CBA Record July-August 2019

PRESIDENT’S PAGE BY JESSE H. RUIZ Investing in Our CBA, Our Members, Our Profession, and Our Community

The Chicago Bar Association www.chicagobar.org

OFFICERS

President Jesse H. Ruiz

First Vice President Maryam Ahmad

formerly Gardner Carton & Douglas. I would have been the fifth CBA president from my former firm. It was a firm that not only trained me as a lawyer, but also supported all my public and community service. Partners including Gordon Nash, one of those past CBA presidents, also encouraged me to get involved in the CBA. We all need to be like Gordon Nash and lead by example, by leading others to the CBA. Part of the value the CBA creates for our members are relationships and result- ing opportunities. We must truly focus on creating opportunities for members, meeting their evolving needs, investing in them, and investing in each other, to make the CBA an indispensable organization for all lawyers in the Chicagoland area. I strongly suggest you all attend our annual Vanguard Award luncheon in the spring. There you will see 15 different bar associations gather together to honor one of their members. As a past president of the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois, I know how much HLAI gained through collaborations with other bar associations. I hope to explore more opportunities to make our CBA headquarters the hub of all diverse bar organizations, exploring opportunities not only to share space, but also back office operations and joint mem- berships. Collectively, we can better serve our members and make all our associations stronger. We will focus on these and other initiatives that create new relationships, opportuni- ties, comradery, and collegiality for all CBA members. I am fortunate that Steve Elrod left a platform to work from, as did Judge

Second Vice President E. Lynn Grayson

Secretary Ray J. Koenig III

Treasurer Timothy S. Tomasik Executive Director Terrence M. Murphy

Assistance Executive Director Elizabeth A. McMeen Immediate Past President Steven M. Elrod BOARD OF MANAGERS Jonathan B. Amarilio Octavio Duran Sharon L. Eiseman Nina Fain Charles P. Golbert Hon. LaShonda A. Hunt Hon. Diane Joan Larsen Hon. Lori E. Lightfoot Kathryn C. Liss Michael R. Lufrano Lauren S. Novak Hon. Nichole C. Patton Trisha M. Rich Federico M. Rodriguez Ajay N. Shah

T he legal profession is evolving, and it is professional associations such as the Chicago Bar Association that can help members navigate the changing landscape. However, professional associa- tions are also changing. Across the country, membership in professional associations is declining, and what members seek from them is changing as well. Fortunately, our CBAmembership remains strong, at almost 18,000 members. Nevertheless, if we want to ensure our success for another 145 years, we must focus on strengthening the CBA and continually evolving to create value for our members and to serve their changing needs. Thus, in my year as your CBA presi- dent, my primary focus will be on investing for our collective future ‒ for the future of our association, and our members, our profession, and our communities. Prior to becoming a Deputy Gover- nor in the Pritzker administration earlier this year, I spent my entire legal career at one law firm: Drinker Biddle and Reath,

Adam J. Sheppard Adam M. Zebelian

8 July/August 2019