman Brizdle & Gilfillan PC, Employer of the Year; Laurie Armstrong, a paralegal with Phillips Lytle, Paralegal of the Year; Legal Med, Sponsor of the Year; and Wendy Edson, chair and associate professor at Hilbert College, Friend of WNYPA Award.

The evening event was well attended by the paralegals in the legal community, and all enjoyed the elegance and presentation of the dinner program.

- Laura Szychowski, paralegal at Phillips Lytle LLP, first vice president and director of programming