The Western New York Paralegal Association (WNYPA) held its annual Paralegal/Attorney dinner on Wednesday, May 19 at The Lancaster Country Club.

This year's keynote speaker was Cheryl Corning, paralegal to Andrea E. Celli, Esq. a Chapter 13 Standing Trustee for the Northern District of New York and Region V Director for the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA). As Region V Director, Ms. Corning is responsible for the "humanization of NFPA" to local paralegal associations and is the liaison between member associations (such as WNYPA) and the NFPA Board members.

During her speech, she addressed the relationship between national and local paralegal associations and how they work to improve the paralegal profession.

Ms. Corning installed the 2010-11 WNYPA Board of Directors: Laura A. Szychowski, paralegal from Phillips Lytle LLP, was installed as President; Beth Bialis, paralegal from Hodgson Russ LLP, was installed as First Vice President, Director of Programming and NFPA Primary Representative; Jodie Zolnowski, paralegal to Chapter 13 Trustee, was installed as Second Vice President, Director of Membership and NFPA Secondary Representative; Edith Maggiotto, paralegal from Phillips Lytle LLP, was installed as Treasurer and ESAPA Representative; Gail Galfo, paralegal from Shaw & Shaw P.C., was installed as Secretary; Lynda M. Wilcox, paralegal from Burden, Gulisano & Hickey LLC, was installed as Director of Sponsorship and ESAPA Representative; Laura Maiorana, paralegal with Rupp, Baase, Pfalzgraf, Cunningham & Coppola LLC, was installed as Director of Fundraising and Carol Becker, paralegal with HSBC Bank USA, NA, was installed as Bar Liaison.

The WNYPA Board of Directors presented the following awards: WNYPA Employer of the Year award was presented to Goldberg Segalla LLP, for their consistent support of its own paralegal members, as well as, the overall goals of the Western New York Paralegal Association. John Jablonski, Esq., a partner at Goldberg Segalla accepted the award on the firm's behalf. WNYPA Sponsor of the Year award was presented to Counsel Press LLC for its support of the paralegal community and its dedication and commitment to WNYPA as a sponsor. Robert Brucato, Esq. accepted the award on behalf of Counsel Press. WNYPA Paralegal of the Year award was presented to Erin Pawlak, a litigation paralegal with Hodgson Russ LLP. Ms. Pawlak was nominated for this award by the attorneys she works with at Hodgson Russ because of her outstanding performance and work product. One attorney described Erin as a paralegal who is " irreplaceable, invaluable and indispensable."

- By Michelle Coxford, PR/marketing chair for WNY Paralegal Association Inc.